Vacation update and need help with a good recipe!

[Deleted]

So the vacation of doom with 6 families, 10 kids and 2 babysitters is now going to be even crummier. One of the babysitters has dropped out. Now there are 10 kids and 1 babysitter which effectively means DH and I will never get any time alone. Great.

Anyway, of course they are wanting everybody to take a meal to prepare. DH forgot to forward me the emails so now I'm stuck with breakfast one day (which would be easier for most people, but I usually just eat oatmeal or a protein shake for breakfast, so I'm not good at making breakfast foods). Anyway, I was thinking of doing some kind of breakfast casserole. Does anyone have any good recipes? Then I thought maybe we could do some yogurt, fruit and granola (for parfaits or something), add some fruit juice and call it good. Does that sound ok? Thanks for any recipies/links you might have...

[Deleted]

all of that sounds delicious--but also like a lot of work. I would probably head to a bakery there and buy a couple dozen bagels and some fruit.

[Pom]

My family likes this one...I always do a big fruit salad too.

allrecipes.com/recipe/sausage-and-egg-casserole/

[acceptthegood]

I dont have any recipes - but I wanted recommend a babysitting service we have used with success.

It is called Seeking Sitters, and all the care givers have passed background checks and criminal investgations. They are pricey, but might be worth it given your situation. Hopefully they have a branch by your vacation area.

[Roc A Bee]

I personally would go to Costco and pick up muffins, fruit, a box a cereal and milk, and OJ. But I'm super lazy and HATE cooking on vacation.

[luvmagoldn]

Kind of related but here is a tip: We went to the Outer Banks with five families (twenty some-odd people). Like your group we divided up meals and everyone brought what they needed to make their assigned meals.

When we arrived at the house we all unloaded our coolers and put our things in the fridge. HUGE mistake. Evidently we overloaded the cooling mechanism. The fridge didn't cool and kept things kind of tepid which was gross and not food safe.

The maintenance guy said to keep things in the coolers and slowly add items to the fridge over a few hours.

That's my PSA for the day!

[BAMFMrsB]

I have a few. Most are mind-numbingly easy! For ALL of these, read the reviews and sort by 'most helpful'. The little tips within make them even better.

allrecipes.com/recipe/cream-cheese-squares/detail.aspx
Cream Cheese Squares - I add in a layer of jelly/jam/preserves in the middle, you can use ANY flavor.

allrecipes.com/recipe/amish-breakfast-casserole/detail.aspx
Amish Breakfast Casserole -

allrecipes.com/recipe/egg-and-sausage-casserole/detail.aspx
Egg and Sausage Casserole
allrecipes.com/recipe/easy-bacon-and-cheese-quiche/detail.aspx
Easy Bacon and Cheese Quiche

HTH!

[Deleted]

I am assuming your dh has 2 broken arms? I mean, why else would YOU be saddled with making breakfast ?

Sorry it is a snarky remark, but if my DH "forgot" to tell me, it would become his responsibility!

[sarahbear]

Go to Costco and get fruit, muffins, yogurt and maybe some cereal. Cooking on vacation sucks. So does having to put together a casserol with eggs, cheese, etc. Just get premade stuff. Costco even has quiche ready to pop in the oven and serve if you want a hot item.

[ECB]

May 22, 2012 13:14:21 GMT -5 luvmagoldn said:

Kind of related but here is a tip: We went to the Outer Banks with five families (twenty some-odd people). Like your group we divided up meals and everyone brought what they needed to make their assigned meals.

When we arrived at the house we all unloaded our coolers and put our things in the fridge. HUGE mistake. Evidently we overloaded the cooling mechanism. The fridge didn't cool and kept things kind of tepid which was gross and not food safe.

The maintenance guy said to keep things in the coolers and slowly add items to the fridge over a few hours.

That's my PSA for the day!

100% agree!! People should go out the day of their meal (or the day before if doing breakfast) and buy their stuff then. if everyone buys everything ahead of time - the fridge may be overloaded, plus there just isn't room to put back in leftovers, or to just easily find stuff.

