OAMC/freezer cooking

[jma924]

Does anyone do once-a-month cooking/freezer cooking? I went to a "class" on it last night led by another homeschooling mom who has been "freezer cooking" for over 10 years. She actually does it once per quarter, making about 100 meals per quarter. Obviously, I would not start out doing that large of a quantity, but I am thinking about doing a few weeks at a time to simplify the shopping/prep/cooking on a weekly/daily basis. Between homeschooling the three oldest, keeping up with an active toddler and trying to get dinner on the table before or after their extra-curricular activities, I need all the help I can get!

Just wondering if anyone had some experience to share on the subject!

[Monie]

Sometimes I will make an extra meatloaf, lasagna, or pan of enchiladas to freeze. Whenever I roast a chicken, I try to do 2 at once. Then I pick the carcasses and freeze the meat in small containers, and I make stock out of the carcass to freeze.

I usually just do things like soak and cook a huge pot of beans, then freeze them in 2 cup containers, or brown a bunch of ground beef and freeze it in smaller portions. If I have a bunch of veggies that are at the point of needing to be used, I will chop them and store in the freezer.

I've also had success making big batches of cookies, then flash-freezing the cookie dough balls. Then I put them all in a big ziploc bag and write the baking instructions on it with a sharpie.

My family is pretty picky, and really didn't like some of the OAMC plans that I tried, so I gave up on that.