Once a month cooking--second verse

TestifyToLove · 11-19-2010, 08:01 PM

We trailed this idea last month for the first time ever. I've been interested for years, but the idea of doing all the planning, the recipe gathering, the shopping list compilation and the cordination to accomplish it was completely overwhelming.

Well, someone made me aware of a link for an online source that does all that work for you and I figured what the heck, let's try it.

I'm in LOVE with this method for my large, very busy family. Last month, we cooked meals 4 times total. The rest of the month, we had from scratch, homemade meals all month long with ZERO effort on a daily basis. Seriously, I had to stop first thing in the am and decide if I was doing something in the crockot or not. If it was a crockpot option, I tossed it in. If it wasn't, then I tossed it into the oven to bake sometime between 4 and 5 pm so we could eat 6-7pm.

It was GREAT. The food was delicious, healthy, seasonally tied (Apple Cider Stew just makes your whole house feel like fall). The family was totally hooked.

Tomorrow, with the missing piece to the food processor found--so C doesn't have to do 100%' of the produce prep by hand, we try this again. This month, we're going to spread it all over two days. Last month, the kids gave up 2/3 of the way through the day because they were so tired. So, we're splitting it up a bit so pace ourselves.

Here goes round two. I'm hoping our success as phenomenal as last month because I REALLY like being able to feed the family homemade meals without the stress when we run basically non-stop in the evenings--especially since DH starts an evening part-time job this week and for the forseeable future I will now be running solo all week.

Starfox · 11-19-2010, 08:25 PM

That sounds soooo great! (and what's that link?

)

abh5e8 · 11-19-2010, 08:50 PM

awesome! what is the link you used?

mummy2boys · 11-19-2010, 08:58 PM

I would love the link as well please

TestifyToLove · 11-19-2010, 08:58 PM

http://onceamonthmom.com/

DancingWithElves · 11-19-2010, 08:59 PM

you rock

TestifyToLove · 11-19-2010, 09:10 PM

FYI, we tweaked on the very first month. Having everything already done makes it REALLY easy for us to tweak to what we specifically need in a month. Last month, we added extra meals. This month, we don't need to add any meals but took out the cabbage rolls because DH is correct that only A and I would eat them. We use the lunch items for dinners and most of the breakfast items as well. However, it means that I only have to cook less than once a week and the family is well fed.

We spent $600 last month and $550 this month (so half that for your normal family size). Its not less than what we were spending before, but its not more either.

DancingWithElves · 11-19-2010, 09:26 PM

ok, trying to figure it out

so, there aren't very many recipes, are there? i thought there'd be like two for each day of the month

am i totally missing the point?

Blue-EyedLady · 11-19-2010, 09:39 PM

Wish there was something like this that catered to the food-allergic crowd.

Eesti · 11-19-2010, 09:55 PM

That is what I was off searching for. LOL. GF/DF...

Blue-EyedLady · 11-19-2010, 10:03 PM

Yeah, but the problem is that everyone has a different allergy set, so there's no "one-size-fits-all" for us! I suppose it's ridiculous to even wish for such a thing, what with picky toddlers and food allergies to contend with. But I LOVE the idea of OAMC so that I could (theoretically) stay out of the kitchen!

I'm glad it's working so well for you, TTL!

Eesti · 11-19-2010, 10:15 PM

no, but something that took out some of the big ones would be a great start.

rstump · 11-19-2010, 10:39 PM

I was searching around on that site and found some of her past menus are Gf/CF. Even if it was only for a few months it would help get a pattern in place so you could do it with your own recipes.

ArmsOfLove · 11-19-2010, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rstump

I was searching around on that site and found some of her past menus are Gf/CF. Even if it was only for a few months it would help get a pattern in place so you could do it with your own recipes.

that's good to know! I'll head back over and start looking--do you remember when???

