breakfast/lunch on the cheap

[tarponhead]

When you go away on a destination ski trip, and stay in those crappy (i.e. cheap) hotels that may not even have a coffee pot, what do you do about breakfast/lunch?

I got two boys to feed. I know a cooler will help out, just bring lunch up to the lodge. But, left to my own devices it will just be PB&Js...

Looking for some creative culinary tips here for eating on the cheap. Especially breakfast.

Dinner will have to be at a restaruant, otherwise I will have a mutiny on my hands :grin:

 

[severine]

Bring cereal. I can get cereal for as cheap as free if I match coupons with sales. Right now, I have about 24 boxes of it stockpiled. Was up to over 40 boxes that I paid less than $10 for.

What's wrong with PB&J's? Peanut butter=protein, which is useful when exercising. Plus some quick carbs for energy in the J. If you choose good bread, you'll also have some slow carbs for sustained energy.

Other options:

*Oatmeal. Get hot water for free on the way or at the mountain.
*Granola/Cereal bars
*Cheese sticks or BabyBel cheese
*Single-serve packets of nuts
*Jerky
*Bananas (excellent recovery food!)
*Apples or Oranges
*Energy bars (but choose a natural one like Lara Bars or Raw)
*trail mix

Just some quick ideas. I tend to brown bag for most occasions to save money and these are the usuals.

 

[tarponhead]

good ideas Sev, especially the jerky! thx

 

[dmc]

make baked potatoes... Put some cheese and some bacon in them... Wrap in foil and drop in your pack..
they hold the heat really well... so they are still warm for lunch...

it's heaven...

 

[tarponhead]

make baked potatoes... Put some cheese and some bacon in them... Wrap in foil and drop in your pack..
they hold the heat really well... so they are still warm for lunch...

it's heaven...

Your not kidding! That sounds delic...

 

[RootDKJ]

Salami and cheese on rye. I keep them in my Camelpak along with jerky, energy bars, cheese sticks.... Use mustard packs in the lodge for my sandwich.

At K, I'd stop by the Killington Mart in the morning for a egg sandwich and coffee for breakfast. I usually also pack some Sunny D to get my day started.

On day trips to Blue, I just grab some grub at home, but I often stop at the Blue Mountain Drive In on the way home for brunch.

Locally, I like the Mapleleaf, on Maplewood Ave...in Maplewood. I don't think anything on the menu is more than $5.

 

[deadheadskier]

graze samples at local cheese shops. worked for me in college :grin:

 

[severine]

graze samples at local cheese shops. worked for me in college :grin:

:lol: Cabot!!!! You might get some chocolate samples, too.

I like the baked potato idea!

 

[playoutside]

In addition to your cooler, you could pick up a thermos and a hot-pot to boil water at the hotel. They are cheap at Target/Walmart-type stores. It'll give you some warm options for winter.

Breakfast: Oatmeal, tea, hot chocolate
Lunch: canned soup, cup of noodles

If you are brave and willing to clean the hot pot regularly, you can make baked beans and most canned foods right in the hot pot.

If that sounds like trouble and you are just dealing with the cooler and trying to fill everybody up:

bagels (lunch or dinner)
tuna
PB&J rules!
Cereal
Fruit
Pop tarts (not very filling really)

 

[dmc]

graze samples at local cheese shops. worked for me in college :grin:

You are a "wookie"!! I'm convinced now...

 

[tarponhead]

In addition to your cooler, you could pick up a thermos and a hot-pot to boil water at the hotel. They are cheap at Target/Walmart-type stores. It'll give you some warm options for winter.

My first ski-related purchase for 09/10'

 

[deadheadskier]

Also could be a good opportunity to teach your boys the wonder that is tailgating. Get yourself a hibachi and get your grill on tarpon

 

[tarponhead]

Also could be a good opportunity to teach your boys the wonder that is tailgating. Get yourself a hibachi and get your grill on tarpon

Rutgers season football ticket holder here so they are well versed in that regard. But I never thunk to bring the hibachi (small weber actually) up to the slopes..... I can do this at Blue as the car/lodge distance is pretty close (we get there early)

I'm gettin an education here! very cool

 

[playoutside]

Also could be a good opportunity to teach your boys the wonder that is tailgating. Get yourself a hibachi and get your grill on tarpon

A twist on this idea is to just bring a propane camping stove...bacon and eggs, french toast or pancakes for breakfast!! Pain in the butt from a time perspective, but nice way to start the day. Maybe better to make dinners at your cheap hotel instead.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

When you go away on a destination ski trip, and stay in those crappy (i.e. cheap) hotels that may not even have a coffee pot, what do you do about breakfast/lunch?

I got two boys to feed. I know a cooler will help out, just bring lunch up to the lodge. But, left to my own devices it will just be PB&Js...

Looking for some creative culinary tips here for eating on the cheap. Especially breakfast.

Dinner will have to be at a restaruant, otherwise I will have a mutiny on my hands :grin:

I just go to a local bagel place and get a breakfast sandwich...sometimes just tomato and cheddar on a bagel..cheaper and faster than a sitdown place..for lunch pack sandwiches in a cooler..I've also always been a fan of pocket meat..just put some meat in your pocket and munch when appropriate...almonds and MnMs are also good..

