2 weeks self catering - help!

[amidaiwish]

we are off to spain for 2 weeks, self catering.
We've been there before so i know the place is well kitted out (oven, hob, microwave, fridge/freezer etc.) and there are some good supermarkets nearby. However the thought of having to feed the 4 of us (DH, me, DD1 3.2 and DD2 19m) is filling me with dread.

Any tips/advice/ideas on what i can do to make it less painful? I don't really want to spend hours in the kitchen each day.

p.s. I am happy to pack a cool bag and bring it with me!

Thanks

Hi, i normally just make a big breakfast in morning, bacon, sausages,eggs,etc. Then come lunch time, kids only want a snack. Then we go out for an evening meal. Or if were staying in, we get a french stick, salami, cheese and make french bread pizza, quick only takes 15mins to make and cook

do you not cook at home?

I actually find self-catering much more relaxing. I don't mind being full catered for a long weekend say, but any longer and I'd rather self-cater.

I would echo the last poster's comment. Do you cook at home? What do you normally eat? Just try some variation on that.

For what it's worth, this is our rough eating plan on holiday:

breakfast - cereal or toast.
lunch - either take a packed lunch with us for a day out, or occasionally we grab a pasty/sandwich or whatever when out.

Evening meal - for a week's holiday we would eat out 2-3 times, one of those possibly being a fish and chips on the promenade sort of meal.

The rest we cook, but only things that are quick and easy. It's often a welcome break for the kids to relax inside after a day on the beach or sightseeing or whatever.

Pasta with a home-made tomato sauce takes about 30 mins. Or cheat with a bought sauce if you'd rather. Or do a spaghetti bolognaise, again quick and easy.

Baked potatoes with tuna mayonnaise and a side salad. Or whatever toppings you like for your baked potatoes.

Lots of salads - vary the protein content and the carbs, so you might have a simple cheese ploughmans or quiche or cold meat or whatever. Serve with potatoes or rice or just nice bread.

Things on toast - beans on toast with grated cheese on top is quick and yummy and can be a 'proper' meal. Ditto toasted sandwiches. Again, serve some salad on the side if you like.

Baked fish - takes about 30 mins, cook the veg while the fish is in the oven.
Sausages - sausage casserole, quick and easy, just bung in the oven. Sausage and mash with veg or beans, or sausage sandwiches served with crisps or chips or salad on the side.

These are all things the whole family should be able to eat - my children would eat them at the sort of ages yours are.

If you really don't want to do much cooking, just shop for a nice selection of different cold meats, cheeses, salads etc and serve them up in different combinations with different sorts of bread, potatoes, chips, pasta etc.

Try to have a few ideas in mind before you go out, just in case you get stuck for ideas.

You don't have to cook when self-catering. We generally eat out, but at least have the option of eating in or entertaining.

thanks for your ideas.
yes of course i cook at home, just they are at nursery 3 days/week and i was wondering whether i could also prep a lot of things in advance, e.g. marinades/pasta bakes etc... rather than spend a lot of time in the kitchen every day when i would rather be outside!
looking for ideas of things i can take with me, like baked beans is one i know as i couldn't get them in spain last time.

buy some of those sachets of rice that cook in the moicrowave in 2 mins - that kinda thing is dead easy, add some nice chicken, sausage, whatever and some salad. Keep it easy and eat out wen possible. Don't slave in the kitchen, it'll be too hot for big fancy meals.

good idea! thanks