10 Things to Eat When You Return From Vacation

So you've been out touring the world and your travels have finally come to an end. You return home and, since you cleaned out your fridge before you left, there's not much in the way of food. You are not quite ready to reenter the "real world", so heading to the grocery store is out of the question. How do you stock your pantry before vacation so you have something to eat when you get back?

There's a difference between having a well stocked pantry and only being able to eat from it exclusively. When your fridge is bare (aside from a few stray condiments) after returning home from vacation you might find yourself in exactly that position. Here's a few things we always have on hand and how we put them to use:

1. Olives: They can be stored in your pantry or fridge without any worry of going bad, but depending on the olives you choose, you can have a wide range of tastes.

2. Frozen Baguettes: We've mentioned before that they freeze easily and can be popped into the oven for some fresh smells and warm tastes, perfect for pairing with any sort of tapenade your pantry can provide.

3. Pasta: After you've boiled your noodles any combination of pantry staples can be tossed in to create a lovely meal. Try corn, artichoke hearts, olives, even pepperoni!

4. Casserole: If you had time to think ahead, using up left over meats and cheese from your refrigerator (before leaving for vacation) can prepare a quick and easy meal to thaw and reheat upon your return.

5. Popcorn: Growing up Sunday night was often popcorn night. A family tradition passed along through the years, we just couldn't get enough (well actually we could, but you know what we mean). It can be a light snack, full meal or even turned into caramel corn if you're needing a sweet treat.

6. Good Chocolate: When on vacation we often splurge a bit when it comes to indulgent foods. Try stocking your pantry with a few really great bars of chocolate to help curb the desire for sweets or something rich and luxurious.

7. Tuna & Sardines: Try tuna from the vacuum seal pouches and a good sardine in a can. They're shelf stable proteins that can top toast, or be added to pasta.

8. Canned Harvested Foods: One of our favorite things to come home to are the goods we canned up over the past year. Freshly bottled peaches, yes please!

9. Frozen Soup Starter: An easy way to clean out the little leftover bits of celery, onion or carrot that are hanging out in your fridge before you leave is to give them a quick dice and freeze them (you can caramelize them first if you wish). You'll have the perfect soup starter to help feed yourself on beans and other canned goods from your pantry.

10. Beans: Beans and weenies, chili, soup — you name it, beans have your back. Cans are easier (no soaking required) but bagged and dry is fine as well.

(Image: Flickr member Pink Fish 13 licensed for use by Creative Commons)

Comments (12)

Great ideas. I like to also keep frozen shrimp (shrimp scampi) or lots of other pasta combos. Also canned clams for clams linguine, at least a easy version of it! Pull out that frozen baguette and you're ready to eat!

Jeez... while normally I *love* to cook, when I come home from vacation it's typically 1) get on the horn & order pizza; or 2) eggs. Then collapse.

or if you're friends with ina garten, she'll surprise you with a delicious meal when you get back!

You got one of my go-to coming home foods. Pasta with sardines or tuna or anchovies. Late in the evening, brain and body fighting over which time zone they are in, this simple meal and a wee dab of adult beverage seems to do the trick.

@kosherfoodies - that was hilarious.

Agreed - unpacking is enough of a chore! Not to mention overcoming jet lag, hehe. :) Tuna, kalamata olives, and artichoke hearts are a few pantry staples that are delicious mixed with a bowl of ziti or penne.

How about making a quiche ahead of time and then freezing it--now to just get organized enough so that I am not scrambling before the trip to actually do it!

Your list also sounds like a good list of things to take (and leave) at a vacation house.

The photo of those olives makes me miss Westside Local! I'd know them anywhere.

I literally fly every week for work, and I always have the exact same thing when I stumble into my apartment at 11PM on a Thursday night.

For those who like Asian food: Hot pot soup base (most Asian stores have this in various flavors), thin rice vermicelli, various frozen fish balls, frozen crab sticks, frozen tofu.

All the stuff is hoardable and the whole thing takes 10 minutes since rice vermicelli cooks in 5 minutes.

I'm with the pasta contingent. Good canned tomatoes or frozen pesto from the garden, capers, olives, Italian tuna in olive oil anchovies or frozen shrimp, hot pepper flakes and you've got a good meal!

Or I do what engill does: instant dashi base miso, and then pop in frozen Asian dumplings or frozen shrimp and some frozen peas or corn and some vermicelli, and chili garlic paste.

When I get back it's usally from somewhere that has rice or pasta as a staple carb so I always crave jacket potatos. Or if I have been eating out a lot I want scrambled egg on toast as it's so simple and easy!