August 14, 2009

• I just don't feel like I have a ton to write about these day...My life is slow and boring and I like it! 

  However, I got my cookbook yesterday...That's something to talk about!

  

  So the gist of this book is that you buy bulk of an item and then package it up as a ready-to-cook entree. (There are also some side dishes and desserts, but the majority of the recipes are entrees.) Each recipe yields 3 entrees which serve 4-6 (depending on recipe).  For our family of 3, that means some recipes will really yield 6 entrees and I will package them accordingly.  You mix together the ingredients, divvy them up in freezer Ziplocs and pop them in the freezer for quick meals.

  I pretty much like everything about this book.  The recipes look good.  Most are reasonably healthy and those that seem rich....well, I do know how to tweak recipes to be lower fat.  The book is well laid out and easy to follow.  I especially like that you can print the cooking directions for the entrees on to Avery labels and slap them on the freezer bags and you are good to go.

  I am going to start by making about 6 entrees, though in two separate batches.  I am going to do chicken first, making Cashew Chicken (we love stir fry here!), Pecan Crusted Chicken Strips (breaded with bread crumbs and pecans) and a barbecue chicken recipe.  Those recipes will yield at least 9 entrees for us. 

  The second round of cooking will be beef, Mozzarella Meatballs (which have a sort of tangy/bbq sauce) and Ginger Beef (good plain, or for stir fry).  That's at least another 6 entrees.

  I am also going to make garlic baked potatoes, red sauce and some ginger cookie dough. 

  When finished, I will have a minimum of 15 entrees, 8 sides, 10 cups of red sauce and dough for 60 cookies in the freezer and ready to go.  I figure that is good for about a month of meals.  Some of the entrees will leave us with leftovers and making only 15 entrees also allows for flexibility in cooking other things we like from our usual recipe library.  Once I get this going, I hope to cook up a couple of new entrees every couple of weeks, to keep the freezer stocked.

  So, I am very excited to try this...I have been so frustrated with being tired and not wanting to cook (and dh being tired and not wanting to cook!) and the fact that that leads to more convenience kinds of foods.  I don't like that convenience foods are less healthy and more expensive.  I will be very happy to have entrees ready to go in the freezer!

  It is my plan to do this cooking sometime next week. Dh will be home on vacation and will help me out.  I've been peeking at the long range forecast...We are due for a spell of miraculously sunny weather (Yay!) and then in the middle of next week, more rain.  So, likely I'll be cooking up these entrees the middle of next week!

  And of course, I will fully document the event for blog sharing!

   

  • 7:14 am
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