Easy Lunch and Dinner Recipes/Meals for Self Catering

Photosytes · Member

Easy Lunch and Dinner Recipes/Meals for Self Catering

Michele Erdvig · Host

Photosytes,

Since each self-catering place is a bit different there are a few things I usually take with me.

Tiny salt & pepper packets (enough for a day or two & buy - if needed - when there)
Decaf tea
Coffee (enough for the first day)
Sponge (for some reason these can be hard to find in Ireland)

There is a Centra Supermarket in Adare. But I find Tesco to be lower priced and there is one near Limerick. Other places to shop are Lidel, Aldi, Dunnes.

There are delis at the supermarkets and you can pick up freshly baked bread, cold cuts, cheese, etc.

I tend to like the Roberts brand of soup.

Bagged lettuce makes salad making easy. Just add tomatoes and whatever else and presto.

Tesco has a lot of easy, ready-made things like pasta and sauces, meat pies, pizza, and most anything you would find in your own grocery store.

Part of the fun of self-catering is grocery shopping to see just what is available. Often I find it first in Ireland and then a year or two later it is in my local supermarket.

There are some really strangely flavored potato chips (called crisps) in Ireland. My all time favorite is Tayto Cheese & Onion.

And try the cole slaw with shredded cheese in it. In Ireland they put the slaw on the sandwich! Try it, you might like it.

Michele

Michele Erdvig · Host

Forgot one thing. If you see blood orange juice (in a carton) it is delicious.

http://www.adarevillage.com/

Michele

Photosytes · Member

Thanks Michelle, I'll make a note of those brands or soup and the orange juice. I lived in Korea for 4 years and know that it can be difficult to find brands that you like since there aren't too many familiar ones. Even the familiar ones in Korea (Coke, Kelloggs, etc.) taste different over there.

Delis, bakeries, farmer's markets all sound good to me. I hear dinner out can be quite expensive. One of my friends who has been over there says if you go somewhere for dinner it's expected you'll have a pint of Ginness, would you say that is true? She also said that by the time you pay for dinner, plus Ginness and a cup of tea you're looking at 50 Euros per person. Is she exaggerating?

How soon ahead would you book your rental car? I know July is really busy so I'm thinking I should do it soon but someone said that the prices are high right now and that they're waiting to book. What do you think?

CowboyCraic · Guru

They have great deli and hot serve counters at most of the petrol stations. They are reasonably priced and make for a great picnic lunch. I became quite addicted to the fried chicken in some of the Statoil stations. Also, keep a look out for the signs along the road indicating Strawberry stands. They will be the best strawberries you have tasted.

As for dinner, it will depend on where you are eating. If you eat in some of the pubs, it can be less expensive. A hearty Irish stew in a pub is cheap, delicious and more than filling. If you are looking to dine out at a sit-down restaurant, go early, usually between 6 & 7, and seek out places which have early-bird specials. It can be expensive to eat out at night. I usually have a late lunch and then snack in the evening. THe average price for pint is around $6.50 american dollars. There is no rule that says you must drink Guiness.

Soda pop in Ireland definitely has a different taste. The coca-cola seems to have more kick and the Dr. Pepper tastes vastly different from here in the states. If you are a fan of chocolate, there are some excellent small chocolatiers across Ireland.

I usually book my rental car, as early as possible. I use Kemwel, which can be accessed through the link here on Michele's site, or their sister company, Autoeurope. Both will price match, if you find a lower rate. I like using them because I can pay half when I book and half a few months later, which means one less thing to pay for whilst there. The prices will only increase as the summer season gets closer.

If you are planning on using credit cards, make sure that any charges made against it are charged in Euros rather than your home currency, as that will be the better rate. Checkout Michele's Money page, as she explains it quite well.

Slan Beo, Bit

-- Edited by CowboyCraic at 11:02, 2009-02-24

Dude · Guru

Bit, where do you find Dr. Pepper in Ireland? I have been in withdrawal every trip. Now I'll spend my whole holiday searching for Dr. Pepper.....

CowboyCraic · Guru

Dude wrote:

Bit, where do you find Dr. Pepper in Ireland? I have been in withdrawal every trip. Now I'll spend my whole holiday searching for Dr. Pepper.....

I have managed to find it at several of the Statoil Petrol stations. I did find it in a Petrol station in Salthill on the Galway Bay road that leads to Rossaveal. I just can't remember the name. We found it also in County Cork on the outskirts of Cork headed towards Roscarbery. I think that we even found it in the small grocer in Doolin on Fisher Street. Coca-cola has a distributorship in Ireland and in Northern Ireland. I even found it in the grocer in Roscommon town just up from Doorly's pub.

