Once a Month Cooking

    

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Tips to get you started with cooking once a month:

  • Try cooking for a two week menu and plan the first time! This will give you a feel for the whole idea of once a month cooking.

  • Have plenty of zip lock gallon sized bags on hand. Tupperware type containers work well too.

  • Learn to use an assembly row cooking procedure. Cook all your hamburger, all your chopping done at one time, etc. That way you can just add the ingredients to your meals as you are assembling.

  • Do all your shopping on one day and cook the next and eat out on cooking day!

  • After you have prepared the dish to be frozen, label the bag or dish and keep a pad on the frig with the instructions  for cooking after it's thawed. I use a shopping list pad :) also label the meal that is frozen with name and date it was first placed in your freezer.

  • Grate and freeze all your cheese. Separate it to recipe type baggies :)

  • Try to just cook two of each dinners as you cook and freeze one!

  • Cook up several pounds of ground beef or turkey and place in lb increments and freeze for quick meals!

  • Cook up several chicken breasts and freeze.

For a Simple Method, always double your current dinner and freeze one! 

 

Or.. cook up several pounds of chicken and cut up and cook up several pounds of ground meat of your choice and freeze in zip lock bags. All you have to do is thaw, spice and add to your casserole.

 

Recipes  that freeze well:

lasagna

hot chicken salad

tuna casserole

sloppy joes

 

Sample Menu

Monday taco pie

Tuesday Joe's to Go

Wednesday  Cheesy Corn

Thursday Manicotti

Friday Leftovers

 

 

 

   This week's Recipe

Nancy's Spaghetti Sauce

2 lb ground beef                                   

 2 lg portebello mushrooms, chopped 

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 small cans of tomato paste

2 cans of stewed tomatoes     

italian spices to taste 

 

Brown the beef with the chopped mushrooms and garlic. Drain.  Add to your crock pot and add remaining ingredients. Cook on low for 4 hours.

 

This Spaghetti Sauce

You can use this for several different recipes! Make a ton, and separate out in bags :)

1 lb bulk italian sausage 4 bay leaves

11/2 c finely chopped onion 2 tbl sugar

1 12 ounce can tomato paste 4 ts oregano leaves

3 38 ounce cans italian style 2 minced cloves of garlic

crushed tomatoes in puree 2 ts salt

2 c water 1 16 on package spaghetti ( don't

cook until serving time

In a large pot, cook and stir the sausage with the onion until the meat is brown. Drain fat. Add remaining ingredients, except the spaghetti. Bring sauce to a boil; reduce heat. Partly cover, and simmer for 2 hours. Makes 12 cups.

Use for lasagna which freezes well, meatballs and spaghetti.