Do Once a Month Cooking
Cooking once-a-month saves both time and money. Below are some tips on how to organize and prepare for the big cooking day.
Steps
Read several once-a-month type cook books.
Collect recipes from various sources including the cookbooks. Select the recipes for the planned cooking session.
Make a grocery list and go shopping using the recipes selected. Shop the day before the cooking session.
Print and tape the recipes to the cupboard doors for ease of reading while cooking.
Set out all the cooking utensils and pans the night before in preparation for the tomorrow's cook-a-thon.
At the same time do some of the minor food preparation. A good example would be to chop onions using a food processor and then refrigerating the chopped onions for later use.
Follow the cooking and freezing directions for each recipe prepared.
Tips
Can cook in mini sessions. A mini session typically prepares 10 to 14 days worth of meals.
Cook according to what is on sale. Some cooks will have chicken session, a beef session or a breakfast session.
The advantage to this method is the shopper can purchase what is on sale at the grocery store.
Wear comfortable clothing and shoes.
Share the cooking session with a friend. Split the prepared meals and share grocery costs.
Can use pre-chopped onions, bell peppers or other frozen bagged veggies.
This can cost a bit more but sometimes saving time is worth the extra cost.
Order pizza or go out to dinner as quantity cooking can be tiring.
Wash the dishes as you cook.
Plan to use a couple slow cooker recipes as part of the cooking session. The night before, start a slow cooker recipe and allow the food to cook overnight. The next day use the slow cooker for second batch of food.
Follow current safety practices when freezing meals.
Things You'll Need
Freezer containers.
Measuring spoons, cups, bowls, cookware.
Steps
Read several once-a-month type cook books.
Collect recipes from various sources including the cookbooks. Select the recipes for the planned cooking session.
Make a grocery list and go shopping using the recipes selected. Shop the day before the cooking session.
Print and tape the recipes to the cupboard doors for ease of reading while cooking.
Set out all the cooking utensils and pans the night before in preparation for the tomorrow's cook-a-thon.
At the same time do some of the minor food preparation. A good example would be to chop onions using a food processor and then refrigerating the chopped onions for later use.
Follow the cooking and freezing directions for each recipe prepared.
Tips
Can cook in mini sessions. A mini session typically prepares 10 to 14 days worth of meals.
Cook according to what is on sale. Some cooks will have chicken session, a beef session or a breakfast session.
The advantage to this method is the shopper can purchase what is on sale at the grocery store.
Wear comfortable clothing and shoes.
Share the cooking session with a friend. Split the prepared meals and share grocery costs.
Can use pre-chopped onions, bell peppers or other frozen bagged veggies.
This can cost a bit more but sometimes saving time is worth the extra cost.
Order pizza or go out to dinner as quantity cooking can be tiring.
Wash the dishes as you cook.
Plan to use a couple slow cooker recipes as part of the cooking session. The night before, start a slow cooker recipe and allow the food to cook overnight. The next day use the slow cooker for second batch of food.
Follow current safety practices when freezing meals.
Things You'll Need
Freezer containers.
Measuring spoons, cups, bowls, cookware.
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