Slan Agus Barrogs, Bit

Michele Erdvig · Host

Photosytes,

Some things taste different in Ireland. Ketchup is one of them. I prefer American style ketchup. My husband loves Just Right cereal in Ireland. They make it in the US but it is much sweeter here and he doesn't like it. And don't get him started on Tesco dark chocolate bars. He always brings home a bunch. Along with Tesco lemon soap.

There is no need to order any drinks with dinner. I usually ask for a jug of ice water (hopefully with more than two ice cubes). As for prices, yes it would be easy to spend 50 euro per person on dinner. Go for early bird dinners instead.

Dude, I don't drink soft drinks so Bit will have to tell you where to find your Dr. Pepper.

Michele

Anchoress · Guru

Thought part of the Irish experience was eating Irish food!!!!

If you are coming in from the North, ASDA is far, far cheaper and has better variety than anything we get in the South.

Totally different policies also over the Border.

Dude; when things open, I have to test two eating places for you and the boys:)

Blessings....

Green Dragon · Guru

My favorite meals while self catering were simple - bread, cheese, perhaps a little meat. Of course, after we visited the Lisdoonvarna smoke house, those simple items got fancy! We had cheese with seaweed in it and smoked mackerel, smoked salmon... mmmm...

Most mornings we would make a breakfast sandwich out of some fish, cheese, and fresh bread we get the night before at the bakery. It worked out fine. We brought along something similar for picnic dinners while out, and had our 'hot' meal at lunchtime, when prices are cheaper. Pubs were our normal lunch time meal - lots and lots of lamb stew (craving that now!)

While you could easily drop E50 in a restaurant dinner, you certainly don't have to, any more than you have to here in the states. And Guinness is not de rigeur - I usually drank cider :) My friend always had a Coke, as she doesn't drink. No problems.

Photosytes · Member

Anchoress, eating Irish food will be part of our vacation but if I ate out for everything I would probably only be able to go for half the time.

I have downloaded a few Irish recipes to try out and plan on even making a few while I'm in Ireland (Champ instead of my regular mashed potatoes, maybe some irish stew, etc.). For me it's the people and the landscapes that I'm going to Ireland for, not the food.

Good to know that I won't be kicked out for not ordering a drink everywhere I go. A few friends made it seem otherwise and they're been over there in the past year (maybe it was their own rule or their perception of what was required of them).

Michele Erdvig · Host

Anchoress,

I shopped at ASDA in Strabane several times last October. Boy was it crowded! I guess the word is out.

Michele

Anchoress · Guru

I hear so.

Being early risers, we are there before most are up so it is always blissfully quiet there.

They are open 24/7, except at weekends.

I have been there are early as 5 am...

And if you look at the reg numbers on the cars, you will see where Donegal folk shop these days.

Survival techniques... The price difference is huge; often half the cost of here.

We take an emty car once a month.

Tesco in Letterkenny used to be open 24/7, but was there this week and now it is only from 7 am to midnight.

So many shops are closing now.

Blessings this day

Michele Erdvig wrote:

Anchoress,

I shopped at ASDA in Strabane several times last October. Boy was it crowded! I guess the word is out.

Michele

Anchoress · Guru

You know, very few Irish people eat those things. Champ and irish stew I mean...

Been here many years and never had any of those things:)

And we eat home made all the time.

Photosytes wrote:

Anchoress, eating Irish food will be part of our vacation but if I ate out for everything I would probably only be able to go for half the time.

I have downloaded a few Irish recipes to try out and plan on even making a few while I'm in Ireland (Champ instead of my regular mashed potatoes, maybe some irish stew, etc.). For me it's the people and the landscapes that I'm going to Ireland for, not the food.

Good to know that I won't be kicked out for not ordering a drink everywhere I go. A few friends made it seem otherwise and they're been over there in the past year (maybe it was their own rule or their perception of what was required of them).

Dude · Guru

Ah, and hazlenut yogurt. Ireland is the only place I have found it.

Anchoress · Guru

Words fail:)

But the UK has had that since ...... well, many decades.

Dude wrote:

Ah, and hazlenut yogurt. Ireland is the only place I have found it.

rebeccaf · Veteran Member

Now that sounds heavenly -- will have to find some while there.

Michele Erdvig · Host

For heavenly you will want to find Thornton's Mini Carmel Shortcakes.

Michele

Anchoress · Guru

Another English thing; but there are versions of this in LIDL etc also....

Michele Erdvig wrote:

For heavenly you will want to find Thornton's Mini Carmel Shortcakes.

Michele

Dude · Guru

But since I discovered the yogurt I have only eaten, besides Ireland, in the southwestern US and Indiana and I promise you we do not have hazelnut flavor. In fact, I think the variety of flavors is shrinking since they started putting all the digestive additives in.

Some day I wish to go to Wales (once was a Jones, many decades ago) and Scotland, but Ireland keeps calling me back.

Photosytes · Member

Anchoress wrote:

You know, very few Irish people eat those things. Champ and irish stew I mean...