I've been trying to do more of this. I do try to create batches of things that include lots of storage. It's hard because my children are eating so much

but it really is cheaper to do a bjillion multiplied batch than even doing the same thing 20 times

rstump · 11-19-2010, 11:13 PM

I just clicked on recipes and scrolled down. Looks like last Sept/Oct

11-19-2010, 08:01 PM	#1
TestifyToLove Banned Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 22,171	Once a month cooking--second verse We trailed this idea last month for the first time ever. I've been interested for years, but the idea of doing all the planning, the recipe gathering, the shopping list compilation and the cordination to accomplish it was completely overwhelming. Well, someone made me aware of a link for an online source that does all that work for you and I figured what the heck, let's try it. I'm in LOVE with this method for my large, very busy family. Last month, we cooked meals 4 times total. The rest of the month, we had from scratch, homemade meals all month long with ZERO effort on a daily basis. Seriously, I had to stop first thing in the am and decide if I was doing something in the crockot or not. If it was a crockpot option, I tossed it in. If it wasn't, then I tossed it into the oven to bake sometime between 4 and 5 pm so we could eat 6-7pm. It was GREAT. The food was delicious, healthy, seasonally tied (Apple Cider Stew just makes your whole house feel like fall). The family was totally hooked. Tomorrow, with the missing piece to the food processor found--so C doesn't have to do 100%' of the produce prep by hand, we try this again. This month, we're going to spread it all over two days. Last month, the kids gave up 2/3 of the way through the day because they were so tired. So, we're splitting it up a bit so pace ourselves. Here goes round two. I'm hoping our success as phenomenal as last month because I REALLY like being able to feed the family homemade meals without the stress when we run basically non-stop in the evenings--especially since DH starts an evening part-time job this week and for the forseeable future I will now be running solo all week.

11-19-2010, 08:25 PM	#2
Starfox Deactivated Ain't nobody got time for perfection! Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Home! Posts: 11,805	Re: Once a month cooking--second verse That sounds soooo great! (and what's that link? )

11-19-2010, 08:50 PM	#3
abh5e8 Deactivated Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Missouri Posts: 5,140	Re: Once a month cooking--second verse awesome! what is the link you used?

11-19-2010, 08:58 PM	#4
mummy2boys Moderator in We'd Love to Meet You, Let's Talk, High Need/Spirited Children, Joyous Homekeeping, and The Cookbook Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 16,027	Re: Once a month cooking--second verse I would love the link as well please __________________ Alysia Married to the love of my life Mama to 2 wonderful boys Waiting to meet 3 in heaven 2/2005, 5/2007 & 8/2011 Striving, with God's help, to be a gentle mother each day

11-19-2010, 08:58 PM	#5
TestifyToLove Banned Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 22,171	Re: Once a month cooking--second verse http://onceamonthmom.com/

11-19-2010, 08:59 PM	#6
DancingWithElves Rose Garden Blissed out in the January sun Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: that perfect place :) Posts: 11,701	Re: Once a month cooking--second verse you rock __________________ ~I r e n e~ sweet and sassy wife, mama, healer, part-time dragon-slayer the worst PM answerer ever my belongs to the babywearing 'Architect' Dancing with my three Magical Elves Smiles the Stampede Sugar Plump & Double Dimples Kissing each elf 1,000,000 times a day, and when there's time left tracking gnomes, singing folk songs on the porch, befriending dragonflies, and bopping sun-frosted 'fros through the dandelion fields.

11-19-2010, 09:10 PM	#7
TestifyToLove Banned Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 22,171	Re: Once a month cooking--second verse FYI, we tweaked on the very first month. Having everything already done makes it REALLY easy for us to tweak to what we specifically need in a month. Last month, we added extra meals. This month, we don't need to add any meals but took out the cabbage rolls because DH is correct that only A and I would eat them. We use the lunch items for dinners and most of the breakfast items as well. However, it means that I only have to cook less than once a week and the family is well fed. We spent $600 last month and $550 this month (so half that for your normal family size). Its not less than what we were spending before, but its not more either.

