Stocking the kitchen of your vacation home rental

Stocking the Kitchen of your Vacation Home Rental There's something really nice about spending a week or two in a vacation home rental, as opposed to a hotel room or cruise ship cabin. For one, you usually have a lot more space. Two, you don't have to deal with noisy people stomping down the hall at three in the morning. Three, you can really make yourself at home (and save quite a bit of money!) by settling in and cooking meals in the kitchen.

Unfortunately, most vacation rentals don't come with a fully stocked kitchen. In fact, you're often lucky to find salt and pepper. So, many vacationers find themselves wandering around an unfamiliar grocery store on the first day of their vacations, trying to figure out what they'll want to eat for the rest of the week. All too often, this results in buying too much of some foods, not enough of others, and forgetting the basic essentials that would really make you feel comfortable while you're trying to relax in your rental.

A better bet is to pack pantry items at home and take it with you, or at least to compile a list so that you have it on hand when you leave for the store after arriving at your destination. Plan on having some items on hand to make a simple Italian dish, such as pasta, garlic, olive oil, and some canned tomatoes (unless fresh tomatoes are available at the local farmer's market).

You can add high-quality canned tuna to the pasta to make it a little more filling or, if tuna suddenly doesn't grab your attention on pasta night, you'll have it on hand for sandwiches. Sandwiches themselves are easy and fast meals and if you have a good loaf of bread, you can get a selection of meats, cheeses, and jams and then mix and match to keep everyone happy.

In the morning, you'll want to have some staples, so be sure to grab eggs, milk, and a box of Bisquick, especially if you're feeding a family. (Bisquick also makes great dinner rolls and dumplings when you just add water, so it's a wonderful vacation food.) Don't forget the maple syrup, which can also be used to top ice cream or sweeten lemonade in a pinch. Other condiments will also probably come in handy, so be sure that you have salt, pepper, mustard, vinegar, and any of your favorite spices (such as cinammon or red pepper flakes) on hand.

Finally, if there are kitchen tools that you just can't live without, such as your favorite bottle opener, an often-used chef's knife, or a Magic Bullet, you should plan on taking those with you. It's one thing to get used to an unfamiliar stove...there's no reason to challenge yourself by removing your favorite cooking tools from the mix.

More vacation home rental tips on this website: Vacation-now.com