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Cooking Smarter

© Lori Bader

Love cooking? Hate cooking? Have I got an idea for you! Whether you enjoy being in the kitchen or not, I think freezer cooking (or once-a-month cooking, or a variety of other names) could be for you. I first learned about this cooking method while browsing through some of my favorite websites. I was attracted to the idea of not cooking dinner every night and to the idea of spending less money on groceries since I could buy in bulk and have a planned menu. It sounded interesting, intriguing....but totally impossible. Then I attended a class through my local parks and recreation department that was taught by Deborah Taylor-Hough, author of the book "Frozen Assets". I was familiar with Ms. Taylor-Hough as a result of the internet so I gave her class a shot. I was inspired!

I recently spent a day (less than 6 hours) in my kitchen cooking and freezing a month's worth of meals. It was tiring, but the results were amazing and so worth the time spent achieving them. Although I made over 20 meals, it took me longer than a month to use them up (still using them) because I didn't eat one every night. Rather, I use two or three a week on those days when time is tight, or I just don't feel like cooking. All of the recipes I used came from "Frozen Assets" and all of them have been tasty, some I would even consider really good! My family has been enjoying the meals also and I plan on spending another day in the kitchen replenishing my supply of frozen meals soon.

Just how will I do that? The entire process is very easy, although it does require planning and time. To begin, you need to make a list of all the meals you plan to make and their ingredients. Some foods freeze better than others so keep this in mind when planning your menu. Once you have the ingredients listed and totaled for all your meals you need to see what you already have on hand. Next, is shopping. Finally, you cook. Many freezer cooking articles recommend spending some time the day before you cook to do some preparations such as chopping. I chose not to do this last time, it seemed like just another step. Instead, I chopped, diced, and cooked all on the same day. It worked well for me and I will probably do it the same way next time. Once your meals are cooked, packaged in freezer bags and labeled, the real fun starts. Cleaning up!

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