Self Catering Holiday – easy cooking

A self-catering holiday means you don’t have the  same old, same old hotel buffets, or the sometimes uncomfortable eating & seating arrangements. However cooking for your family while you’re away can often feel that you are not getting a break from it all.

Lets look at how you can avoid being tied to the cooker, meaning everyone gets a break and you can get your trainers on and enjoy what your holiday  has to offer.

Firstly check out the local pubs, in Orford we are spoilt as we have a three great places to eat in the village; The King’s Head with their new chef is proving very popular, the Jolly Sailor has a lovely private room big enough for your family or The Butley Oysterage – family friendly with delicious local fish. The good news is that none of these will break the bank. Great food locally sourced  at a reasonable price. Many guests choose to eat out a couple of nights as you don’t want to end up overspending… Also we find that you can end up craving a simple home cooked supper.

With a little help, planning and keeping everything simple you can enjoy cooking in a more relaxed way…

Spacious, airy interior dining room Keep Cottage Orford Suffolk
Breakfast at Keep Cottage Orford Suffolk

Grab yourself some recipes

Leaf through summer food magazines and tear out a bunch of quick and easy meals. Browse your favourite food websites and print off the most uncomplicated recipes you can find.

Or if you have an ipad or tablet download the BBC Good Food app they have some great recipes along with Olive magazine, Nigella and Jamie Oliver.

We have copies of Olive magazine, some recipes that friends and guests have given us, along with a VERY simple four course dinner recipe from an Italian course I did last year – it’s exotic but so so simple. No fancy ingredients, and the good news is, you will find most of it in the village store.

Perhaps you are going abroad?

From our experience grab a phrase book – we had rabbit and thought it was chicken! Although to be honest it was delicious! Also handy to work out cooking instructions and ingredients if anyone  has a food allergy and a passionate dislike. Also good for avoiding awkward conversations  in local shops.

When in Italy a simple purchase of tomatoes turned into a bit of a pantomime – who would have thought tomatoes were so tricky to buy? Are you cooking them or are they going in a salad…Bellissimo..The stallholder will hold their position until satisfied that your have the right tomatoes for the job.

Kit and caboodle – home or abroad

If you’re driving you can probably fit a few bits and pieces in the car, if you are flying it’s a little bit trickier.

It’s well worth checking out  how well equipped the kitchen will be in your holiday accommodation.

A decent small chopping knife, corkscrew and vegetable peeler won’t take up much room and can make all the difference (remember if you are flying you will need to pack them with your luggage that will be checked in)

Zip-lock bags (Ikea have really good ones) are super handy for storing food to take to the beach or on a picnic

Cool packs and bags are also a winner.

Emergency meals

Packing a few store cupboard staples will give you emergency meal options, ideal for when you rock up at your accommodation and all the shops are shut.

Start the day: A life saver for our family,  tea bags, a cereal selection pack and a pint of long life milk means you’ll at least be able to have breakfast on your first morning.

Take it easy

Eat simple breakfasts and picnic lunches that you’ve made yourself and then eat your dinner out. That way you’re only doing the bare minimum of cooking, leaving plenty of time to enjoy your holiday.

Bread stall Snape Maltings
Bread stall Snape Maltings – treat yourself whilst on holiday

Half way House: Check out if there is a Cook local to where you are, they sell ready made ‘home made meals’. We have one in Woodbridge the food is wholesome, healthy and won’t break the bank.

Remember not to do a massive weekly shop at the local supermarket. You’ll end up spending too much and feeling pressurised to cook all the food you’ve bought. Buy a few things at a time and give yourself room to be a bit more spontaneous.

Plan a meal that the kids can cook, simple pasta with a tomato sauce, or Spag Bol. Sit back and don’t worry about the washing up – make it a team sport.

One pot solution suppers with a salad and crusty bread on the side, just can’t be beaten.

Make the most of fresh local produce and find out if there are any food markets nearby – it’s great fun trying all the treats on offer and often makes brilliant inspiration for a meal.

At the end of the day, its a holiday so enjoy the local produce, relax and recharge. Cook as little or as much as you fancy!

 

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