Comments on: Vacation Entertaining: The Head Cook does NOT Clean Up! http://reluctantentertainer.com/2010/06/vacation-entertaining-the-head-cook-does-not-clean-up/ Thu, 24 May 2012 13:36:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Pinky http://reluctantentertainer.com/2010/06/vacation-entertaining-the-head-cook-does-not-clean-up/#comment-29346 Pinky Thu, 20 Jan 2011 22:39:42 +0000 http://reluctantentertainer.com/?p=6849#comment-29346 HI there! We are BLESSED beyond measure to ahve best friends who take their entire family AND US to the Outer Banks each June!!!!!!!!!!!! There are 22 of us!!!!! To say it is a big house is a BIG understatement:):) In fact that picture you posted looks like just where we stay (Pine Island). We ahve a very good system. Each couple/family is responsible for the 3 meals for ONE DAY. We all plan ahead, each family has certain food items they are assigned to bring too. When you do your day, then you are free for the week! It has worked out perfectly every year! We ahve learned along the way what NOT to bring too. The first year we brought way too much. We also ahve a kitty that each family contributes to and when we need mild, bread, ICE, etc. we use the kitty. We ahve done this for 3 years and we all love our system!!! EVERYONE pitches in to clean up though. The guys are wonderful about cooking and cleaning up!!!! XO, Pinky HI there! We are BLESSED beyond measure to ahve best friends who take their entire family AND US to the Outer Banks each June!!!!!!!!!!!! There are 22 of us!!!!! To say it is a big house is a BIG understatement:):) In fact that picture you posted looks like just where we stay (Pine Island). We ahve a very good system. Each couple/family is responsible for the 3 meals for ONE DAY. We all plan ahead, each family has certain food items they are assigned to bring too. When you do your day, then you are free for the week! It has worked out perfectly every year! We ahve learned along the way what NOT to bring too. The first year we brought way too much. We also ahve a kitty that each family contributes to and when we need mild, bread, ICE, etc. we use the kitty. We ahve done this for 3 years and we all love our system!!! EVERYONE pitches in to clean up though. The guys are wonderful about cooking and cleaning up!!!! XO, Pinky
Pinky´s last [type] .. MORE this and That

]]> By: sarah http://reluctantentertainer.com/2010/06/vacation-entertaining-the-head-cook-does-not-clean-up/#comment-23053 sarah Mon, 09 Aug 2010 21:52:29 +0000 http://reluctantentertainer.com/?p=6849#comment-23053 I love all of the positive responses on this page! I wish I could be more positive about my family vacation in a beach house on the beach. I am nothing but stressed! It would be so easy if I could just put on a pot of chili and hot dogs and call it dinner. Even pizza night is a pain because I have to cook a veggie or make a special salad. I have a group of nine who just like to sit around at 5:00 and wait for their dinner. Then I get the bulk of clean up. I am lucky if I can get someone who will bbq at least one night during the week. My mom, who is not well most of the time, tries for weeks in advance to plan a meal or two and is too sick to cook it while she is there(I end up cooking her dinner). Mom knows I don't really like to cook every night on my vacation so she tries to plan a full out dinner, which to me is too much work. she is trying to help but there are usually too many ingredients and too many dishes then she gets upset when I try to simplify the meal to make less work. My mom never had to cook for the crowd when we did the beach house thing when I was young and does not understand trying to please everyone and make it easiest for the head cook. Between my mom and my child who is a very picky eater I don't enjoy cooking on vacation. I wish there was some advice to help get my family more involved and make dinner less work. I would be happy with hambugers and salad. I love all of the positive responses on this page! I wish I could be more positive about my family vacation in a beach house on the beach. I am nothing but stressed! It would be so easy if I could just put on a pot of chili and hot dogs and call it dinner. Even pizza night is a pain because I have to cook a veggie or make a special salad. I have a group of nine who just like to sit around at 5:00 and wait for their dinner. Then I get the bulk of clean up. I am lucky if I can get someone who will bbq at least one night during the week. My mom, who is not well most of the time, tries for weeks in advance to plan a meal or two and is too sick to cook it while she is there(I end up cooking her dinner). Mom knows I don’t really like to cook every night on my vacation so she tries to plan a full out dinner, which to me is too much work. she is trying to help but there are usually too many ingredients and too many dishes then she gets upset when I try to simplify the meal to make less work. My mom never had to cook for the crowd when we did the beach house thing when I was young and does not understand trying to please everyone and make it easiest for the head cook. Between my mom and my child who is a very picky eater I don’t enjoy cooking on vacation. I wish there was some advice to help get my family more involved and make dinner less work. I would be happy with hambugers and salad.

