OAMC - My menu

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My Once-A-Month cooking adventure has been sidetracked several times.  The most recent issue was our fridge deciding to conk out on me!  That has now been fixed, however, the dryer just died.  We are buying a used one from a friend of a friend for $150.  There goes half of my grocery budget for this project.  So, it will be postponed yet again until I have an entire paycheck for the shopping!

Even with all the set backs, I was finally able to settle on a menu.  I decided on 10 recipes that I will double.  I will also include breakfast burritos that can be popped in the microwave in the morning before school.

Here is my menu:

• breakfast burritos (makes 4 servings) X2
• Farmhouse Chicken Casserole (13x9 pan) X2
• Marinated Ginger Shrimp (makes 6 servings) X2
• Sloppy Joe's (makes 5 servings) X2
• Slow Cooker Chicken Soup (makes 8 servings) X2
• Magnificent Casserole (13x9 pan) X2
• Polynesian Chicken (makes 6 servings) X2
• Kid Friendly Chicken Bites X2
• Farmers Casserole w/Ham (13x9 pan) X2
• Mini Meatloaves (makes 18 loaves) X2
• Crock Pot Pizza Soup X2

In addition to all the groceries, I've made the following list of supplies that I'll need....

• 2 boxes gallon freezer bags
• aluminum casserole pans (13x9) X8
• aluminum foil
• plastic cling wrap
• plain white labels
• black sharpie

It was actually fun going through all my recipes and visiting the many websites that I've come across while researching this project.  I think the next time I attempt this, I won't plan my menu while hungry!  Everything sounded so good.  I did try to select recipes that were relatively easy and that I thought my family would like.  It was tough because my kids can be extremely picky.

If any of the recipes I've listed here have interested you and you decide that you may like to have all the details of the recipe, just let me know and I'll be happy to email it to you!  Just leave a comment!

I promise to show you all the details of my shopping and cooking process step by step (blow by blow).

More to come!

OAMC

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Have any of you ever tried "Once A Month Cooking"?  I have thought about this for years but have never actually done it.  A few years ago, I bought a book called, "Once-a-Month Cooking: A Proven System for Spending Less Time in the Kitchen and Enjoying Delicious, Homemade Meals Every Day" by Mimi Wilson and Mary Beth Lagerborg. 

My curiosity got the better of me last week and I went searching the net to find websites/blogs dedicated to OAMC.  I found a ton!  There are sites out there that give you step by step instructions as well as menus, recipes and shopping lists!  These people make it look so easy.  I'm still not convinced that spending 1-2 days cooking NON-STOP wouldn't kill me, especially in my teeny-tiny kitchen.

I did learn a couple of things from all my reading that I wanted to share with you in case you have ever thought about giving this a try...

• PLAN, PLAN, PLAN.  Never start out this project without a menu plan.  It's also good to write everything down, step by step, so you know what you need to do and what you need to buy.  I have decided that there is no way you can "wing" this!
• Buy lots of freezer bags!  Not just the plastic zip lock bags...but the ones that are specifically made for the FREEZER!
• Label everything with the date and with cooking instructions.  That way, in case someone else needs to start dinner, they will know exactly what to do.
• Make space in your freezer!  Thankfully, we have a freezer above our fridge but we also have a deep freeze in our garage!  I can't make 'not enough space' as an excuse for not trying this.
• Kitchen utensils!  I noticed in lots of recipes that  they required fine chopping, pouring, measuring, blending, zesting, etc.  I think it's helpful to have the kitchen equipment that you'll need out and ready to use.
• Clean as you go along!  Since my kitchen is small, I do this anyway.  But in this case, it would be extra important so that you have whatever you need ready for the next recipe.
• Clump "like" things together.  What I mean is....if you know that you have several recipes that need cooked ground beef....then brown 2-3 lbs at one time and then set it aside for the next recipe.  There is no sense in having to do that more than once if you don't have to.
• Although none of the books or websites suggested this.....for me....I need to have an empty house.  That means, no littles allowed (unless you will use there help) during the prep time.  My kitchen is so small that there really isn't room for anyone else in there.  My girls usually fight over who gets to do what and then I end up extremely stressed.   I suggest a CD that you like to listen to, and a glass of wine.  Other than that....everyone OUT!

I have been reading, eating and sleeping this OAMC concept now for the last two weeks!  I think I'm ready to give this a try.  When I do, I will take you with me, step by step...with pictures!  I would like to get my cooking done before school starts so the first month or so will be stress free as far as dinner meals are concerned.  I'm in the process of making my master shopping list.  I'll keep you updated.

I wanted to leave you with some excellent websites/blogs that have great information, in case this is something you're interested in trying.

www.onceamonthmom.com
www.livingwellspendingless.com
www.freezermealsforus.blogspot.com
www.freezerfriendz.blogspot.com
www.thefamilyhomestead.com/freezercooking
www.ringaroundtherosies.net/2012/02/freezer-cooking  (great recipes)
www.moneysavingmom.com/2010/02/how-to-plan-bulk-cooking (excellent site)
www.happymoneysaver.com/making-50-freezer-meals-in-one-day (another one with great recipes)
www.frugalmom.net/blog/in-the-kitchen/freezer-cooking-in-the-kitchen
www.morningjoyfarm.blogspot.com/2012/05/once-a-month-cooking
www.aturtleslifeforme.com/2011/06/freezer-meals-on-cheap
www.organizedhome.com/freezer-cooking/guide-once-a-month-cooking
www.dreamingofpoultry.com//content/10-freezer-meals-1-day


Enjoy the rest of your Saturday!!