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mommy4ever
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| Posted: March 29 2012 at 4:29pm | IP Logged
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This last week, we've had challenges, mostly, I have been under the weather, we were getting dd15 ready for a trip out of the country. Supper fell the the wayside.
I picked up some frozen meals, some were good, some not so good. And I decided to try one of the meal assembly companies out there. Ouch, that was pricy. But still cheaper than a restaurant.
I REALLY like the concept of pulling a bag out of the freezer, and there is the main course 1 or 2 sides, add a fresh salad and you're good to go. However, although I liked the 2 meals I purchased, they were too spicy for my family.
So I did some research. And decided to try my hand at my own assembled meals. I have a book on hold, waiting for it to come in. And I found a wonderful website - http://onceamonthmom.com. She has a bunch of monthly plans on the site. Not quite what I was looking for, but much better.
Today, I picked out some recipes, did a grocery trip. For $214, I have 14 main courses for family of 6, 3 lunches, and I think 5 breakfasts. I think that works out very nicely. AND, I'm 98% sure the family will eat them. I didn't use a complete menu, I picked and chose. I have 6 frozen and ready to go. 2 to reheat, and 2 that are super simple to prepare. Breakfasts are quick as they are reheat. Most of the lunches are the same, with the home daycare it's imperative it be very simple and fast.
I'm going to take time to properly plan a second round for 2 weeks from now. I think this is going to be a life saver. It didn't take much time to put most together. So, I'm pleased, huge savings over the meal assembly place, and we'll all eat it.
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Angie Mc
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| Posted: March 29 2012 at 4:54pm | IP Logged
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Sounds like a fantastic fit!
Do you have a big freezer (I just have a side by side  )?
How much time did it take from start to finish to prep? (Not counting food shopping.)
What did you find easier than you expected? More difficult/longer/more expensive, etc. than you thought?
Thanks so much for sharing!
Love,
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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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mommy4ever
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| Posted: March 29 2012 at 5:14pm | IP Logged
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Angie I do have an upright, but we don't typically have much in it these days. It actually doesn't take that much space.
I am not entirely done. One meal, was simply making and putting in bags chicken and the home made marinade.
Even the one that I cooked, didn't take that long.
there is one that is crockpot involved, but not much hands on either.
I started at 11, took a break for lunch fed the littles, put them for naps, worked for about an hour and a half and got the rest done. Including clean up.
It took longer, but I really didn't plan it, I decided on it and just did it. In the next session, I'm going to try to match to sales for the meat first, that will bring cost down. But it wasn't hard, and considering $214 took care of several suppers, lunches and breakfasts, it was actually quite economical.
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3ringcircus
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| Posted: March 29 2012 at 6:32pm | IP Logged
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What a great idea--thanks for the link! There's a diet-friendly menu, too. Perhaps I can make this weak start at WW actually stick! 
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mommy4ever
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| Posted: April 14 2012 at 5:13pm | IP Logged
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Checked out another book this week. Put it too the test. In 2 hours I have 9 meals in the freezer :)
Title is Fix, Freeze, Feast by Katherine Neville and Lindsay Tkacsik.
The house smells SOOO good.
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mommy4ever
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| Posted: April 29 2013 at 10:53am | IP Logged
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I did this for several months, using the free menus from the Once A Month Mom site, and for whatever reason stopped. I totally forgot about it.
I've been struggling getting supper on the table. Even lunch! It's bee frustrating to say the least.
In search here, I found my post and was reminded on how well it works :)
I have a week and a halfs grocery money sitting and waiting for me... so guess what I'm planning?
I will not be doing all recipes at once, for the month. But 2 or 3 at a time. I'm thrilled to see, what I hadn't noticed before, a toddler menu. That will be such a life saver with the home daycare as well as my own.
