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Cleaning Up:  I need Help w/ prepared freezer meals!?  |
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rnbzmommy
Farmgirl in Training
15 Posts
Amy
Robinson
Illinois
USA
15 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 11 2007 : 6:28:02 PM
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My girlfriends and I are wanting to do get together and cook a weeks worth of meals and split them between us and then freeze them.... I have only heard of this along time ago. Does anyone have any recipes or know how to do it. I know it has a Title but I can't think of it. I am a true blonde.  Let me know if anyone has any help for me. LOL>>>>LOL>>>LOL I need alot of help 
Thanks alot!
Amy K
Flip Flops & Farmers Tans! |
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cinnamongirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1682 Posts
Carrie
Canada
1682 Posts |
Posted - Jan 11 2007 : 7:57:40 PM
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Hi there just thought I would let u know there is a web site just search recipelink.com hope this helps u!!
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La Patite Ferme
True Blue Farmgirl
623 Posts
Jenn
CA
USA
623 Posts |
Posted - Jan 12 2007 : 5:50:18 PM
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I think it's called once-a-month cooking. As I recall, there were several websites with how to's, shopping lists, and recipes. Google should have a bunch of websites. I use some of our favorite recipes like Ziti Bake and Chinese Noodle cassarole and freeze two person servings.
Hope this helps.
Jenn |
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faithymom
True Blue Farmgirl
360 Posts
Faith
Sandpoint
ID
USA
360 Posts |
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KarenP
True Blue Farmgirl
666 Posts
Karen
Chippewa Falls
Wisconsin
USA
666 Posts |
Posted - Jan 13 2007 : 05:55:26 AM
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Thanks for the links Faith!
KarenP
"Purest Spring Water in the World" |
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faithymom
True Blue Farmgirl
360 Posts
Faith
Sandpoint
ID
USA
360 Posts |
Posted - Jan 13 2007 : 10:17:51 AM
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You're welcome!
I have never actually done this (OAMC), but I have used some of the ideas and recipes.
One thing that I do that saves me the 'it's 5 o'clock, what's for dinner' agony is this:
When I have a bunch of meat-either leftovers or on sale- I cook it all and put it in meal-sized portions and freeze them. It makes it simple for me, since I often forget to take stuff out of the freezer...even if I forget the pre-cooked stuff, I can take it out at the last minute and either thaw it in the micro or just put the meat in the dinner I'm preparing and it's perfect.
The other thing that makes a huge difference is PLANNING meals!
I don't do this enough, but every week I have done it, I've noticed how pleasant and relaxed dinner prep is...mostly 'cause I can do some things throughout the day when I know what needs to be done.
I wish I had a buddy near by who would do a big cooking day with me, but until that happens, these things have helped a lot.
I'd love to hear other ideas on easing dinner stress and also stories from those of you who have done OAMC.
Faith
"All television is educational television. The only question is, what is it teaching?"-Fmr. FCC Commissioner Nicholas Johnson |
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levisgrammy
True Blue Farmgirl
9329 Posts
Denise
Beavercreek
Ohio
USA
9329 Posts |
Posted - Jan 18 2007 : 4:54:14 PM
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Faith,
That is a great idea about freezing the left overs into meal sized portions. would be easier to heat up too. I checked out those sites too.Thanks for posting them. I've heard of the one book "Dinner's in the Freezer" but never knew the website.
Thanks.
Denise |
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faithymom
True Blue Farmgirl
360 Posts
Faith
Sandpoint
ID
USA
360 Posts |
Posted - Jan 18 2007 : 5:57:24 PM
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I'm not positive, but I think that's the 6-month plan.
I haven't checked that one out.
"All television is educational television. The only question is, what is it teaching?"-Fmr. FCC Commissioner Nicholas Johnson |
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summerbreeze
True Blue Farmgirl
277 Posts
Laura
WA
USA
277 Posts |
Posted - Jan 19 2007 : 09:17:06 AM
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Dream Dinners: Turn Dinnertime into Family Time with 100 Assemble-and-Freeze Meals (Paperback) by Stephanie Allen
Dont Panic - Dinners in the Freezer: Great-Tasting Meals You Can Make Ahead (Paperback)
by Susie Martinez, Vanda Howell, Bonnie Garcia
There are several others. If you go to amazon and type in dream dinners it will give you suggestions for other freeze ahead meal books. I get most of mine from the library.
I have participated in many swaps on the board and decided to try a new twist. Next week 10 of us are getting together. We each made 10 gallons of a different kind of soup. Wednesday we are getting together and having lunch and swaping soup. Each person is bringing an ice chest. Should be great fun.
Laura
You only live once,if you do it right once is enough. |
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Celticheart
True Blue Farmgirl
811 Posts
Marcia
WA
USA
811 Posts |
Posted - Jan 19 2007 : 1:14:50 PM
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Try this one:(www.SavingDinner.com)
"I suppose the pleasure of country life lies really in the eternally renewed evidence of the determination to live." Vita Sackville-West
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keepingupwithkids
Farmgirl at Heart
4 Posts
Jamie
Terre Haute
IN
4 Posts |
Posted - Jan 30 2007 : 10:29:20 AM
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Hi! I was excited to see your post. I am a huge fan of freezer meals. My friends and I just completed 2 months worth of meals one day last week. We are all nurses with kids and two of use are full time students as well. I am really close to the robinson area if you want to email me I may be able to give you some tips.
Our favorite books are Once a Month Cooking, Frozen Assets, and The Thirty Day Gourmet. We have been doing freezer meals long enough that we have incorporated a lot of our own recipes into the mix.
