Freezer Mixes:
I used this method when my family was at home. All this entails is to cook the meat ahead and have it frozen in meal size portions. There are several different freezer meat mixes to use with various recipes.
The thing I like about this method is that it saves time on both ends. Not as much time in the prep for the freezer as other methods, and saves time when preparing dinner because the meat is already cooked.
Web Sites:
Mexican Meat Mix
All Purpose Ground Meat Mix
Cookbooks:
Make-A-Mix Cooking
by Karine Eliason, Nevada Harward & Madeline Westover
Batch Cooking:
Just like the name says, you cook a "batch" of one kind of meal. This can be done in double or triple batches. Make an extra recipe or two of lasagna, enchiladas, soup, chili, penne pasta casserole etc. It really doesn't take much more time to put together two or three of the same recipe once you have done all the prep. Next time you are rushed for dinner, just pull one out of the freezer!
Web Sites:
Simple Mom
Small Notebook for a Simple Home
Busy Cooks
Hillbilly Housewife
Life As Mom
Cookbooks:
Super Suppers Cookbook
by Judie Byrd
The Best Freezer Cookbook
by Jan Main
Taste of Home Freezer Pleasers Cookbook
by Taste of Home
Dream Dinners
by Stephanie Allen & Tina Kuna
Freezer Meal Groups:
Cooking Club - The group agrees on recipes to make, divides the duties and gets together on a specific day to prepare the meals together.
Cooking Co-op - This group assigns recipes to individuals. Each member of the group is responsible to shop and cook their assigned recipe for each other member. Then they meet to swap meals.
Web Sites:
Musings From a Mom
Freezer Meals for Us
Raising Olives
Sugardoodle
Once A Month Cooking:
Cook for one day and eat for a month. It sounds like a lot of work, but might be well worth it if you are really busy, or are expecting a new baby. This takes several days in all to get recipes together, make a menu, shop and cook. I think you could modify this method and do two weeks at a time instead.
Web Sites:
30 Day Gourmet Freezer Cooking
To get to recipes and planning charts go to members tab.
Scroll down to members only login.
username: recipes
password: macaroni
Eaters Digest
30 Meals in One Day
Busy Cooks
Christy's Once a Month Cooking
Cookbooks:
Once-A-Month Cooking Family Favorites
by Mimi Wilson & Mary Beth Lagerborg
Once-A-Month Cooking
by Mimi Wilson & Mary Beth Lagerborg
The Freezer Cooking Manual
by Tara Wohlenhaus & Nanci Slagle
The Freezer Cooking Manual
by Nanci Slagle
Fix, Freeze, Feast
by Kati Neville & Lindsay Tkacsik
Web Sites with general information about freezer meals:
Utah State University
University of Kentucky
I hope all of this information helps you to use your freezer as a tool to get dinner on the table quickly!
