Plan meals ahead for a relaxing beach vacation

DEAR ACCIDENTAL CHEF: This summer, our family will be renting a beach house with two other families. We'll have six adults and five school-age children. I've volunteered to do some of the cooking, and I am trying to come up with dinner ideas. I'm looking for suggestions that are cost-effective, kid-friendly and also good for a crowd. Any ideas? I don't know the kitchen set-up either, so simple might be better. - Super Mom

DEAR MOM: Cooking on a budget for this many people can present its own challenges, but throw in a rented kitchen that often comes with an empty refrigerator and bare cupboards, and your relaxing vacation could turn into a full-blown job for you.

Don't forget that this week away is also your opportunity to relax, and you don't want to spend it slaving over a hot stove. So what's a super-mom to do to feed the fantastic fam while not overworking herself?

Plan.

As a frequent visitor to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and subsequent beach-house renter, I have found that planning our eating week not only spares me excessive time in the kitchen but also saves a ton of money.

Begin by deciding how many nights you'll be eating in and how many you'll be dining out. From there, nail down (as best you can) what types of meals you'll want to make and how you want to handle breakfasts and lunches (i.e. as sit-down affairs or fend for yourself).

For us, one evening we might fix fish on the grill, and the next we'll whip up a simple pasta with a fresh salad. The following night, we'll take a break from cooking and grab some take-out or dine in a restaurant. The subsequent night, we'll steam some peel-and-eat shrimp or crabs and eat at the picnic table.

Breakfast and lunch are usually fend-for-yourself affairs, but I make sure we have plenty of sandwich fillings, chips, milk and cereal. I'm a firm believer in simple is better, and that casual is best.

For shopping, I recommend bringing as many non-perishables as you can comfortably fit into your car. Buying items you already own isn't budget-friendly, and spending precious vacation hours in the grocery store instead of on the beach isn't vacation-friendly.

I always pack a small bottle of olive oil, which has a multitude of uses, from dressings to brushing vegetables on the grill. Salt, pepper, sugar and a few dried spices also make my list since rental homes are sometimes not stocked with these basics. Also, if you have a cooler, take as many condiments as you can from home (ketchup, mayo, mustard). Lastly, don't forget a decent chef's knife (and even a cutting board), because chopping onions with a dull, overused knife is neither safe nor swift.

A great idea for the first night would be to make a lasagna or enchilada casserole ahead of time, freeze it, and then thaw it in a cooler on the way to the beach. By the time you get there, you'll have one meal ready to roll. The same goes for burgers. Make burger patties in advance and freeze them. Then have a grilling party once you arrive.

For menu ideas that keep the whole family happy, creating a do-it-yourself taco bar, panini bar or baked-potato bar is a great way to get the kids involved, and other than set-up, there's minimal work for mom.

For dessert, instead of baking, set up a sundae bar complete with ice cream, syrups, brownie pieces, pound cake pieces, whipped cream and nuts, and you've got a delectable ending that will transport the whole gang straight to sugar heaven.

Don't feel like you have to do it all. Let dad be in charge of grilling night, and have the kids join in and make potato salad, pasta salad, dips or spreads. Kids also can double as breakfast chefs. Let them flip the pancakes or dip the French toast. Finally, make it a policy that everyone helps with cleanup. Opting for paper plates and plasticware can make life even easier.

My best advice is to never forget that you're on vacation, too. Sometimes it's easy to fall back into old routines, even while on holiday, so don't be afraid to kick back with a good book whenever you feel like it, because even super moms deserve some beach time.
Kendra Bailey Morris is a Richmond-based food writer, culinary instructor and author of "White Trash Gatherings: From-Scratch Cooking for Down-Home Entertaining" (Ten Speed Press). Send ideas, tips or culinary questions to info@theaccidentalchef.net or visit www.theaccidentalchef.net.