Once a Month Cooking (Full Version)

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HomeSpunLady -> Once a Month Cooking (5/15/2008 7:10:30 PM)

Ok, so I only want to do this once. I am thinking ahead to when baby is born. Ideally, my MIL will cook the first two weeks, church will cover the next two weeks and then I'll start pulling out meals from the freezer for the next month. I want to be PREPARED!

So I need recipes. What works well for freezing? Any good websites that would help with this? We are very healthy eaters too. Not much by way of white flour, sugar, salt or fat. Lots of whole grains and veggies. I'm not thinking of side dishes either, just the main thing. I'll be baking and freezing a lot of bread too, with lots of frozen veggies bought on sale. So hopefully with that, I'll be able to put on a good meal in a short amount of time.

Whatcha got for me??



paulsbride -> RE: Once a Month Cooking (5/15/2008 9:13:26 PM)

Shepherds pie!! I love it so much - and it would have your veggies in it too! [:)]

Lasagna is another one I love to do.

Those are two I've done before that we both love. I am planning on doing this for our baby too and one I want to try is meatball subs - I'll freeze meatballs in sauce in individual servings, and then I haven't decided if I'll freeze the sliced sub rolls with mozzarella cheese in it and then thaw/stick under broil when we're ready to eat it, or just buy it fresh the week I plan on making it.

Do you have a second freezer? I'm curious how you'll store it all [:)]



Kerrlaw -> RE: Once a Month Cooking (5/15/2008 9:56:07 PM)

quote:

Not much by way of white flour, sugar, salt or fat


I was right with you up to here, but this requirement leaves me with nothing.[sm=cooltilt.gif]

Good Luck with the baby and the menus.



MrsTracy72 -> RE: Once a Month Cooking (5/15/2008 10:11:45 PM)

Katheryn, are you going to freeze the bread dough after the first rise and then let it go through a second rise and bake it or just bake it and then freeze it? I like to go through the first rise and then freeze it so that I can bake it fresh the day I use it.

Spaghetti sauce, lasagna, and chili are all great things to cook and freeze. Also if you cook a chicken or chicken breast and shred it, you can freeze the shredded chicken and use it for casseroles or enchiladas. I even take the things I mix with my meat for the enchilada and freeze it all in there so I can just pull it out and wrap them the day I make them. Then I use the canned green sauce if I don't have time to make my own.

Anything that you can make in a casserole dish can be frozen. I have a whole book on casseroles that I will have to dig up and see about. If I find it, and you are interested, I can send it to you because I don't really use it. That is why I have to dig it up.

I also make bbq pulled pork and freeze it. Then I either make or buy wheat buns from the bakery and we use that. I have a recipe if you want it. Let me know because I don't want to make a long post if you aren't interested. But you can do the same thing with beef brisket or with chicken.

I would have to look at my books and see what I have that is easy to freeze.

But that is a good idea because it is great when you can just pull it out of the freezer and throw it in the oven.

I mostly freeze things for prep work and then make double when I cook and freeze the entire meal of leftovers. I had a psych instructor who used to spend days cooking for a month so that she didn't have to cook for an entire month. She did everything right down to the vegetable. I don't think I could do that. But I love to get things ready and freeze them in foodsaver bags so that prep time is minimal if any. I will look for more and post, I just can't think of any for now. But my favs are spaghetti and lasagna.



29redballoons -> RE: Once a Month Cooking (5/15/2008 10:30:01 PM)

Okay, websites you asked for...websites you get...

http://www.christysclipart.com/oamc2.html

http://organizedhome.com/freezer-cooking-guide (I personally love this website for many reasons!)

http://www.realfood4realpeople.com/oamcrecipes.html


Those should get you started. I also have a book that I use faithfully when I am doing this called, Dinners in the Freezer. It is a great reference guide. Be careful trying this though, it is addictive and you may find that it is so convenient you'll get hooked. I save sooooo much money when I cook only once a month, or at least do the main dishes once a month.
Have fun with it and be creative.



HomeSpunLady -> RE: Once a Month Cooking (5/16/2008 7:35:11 AM)

I think, what I'll do for the bread is bake and then freeze. I am trying to have minimal work to do after baby comes. I've done the first rise then freeze then thaw deal too with pizza dough. I might do that again for the pizza.

We have two regular fridges (the church had a fridge here when we moved in and we brought our old one) and an upright freezer. We do have lots of space with which to do this. I need to clean out the old fridge though, it's nasty.


I would love that casserole book!! I have a question, though, Jess, do you have that many casserole dishes that you can freeze in? or will you buy the throw away ones at the dollar store, or look at garage sales? If I could just bake 14 casseroles, I'd be set! But I don't have that many dishes.

