OAMC / Once a Month Cooking

[tkkmasky]

shred lots of zuchini at once and freeze in the amount you need for your recipes (2 cups for bread, etc), label it, and in the winter you have fresh baked zuchini bread ( remember to drain the thawed zuchini) [/b]

I do this too, I have 3 zucchini plants (which is two too many, lol) and shred tons of it. I also use it in cake mixes, it makes the cake very moist, plus even adds some nutrition to it! My daughters think it is completely normal to add zucchini to cakes, and remind me if I forget!

[boerbok]

Summertime is the time for cheap red,yellow and green peppers.
I buy a lot and char them on the grill, Let them sweat in a closed container, Remove the charred outer skin and freeze them.
They come in handy for all kinds of quick meals, even salads, since they are not fully cooked

[Pipanella]

Oh boy, THIS brought back memories............

OF WHEN I USED TO COOK! LOL!!!!!!!!!

I bought the book, "Once A Month Cooking" by I-can't-remember-who-but-I-heard-about-her-on-Focus On The Family......
This was many years ago (late 1980s), and since I absolutely positively HATE to cook, I thought this might be a great idea, since my family likes to eat (and EVERY DAY! Can you believe THAT????)

Well, when you don't like to cook (like me), even one hour of prep time is too long, so you can imagine how I felt after a whole day of fixing food. But wow, I had all these marvelous things in my freezer!

I honestly can't remember making a single thing a second time (yeah, real marvelous things, weren't they?), and I never could talk myself into doing the all-day thing again. (I really HATE to cook.) Now, whenever I get the rare urge to cook, I just make double and freeze one. That's about as good as it gets around here.

It is a great idea in theory, though. It's just not for me. Maybe I could hire someone to come in for a day and do it for me??????

Did I mention that I HATE to cook?

[Darster]

lol Pipanella! You sound like me!
I think the best I can probably do is to do the double batches.
Martha Stewart I'm not!
I get all these 'wild hairs' to do so many things, but I think I gotta accept I can't do it all.
I've been trying for months to get a garage
sale together, for example.

Who knows, though...if I find something on sale, I might go for a big cook-fest so I can get the deal and it won't be wasted.

btw, for anyone who hasn't tried 'em .... I love those new ziplock containers, Kroger brand containers are just as good and cheaper.

[Ttulipss]

One thing we already make and freeze is pancakes. Okay, I will admit these are not from scratch.....they are the box - just add water - type (we like the Hungry Jack mix). I make about 1/2 the box and pour the pancakes so they are "mini" in size. We have some for breakfast and the rest get frozen. Easy heat up in the microwave!

We also do the same with waffles. Dh will make enough to freeze and to reheat we just pop them in the toaster. Great for quick breakfasts!

[Pipanella]

Just found this link for [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now].

It's free, just pay $4.95 shipping.

In case anyone is interested! (Not me, been there, done that, HATE to cook!! )

[Italianlady]

YIKES!!! I love to cook and I have NO problem spending an entire day in the kitchen...'course, I don't have kids so I can make my own time And my huge dog doesn't mind me being busy a whole day...he gets whatever falls on the floor!

A few things I can add to everyone's list though: I do the same thing with the red peppers too, blackening them in the oven and letting them steam under a heavy towel, but I slice them in strips and put them in a glass jar and cover with either inexpensive olive oil and some fresh herbs from my garden (where the peppers come from too) or with plain water. I leave some headroom in the jars and then stick them in the freezer. I use them for everything from soups, casseroles, salads, antipasto dishes, and I've even taken a few out in the morning and with a nice ribbon, given them as little gifts when I visit friends. I also dehydrate some of almost everything in my garden and either freeze it or jar it in my pantry. Come wintertime, I'll have a ton of freshly dried herbs and lots of garden veggies to pull out for any type of dish. Nothing like fresh homemade rosemary bread with your own roasted red peppers on a cold winter night

Thanks for all the great ideas!!!

[Tracir]

Just to say hello- we are neighbors!
TRACIR

[Ttulipss]

From Redbook's current Mothers and Shakers Story:

"Mary and three neighbors started a "Frozen Meals for the Month" club that more efficiently streamlines the amount of time spent in the kitchen. The four women meet during the beginning of each month to discuss and decide upon three meals that they would each like to make. Once everyone is in agreement, they each make their three meals, but they make four batches of them (a batch for each member of the group) and freeze in disposable containers. In the middle of the month, the women meet and exchange the frozen dinners, so that each member walks away with a total of 12 healthy, homemade frozen meals that can be used for quick and easy dinners during an unexpectedly busy evening."

There's an idea......group up with a couple of friends or neighbors!

[Pipanella]

Now Ttulipss, I actually LIKE that idea! I might be motivated to actually COOK!!! I'll have to bring up the idea at work. Even if just two or three of us do it, it would be fun.

That's what I need.......something that makes cooking fun.......