Menu planning

Todd M Caldwell

Active Member
Oct 7, 2018
145
Port St Lucie, FL
Boat Info
1998 290 Sundancer
Engines
5.0 Alpha
I know someone out there has to be a Chief.... With limited pots and pans and a tiny microwave with a small two burner stove, kind of limits the menu options for a weekend trip. Any resources out there for a menu planning onboard.
Todd
 
we replaced the microwave with a toaster oven - opens up all kinds of possibilities - we prepare and freeze most meals at home - marinated chicken breast, boil in bag rice - of course grilling is popular too
 
Kinda of related. For nearly my whole life, ive been in to camping and hiking. Back country type camping, not the tenement of wheels kind. With some creativity, I have found that I can cook just about anything in the woods, I can do at home in my own kitchen.

Rice, potatoes and boil-bag veggies are easy one pot side dishes.

Beef, chicken, pork chops and fish can be done on the other burner.

Fajitas (steak, chicken or shrimp or all 3) with veggies and spanish rice side. Garden salad

Pork chops with carrots and green pepper in golden mushroom soup with mashed potatoes and salad.

Breakfast is even easier. IF you want to actually cook something: french toast or omelets (use the rest of unused veggies from the fajitas) or scramble egg omelets fajita wraps. All one pan meals.
 
we replaced the microwave with a toaster oven - opens up all kinds of possibilities - we prepare and freeze most meals at home - marinated chicken breast, boil in bag rice - of course grilling is popular too
Toaster oven sounds like a great idea. Any pictures? Size. Etc.

Todd
 
Kinda of related. For nearly my whole life, ive been in to camping and hiking. Back country type camping, not the tenement of wheels kind. With some creativity, I have found that I can cook just about anything in the woods, I can do at home in my own kitchen.

Rice, potatoes and boil-bag veggies are easy one pot side dishes.

Beef, chicken, pork chops and fish can be done on the other burner.

Fajitas (steak, chicken or shrimp or all 3) with veggies and spanish rice side. Garden salad

Pork chops with carrots and green pepper in golden mushroom soup with mashed potatoes and salad.

Breakfast is even easier. IF you want to actually cook something: french toast or omelets (use the rest of unused veggies from the fajitas) or scramble egg omelets fajita wraps. All one pan meals.
I have thought about preparing meals at home and then freezing them Even thought about bringing a crockpot But I have to fix the generator first

Todd
 
We have made omelette’s in a bag for breakfast for many years. A high quality freezer bags will stand up to the boiling water. Add your eggs, cheese, peppers, onions and your choice of meat. Throw it in the boiling water on your stove. The thing I like is the clean up is super easy and all you need is a toaster which is easy to store on the boat.
 
We have made omelette’s in a bag for breakfast for many years. A high quality freezer bags will stand up to the boiling water. Add your eggs, cheese, peppers, onions and your choice of meat. Throw it in the boiling water on your stove. The thing I like is the clean up is super easy and all you need is a toaster which is easy to store on the boat.

Did that in scouts always a hit with the kids.

Todd
 
I have thought about preparing meals at home and then freezing them Even thought about bringing a crockpot But I have to fix the generator first

Todd
meats can be cooked at home, then bagged. fresh veggies can be nukes in the mirco at home prior, to soften and reduce cook time. Either freeze or just frig depending on your boat, reduces on site cook time. In camp, this reduces fuel used, as you are really just warming the meal up. On a boat, it will reduce gen run time or house battery consumption, but having some of the meal already cooked.
 
We use the Magma grill exclusively even though I do not like it. Had a Dock neighbor buy one of these and I have got to have one. It is the best! Uses the same small propane bottles and does it all!

74E94EB1-C696-4209-8A9C-F588844D9043.jpeg
 
We use the Magma grill exclusively even though I do not like it. Had a Dock neighbor buy one of these and I have got to have one. It is the best! Uses the same small propane bottles and does it all!

View attachment 61917
Just a word of caution I would not use propane below deck....
 
We use the Magma grill exclusively even though I do not like it. Had a Dock neighbor buy one of these and I have got to have one. It is the best! Uses the same small propane bottles and does it all!

View attachment 61917

A quality griddle that fits on the magma should work as well.

MM
 
Our rule of thumb is to reheat in the boat and cook off the boat. the microwave is great for reheating things you prepare at home. For a weekend most things can be refrigerated.

Off the boat we will use a propane grill, electric grill or butane cooktop. Lately we have been using an electric grill as most docs will not allow you to use a regular barbecue with flame.

-Kevin
 
We use all of the above. Keep a toaster oven and electric (smokeless) grill on the boat along with our Magma. Built a snap on counter top out of thick starboard that goes over the cockpit sink area for a nice outdoor cooking area for the electric grill and toaster oven. Then use that area as a serving area so as not to tie up the SR table. The electric grill works really nice, especially when at marinas when cannot use magma. We have a griddle that fits on the electric or magma as well. Never did the boil thing, like the idea and will certainly incorporate it for next season. We try to do as much of our cooking outside of the cabin so as to not "stink" and heat it up.
 
I used to cook breakfast eggs in the bag but it takes forever to cook them in boiling water. Now I crack 3 eggs, scramble them and pour them into a zip lock sandwich size baggie. Add in meat and extras at this time. Then I freeze them. They stack nicely in the freezer as they're only about 1/2" thick.

I take tomorrow's eggs out of the freezer today and put them in the refrig. They're thawed by breakfast time tomorrow and ready to cook.

We don't prepare most food at home. Too much bother and time used. We do a lot of slow cooker meals and use the Magma a LOT. My Magma is about 20 years old and works like new. The slow cooker runs on the inverter while we're cruising or on the hook so no need for the genset.
 
You can cook and refrigerate the eggs and then very quickly microwave to heat. We will make biscuits and bring them along (they hold without refrigeration for long a weekend) and have the eggs (cooked omelet style and sliced and refrigerated), cooked breakfast sausage patties (refrigerated) and sliced cheese (refrigerated). We build them and then couple of quick seconds in the microwave and you will have a tasty egg sandwich.

-Kevin
 

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