Oh, I question I have. If I go the route of all casseroles, can I put it together, freeze it and then bake it when I take it out? Will that work ok? Do you know what I mean? Like put it into the freezer unbaked?



paulsbride -> RE: Once a Month Cooking (5/16/2008 9:40:51 AM)

quote:


I would love that casserole book!! I have a question, though, Jess, do you have that many casserole dishes that you can freeze in? or will you buy the throw away ones at the dollar store, or look at garage sales? If I could just bake 14 casseroles, I'd be set! But I don't have that many dishes.

Oh, I question I have. If I go the route of all casseroles, can I put it together, freeze it and then bake it when I take it out? Will that work ok? Do you know what I mean? Like put it into the freezer unbaked?


I think you can put it in the freezer unbaked - just make sure you (or hubby or friend!) doesn't *just* reheat the dish for you! Make sure it cooks thoroughly. But I have always cooked it before, so I'm not the best an answering that!

I do have a lot of casserole dishes in various sizes, but not enough that I could fill the freezer and then have some left over for day to day use between now and then!
I think I'll do some in disposable dishes - like anything with sauce (lasagna!) or things that would make for messy clean up. Then I'll use a few casserole dishes, and then I'll also cook some dishes up and stick them in the Ziplock plastic containers in single servings so that they can then be like "microwave meals" - I try to always have something like that for when I don't feel like cooking and it's so nice! Right now I have rice and steak, shepherds pie and a pasta dish in single servings in the freezer.

I know our church friends will do meals for us for a while - and if it's anything like last year there will be massive amounts of food! So I'm having a hard time deciding WHAT to make for the freezer because I want it to be different than what they may do!

Oh - I'd suggest making cookies too [:)] Just stick the raw dough (preformed in the cookie shape) and then bake from frozen in the desired quantities. Yum yum!



set_apart -> RE: Once a Month Cooking (5/16/2008 12:19:38 PM)

Another thing you can do is put all the ingredients (uncooked) together in a freezer bag. For example, everything you would put in a beef stew. Then take the bag, thaw in the frig over night, dump in the crockpot and you have dinner. That way, you have a nice, freshly cooked dinner with all the great smells and virtually no work.

I usually have a pan of enchiladas and one or two more things in the freezer so I can do something quick if needed.

I believe the new "Once A Month" cooking book has more recipes that are prepared but not pre-cooked. Might be worth checking out at the library if you don't want to buy it because you will only use it for one month.

I will follow this thread too, as I am also expecting (although not until December).



29redballoons -> RE: Once a Month Cooking (5/16/2008 12:42:25 PM)

Another tip....line the inside of your casserole dishes with paper...wax, press and seal, saran wrap...whatever...put in the freezer, let it freeze, turn out...remove paper, slide into a large ziplok freezer bag. When ready to cook, place in same casserole dish it was frozen in, and bake as usual. Frees up your dishes and stacks easier in bags.



HomeSpunLady -> RE: Once a Month Cooking (5/16/2008 1:03:12 PM)

Red and Set apart, what wonderful ideas!! I'll have to find some recipes that could be done like you said set apart.

I've also been thinking, I do freeze a lot. I mean a lot! Leftovers and such. I also buy in bulk a lot of my dried goods, so I freeze them in more managable portions. I've been thinking about buying a food saver. I've had some food come out freezer burnt. Doesn't really save me money when it comes out unedible. Yuk. Anyone have one that they might recommend? Hubby has already said yes to it, I just need to find a good one for a good price. He agrees about the freezing.

Now I'm not necessarily vegetarian, but I did find some nice meals that are designed to freeze here. I think I will try some. We eat more vegetarian than not. It's cheaper and healthier and better for the waistline. And you don't have to worry about the whole meat going bad thing, kwim?



29redballoons -> RE: Once a Month Cooking (5/16/2008 2:17:11 PM)

Kathryn, another thing you can do since you may begin to tire easily...instead of an all day cook session...when you are cooking your meals, double your recipes and freeze one of the dishes...ie: lasagna, chili, baked chicken(shred it and freeze it for another recipe), etc. That way it begins to add up without bunches of extra work for you.



29redballoons -> RE: Once a Month Cooking (5/16/2008 2:33:00 PM)

When I was cooking once a month...I would do a beef plan, a chicken plan, and a pork plan.

