I did it. Everything on the list…I got it done. By Friday late afternoon, I started to feel completely wiped out and didn’t think I could do it. Then I remembered that I needed to eat something. Somehow because I’d been in the kitchen all day around food, my brain figured I had already eaten dinner even though I hadn’t. After I ate, I got a second wind and checked several more items off the list. Saturday I finished up and well…I’m still alive and able to tell about it.
Let’s start with a few picture highlights shall we?
Here we have a box of frozen meat, butter and fruit. As I took this picture, one of the boys asked me if I was making a movie of the meat. I said, no of course not, because making a movie of frozen meat would just be weird. Taking a still picture? That’s not weird at all.
Here was the result of round one of cooking/baking. I made the Chocolate Chip Cookies into bars to save time. I browned up all eight pounds of the ground venison and beef at the same time. We sliced into some of the Strawberry Bread because how could we not? The Corn Dog Muffins turned out ugly with all of their hot dogs exposed. The Cheesy Beef and Rice, Lasagna Casserole and Beefy Enchilada Bake went together easily. And that bowl with the cloth? That’s Whole Wheat Tortillas soaking for burritos.
This is a picture of what I got done Friday night after I got my second wind. I already had the meat browned, so I cooked my beans and put some of the meat into a jar of chili. I stirred up three jars worth of Sloppy Joes. I stuck Graham Crackers into the oven. Then I made my Tortillas and finished up a big pan of Meat and Cheese Burritos. I was happy to have leftover tortillas for quesadillas. I put everything away and staggered up to bed.
Saturday, I baked Zucchini Bread and Honey Whole Wheat bread. One of those loaves up there was made into Cinnamon Swirl Bread. Oh dear…which one is it? Last but not least, I put together Pizza Pockets and one batch of Popcorn Chicken.
Based on the assumption that you may have several questions for me about how I did all of this…I took the liberty to interview myself.
Me: How long did it take you to make all of this stuff?
Me again: I started on Friday afternoon about 1:00 and cooked/baked/wash dishes until 9:30 that night (with a two hour break to run a couple of errands and feed the boys). Then, I started Saturday morning again around 9:00 and finished the last of the list around 3:00.
Me: What were your boys doing the whole time you were working in the kitchen?
Me again: You mean besides asking me 34 times each if they could eat all the food I was making? Well, I had a list of several house cleaning chores I needed them to do, which they did ever so cheerfully and whistling whilest they worked. Yeah. Beyond that, both days we had extra kids here to play…so they all spent hours running through the house shooting nerf guns and playing hide and seek and making lego movies and eating the food I actually let them eat. Remember, my kids are five, eight, nine and twelve…I don’t think I could have pulled all this off in two days with littler ones.
Me: When you put all the food into the freezer, how’d you do it? Have any cool storage tips?
Me again: You mean besides standing on my head with my foot in the freezer trying to hold the frozen hamburger in while I stuffed one last loaf of zucchini bread in before everything fell out? I first tried Amy’s/Tammy’s frozen casserole method…except that I used parchment paper and it didn’t work very well. I then just resorted to using up most of my pyrex casserole dishes with lids. Matt surprised me with these for Christmas, so I had plenty.
I used freezer bags for the quick breads and cookies. Also, for the popcorn chicken, burritos and pizza pockets…I flash froze them on cookie sheets, them transfered them to freezer bags to save space.
Me: How long will all of this food last you?
Me again: Hard to tell. We’ll be eating quite a few of these items this week, since we have quite a few activities that will require warming up a quick meal before we leave or as soon as we get home. I’d really like to just leave a couple of the casseroles and loaves of quick bread in the freezer for a time when I’m in desperate need for a quick meal. Plus, it’s nice to have items like this on hand for a time when company comes over unexpectedly or when I need to take a meal to someone else.
With the amount of time it took me to make the food I made this weekend…and the amount of food my family can consume in one week…I can’t IMAGINE trying to pull off the OAMC (once a month cooking). Maybe I just don’t know enough about it, but trying to cook the majority of our meals for one entire month within a couple of days time…I think I’d pass out cold.
Me: How would you rate your bulk cooking/baking experience overall, 10 being the best?
Me again: I’d give it an eight. I mostly loved it. It was a VERY productive two days and I actually feel like I got ahead a little bit. One thing I struggled with during this whole thing: I have a tendency to be very task-oriented. I get into “get-it-done” mode and forget to stop and smile at my children and husband and say nice things because “oh my word, I have so much to get done so don’t bother me”. I caught myself doing that and had to make a real conscious effort to remember that my “to-do-list” was just a “try-to-list” not a “have-to-list”.
Me: So, did you actually get around to experimenting with homemade Catch-Up (ketchup) ?!
Me again: Why yes as a matter of fact I did. Would you like to hear about it sometime?
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Be sure to check out the Once a Month Cooking Festival at Moms in Need of Mercy.
Melody says
I’m so amused by the exposed hot dogs. Scandalous! LOL
That is a lot of work right there. You need a super name, if you don’t have one already. I’m sure the boys could come up w/ some. :)
melanie says
I was tired BEFORE I looked at all this. Now I am exhausted. ;-)
Well done, you! (except for that human part where you forgot to relate to your family… that would be me for sure)
Sleep well!
Danielle says
Me too!!!!
Jennifer says
I personally am exhausted (and a suddenly hungry) just looking at all of this! I think I’m being swayed to try this cooking ahead adventure. I just cleaned out my freezer… well, sort of… enough for a few meals to be stashed away. I may have to give it a try!