I was just browsing the meal assembly sites, going, that's too expensive and doesn't solve breakfast or lunch or snack issues for planning.
thought I'd bump this. I've been in a slump, time to pick myself out of it. Got out of the homeschool burn out, now it's time to address the home maker burn out. lol
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mommy4ever
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| Posted: April 30 2013 at 12:37pm | IP Logged
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Ok. so I planned to do a full cook, but decided to wait. I chose a few recipes with which I had most of the ingredients here, and did an early morning grocery run. I now have 8 lunches(2 recipes) for dd16 and I(the others won't care, but I'm freezing as single serving, so it's perfect). 12 breakfasts(i'm horrible about eating in the morning, and I don't like cereal, etc). and 4 family suppers, so far.
I will have 6 days(3 recipes) of daycare lunches and snacks ready soon for the rest of the week. I think I will plan to do the daycare snack and meal prep. Snacks are fun, frozen yogurt pops, frozen fruit cups, homemade muffins. Lunches are filling. Home made soups with corn bread, pastas, etc.
I'm surprised how quickly it goes when you just focus and get it going. I will eliminate the take out now, as many can be just heated. However, there are many dishes that are prepped and frozen, so it's cooked fresh. So a nice balance.
Dh is away all day Saturday, and dd9 will be at a friends, and my evening is free on Friday, so I am planning on doing another session, but bigger on Saturday. I am doing an inventory in the freezer to see what is on hand, and will pick recipes accordingly. :)
School is done, the kids have been playing games, the baby is happy and fed, ready for nap, and it's only 11:20 am...hmmm... what went right?
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Aagot
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| Posted: April 30 2013 at 1:40pm | IP Logged
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This is so inspiring! Can I ask, what did you make for breakfast?
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mommy4ever
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| Posted: April 30 2013 at 2:52pm | IP Logged
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This time I made a yogurt/milk base and froze into ice cubes. And I have flash frozen fruit from the garden. The milk/yogurt will be the base for smoothies.
I also made chocolate avocado banana muffins.
Things I want to try yet to freeze and have handy:
I'm going to do a crock of steel cut oats, and freeze those. Love Steel cut oats, but not the forever it takes to make it. I have my choice of blueberries, honeyberries, rhubarb, apple and strawberries in my freezer to add to it when I heat it in the morning.
Cranberry scones - to be eaten with fresh yogurt.
Homemade poptarts
Strawberry cream rolls
For the littles and us -
blue berry pancakes(or honeyberry). I am making them to microwave to reheat.
French toast sticks
Waffles
Fruity breakfast burrito
I am still looking for more ideas. But when it's 6:30 am and 2 have to catch the bus for 7am.... it's really nice to have something ready within a few minutes that isn't riddled with preservatives and questionable ingredients.
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Aagot
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| Posted: April 30 2013 at 3:24pm | IP Logged
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Ohh! That all sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing.
i have not tried these but what about homemade corned beef hash and scrambled egged burrito or sausage in a blanket? Also, you could sneak pureed steamed spinach and blueberries in a chocolate muffin or "brownie".
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mommy4ever
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| Posted: April 30 2013 at 4:09pm | IP Logged
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I do the hidden veggies in things :) Beans in cookies... extra protein.
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ardently praying for a new addition to our family.
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mommy4ever
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| Posted: May 02 2013 at 5:19pm | IP Logged
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I just got the flyers today. Sales start tomorrow.
I did hit the sales that end today, got a few packages of pork chops. Make kabobs with it for tonight. If we like it, I'll make the rest up as kabobs as well, it will be simple for camping and grilling. An nice alternative the the weekend burgers.
Tomorrow, I'll be picking up ground beef, and ribs. Those are on sale. I'll set those up. As well as using the roasts in the freezer - adding seasoning and veggies to toss in crockpot.
I think there will be another 4 or 5 recipes added to the freezer, with 2 to 3 meals of each for the family. This will make the next while so much easier to prepare for!!
Tonight I'll put together the prep session, based on the sales. Breakfast, lunch and snacks included. Loving the variety of home made soups in the freezer. Pull out a jar in the morning, and by lunch it is ready to dump and heat up for lunch. EASY, yummy and healthy.
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Mom to 4,
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2 homeschooled(one considering art school!)
ardently praying for a new addition to our family.
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: Approaching cooking from another angle
