One of the best ways to save money on a Maui vacation is to put the kitchen in your spacious Sands of Kahana guest unit to good use. You’ll save hundreds by preparing your own meals instead of eating out during every meal. Hardly anyone wants to spend their entire vacation cooking, however. That’s why we’ve come up with these easy meals that are simple to make in a small kitchen.
Chef Salad
This is a great meal because it doesn’t require you to actually cook anything at all. It’s also nice to have some fresh vegetables after eating airport food. At a grocery store, just buy pre-washed, bagged lettuce, your favorite vegetables and some cold cuts and cheese. Chop up everything and make a salad. Best of all, if you buy some bread you can turn your leftovers into a portable lunch for the next few days.
Spaghetti and sausage
All you need for this recipe is the ability to boil water and a pot. You can make it on a single burner. Place the sausage in the pot and cook thoroughly. Leave it in the pot and add water. As the water boils, add noodles. Once the noodles are cooked, drain the water and add a jar of pre-made spaghetti sauce. Turn off the burner, and spoon the warm sauce, cooked sausage and noodles onto plates.
Chicken and rice
Lay 2-3 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breast. Cook on med-high for five to ten minutes. Then, add 2 cups of water to the skillet and one cup of quick-cook rice. Cook until the rice is ready, then eat. If desired, add a side salad or other vegetable.
Microwave S’more
This is an easy dessert to make, and the kids can even do it themselves. Place one marshmallow per family member on a plate and microwave on High for 15-20 seconds. Marshmallows will get hot and puffy very quickly. Remove from microwave and use a spoon to scoop each one onto graham crackers with chocolate.
Tacos
This is a great meal if you’re serving a large crowd. Brown hamburger meat in a skillet. Season with a store-bought seasoning packet or just use a blend of chili powder and paprika. While the meat is browning, chop up lettuce, tomatoes, peppers and cheese. Have everyone make their own dinner by scooping their own meat and toppings into tortillas. If desired, serve with chips and salsa or guacamole. By the way, there are several specialty shops in Vegas that offer spices and hot sauces that you just can’t find anywhere else. You might want to bring back something special before making this meal.
Hamburger Stroganoff
You can make this meal in one skillet. Start by browning a pound of hamburger meat. Season with pepper and salt. Once it’s cooked, add two cups of water and one cup of egg noodles. While the noodles are cooking, add a package of onion soup mix. Serve as soon as the noodles are fully cooked. If desired, pair this dish with a side salad or vegetable.