I am trying to get organized for our vacation and this includes after-vacation. I always clean out the fridge the week of vacation for obvious reasons. Yet I hate to come home and #1: Have nothing to eat, not to mention nothing 'fresh' to eat; and #2: Have to go grocery shopping right away when we get back.

So this is what I've planned so far:

~ Since we've been buying organic milk, it lasts a long time. So I'm just going to buy one right before we leave with a long expiration date. That way ds will have fresh milk right from the time we get home.

~ I'm going to buy some 'hard' pears. We're going to be gone for 9 days so hopefully in that time they will 'ripen' in the fridge and we'll at least have those for fresh fruit for a few days.

~ I have frozen 'fresh' fruit in the freezer, strawberries that we picked in June, and blueberries, and mangoes from the grocery store that I can defrost for the first few days.

~ I am a avid bread freezer, so I have (at least) 20 loaves of bread in my freezer so we will have bread for sandwiches.

~ I made up some feta cheese pizzas with pizza dough, made small pizzas and froze them unbaked. This way I can pop a few of them right from the freezer and bake them up quickly. That will be good for the night we get back.

~ We have a garden and barring any rabbits we will hopefully have some lettuce I can use for salads so I don't have to run to the store for fresh veggies right away.

~ I made up some cheese stuffed shells and have homemade frozen spaghetti sauce, now I just have to remember to take the sauce out of the freezer right when I get home and the next day I can just bake them up frozen like cheese manicotti.

How long do baby carrots last in the fridge? I might buy a pack of them so have extra fresh veggies. Do the wrapped gourmet cucumbers last in the fridge for a week + if they aren't unwrapped?

I need another dinner meal for Tuesday that I can have ready in the freezer. As you can probably gather I cook mostly everything so I don't want to have to buy any prepared meals. I was going to make a meatloaf and freeze it because dh likes a bit of meat but we're only 2 adults and 1 child and I don't want to be eating it forever. Maybe some chicken thighs just seasoned and cooked in the slow cooker?

Anyways does anyone have any other tips on coming back from vacation other than ordering a pizza?! I don't really want to have to resort to that if I don't need to, but I don't want to do any grocery shopping for a few days after we get back either. Thanks!! Had to edit that it has to be EASY as in take out of the freezer, heat and go! If I have to prepare much other than just baking it I won't do it right after vacation!

How about you freeze hamburger patties and the buns. You can just throw the hamburgers frozen on the BBQ & defrost the buns in the microwave.

Also lasagna and chicken pot pie freeze very well.

Have a nice vacations!!

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Marie - SAHM of DS Benjamin (april 2004) and DD Rose (march 2006).

wow you are doing good!! we always end up doing ht ePizza!!! that is the one place I waste money!! we eat out WAY too much!!

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Kelly mom to 3 great girls A Peanut, a monkey and a little burrito.

I think you've done a great job.....I like the meatloaf idea...I have frozen ones in my freezer...you can also do meatballs or salisbury steaks...baby carrots (in the 1 or 2 lb bags)usually have a date for about 3-4 weeks on em...just check for a stamped date but those will do fine.

You could also toss some lunch meat in the freezer

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Every day I come here its Like - there are topics Written Just for me!!!

Thank you for Posting this - as We Are going On vacation soon , and that is the One thing I NEVER do - is Prepare for homecoming.

What a GREAT idea!!


I Think I Am going to Freeze a Meatloaf , homemade meatballs ( for sandwiches) and Some Stuffed shells.

We always have hamburger patties ,hot dogs and rolls in the fridge too - thats a life saver


I have used those Gourmet Wrapped Cucumbers after a Week in my Fridge. they were still Very Crunchy and Good - so I Imagine they would Make it a week and a half.

I will be thinking about this and Post more ideas as I Come up with them!!