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I have cooked many, many meals over the years, but I will have to admit, I have never cooked our meals ahead for a whole week.
It all started when Jane over at Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms and I were chatting by email and she asked if I would like to review her new cookbook. Absolutely! I love cookbooks! And recipes that make my life easier! Definately!
Then I had an idea to create a Menu Plan for a week, share a grocery list and the recipes. And have a special Cooking Day.
Here is what I cooked…all the recipes are over on the Budget Friendly Meals page.
- Cheesy Pasta, Ham and Peas
- Spaghetti Sauce
- Wrapped and ready for the freezer
- Meatballs for the Spaghetti Sauce
- Wrapped and ready for the freezer
- Sloppy Joes
- Wrapped and ready for the freezer
- Chicken Tortellini Tetrazzini wrapped
- Chicken Tortellini Tetrazzini
- Mini Meatloaves wrapped and ready for freezer
- Teriyaki Chicken wrapped for freezer
- Teriyaki Chicken
I also baked the Make-Ahead Coffee Cake from the cookbook and we loved it.
All in all in went really well. There were a few things I will do differently next time and some I will keep.
- I need to have the whole day to prepare and cook, with no interruptions (running children to practice, baking cupcakes, etc)
- I will schedule a prep day for cutting veggies etc
- Make my cooking plan a little clearer, making sure that I have all the meat and veggies being cut at the same time
- Print recipes instead of working from the cookbook, it might be easier to not be flipping the page all the time
- Use Jane’s Cookbook again! We are lovin’ her recipes!
Disclosure: I received the Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms cookbook to review. My opinion of the recipes are my own.
I didn’t prepare the Macaroni and Cheese. After talking with Jane, I decided it wasn’t a dish that should be frozen. I also did not get the Mashed Potato Casserole done, but will put it together the night before we have it.
The Cheesy Ham, Pasta and Peas made a ton, I had enough for 2 meals, so we had one for dinner tonight and I froze the other one. I also made the Chicken Chimichangas on Monday, but we had them for dinner, and they were so good, there were none leftover for a picture.
You may also see in the picture below, the muffin tins, they have chicken broth in them. I boiled a chicken for Chicken N’ Noodles a few days ago and kept the broth to use in the Chicken Tortellini, then froze the rest in muffin tins. When they are completely frozen, I will pop them out and put them in a freezer bag.
I’m linking to the Blog Parties in my footer, please visit them! You might just find one or two that are new to you!
I had such a great time joining you in this! I’ll agree – a day without interruptions would have been better. I worked from about 9 am to 3 pm, with an hour break in between for lunch. I didn’t get one of the meals prepared, which I still need to do.
I also agree that cutting veggies (and mincing garlic – Oy!) ahead of time would have been a smart move. That seemed to take a lot of time.
We had the Cheesy Pasta, Ham & Peas last night and the whole family loved it. My 4 year old ate everything on his plate, which rarely happens. I’m looking forward to leftovers for lunch today.
I will definitely be making it again.
Thanks again for hosting this!
.-= living with lindsay´s last blog ..Teach Me Tuesday: Updating Furniture with Mod Podge =-.
@living with lindsay, That’s awesome Lindsay! We had the Ham & Pasta too, and really liked it.
I’m so glad you joined me! It was lots of fun! We might just have to try it again
~Liz
Gosh! I wish I had that ambition!
I so need to start doing this
.-= pamela ponder´s last blog ..Friday Follow ~ Ultimate blog party" =-.
I’m ready to start make ahead meals. I think that would save so much time for my family.
i LOVE the idea of the broth in the muffin tin. i was trying to figure out how i can freeze broth without having a million containers in my freezer! thanks!
Love that photo collage. Looks like you were super productive.
.-= Nicole Feliciano´s last blog ..German Company Knows How Mom Thinks =-.
OMG! You are soooo organised! I am, but not as much as getting all our meals that planned in advance…althought I really should, cause sometimes I reeeeeally don’t want to cook!
Thanks for stopping by Bird Crafts and for your sweet comment!
Hugs,
Bird
I love the idea of putting the chicken broth in the muffin tins! Fabulous idea! I used to do make ahead meals for an entire month but don’t do that anymore. Looking forward to getting the book and being remotivated!
.-= Tammy @ Not Just Paper and Glue´s last blog ..Perpetual Calendar Giveaway! =-.
These look great! I used to cook upwards of 40 to 50 meals at once for the freezer for my family of nine. Haven’t done it in a while, though.
I know you already linked, but I think this post would be a fabulous addition to the Four Moms, 35+ Kids Cooking For A Crowd recipe Link-Up!. You can link more than once as long as each post is to a different recipe(s), and this is a keeper!
.-= deputyheadmistress´s last blog ..Four Moms, 35 kids- Cooking For a Crowd =-.
@deputyheadmistress, Thanks, I thought about it, but I wasn’t sure it fit into the theme! I’ll add it.
~Liz
Wow you did a lot of cooking! Good job.
.-= Lynn´s last blog ..Vlogging Ideas =-.
I love cooking ahead like that. Wish I did it more often.
Thanks for participating.
.-= Kimberly @ Raising Olives´s last blog ..Cooking for a Crowd: 4 Moms, 35 Kids =-.
Hi there! I am dropping in from Frugal Friday.
I enjoyed your post. Your photos are so inspiring. I really want to try the make ahead meal thing again. Last time was a disaster, but I am thinking I can tweak it to make it better.
Stop by and see me when you get a chance over at Free 2 Be Frugal.
Yay- you added! Thanks! There are a couple of recipes here I want to be sure to try!
WOW I can’t imagine doing that much cooking at once!! GREAT job!! It all looks so yummy!!
Thanks for linking up to I’m Lovin’ It! Have a GREAT weekend!
.-= TidyMom´s last blog ..I’m Lovin’ It – Texting Google SMS =-.
I freeze my homemade mac and cheese all the time and it turns out great. Just don’t cook the macaroni all the way, make sure it is el dente. When I make it, I double the recipe, cook 1/2 and freeze the other 1/2. My family can’t tell the difference. I LOVE cooking days. They make the rest of my life soooo much easier.
.-= Jenny´s last blog ..Jute Vase =-.
@Jenny, That’s great to know! Thanks so much for sharing that tip!
~Liz
Great ideas for busy gals. Thanks for sharing some yummy looking ideas
.-= gnee´s last blog ..May Day! May Day! =-.