]]> By: Vacation Tips: Feeding the Family while on Vacation! http://reluctantentertainer.com/2010/06/vacation-entertaining-the-head-cook-does-not-clean-up/#comment-22753 Vacation Tips: Feeding the Family while on Vacation! Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:05:26 +0000 http://reluctantentertainer.com/?p=6849#comment-22753 [...] article was written by MJ and featured on the popular blog The Reluctant Entertainer….who by the way just published her first book! It is now available on [...] [...] article was written by MJ and featured on the popular blog The Reluctant Entertainer….who by the way just published her first book! It is now available on [...]

]]> By: Melissa D http://reluctantentertainer.com/2010/06/vacation-entertaining-the-head-cook-does-not-clean-up/#comment-21867 Melissa D Fri, 02 Jul 2010 12:03:25 +0000 http://reluctantentertainer.com/?p=6849#comment-21867 Wow, I'll be in the Outer Banks in August with my 20 (gulp) in-laws, so this is really helpful. I plan on making some big casseroleish things in advance, freezing them, and bringing them up with us. I am definitely hitting up TJs beforehand, a fabulous idea! Mary Jean, what farmstands do you recommend? (We'll be in Duck, if that makes a difference.) Or are they all over the OB? Wow, I’ll be in the Outer Banks in August with my 20 (gulp) in-laws, so this is really helpful. I plan on making some big casseroleish things in advance, freezing them, and bringing them up with us. I am definitely hitting up TJs beforehand, a fabulous idea!

Mary Jean, what farmstands do you recommend? (We’ll be in Duck, if that makes a difference.) Or are they all over the OB?
Melissa D´s last [type] ..Working- working- working

]]> By: Debi http://reluctantentertainer.com/2010/06/vacation-entertaining-the-head-cook-does-not-clean-up/#comment-21836 Debi Thu, 01 Jul 2010 04:30:24 +0000 http://reluctantentertainer.com/?p=6849#comment-21836 Ohhhh - I miss vacation on the beach! You captured it well. What a completely refreshing experience! Ohhhh – I miss vacation on the beach! You captured it well. What a completely refreshing experience!

]]> By: Sandy http://reluctantentertainer.com/2010/06/vacation-entertaining-the-head-cook-does-not-clean-up/#comment-21810 Sandy Wed, 30 Jun 2010 06:03:00 +0000 http://reluctantentertainer.com/?p=6849#comment-21810 Oh, loved this post today. Thank you for being my guest here at RE, Mary Jean! xo Oh, loved this post today. Thank you for being my guest here at RE, Mary Jean! xo

]]> By: Aggie http://reluctantentertainer.com/2010/06/vacation-entertaining-the-head-cook-does-not-clean-up/#comment-21807 Aggie Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:27:52 +0000 http://reluctantentertainer.com/?p=6849#comment-21807 I cook more and more when on vacation, now that we are vacationing with our two little ones, it's just easier. I think it will be a little more fun when they get older and can really help, but right now we try to keep things simple by grilling meats, making salads and pasta and enjoying fresh fruit. Now, if I was vacationing with other adults that would be a whole other story! Great post and I love your dress Mary Jean! :) I cook more and more when on vacation, now that we are vacationing with our two little ones, it’s just easier. I think it will be a little more fun when they get older and can really help, but right now we try to keep things simple by grilling meats, making salads and pasta and enjoying fresh fruit. Now, if I was vacationing with other adults that would be a whole other story! Great post and I love your dress Mary Jean! :)
Aggie´s last [type] ..Sneaking it in…

]]> By: Donnetta http://reluctantentertainer.com/2010/06/vacation-entertaining-the-head-cook-does-not-clean-up/#comment-21805 Donnetta Tue, 29 Jun 2010 23:31:13 +0000 http://reluctantentertainer.com/?p=6849#comment-21805 We rented a home at the beach last year when we went with my husband's parents. It was our first time doing something like that. We ate most every meal at the house which also provided a guaranteed view. :-) We enjoyed it immensely! Someday I hope to go back! Thank you for sharing about your time with us. We rented a home at the beach last year when we went with my husband’s parents. It was our first time doing something like that. We ate most every meal at the house which also provided a guaranteed view. :-) We enjoyed it immensely! Someday I hope to go back!

Thank you for sharing about your time with us.
Donnetta´s last [type] ..Do Not Delay

]]> By: Kendra @ My First Kitchen http://reluctantentertainer.com/2010/06/vacation-entertaining-the-head-cook-does-not-clean-up/#comment-21802 Kendra @ My First Kitchen Tue, 29 Jun 2010 20:14:26 +0000 http://reluctantentertainer.com/?p=6849#comment-21802 Those are some purty chickens. Those are some purty chickens.