 

[Geoff]

I have a 1 liter JetBoil gas heater. It's discrete enough that you can use it in the base lodge. I've done some pretty elaborate on-mountain lunches for friends and house guests from leftovers I freeze in plastic quart containers. When I'm cooking dinner, I always make large amounts and freeze all the leftovers. Shrimp gumbo with rice and corn bread. Bouliabasse with toasted french bread croutons and aioli spread. Home made chili with corn bread. Lamb barley soup. Beef stew. Chicken-lentil stew. Pea soup with ham. If I think of it, I pull it out the afternoon before and let it thaw on the counter. If I forget, I microwave it in the morning. I have a wide mouth thermos and some nalgine bottles for bringing it to the mountain. Things like rice and corn bread go in a zip lock baggie. I have some cheap chinese restaurant plastic (melamine, actually) soup bowls I throw in my day pack along with some real soup spoons. If I have unplanned friends hovering and have enough, I'll grab some paper coffee cups and paper insulators from the cafeteria line or espresso kiosk along with plastic soup spoons.

When I'm solo, I keep my day pack in a cooler in the SUV so it doesn't freeze and bring it to the base lodge at noon.

This is the kind of stuff I usually bring to the hill:
Medjool dates and other dried fruit
Raw almonds, peanuts (I buy mine bulk in BJ's Wholesale)
Apples
Oranges
Bananas
Hard boiled eggs
Carrots & celery with hummus. I'll chop up red pepper and cucumber sometimes, too.
Some slices of cheddar cheese or those waxed BabyBel cheeses

For spring skiing, my lunch revolves around a little Weber charcoal kettle grill.

If you're cheap motel room camping for breakfast, you can always throw a waffle maker into your bag and use 'just add water' mix. You have a car so you can bring whatever cheap electric appliances you want. Coffee maker. A little microwave. A little hot plate and a skillet or sautee pan. With little effort, you can set yourself up with a complete portable kitchen and make a game out of it. If you use a wheeled bag, it's no big deal to lug it between your car and the room. Ditto with a wheeled cooler.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

graze samples at local cheese shops. worked for me in college :grin:

yeah and didn't you say you got booted out of cabot? I did once but then other times I would buy a 75 cent apple cidar jug(probably $1.50 now) with samples on the way in and out..

inside tip..if you hide cheese in your sleeve...remember to eat every piece of cheese..

 

[dmc]

Back in the day at Hunter... I heard they moved some ski lockers and found lockers joined together with full on electricity hook ups with microwave ovens, small fridges and coffee makers...

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

So Geoff is that dude with the crockpot in the lodge..lol..

 

[tarponhead]

I have a 1 liter JetBoil gas heater. It's discrete enough that you can use it in the base lodge. I've done some pretty elaborate on-mountain lunches for friends and house guests from leftovers I freeze in plastic quart containers. When I'm cooking dinner, I always make large amounts and freeze all the leftovers. Shrimp gumbo with rice and corn bread. Bouliabasse with toasted french bread croutons and aioli spread. Home made chili with corn bread. Lamb barley soup. Beef stew. Chicken-lentil stew. Pea soup with ham. If I think of it, I pull it out the afternoon before and let it thaw on the counter. If I forget, I microwave it in the morning. I have a wide mouth thermos and some nalgine bottles for bringing it to the mountain. Things like rice and corn bread go in a zip lock baggie. I have some cheap chinese restaurant plastic (melamine, actually) soup bowls I throw in my day pack along with some real soup spoons. If I have unplanned friends hovering and have enough, I'll grab some paper coffee cups and paper insulators from the cafeteria line or espresso kiosk along with plastic soup spoons.

When I'm solo, I keep my day pack in a cooler in the SUV so it doesn't freeze and bring it to the base lodge at noon.

This is the kind of stuff I usually bring to the hill:
Medjool dates and other dried fruit
Raw almonds, peanuts (I buy mine bulk in BJ's Wholesale)
Apples
Oranges
Bananas
Hard boiled eggs
Carrots & celery with hummus. I'll chop up red pepper and cucumber sometimes, too.
Some slices of cheddar cheese or those waxed BabyBel cheeses

For spring skiing, my lunch revolves around a little Weber charcoal kettle grill.

If you're cheap motel room camping for breakfast, you can always throw a waffle maker into your bag and use 'just add water' mix. You have a car so you can bring whatever cheap electric appliances you want. Coffee maker. A little microwave. A little hot plate and a skillet or sautee pan. With little effort, you can set yourself up with a complete portable kitchen and make a game out of it. If you use a wheeled bag, it's no big deal to lug it between your car and the room. Ditto with a wheeled cooler.

I'm not worthy!!! (said as I bow close to the floor.... I just watched Waynes World 1 & 2 last night)

"Complete portable kitchen"...... I think you may have just created a monster here :beer:

How do ski areas in general regard tailgating. I mean, if I breakout the weber at Stowe, are they gonna freak or is this commonly done? (blatant newbie question I know)