If I had a bunch of 'kitchen hands' I might be able to pull it off... but while I only have 2... who have small hands and are still in training ... I don't think I'll ever truly attempt it!
Have you ever tried it? Cooking everything for a month in one day?
I can see the benefits but I can't convince myself to pay the immediate cost... so many dishes, so much thinking, tired feet, sore back... and not to mention how crusty my hands would be at the end of it!!
On the other hand... I'm not a cook it every night kind of person. I think I grew up with this for the most part. Meat and 3 veg kind of has to be done like that, don't you think?
While sitting here typing, I have a huge pot of spaghetti sauce simmering away on the stove... at least enough for 4 meals (I'd say 5 however we have guests for lunch tomorrow so that's where the extra is going)... though the pot is big enough that I could have doubled it again and had enough for 10 meals - maybe next time?
I sometimes like to cook a couple of different dishes at the same time. Spag sauce is good for this (though not happening tonight) because once it's on the stove it just needs to simmer for a couple of hours with little attention. It's a good time to look ahead at the menu plan and see what can be prepared ahead with next to no change in the outcome of the meal.
Some things l like to make ahead and leave in the fridge for later in the week...
~Zucchini slice (pick up hot chips on the way home one night and it goes well with the zucchini slice and a quick salad)
~Broccoli and/or cauliflower cheese bake
~Tuna pasta bake (freezes well too - some have told me that freezing pasta doesn't work for them... but I never have an issue... I'll explain what I do to freeze pasta dishes in another post)
~Taco mince
~Soups: zucchini; chicken, corn and noodle; beef & barley
~Rice for fried rice
~Mashed potato... spread it into a casserole dish and drag a fork over the top to make it look pretty. Sprinkle some cheese over the top when baking to heat and it's all good!
~Sausages... cooked ahead can save some time on a busy evening. Easily heated in a casserole dish in the oven or in the fry pan with a lid.
As a general rule, I like to get dinner happening soon after breakfast - if it's not already done. It means that even when the day gets crazy that dinner is taken care of :o)
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I agree, I would like to have a freezer of meals ready for the month... but just thinking about all the work and cleaning involved gives me anxiety.
ReplyDeleteI've never felt the need to do a month's worth of meals as I actually enjoy cooking tea!
ReplyDeleteI have however, been kitchen hand for some of my friends with large families when they did their 30 day meal plans. Lots of work but actually a great day with a few bodies on the job.
I usually keep a few meals in the freezer for Justin ( just in case).
And yes, when the kids were all littlies I always had the meal going after lunch so that the hectic time of day was less frantic. good ideas. Thanks for the post.
Now I think you might be the most organised person I know...or don't know...as it were. Sometimes I feel tired just reading your FB status updates!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a monthly cook either - fresh cooked every night, that's me!
I've tossed this idea around. I love it in theory, but have never done it. Maybe someday...
ReplyDeleteWow Narelle, you sure are organised.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, a month's worth of cooking in one night would be too much effort.
me? organised? ha! learning to be :o)
ReplyDeletehad a thought... if one had such a life that they needed all meals to be 1/2 ready every day of the week, then I'd imagine that same person would find it almost impossible to carve out a whole day to get that cooking done?!