I'll say this, though - being responsible for ONE meal rocks. We always divide up dinners. Each fmaily does dinner from start to finish - and you only have to worry about it that one night. The rest of the week- that time of the day is yours to do w/ as you see fit!

[ssmjlm]

I would do quiches (made ahead) and then fruit and juice. Done and Done.

Are you going to the OBX?

[hocus]

Have you though about just bringing bagels and fruit?

[Willis Jackson]

That sounds hellish.

I would pick up bagels or whatever. It's a vacation.

[y4m]

This recipe/idea has been hanging out on my pinterest, waiting to be used. Looks easy and like a good way to use up leftovers if your day is late in the week.

perfectingthepairing.blogspot.com/2012/03/customizable-bread-bowl-breakfast.html

You'd just need eggs and rolls and cheese/meat/veggies for people to put in them. I'd serve with a fruit salad and call it done.

[dexteroni]

Ditto the bagel suggestion. Bagels, a couple kinds of cream cheese, muffins, yogurt, fruit, granola, juice, coffee. If you want, you can scramble some eggs and cook some bacon in the oven for bagel sandwiches, but it's not necessary. I've heard you can cook bacon ahead of time and freeze it to use later, but I've never tried it so I can't personally vouch for how good it will be when it's reheated.

[Deleted]

May 22, 2012 13:36:18 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

I would do quiches (made ahead) and then fruit and juice. Done and Done.

Are you going to the OBX?

yes, obx

[minniebee]

May 22, 2012 14:09:49 GMT -5 dexteroni said:

Ditto the bagel suggestion. Bagels, a couple kinds of cream cheese, muffins, yogurt, fruit, granola, juice, coffee.

This sounds perfect.

I'm guessing most people don't have breakfast casseroles or similar things for breakfast on a daily basis, so they shouldn't need it on vacation either. If they want a big & fancy breakfast, they can go to a restaurant. No one should be slaving away in a kitchen to prepare meals for vacation. Plus, there are 10 kids, who probably aren't going to be excited about a breakfast casserole. Bagels, fruit, muffins and cereal are more kid-friendly.

[jennistarr1]

If this were me (and I realize this may not be everyone's taste), I would make cream chipped beef...with biscuits and toast, and have lighter option for the biscuits and toast like apple butter and jams. I would buy a few bags of those easy to make or already made hashbrowns...and some simple fruit like strawberries and grapes

[CloudBee]

Yeah, just pick up a ton of bagels, cream cheese, fruit, and like 2 dozen eggs. Make your life easy.

[CloudBee]

Oh yeah, I wouldn't even take special requests for eggs. I would just scramble a ton.

[CloudBee]

May 22, 2012 14:09:49 GMT -5 dexteroni said:

I've heard you can cook bacon ahead of time and freeze it to use later, but I've never tried it so I can't personally vouch for how good it will be when it's reheated.

We do this at home. I buy a pound of turkey bacon, cook, and throw into either a large ziplock bag, or pyrex dish, and toss into the freezer. They don't stick together, probably because of the fat. My husband grabs a piece of two to have with eggs on weekends. SO easy.

[ssmjlm]

May 22, 2012 14:10:05 GMT -5 @lilly said:

May 22, 2012 13:36:18 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

I would do quiches (made ahead) and then fruit and juice. Done and Done.

Are you going to the OBX?

yes, obx

Then you must skip breakfast one day and go to Duck Donuts. They are made to order and amazing. OMG DH is already talking about going when we're down for the 4th.

[definitelyO]

I make make-ahead french toast all the time and it's really easy (a few recipes above) and then do fruit. I would also get the names of the other people doing breakfast and let them know what you're thinking of doing - that way you don't plan on serving baked french toast the day after they just served it themselves....

there are some instances where I like doing the everyone take a meal deal - but that's IF I know everyone and know that I like to eat what they like to cook. otherwise you might end up like the poster yesterday - eating ground beef and beans with cut up hot dogs... eww!