Cheap and Easy Condo Eating

Imagine spending a great day on the slopes with your better half and the lovely kiddies. The snow was perfect and everyone had a wonderful time but now you’re back at the condo and the kids are telling you in their oh so pleasant voices, “Mooom, I’m hungry.” To top it off, your husband is giving you one of those sexy come hither looks from across the room but you’re not fooled because you already know what’s really running through his mind “Honey… Dear… Lovebug… I’m hungry.” And, there you have it, you’ve magically turned into Chef Gordon Ramsey in a matter of seconds and if grub does not hit the kitchen table soon, riots will ensue.

Now, what’s your course of action?
1) Drive to the nearest fast food joint. (Nope.)
2) Hide in a closet and hope no one finds you. (Maybe.)
3) Smile. You have this on lockdown because you planned ahead for this exact moment. (Yes!)

Besides forking over major moola for gas, gear, lodging, and lift tickets (but, less if you use Liftopia.com), the last thing you want to do is spend more on money dining out because it can really add up in the long run. Your best defense – say it with me – is a CROCKPOT. Make the crockpot your new best friend because it’s one of the best kitchen appliances when you’re staying at a condo or rental home.

Crockpots are the best. Why?
– Easy clean up
– Simple food preparation (which means more time with the family, friends, and snow)
– Budget friendly (Can you say “I like saving money”?)
– Leftovers (YUM!)

(And, this is when you thank your lucky stars that you stood in line at Target on that fateful Black Friday and paid $10 smackers for that amazing crockpot you pushed an old lady to the side for, knowing it would come in handy one day. Not sure when, but one day.)

Below are four recipes to get you started: dinner, dessert, and breakfast that are all very quick and easy to prepare.

Ingredients
1 – pork roast
1 ½ cups cola
1 – 8 oz. bottle barbeque sauce (your favorite)

Directions
1- Cut all visible fat from roast, put in crock and cook 12 hrs (You could set this to cook all night) on low.
2 – Pour soda over the roast to give it a little extra flavor.
3 – Remove meat from crock and drain all juice from crock.
4 – Shred meat and return to crock add 1 bottle barbecue sauce and cola and cook 5-6 hrs more.

CROCKPOT GLAZED CARROTS
Total Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 7 hrs
Serve: 6-8

Ingredients
1 – 2 lb. bag of baby carrots
1 ½ cups water
¼ cup honey
2 Tbsp. butter
¼ tsp. salt
⅛ tsp. pepper

Directions
1- Combine carrots and water in a 3-4 quart crockpot.
2 – Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until carrots are tender when pierced with a fork.
3 – Drain carrots and return to crockpock.
4 – Stir in honey, butter, salt and pepper. Mix well.
5- Cover and cook on low for 30 minutes until glazed.

CHERRY CHOCOLATE CROCKPOT DESSERT
Total Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 3 hrs
Serve: 12

Ingredients
1 – 21 oz. can cherry pie filling
1 – 18 oz. package chocolate cake mix
½ cup butter

Directions
1- Place pie filling in slow cooker.
2 – Combine dry cake mix and butter.
3 – Sprinkle over filling.
4 – Cover and cook on low for 3 hrs.

BREAKFAST APPLE COBBLER (*Start this one right before heading to bed.)
Total Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 8 hrs
Serve: 6

Ingredients
4 – medium sized apples, peeled and sliced (try Honey Crisps)
¼ cup honey
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 Tbsp. melted butter
2 cups granola cereal

Directions
1- Peel and slice apples
2 – Mix apples, honey, cinnamon, butter, and granola cereal in crockpot.
3 – Cover and cook on low for 8 hrs.

Condo eating can be easy and inexpensive, if you plan ahead. If you don’t already own a crockpot, borrow one from a friend or swing by your local Target or Walmart and pick one up for about $20 dollars (remember, Black Friday only happens once a year). And, lastly, if you really want to make use your time, hit up the interwebz and seek out local services like Tahoe To Your Door, which deliver pre-ordered groceries to a rental home or condo before you even arrive. Ugh, I love killing two birds with a few clicks of the mouse.

Let the good times roll. Play a mean game of monopoly with the family, share a nice glass of wine with the hubby, chill out in front of the warm fireplace because you just dodged the hungry family bullet.

What recipes do you turn to for quick and easy condo eating during ski vacations?