]]> By: Tickled Red http://reluctantentertainer.com/2010/06/vacation-entertaining-the-head-cook-does-not-clean-up/#comment-21801 Tickled Red Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:01:41 +0000 http://reluctantentertainer.com/?p=6849#comment-21801 Whether we are camping or in the Outer Banks (smile) I always try to make our meals more fun and family oriented. Not everyone wandering off to their own room. I especially love it when some of the teenagers of our friends are intrigued and help out in the kitchen. Whether we are camping or in the Outer Banks (smile) I always try to make our meals more fun and family oriented. Not everyone wandering off to their own room. I especially love it when some of the teenagers of our friends are intrigued and help out in the kitchen.
Tickled Red´s last [type] ..Summer Vegetable Mornay -amp Giveaway

]]> By: lisa http://reluctantentertainer.com/2010/06/vacation-entertaining-the-head-cook-does-not-clean-up/#comment-21799 lisa Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:22:59 +0000 http://reluctantentertainer.com/?p=6849#comment-21799 Just last week while we were in Sunriver with several friends all staying in different houses, we ordered Pizza and used paper plates, not like home at all, but we had so much fun visiting all together and all feeling pampered! Just last week while we were in Sunriver with several friends all staying in different houses, we ordered Pizza and used paper plates, not like home at all, but we had so much fun visiting all together and all feeling pampered!

]]> By: Curtis & Sherrie http://reluctantentertainer.com/2010/06/vacation-entertaining-the-head-cook-does-not-clean-up/#comment-21798 Curtis & Sherrie Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:02:28 +0000 http://reluctantentertainer.com/?p=6849#comment-21798 We also have rented a vacation house in the past, our favorite place is Bandon Oregon, and we have always rented the same house. We have always had friends with us and when the kids were small, all 7 of them between us, and when they were teenagers they all brought friends !!! So we have always cooked while on vacation. Like others have posted we all take a night it makes it so much easier then every one gets a night off from the kitchen. We even would make some dishes ahead and freeze them so that all we had to do was plop them in the oven! We have found the best dishes for this were Enchilada's, Lasagne, And Manicotti, a great meal and all you do is fix the salad and butter the bread! This post took me back to Bandon ahh I miss that place I need to book that house again..... Blessings to you and yours Curtis and Sherrie We also have rented a vacation house in the past, our favorite place is Bandon Oregon, and we have always rented the same house. We have always had friends with us and when the kids were small, all 7 of them between us, and when they were teenagers they all brought friends !!! So we have always cooked while on vacation. Like others have posted we all take a night it makes it so much easier then every one gets a night off from the kitchen. We even would make some dishes ahead and freeze them so that all we had to do was plop them in the oven! We have found the best dishes for this were Enchilada’s, Lasagne, And Manicotti, a great meal and all you do is fix the salad and butter the bread! This post took me back to Bandon ahh I miss that place I need to book that house again…..
Blessings to you and yours Curtis and Sherrie

]]> By: Melissa http://reluctantentertainer.com/2010/06/vacation-entertaining-the-head-cook-does-not-clean-up/#comment-21797 Melissa Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:04:08 +0000 http://reluctantentertainer.com/?p=6849#comment-21797 I'm right there with you! Who wants to drag 11 people, in our case, to a restaurant and endure the looks from the staff and other customers when they see 4 kids under 6 heading their way. In fact- we leave soon for our annual trip and I'll be cooking lots of meals for our crew too! Great post!:) I’m right there with you! Who wants to drag 11 people, in our case, to a restaurant and endure the looks from the staff and other customers when they see 4 kids under 6 heading their way. In fact- we leave soon for our annual trip and I’ll be cooking lots of meals for our crew too! Great post!:)

]]> By: Amy from She Wears Many Hats http://reluctantentertainer.com/2010/06/vacation-entertaining-the-head-cook-does-not-clean-up/#comment-21796 Amy from She Wears Many Hats Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:52:21 +0000 http://reluctantentertainer.com/?p=6849#comment-21796 I need to check out Kendra's site for that chicken lesson. Agree with the cleaning up rule. I need to check out Kendra’s site for that chicken lesson. Agree with the cleaning up rule.
Amy from She Wears Many Hats´s last [type] ..Chocolate Candy Bar Pie

]]> By: Chris D http://reluctantentertainer.com/2010/06/vacation-entertaining-the-head-cook-does-not-clean-up/#comment-21793 Chris D Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:06:30 +0000 http://reluctantentertainer.com/?p=6849#comment-21793 My husband, mom, and I spend a week in Ely, MN (near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area) in a privately owned cabin and we keep it simple when it comes to cooking. Mom has a meal plan done ahead of time, we bring as much food from home (less expensive in the Twin Cities than in small towns) and shop for perishables at the last 'big' city. We count on leftovers for a few meals and always eat off of paper plates. After all, who wants to be stuck in front of a sink doing dishes when you could be out enjoying the peaceful north woods, or fishing, catching some rays of sunshine, picking berries, or swimming? My husband, mom, and I spend a week in Ely, MN (near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area) in a privately owned cabin and we keep it simple when it comes to cooking. Mom has a meal plan done ahead of time, we bring as much food from home (less expensive in the Twin Cities than in small towns) and shop for perishables at the last ‘big’ city. We count on leftovers for a few meals and always eat off of paper plates. After all, who wants to be stuck in front of a sink doing dishes when you could be out enjoying the peaceful north woods, or fishing, catching some rays of sunshine, picking berries, or swimming?
Chris D´s last [type] ..Wedding Bouquet Portfolio