I registered just so I could reply to your post! |
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faithymom
True Blue Farmgirl
360 Posts
Faith
Sandpoint
ID
USA
360 Posts |
Posted - Jan 30 2007 : 11:42:35 AM
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Jamie, do you have a preference between the 3 books?
I haven't checked out 30 Day Gourmet, I own OAMC, and I've checked out Frozen Assets from the library.
How does 30 D.G. compare? Is it worth buying?
Thanks,
Faith
"All television is educational television. The only question is, what is it teaching?"-Fmr. FCC Commissioner Nicholas Johnson |
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keepingupwithkids
Farmgirl at Heart
4 Posts
Jamie
Terre Haute
IN
4 Posts |
Posted - Jan 31 2007 : 11:52:21 AM
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Faith,
Of the three books, The Freezer Cooking Manual from 30 Day Gourmet is probably my favorite. The book includes worksheets to make organizing shopping, the recipes, and the cooking day a little better. The recipes are good as well, but we use a mix of recipes from all three books and our own.
jamie |
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kitchensqueen
True Blue Farmgirl
521 Posts
521 Posts |
Posted - Jan 31 2007 : 3:19:28 PM
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I love doing freezer meals! I usually take one or two Saturdays a month and go crazy. I like to prepare things that can be made several different ways-- for example, I make a huge batch of meatballs, and freeze them in serving sizes in plastic baggies. Then we can have them Swedish-style, with spaghetti and pasta sauce, sweet and sour sauce, barbecued, or what ever we're in the mood for. Other freezer favorites of ours our mini meatloaves with no topping (then you can choose what you want when you reheat it), scalloped potates and ham, chili, 15 bean stew, a big ham pre-cooked and sliced and frozen in portion sizes, and jambalaya. I also do up breakfast things in bulk, like plain and gingerbread pancakes and muffins (usually pumpkin or applesauce spice).
http://apartmentfarm.wordpress.com |
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keepingupwithkids
Farmgirl at Heart
4 Posts
Jamie
Terre Haute
IN
4 Posts |
Posted - Feb 05 2007 : 10:41:57 AM
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Amanda,
I see that you are from Chicago. Do you have any of the stores that are set up to assist people to assemble freezer meals? Have you tried them? What do you think? I have always thought that this concept was a great idea and then I discovered it was already available. I love to cook and really enjoy the convenience of freezer meals. So many people are interested and have questions when they find out that I do OAMC. I am a nurse and am currently in school for my master's but would really love to have a little business sometime. I think I would enjoy having a store or business assembling meals for others. I haven't ever talked to anyone that has used a store and there are not currently any in our area. Indianapolis is the closest but I have never tried any of them.
jamie |
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herbquilter
True Blue Farmgirl
891 Posts
Kristine
Bonney Lake
Wa
USA
891 Posts |
Posted - Feb 05 2007 : 4:02:29 PM
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We have done OAMC for over 2 decades now. We do it a little differently by not making this HUGE day that it takes you 2 or 3 days to un-bale yourself from.
Now we double, triple or quad-ddriple whatever we are making, separate & freeze.
But if I were starting over I would:
1-Make a list of your family's favorite maindishes.
2-With your list see what can be frozen. (mashed potatoes don't freeze well)
3-Decide how many times you would like that maindish for the month.
4-Make a grocery list
5-Make a step by step list (add up how many onions you need chopped, how much hamburger needs to be browned, making of sauces, etc.)
6-Make maindishes, wrapping and freezing as they are put together so as not to over-stress the freezer.
This has blessed our family through many occassions, sickness, busy garden days & we've been able to share with other. Too much fun! Plus it frees up your mind to think and do other things.
This has been such a blessing
Blessings,
Kristine ~ Mother of Many & Herbalist
www.herbalmomma.com
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kitchensqueen
True Blue Farmgirl
521 Posts
521 Posts |
Posted - Feb 05 2007 : 5:27:18 PM
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Keepingupwithkids-- yes, we do have a few out in the suburbs, but I have never tried them out. I think from a financial perspective it's not economical, plus you have to drive there and then haul everything back to your house. I prefer to plan once or twice a month, do one big shopping trip (utilizing sales, coupons and comparison shopping) and then spend an afternoon doing the cooking. That way I can get the most for my money, and plus I just like to cook!
http://apartmentfarm.wordpress.com |
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kitchensqueen
True Blue Farmgirl
521 Posts
521 Posts |
Posted - Feb 05 2007 : 5:32:11 PM
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Jamie, I'm thinking more about setting one up as a business-- maybe instead of the storefront setup (the drawbacks of which I mentioned above) you could do an in-home company? Say, you have pre-fab dishes or menus people can choose from, you bring all the ingredients to their home (doing the shopping for them) and do prep and clean-up for the client. This would be fantastic as a party or group setup-- I tend to have the best time preparing freezer meals when I do it with friends. You could also tap into a couple great niche markets-- doing freezer meals at a baby or wedding shower, for example.
http://apartmentfarm.wordpress.com |
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keepingupwithkids
Farmgirl at Heart
4 Posts
Jamie
Terre Haute
IN
4 Posts |
Posted - Feb 20 2007 : 8:52:15 PM
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I was kind of thinking of getting a few interested people and doing the shopping and cooking for them when I do my own meals. My friend and I usually get together to cook every other month. I don't think it would be that big of a deal to add a few more meals. I'd like to try it once to see how it works out and determine what I need to charge for each meal to make it profitable but affordable.
Jamie |
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Cleaning Up: I need Help w/ prepared freezer meals!? |
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I need Help w/ prepared freezer meals!?
