Last month, I started a "Fix and Freeze" club. This is a get-together with friends where you cook meals to put in your freezer for nights when you don't have time to stand over the stove. It also saves the budget. We haven't gone out to eat nearly as much because there are meals ready to cook in the freezer! We had so much fun and were so productive. I wanted to pass along the idea to all of you! Most of the first steps can be done through email.
How To:
1. Pick your cooks/friends. Remember there is such a thing as "too many cooks in the kitchen", so try to keep it small.
2. Decide on a location. We picked my friend Jennifer's place because she has a huge kitchen.
3. Decide on a day. (we did ours on a Saturday so our hubby's could watch our kids, but if you have your kids around, put them to work and make it fun for them too!)
4. Decide on your meals. (I will list some of the best tried and true freezer recipes) Brainstorm together with your friends about what you want to cook. It's best to do "tried and true" recipes for this. And most importantly ones that freeze well.
5. Make a grocery list. (with your coupons in mind of course) Put EVERYTHING on the list. Don't forget you'll need plenty of freezer containers (foil ones work the best) and you also will need very sturdy ziploc bags or containers for sauces or soups.
6. Go grocery shopping. (divide the list evenly. We were each in charge of our own MAIN ingredients such as meat and spaghetti sauce). We each went shopping separately.
7. Plan your day's schedule. This is important. Some things take a while to cook for example; crockpot bbq chicken. So you would want to start that FIRST THING.
*Our schedule looked a little something like this:
8:00 - arrive and organize ingredients
8:30 - start the crockpot bbq chicken
9:00 - start chili - Tandy
9:30 - boil chicken for enchiladas - Jennifer
9:30 - make dough for wheat rolls - Angela
etc...
*We had a FULL day. We finished up around 5:00. But here's everything we accomplished:
Crockpot BBQ Chicken
Chicken Enchiladas
Mexican Casserole
Lasagna
Spaghetti Sauce
Chili
Vegetable Soup
Lemon Layer Cake
Wheat Rolls
Here's what turned out the best:
Crockpot BBQ Chicken -
4-5 Chicken Breasts
1/2 bottle KC Masterpiece original recipe BBQ sauce
1/2 can coke
2 TBS apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 T mustard
1 T worch. sauce
Little water
**Place all in crockpot and cook on high 4-5 hours. As it gets near the end, shred with fork. Serve on rolls or by itself. It's also really good in a quesadilla! For my family this recipe is enough for 2 meals for my family, so I divide it. This freezes so well!
We had so much fun cooking together. The kitchen was a MESS. Flour was flying and sauces were boiling over, but we laughed ALL day. My family had really enjoyed the fruit of our labor. I have more time to spend with them. And the meals are really good! So, get your friends, grab your aprons and "Fix and Freeze!"
6 comments:
Angela, this post is so good. My sister in law and I were talking about this and wanted your tips on how you did it all. Were there any recipes that you wouldn't have done again? Good work my friend, gooooood work!
All these worked really well. We cooked them part of the way, for example: we would make the sauce and then assemble a lasagna, but just not bake it. Same with the chicken enchiladas.
Next time we're gonna do a French Silk Pie. We wanted something sweet. The lemon layer cake was good. We cut them in half, wrapped them in saran, then foil. When you want it for dessert, just pull it out early in the day and it will be thawed by dinner time.
I'm soooo glad you posted this, Ang! I mentioned this to some friends and have wanted to know the details. I also have been looking for a new BBQ recipe so I might try that one this week!GREAT IDEA!!!!!
THat is a good idea. I may have to try it one day:)
Angela, you have inspired me! I ordered a good cookbook of recipes that freeze well a while ago and I just haven't gotten around to making a lot of meals and freezing them but making a fun day of it with my friends has inspired me. Thanks for sharing!
I have done freezer cooking for several years and would highly recommend it.
Here are a few websites I would recommend:
http://www.30daygourmet.com I have their cookbook, but you can also review their enewsletter online for some great recipes and search online for numerous ons.
Also, a great newer website called www.onceamonthmom.com provides recipes and detailed instructions and has many baby recipes for those ladies with little ones.
Lastly, I would recommend http://www.recipezaar.com and search under freezer and you will be amazed at the options.
Just a few ideas for those ladies who want to attempt a few recipes, however, don't want to purchase a cookbook.
Love the photograph of you and your friends with your bounty...what a great accomplishment to be proud of!
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