11-19-2010, 09:26 PM	#8
DancingWithElves Rose Garden Blissed out in the January sun Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: that perfect place :) Posts: 11,701	Re: Once a month cooking--second verse ok, trying to figure it out so, there aren't very many recipes, are there? i thought there'd be like two for each day of the month am i totally missing the point? __________________ ~I r e n e~ sweet and sassy wife, mama, healer, part-time dragon-slayer the worst PM answerer ever my belongs to the babywearing 'Architect' Dancing with my three Magical Elves Smiles the Stampede Sugar Plump & Double Dimples Kissing each elf 1,000,000 times a day, and when there's time left tracking gnomes, singing folk songs on the porch, befriending dragonflies, and bopping sun-frosted 'fros through the dandelion fields.

11-19-2010, 09:39 PM	#9
Blue-EyedLady Rose Garden The Lion Cub Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Northern Arizona Posts: 10,798	Re: Once a month cooking--second verse Wish there was something like this that catered to the food-allergic crowd. __________________ Mama to The Engineer (7 yo) "When I grow up, I'm going to build Highway 100!" The Imaginative Adventurer (4.5 yo) "I'm going to rescue you!" and The Lion Cub (1 yo)- Smart, cute, strong, and unstoppable! Sister to BlessedBlue forever Co-Founder and Lead Writer at Food Allergies On Ice

11-19-2010, 09:55 PM	#10
Eesti Rose Trellis Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 2,536	Re: Once a month cooking--second verse That is what I was off searching for. LOL. GF/DF... __________________ Karen, Mom to Grace 05/05, Tori 04/08, and Milo 1/1/11. Gluten free, Dairy free, Soy free pm me if you need help or want to chat.

11-19-2010, 10:03 PM	#11
Blue-EyedLady Rose Garden The Lion Cub Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Northern Arizona Posts: 10,798	Re: Once a month cooking--second verse Yeah, but the problem is that everyone has a different allergy set, so there's no "one-size-fits-all" for us! I suppose it's ridiculous to even wish for such a thing, what with picky toddlers and food allergies to contend with. But I LOVE the idea of OAMC so that I could (theoretically) stay out of the kitchen! I'm glad it's working so well for you, TTL! __________________ Mama to The Engineer (7 yo) "When I grow up, I'm going to build Highway 100!" The Imaginative Adventurer (4.5 yo) "I'm going to rescue you!" and The Lion Cub (1 yo)- Smart, cute, strong, and unstoppable! Sister to BlessedBlue forever Co-Founder and Lead Writer at Food Allergies On Ice

11-19-2010, 10:15 PM	#12
Eesti Rose Trellis Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 2,536	Re: Once a month cooking--second verse no, but something that took out some of the big ones would be a great start. __________________ Karen, Mom to Grace 05/05, Tori 04/08, and Milo 1/1/11. Gluten free, Dairy free, Soy free pm me if you need help or want to chat.

11-19-2010, 10:39 PM	#13
rstump Rose Trellis Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Ormond Beach, FL Posts: 3,068	Re: Once a month cooking--second verse I was searching around on that site and found some of her past menus are Gf/CF. Even if it was only for a few months it would help get a pattern in place so you could do it with your own recipes. __________________ Blessings, Renee Apple to Forrest // Romans 8:28 Crunchy Christian AP HS Traditional Foods Mama to Brittany, Madalynn, David, Ellie & Abbie Remembering our babies: 3/92 1/93 11/07

11-19-2010, 11:13 PM	#15
rstump Rose Trellis Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Ormond Beach, FL Posts: 3,068	Re: Once a month cooking--second verse I just clicked on recipes and scrolled down. Looks like last Sept/Oct __________________ Blessings, Renee Apple to Forrest // Romans 8:28 Crunchy Christian AP HS Traditional Foods Mama to Brittany, Madalynn, David, Ellie & Abbie Remembering our babies: 3/92 1/93 11/07

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