Jennifer says
You’ve inspired me to try it! :) I have to say I’m impressed with what you accomplished! I have four littles five and under so I don’t think I’ll pull off quite as much! Saturday afternoon I went through all of your recipes writing down the ones I want to try! I have the ingredients on a page to use for shpooing and I’ll look up the actual recipe as I need it. If it’s a keeper it goes on my new menu-planning sheet! Don’t mean to offend ya about the “keeper” part, but I have picky ones to please! :) Thanks for all your hard work! BTW, love the interview.
Carmen says
I would love to hear about your ketchup. I don’t eat it but my family loves ketchup on everything it seems. It would be great if I could make some that they would enjoy as much as the store bought junk.
Kelly Perry says
definitely wanna hear about the ketchup.
thanks!
Kelly Perry says
also, how did you adjust the cookie cooking time to work for bars? thanks!
Laura says
I baked them at 350 for 20 minutes. Usually that’s the PERFECT amount of time. This time it wasn’t. I had to leave them in for another seven mintues. So…27 minutes this time. BUT, I’d say if you’re going to try it, leave them in for 20 then check!! I like mine a little gooey!! :)
Amy says
Wow! Quite a 2 days you had. I have been itching to try this and use up some odds and ends I have in the freezer.
Yes, I do want to hear about the ketchup. We use it a lot and I would love to try to make some.
thanks!
Danielle says
Well Laura, i might get another chance! This weekend, we might get a good snow storm!!! Woohoo! We haven’t had one since Dec! And I wasn’t able to enjoy that since we were fixing to go to Florida, so I was a little upset that it snowed us IN!
So I’ll be going to the store early this week to get the stuff. I’ll keep you posted. Especially since now I know to look for the honey!
Jessica says
Wow! I need to schedule one of those days again. I especially love the chore list for the kids. My main complaint when I have a kitchen day is that the rest of the house seems to fall down around me. Then I’m wiped out from all the cooking and irritated that no one seemed to think to put the laundry away. Its hard to balance lots of healthy, scratch cooking and a tidy, somewhat organized house. (There’s a good post idea. I’d like to hear some strategies for balancing that.)
A friend and I are planning a cooking day for our other friend that’s pregnant. We’re going to surprise her with a freezer full of meals. Can’t wait!
Josette says
I am soo proud of you. And…if I was in town I would of helped ya.
As of now I have to break my freezer cooking days into days with all these little ones about. BUT it’s so worth it!
JeannaMO says
Did you freeze the jars of sloppy joes? I never know if its okay to freeze in glass jar so I would just curious about this.
Thanks! Looks like a very productive day! I bet you slept like a baby after all that was over.
Laura says
Yes, it’s fine to freeze in glass jars, just make sure you only fill it 3/4 full or your jar might break!! Don’t ask me how I know. ;)
melanie says
How tight do you put the lid on? I usually just lay the seal on top, or use plastic wrap instead of the seal — with the band. Make sense??
Yeah, I know how you know. ;-)
Laura says
Hmm, never thought about it before. I just screw it on. Probably too tight.
miss mary says
What I wanta know is can I come over. I love the things you made.I love being in the kitchen. Good for you getting it all done.
Drop by , I have a rachel ray cookbook giveaway.
God Bless
Holly says
**applause**
Feels good, huh? Reminds me of the day (not too long ago) when because of a blizzard I ended up with THREE Amish friendship bread starters that needed to be baked and each starter yields 5 batches (or one batch plus 4 starters to give away). I ended up with 10 regular loaves, 8 mini loaves, and 72 muffins before I ran out of flour.
Janna says
When you say you flash froze the popcorn chicken…did you bake it first? I have made your pizza pockets many, many times and flash froze them before baking, but chicken is, well..raw, Thanks for the inspiration – I am off to our grocery store!
~Janna
Laura says
Oh yeah…good question. Yes, I cooked and cooled the chicken first before freezing.
Jackie says
I tried your popcorn chicken recipe, thanks and I my table full looks a lot like yours. I’ve been cooking and baking for about 2 days.
Amanda says
Wow I am amazed at everything you accomplished. Way to go!! You have inspired me to possibly try this.
Cheryl says
Great job, Laura! For the record, I think the muffins looked great–kind of patch-work quiltish :) Thanks for visiting and linking up :)
Lyn says
I’ve done OAMC and variations for years. It sure does feel good to have so many frozen assets!
A few thoughts if OAMC seems like too much:
Always dice the rest of the celery/onion/carrot when you need just part for a dish. Freeze the rest in a bag just for the one veggie. Then you’ll have some ready for next time.
Consider just doing a soup/chili cooking day. Get out the stockpots, crockpot and borrow what you don’t have. Then make a complete list of your family faves, noting ingredient amounts. Have one time blocked for prep (chopping, browning, measuring). Then clean up and rest. Then cook later that day or the next. You can freeze soup in hard plastic or glass, then pop it out and place in a freezer bag.
Or do the same with casseroles. Prep one day, assembly & freeze the next. Don’t pre-cook most casseroles. Just mark the bag with contents and cooking instructions.
Or do a day of chicken dishes, one of ground beef. You get the idea. Having one prep time and one list for all the quantities of vegetables, cheese, meats, etc. is really the key.
Then just schedule these great meals into your menus. At our house, every Thurs. is soup night. It’s just easier for us.