On beef day, I would buy about 20 lbs of ground beef. Out of that I could get many meals.
2 lasagnas
2 chilis
meatballs / flash frozen for sandwiches or pastas
2 meatloaves
cooked and prepared taco meat, ready for rehating and placing in the shells
and usually several casseroles


Chicken day would consist of several whole chickens or if leg quarters were on sale I would buy them.
I would bake a few pans of them and make casseroles and one large zip lock bag of the burrito mix mentioned above.
I would then boil the rest, debone it and freeze it in bags with the broth for quick chicken and rice, chicken and noodles, etc


Pork meals would consist of a ham and a boston butt.
The ham I would cook, we would eat a couple of meals from it freshly cooked, then I would cook casseroles with the left overs and freeze them
The boston butt I always fix in the crock pot as bbq. We would eat sandwiches freshly cooked and then freeze the rest for another time.


I always aimed for 25 meals...meaning main dishes. Sides I fixed at the time of serving. We eat out most weekend meals cause we are on the go...
or either it is sandwiches. So I mainly needed meals for the weeknights. I am far from an expert on OAMC but maybe these thoughts will help you
come up with your own favorites.

Red



HomeSpunLady -> RE: Once a Month Cooking (5/16/2008 7:41:55 PM)

Red, I had thought too about just doubling up on my current cooking, rather than doing it all on one day. Since I have so much time till the baby is born, but not too much that the stuff would get freezer burnt, I think that would work better.

What is a boston butt? That just sounds funny.



29redballoons -> RE: Once a Month Cooking (5/16/2008 9:19:37 PM)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Butt

This should explain it....teehee

Things are good for several months as long as they are packaged correctly. Wrap, rewrap, etc. Use only quality zip lock freezer bags. I used the cheap off brand once and lived to regret it.



ChelseaRae -> RE: Once a Month Cooking (5/16/2008 11:45:02 PM)

Kathryn for casseroles what I did before Mary was born is cook a casserole in one of my pans, freeze it and when it was frozen pop it out of the pan and put it in a bag. That way my casserole dishes weren't stuck in the freezer. It worked great!

I don't know if your library would have it but I bought the Fix Freeze & Feast book from Amazon and I have made tons of recipes from it.



Jenny-Fair -> RE: Once a Month Cooking (5/17/2008 12:27:53 AM)

quote:

Kathryn for casseroles what I did before Mary was born is cook a casserole in one of my pans, freeze it and when it was frozen pop it out of the pan and put it in a bag. That way my casserole dishes weren't stuck in the freezer. It worked great!

I bet those silicon pans would be perfect for that, along with making mini meatloaves in the muffin tins, breakfast breads...oh, the possibilities are simply endless! LOL

I bought some small freezer to microwave stain-proof containers because I eat too much convenience food at work. So I am hoping to make freezer lunches in single servings. I will only be able to microwave them, so there really aren't freezer recipes that will work for that...I will just have to try some of my favorites and avoid things that don't freeze well. Perhaps freeze noodles/rice seperately and such. I only bought four containers...if they work, maybe I will buy more. I wish I had a better freezer!



Miss Giggles -> RE: Once a Month Cooking (5/17/2008 3:31:37 PM)

Get the regular food saver brand machine. The cheaper one (seal a meal) doesn't work as well.

The best price is at Costco but you might be able to catch one on sale. I just got the basic one and it was on sale at Kohl's.

The prices keep coming down on them. Or if you have a bed bath and beyond, you should be able to use the 20% off coupon. I sealed up all my baking stuff and will start freezing chicken breasts in the marinade and then you can thaw them out in the fridge during the day and just throw them on the grill and make a side dish.



MrsTracy72 -> RE: Once a Month Cooking (5/17/2008 10:00:06 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: 29redballoons

Kathryn, another thing you can do since you may begin to tire easily...instead of an all day cook session...when you are cooking your meals, double your recipes and freeze one of the dishes...ie: lasagna, chili, baked chicken(shred it and freeze it for another recipe), etc. That way it begins to add up without bunches of extra work for you.


I do that alot too. It is easy and since I always cook way too much food to begin with, it is easy for me. I also buy foil pans from a resturaunt supply store for like 15 cents a piece and they are the same size as a regular cake pan but not quite as deep. They come in boxes of 100 and I figure that you can't wash them for that cheap. You might be able to buy them at Sam's now too because they are trying to add more resturaunt supply type things to their stores. They come in all sizes, but I just like the medium pans because they work for meals and cake or brownies.



Mrs.X -> RE: Once a Month Cooking (5/18/2008 1:38:05 AM)

Stir fry freezes really well....Rice or lo-mein noodles. Just cook your stirfry completely like you're going to serve it, then freeze it in some freezer bags or however you like to freeze stuff, then when you want to reheat it, put it in a big pan (still frozen) and add a little water and put a lid on it for like 10ish minutes...well, you'll know when it's hot. Beef stew, soup, pasta dishes all freeze pretty well. Spaghetti sauce too....all you'll have to do is boil noodles.



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