]]> By: randee http://reluctantentertainer.com/2010/06/vacation-entertaining-the-head-cook-does-not-clean-up/#comment-21790 randee Tue, 29 Jun 2010 14:17:43 +0000 http://reluctantentertainer.com/?p=6849#comment-21790 what a beautiful place to vacation! i can smell the salt air, i can feel the ocean breezes. it's always an adventure to cook while on vacation & make do with what's available in the condo, isn't it? i love to, especially if there's a group. it's a lot more fun to cook for a crowd than for 2. & roast chicken is a fav of mine to do. everyone loves it! the tomatoes looked fabulous, too! & oh my, the dress. how cute! i'd love to be able to wear something like that anytime at all. what a beautiful place to vacation! i can smell the salt air, i can feel the ocean breezes.

it’s always an adventure to cook while on vacation & make do with what’s available in the condo, isn’t it? i love to, especially if there’s a group. it’s a lot more fun to cook for a crowd than for 2. & roast chicken is a fav of mine to do. everyone loves it!

the tomatoes looked fabulous, too!

& oh my, the dress. how cute! i’d love to be able to wear something like that anytime at all.
randee´s last [type] ..someone’s daughter- someone’s child

]]> By: Kirstin http://reluctantentertainer.com/2010/06/vacation-entertaining-the-head-cook-does-not-clean-up/#comment-21789 Kirstin Tue, 29 Jun 2010 14:05:49 +0000 http://reluctantentertainer.com/?p=6849#comment-21789 We often entertain while on vacation, whether it's a rental house, or staying with family. If with family, I offer to cook a meal or two and we're always in the kitchen together for all the other meals. On vacation in sunriver Oregon (our fave spot), we often invite others to join us throughout our stay. We assign guests to a meal or two and we all take turns. We often entertain while on vacation, whether it’s a rental house, or staying with family. If with family, I offer to cook a meal or two and we’re always in the kitchen together for all the other meals. On vacation in sunriver Oregon (our fave spot), we often invite others to join us throughout our stay. We assign guests to a meal or two and we all take turns.
Kirstin´s last [type] ..Feeding the Family Well

]]> By: Becky K. http://reluctantentertainer.com/2010/06/vacation-entertaining-the-head-cook-does-not-clean-up/#comment-21787 Becky K. Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:23:00 +0000 http://reluctantentertainer.com/?p=6849#comment-21787 It is always more fun to cook on vacation for some reason. Maybe it is because I really love to cook but there are just too many distractions at home to make it fun. Either way, this is a beautiful post and I related to it...all the way...until you got to the cute dress. Wish I could look that cute! lol Becky K. It is always more fun to cook on vacation for some reason. Maybe it is because I really love to cook but there are just too many distractions at home to make it fun. Either way, this is a beautiful post and I related to it…all the way…until you got to the cute dress. Wish I could look that cute! lol

Becky K.
Becky K.´s last [type] ..Lilies and Hydrangea

]]> By: The Reluctant Entertainer ~ I’m a guest writer today! http://reluctantentertainer.com/2010/06/vacation-entertaining-the-head-cook-does-not-clean-up/#comment-21784 The Reluctant Entertainer ~ I’m a guest writer today! Tue, 29 Jun 2010 11:38:24 +0000 http://reluctantentertainer.com/?p=6849#comment-21784 [...] check out my post on Entertaining on Vacation over on her blog The Reluctant [...] [...] check out my post on Entertaining on Vacation over on her blog The Reluctant [...]

]]> By: Kim @ Homesteader's Heart http://reluctantentertainer.com/2010/06/vacation-entertaining-the-head-cook-does-not-clean-up/#comment-21783 Kim @ Homesteader's Heart Tue, 29 Jun 2010 11:30:28 +0000 http://reluctantentertainer.com/?p=6849#comment-21783 Ahhh vacation. Ahhh the Outer Banks. Ahh someone else cleaning up the kitchen. All good things. LOL! Lovely post and I'm ready for vacation!!! Ahhh vacation. Ahhh the Outer Banks. Ahh someone else cleaning up the kitchen. All good things. LOL!
Lovely post and I’m ready for vacation!!!

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