My Latest Cooking Adventure

Ever since the onset of Games2U, eating out has been our usual "mode of operation".  It was such a sudden and extreme lifestyle change that I was unable to adjust my cooking habits accordingly.  At first, fast food was the only thing available considering I was working with Neal at most parties.  There wasn't even time to make a lunchable type lunch box for Colton, much less cook.  Even the available time to eat went from a scheduled time frame (5:30 - 7:00pm) to in between scheduled parties, which usually meant supper wasn't conceivable until 10:30pm.  Not even many fast food restaurants are open at that time, besides yucky Sonic!

Then, slowly, I was not needed as much at parties, but the added management responsibilities didn't change anything much in the cooking department.  Eating and cooking as healthful as possible has always been very important to me, so I was stumped for a long time how to incorporate this type of cooking, much less cooking at all, with the fact that I had so little time for this essential task.  If you have tried, with a reasonable amount of effort, to cook healthfully, you know it takes quite a bit of planning, effort and time.

I have always "planned" meals, but only for a week's worth at a time.  I've tried planning for 2 weeks worth of groceries, but that's about impossible considering the amount of fresh produce I like to use.   And it didn't seem worth the effort, time or gas money to plan 2 weeks worth only to go to the grocery store every week anyway.

So, while I had a little time to peruse the internet, after my surgery, I found one particular blog very helpful to me on the subject.  And it came at a pretty perfect time, during the holidays...the craziest, busiest time of the year!

The author introduced me to a different kind of "Batch Cooking".  I know, I know.  Those are nearly curse words to most of us who prepare meals for a family, but stay with me here.  I mean, I certainly do not have a whole day to focus on cooking (or any other task) at this time in my life, so I was skeptical, too, as I began reading her plan.  But one sentence hooked me:

With a simple meal plan, you can easily double your recipes in the first half of December, so that in the second half — when we’re swamped with holiday festivities – all you have to do is thaw, heat, and serve.

Thaw, heat and serve?  Really?  That's all I would have to do the whole second half of the month?  The time which I want to make Christmas cookies with Colton and make food to bring to our family gatherings? 

Our Christmas cookies: Snickerdoodles...yummmm!

And her plan didn't require setting aside a whole day of cooking.  Okay, I'll listen...

The idea is that you cook twice as much, either one ingredient or the whole meal, the night you cook for the family, and freeze the doubled batch for a later day in the month.  Do this a few times and you'll have fresh freezer meals ready later for easy reheating.

The best part of freezer meals is knowing I can make

it healthier, cheaper and better tasting than fast food

or prepackaged foods.

Both Colton and Neal said this is the BEST pizza

they have ever had!

The thing that really pulled it all together for me was the fact that she provided her personal monthly plan:

Our December Plan

Finally, someone with great organizational skills showing me exactly how to do what they successfully do!

I must admit I do have a FoodSaver.

Honestly, I'm not sure I'd been able to try this without it.  My parents gave it to us a couple Christmas' ago and I use it for more than batch freezing (sealing chip and cereal bags, etc).  So, I totally recommend the investment if you can and you plan on trying batch cooking.  That, or be sure to have several freezer containers on hand.

So this is the second month to be using this idea and, honestly, I've not been able to follow my meal plans to the "T", but it sure has helped me incorporate cooking into my schedule again.  Yea!  And, I believe, if we aren't eating out we are eating healthier.  Plus, it does seem to save some money over buying just one week's worth of groceries AND time, because I only have to plan once a month.  PLUS, I know now that I can be flexible with my plan.  All the qualities I need!   It's so nice to have a home cooked meal a few times a week!

Heather