Grocery Budget Need to Freeze?
Oct 30 '00
With today’s busy family it has become difficult to find time to make healthy meals. Who hasn’t been tempted to grab a quick dinner-on-the run while running here and there? Anyone who has eaten out lately can tell you that this can be a costly habit – in more ways than one. It is hard on your pocketbook and hard on your waist!
With the ever expanding slate of activities on our calendar, our ever expanding waistlines and our rapidly depleting grocery budget I decided to take matters into my own hands. I was determined to feed my family healthy meals without slaving in the kitchen. My answer – Once-A-Month-Cooking, also commonly known as freezer cooking.
Once-A-Month-Cooking (OAMC) involves cooking a month’s worth of meals in one day and storing them in the freezer. What a wonderful idea! I now spend one day a month cooking and we enjoy the benefits for a full month!
OAMC isn’t as hard as it sounds. Even though I love to cook, the idea of spending an entire day in the kitchen wasn’t exactly appealing! The key to a successful cooking session is planning. Before you get started, take an inventory of all the food in your pantry and freezer. Use these items as a basis for planning your first menu items. Choose meals that are versatile. One of my favorite OAMC recipes involves making a huge batch of Italian sauce. I include vegetables like bell peppers, carrots and broccoli for added nutrition. Once it has simmered I use it to make two batches of lasagna, two batches of manicotti, two batches of spaghetti, and as the base for two meals of sloppy joes. Voila! I have the start of eight meals and all I did was cook one large pot of sauce! Then, simply select some other entrees that vary the menu and you’re done! After the menu has been planned, make a detailed shopping list and do all of your shopping at once. The next step is vital and will make your actual cooking day run much more smoothly. Spend some time the day before your session getting everything prepared. Slice all of your vegetables, shred all of the cheese you will need and, if you’re using meat, have everything cut up ahead of time. This will save you time and energy on preparation day.
Finally, the big day! If possible, find someone to help you by watching the kids. Spend the whole day cooking everything on your menu. Store as many dishes as possible in reusable freezer containers or plastic zip-top bags. Be sure to label every dish and include an expiration date. Even if you don’t have a large freezer, with careful planning and some crafty maneuvering, you can fit 30 meals for 4-6 people in a regular refrigerator’s freezer.
I often do several sessions throughout a week. I spend one day doing a main-dish session, another working on a lunch/breakfast session and another day doing a snacks/dessert session. This way, I can go an entire month without cooking one single meal!
The benefits of freezer cooking are amazing. The time you will save cooking each day will allow you more time to spend with the ones you love and less time working in the kitchen. Your family will still be served their favorite meals, and they’ll be home-cooked and healthy! No more greasy burgers and fast-food fries! In addition to saving money since you won’t be eating out, you’ll also save money by buying things in bulk. The ultimate reward is the convenience. No more standing in the kitchen at 5 p.m. pulling your hair out because you have no idea what to make. Simply open the freezer and make your selection!, whip up a side dish and a salad and enjoy a home-cooked meal with your family!
Want to learn more about Freezer Cooking? Following are some of my favorite books and websites on the subject. The ones marked with (*) are my favorite.
BOOKS:
* The Freezer Cooking Manual from 30 Day Gourmet: A Month of Meals Made Easy by Tara Wohlenhaus and Nanci Slagle
Frozen Assets: How to Cook for a Day and Eat for a Month by Deborah Taylor-Hough
Once-A-Month Cooking: A Proven System for Spending Less Time in the Kitchen and Enjoying Delicious, Homemade Meals Everyday by Marilyn S. Wilson, et al
Month of Meals: One Day to a Freezerful of Entrees by Kelly Machel, et al
* Make-A-Mix by Karine Eliason, et al
WEBSITES:
www.30daygourmet.com
http://busycooks.about.com/food/busycooks/cs/freezercooking/
http://snider.mardox.com/OAMC.htm
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