Self catering-What meals would you make?

[Thatbigbowinherhair]

Going on a mini break with Dh and Dd, 4 for a few days in a small villa. We want to eat at home for breakfast and dinner, to keep costs down a little and just have lunch out.
We plan to eat on the balcony/terrace, villa is completely equipped-what would you make for dinner? Any ideas for treat/nicer breakfasts also?
Ideally I don’t want to spend ages cooking dinner, but would like it to be something nice
First holiday in three years! 🙈

Where are you going? I'd look for specialities of the region, so local cheeses, fruits, cold meats, etc, and have tapas. Add some baguettes and you're sorted.

@piedbeauty Portugal-it doesn’t look to be hot, but a bit of sun

Seconded ^^ There's no point in going abroad only to eat Pot Noodles and Marmite on toast all the time

Ah, perfect! Then yes - local food. Local fruit. Cold/cured ham, olives, antipasto, etc. Or risotto using local veg.

Enjoy - sounds lush!

Have a nice holiday, by the way!

And sausages - apparently Portuguese sausages are a thing. Do you have a barbie?

Fresh fish in Portugal is amazing. Pick some up from the local markets and enjoy.
We love the locally caught prawns which can be boiled and eaten without too much faff.

Ah what everyone has already said - local food, cheeses, cold meat etc

They do some lovely fish dishes. Also amazing things with cheese. Can’t remember the names of anything!

Breakfast

• nothing like the excitement of trying continental cereals with that UHT milk
• nice pastries, fruit, yoghurt etc.
• eggs are handy for an easy cooked breakfast or dinner.

Dinner

• local delicacies like PP said
• simple pasta dishes and a glass of wine, will keep things easy to cook/clean - maybe a tomatoey sauce once night, a more cream and meat based sauce another night, and a shop bought tapas "picky tea" another?

Have a fab time!

DD always went off milk abroad so she had yoghurt and fruit for breakfast with a bit of bread and ja.
DH and I had mainly bread, jam, honey. We are not fans of savoury breakfast.

Dinner - cold cured meat, cheese, BBQ fish, veggies and chicken for DD, pasta.

A good local bakery will have nice pastors and some savoury items could eat with salad - also see if you can a takeaway from a nearby restaurant, eating out is present reasonable so take away should be too especially with local wine or beer from supermarket

We have yogurt, fruit, pastries/bread and some cheese or ham for breakfast when we are away.

Evenings we'll usually do pasta one night, simple BBQ meat with bread and salad another night and maybe tuna steaks with salad and potatoes.

We do like going to to markets and supermarkets when we're away and just picking up fresh local produce.

Keep it really easy. If you are eating out at lunchtime then even a cheese sandwich with a few bits on the side tastes so much better when you are outside with a glass of wine.

If you are a relatively decent cook, I wouldn't meal plan ahead at all. Hit the markets, or even supermarkets. Cook simple dishes with fresh ingredients, based on whatever you see you fancy. I love food shopping on holiday!