Chances are that one of many reasons you decided to go with a rental home instead of a sterile hotel suite was the money saving possibilities. No need to rent multiple hotel rooms or stuff an entire family into one cramped area. Laundry is free, which means you can pack light and save room for souvenirs. And you can prepare meals instead of having to pay to eat out every single meal. The problem is, you, the chief cook and bottlewasher, are on vacation too and you don’t want to spend a lot of the time during your Tennessee getaway in the kitchen. Fortunately, you chose The Cabin Rental Store for your vacation accommodations and we have your back with this list of three easy recipes to cook while on your Gatlinburg getaway! Designed to keep you out of the kitchen as much as possible, these tasty dishes are so delicious they may even make it in to your at-home repertoire!
Bacon Ranch Chicken Foil Packets
Simple, tasty, and healthy, this dish uses up very few dishes in the preparation. Your Publix or Kroger shopping list should be very small: butter, ranch seasoning powder, salt, pepper, chicken breasts (it’s also delicious with chicken thighs), 1 pound of small red potatoes, nonstick cooking spray, shredded cheddar cheese, bacon, and of course, aluminum foil.
Preheat the oven to 425. Mix the spices, 2 tablespoons of ranch, and 6 tablespoons of melted butter together. Divide the chicken, potatoes, and cheddar cheese amongst four sheets of aluminum foil, drizzle the ranch mixture over each meal, then form a pocket with the foil and bake for 45 minutes. Fry up the four slices of bacon in a pan for about 10 minutes before the packets are ready and crumble over the finished product.
3-Ingredient Mac & Cheese
Macaroni & cheese is such a versatile dish. It can be used as a side or a main dish, and it can be tweaked with meats and spices to create an extra-hearty version! This 3-ingredient mac & cheese is basic, wholesome, and delicious, but feel free to change it up a bit if you’re in the mood to experiment.
Your grocery list will only be three items long: 5 cups of milk, 1 pound of dry elbow macaroni, and 2 cups of shredded cheese. Bring the milk to boil in a large pot, add the macaroni noodles, and cook for 10 minutes, being sure to stir constantly. Turn off the heat, add the cheddar cheese, and stir until it’s all melted and blended and looks to be a delicious gooey mess!
Cookies and Cream Mousse
No vacation is complete without an excess of rich desserts, and this simple creation is guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser! Only three items need to be added to your list: chocolate sandwich cookies, 1 ½ cups of heavy cream, and ½ cup of powdered sugar.
Start by placing a medium bowl in the refrigerator to chill; this recipe will only work when created with a chilled bowl. Separate the cream from 8 of the cookies, placing the cream in a small bowl and the cookies in a Ziplock baggie. Crush the cookies with a rolling pin (rolling a glass on its side works if there isn’t a rolling pin in your cabin). Microwave the cream for 2 minutes. Beat the heavy cream in the chilled bowl until its thick and frothy, then add in the cream from the cookies and the powdered sugar. Continuing to beat until stiff peaks begin to form. Fold in most of the crumbled cookies, saving a small amount for presentation when you sprinkle them over the bowls. Serve immediately or keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
Reserve Your Cabin Rental Store Escape for Your Gatlinburg Getaway
These are just a few of the easy culinary creations you can make in our kitchens. Whether you’re a talented chef ready to whip up a feast or someone who barely knows their way around a frying pan, you’ll be able to make a money-saving meal or two during your Gatlinburg getaway. Contact us today to book your stay!
