The book is a step-by-step guide in cooking ahead, (refered to as "mega-cooking" by the author,) but it goes beyond that topic, giving advice and hints on many topics to do with parenting and managing a home. She spends quite a bit of time explaining how to plan and carry out your mega-cooking sessions, from menu planning to packaging foods for the freezer.
The author does an especially good job of explaining exactly where your grocery dollar goes and gives tips on how to save money when shopping for groceries, including alternatives to the supermarket such as the farmer's market and health food stores. She includes interesting and creative uses for leftovers such as stew and homemade "TV dinners."
Her instructions for meal planning are very detailed and easy to follow. She gives options for cooking anywhere from one or two meals to several months' worth of food, and shows how to choose appropriate recipes for your cooking sessions. As in the book Frozen Assets, the author includes many appropriate recipes for cooking ahead, but she doesn't take up a large part of her book with recipes, choosing instead to give additional hints on customizing your own recipes for the freezer.
After leading you through a mega-cooking session, the author includes ideas for entertaining guests using your mega-cooked meals. When you have looked over her plans for dinner party themes, you'll be wondering who you can invite over sometime soon for a fun evening.
At the end of the book, the author includes frugal ideas for personal care, kids crafts, laundry, health, and home organization. She also has plenty of forms that can be copies for your own use in planning your mega-cooking sessions.
This book would be a helpful addition to anyone's library. The author clearly explains cooking ahead, yet includes helpful information on other topics pertaining to home management and setting priorities for a family.
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