Been here many years and never had any of those things:)

And we eat home made all the time.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised, when I was living in Korea they all thought we ate food like McDonalds all the time and walked around our houses in shoes (that's what they do in the movies, don't ya know! Of course they rarely use the bathroom in movies... hmm)
Our societies are so global now that it's getting difficult to experience 'traditional' or 'custom' food or situations.

Photosytes · Member

Michele Erdvig wrote:

For heavenly you will want to find Thornton's Mini Carmel Shortcakes.

Michele

Now that sounds good!! Low fat diet food, right?

Michele Erdvig · Host

Photosytes,

There are no calories in Irish food. wink

Just go and enjoy. Actually a lot of people report back that in spite of eating huge Irish breakfasts and indulging in all sorts of goodies they actually loose weight while in Ireland. Guess it is because you do so much walking.

If you see homemade banoffee on the menu, that is another calorie-free dessert to indulge in.

Michele

Anchoress · Guru

I know. If you want to see how the modern Irish eat, look in at a butcher's shop on a Saturday.

We call in for the scraps they so kindly save for our rescued dogs and the amount of beef folk buy is awesome.

And the cheap cuts, eg neck of lamb, which we made Irish stew from back in the 70s are hard to get. A pity as they are so full of taste if properly cooked. And roast belly pork of course.

The tourist Ireland and the real one are poles apart. Very few Irish live in old cottages now; that is for us incomers and the visitors.

And the same for food of course.

One thing that has not gone is the soup tradition. And the brown bread ie soda bread.

Photosytes wrote:

I guess I shouldn't be surprised, when I was living in Korea they all thought we ate food like McDonalds all the time and walked around our houses in shoes (that's what they do in the movies, don't ya know! Of course they rarely use the bathroom in movies... hmm)
Our societies are so global now that it's getting difficult to experience 'traditional' or 'custom' food or situations.

Anchoress wrote:

You know, very few Irish people eat those things. Champ and irish stew I mean...

Been here many years and never had any of those things:)

And we eat home made all the time.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised, when I was living in Korea they all thought we ate food like McDonalds all the time and walked around our houses in shoes (that's what they do in the movies, don't ya know! Of course they rarely use the bathroom in movies... hmm)
Our societies are so global now that it's getting difficult to experience 'traditional' or 'custom' food or situations.

Anchoress · Guru

Banoffee pie is American? ( never had that)

Now cheesecake is another matter altogether....

Michele Erdvig wrote:

Photosytes,

There are no calories in Irish food. Just go and enjoy. Actually a lot of people report back that in spite of eating huge Irish breakfasts and indulging in all sorts of goodies they actually loose weight while in Ireland. Guess it is because you do so much walking.

If you see homemade banoffee on the menu, that is another calorie-free dessert to indulge in.

Michele

Dude · Guru

Banoffee pie originated in England if I'm not mistaken. The only place I have ever eaten it, besides my own kitchen, is in Ireland. Bananas are sliced into a chocolate crumb crust (although in Ireland the crust is just as likely to be graham cracker-type) and then covered with caramel sauce, in the recipes made from boiling a can of sweetened condenses milk for four hours. I used melted caramels and it was a mistake because they set up and the pie was much too chewy. Next time I will buy a jar of dulce de leche or caramel ice cream topping. Then sweetened whipped cream or non-dairy whipped topping over the top, and sprinkle with cocoa powder. Okay, now I'm hungry.....

Irish cheesecake is not nearly as sweet as we are used to in the US. Actually I think it is better.

Roy · Guru

I guess I get the best of both worlds- a week of being a tourist and a week living in the "real" Ireland. My sister-in-laws make an incredible lamb dinner. Michele, I usually lose a few pounds- a combination no doubt of all the hiking we do and eating two meals a day (afternoon tea and scone nonwithstanding).

Anchoress · Guru

Hmmm. Life is too short and fuel too costly for that:)

For Graham cracker read digestives:)

ASDA do great frozen cheescakes at 1 pound sterling each; large ones.

They have an American style toffee that is rather fine.

Dude wrote:

Banoffee pie originated in England if I'm not mistaken. The only place I have ever eaten it, besides my own kitchen, is in Ireland. Bananas are sliced into a chocolate crumb crust (although in Ireland the crust is just as likely to be graham cracker-type) and then covered with caramel sauce, in the recipes made from boiling a can of sweetened condenses milk for four hours. I used melted caramels and it was a mistake because they set up and the pie was much too chewy. Next time I will buy a jar of dulce de leche or caramel ice cream topping. Then sweetened whipped cream or non-dairy whipped topping over the top, and sprinkle with cocoa powder. Okay, now I'm hungry.....

Irish cheesecake is not nearly as sweet as we are used to in the US. Actually I think it is better.