skip to main content

Once-a-Week Cooking

New to this idea- sort of... questions

21 years ago

I am pretty organized about planning meals, cooking, shopping. I do pretty good about making chicken one day and a casserole the next or making a large pot of soup and freezing part of it. That kind of thing.

This last year I was in a cooking club. We met once a week and exchanged meals. It was great. We would each make one dish for five families and my cooking was done for the week. Lately though, we have been talking about disbanding the club. I think we all just want a break.

I am not sure I am ready to do totally once a week cooking in that I don't think I want to or would enjoy cooking everything one day and eating all that I cook during the week.

What I do want to do is those small time savers that would make putting a meal together easier. You know- ground beef. If I browned it with taco seasoning I could make burritos, taco salad, tacos, etc. If I browned it with spaghetti sauce it can go into pasta dishes. Similarly cutting onions and freezing them ahead of time, roasting peppers etc.

I do some of this now, but I think I'm really missing the boat on this whole plan ahead to make it easier to assemble a meal deal.

So I'm on here. I'll go back and reread the posts on here that interest me. What I"m looking for are the hints and helps that you have about this pre prepping type of thing I can do. I have no real clue what freezes well, what doesn't freeze well. I also have no real clue except for a few ideas with ground meat what I should be thinking about doing in advance and freezing.

Help.

Ginger

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

msazadi
21 years ago
Ginger, I'd like to see this forum get going. As much as I love to cook, and I'll have a new kitchen to do it in..next month? I also am going to school two nights and a saturday so I'm gonna have to do some marathon cooking again for a while.
gadgets
21 years ago
If you like chicken, you can cook up a lot of breasts, freeze individually, and use them in salads, casseroles, soups, etc.

I cook up a pot of beans. They can be used in so many ways also, depending on type you cook....could be used in chili or taco salads, etc.

When you make spaghetti sauce, double/triple your recipe and freeze the extras for another time.

Make two lasagnas and freeze one without baking it. Do the same when making meatloaf.

Hardboiled eggs keep for several days when refrigerated. Add to salads, make egg/chicken/tuna salad for sandwiches, or just use as a quick snack.

If you like rice, you can also cook extras and keep in fridge for a few days or even freeze. (I let mine thaw in fridge overnight before using.)

I live alone and have many meals in my freezer. I keep them sectioned off from other items in there so they don't get lost in the shuffle. All are labeled and dated.

Good luck.
Related Discussions
Cold Frames (sort of) ideas and questions
Q
Comments (10)
Thank you for responding, I think I was unclear. The "portable" one wouldn't be 8" high total, I was thinking I'd need about 6-8" of soil, the box would have to be taller than that, of course. My concern is that being off the ground, the soil will be too cold from the air underneath. As to what I'd use it for, I was thinking starting seeds mainly and maybe growing things like lettuce, spinach etc, earlier and later. The more I think about it, the more I probably like the "permanent" box next to the trellis better. But, now I'm wondering if it will be too hot for lettuce and other leafy's there, even with the top off, on the concrete. That patio can get pretty hot as it faces east and that spot gets sun until about 5 p.m. This stuff is all trial and error for me given the spaces I have to work with. Your spot for lettuce intrigues me. I never thought under a tree would work for any kind of veggies. I do have a spot next to the patio, in my second picture you can barely see it behind the curve of pavers and potted tomaotes, where currently two dead dogwoods stand that are coming out this spring. The neighbors hickory tree shades that area and I've never had any idea what would grow there, given that in the middle of the growing season it's fairly shady a good portion of the day. Thanks again, I appreciate any advice.
...See More
Lawn question 'sort of'
Q
Comments (1)
For a homeowner product, I know Ortho's Brush-b-gon and Poison Ivy Killer works quite nicely and quickly. Test it on a small area of the other plants you would like to save before spraying the whole area. I really don't know right off if it will kill it or "save" it.
...See More
New Chair! (sort of)
Q
Comments (20)
Thank you so much, everybody. :) I think I am very happy with it. I put the throw on it just because it seemed so WHITE (even though it's really more of a cream white than a brilliant white) with nothing. But perhaps with a different, textured and patterned, pillow, the throw can go. I'm on the hunt! If you find any that you think would both fit the chair and coordinate with the sofa pillows, PLEASE feel free to send a link my way! :) Patricia: Your own story of chairs lost and regretted is apropos: The sellers of this chair inherited it from the husband's mother, and had it reupholstered about 5 years ago. They, too, decided on a more contemporary look, so the chair no longer fit their decor. I can certainly see how out of place it would be in such decor--but occasionally, I see MCM or other contemporary furniture that I think is beautiful--on some postings here, especially. In any case, if you ever get the itch to change from contemporary, just hit CL!
...See More
Sort-of OT but question about heat pump.
Q
Comments (19)
If you are in Pennsylvania, think about how many days a year the temp goes below 30. Why would you want to rely on an alternate heat system kicking in when you can have one consistent system? Heat pumps are terrible ideas, IMHO. They just can't keep up. I live in Va., and there are still homes/townhouses I've seen with heat pumps. Va has mild weather, but winters can get very cold (and have gotten colder the past several years). And I'll tell you, to most people, "heat pumps" on a home sale spec sheets is not a selling point--even if it is a Trane--they are installed as cheaper options; I have never seen anything claiming they were better utility wise or environmental wise (and I just replaced my non-heat pump heater with a regular Trane heater, so it's not like I'm being cheap!). It'd be worth your time and money to get another heating company rep in for an opinion and estimate.
...See More

Related Stories

HOUSEKEEPING Dishwasher vs. Hand-Washing Debate Finally Solved — Sort Of

By Mitchell Parker

Readers in 8 countries weigh in on whether an appliance saves time, water and sanity or if washing by hand is the only saving grace

KITCHEN DESIGN 9 Questions to Ask When Planning a Kitchen Pantry

By Susan Redman

Avoid blunders and get the storage space and layout you need by asking these questions before you begin

ORGANIZING Pre-Storage Checklist: 10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Store

By Laura Gaskill

Wait, stop. Do you really need to keep that item you’re about to put into storage?

ORGANIZING 4 Questions to Help You Organize Your Favorite Photos

By Jennifer Phelps: Organize. Design. Reinvent!

Organize your keeper photos with a system that's just right for you, whether it's in the cloud or you can hold it in your hand

DOORS 5 Questions to Ask Before Installing a Barn Door

By Apartment 46 for the Home

Find out whether that barn door you love is the right solution for your space

WORKING WITH PROS 8 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Meeting With Your Designer

By Kelli Kaufer Designs

Thinking in advance about how you use your space will get your first design consultation off to its best start

FEEL-GOOD HOME The Question That Can Make You Love Your Home More

By Laura Gaskill

Change your relationship with your house for the better by focusing on the answer to something designers often ask

LIGHTING 5 Questions to Ask for the Best Room Lighting

By Karen LeBlanc Design TV Host & Writer/Blogger

Get your overhead, task and accent lighting right for decorative beauty, less eyestrain and a focus exactly where you want

Today's Question: TV Fireplace Dilemma

By Lily Gahagan

Should the TV Go Above the Fireplace — or Not? Have Your Say!

REMODELING GUIDES Planning a Kitchen Remodel? Start With These 5 Questions

By Tiffany Carboni

Before you consider aesthetics, make sure your new kitchen will work for your cooking and entertaining style

Sponsored

Hope Restoration & General Contracting

35 Reviews

Columbus Design-Build, Kitchen & Bath Remodeling, Historic Renovations