Saturday, February 27, 2010

I'm whooped.

This is our freezer.

It is currently the only orderly part of our kitchen [and maybe our house. maybe.]
What is that IN our freezer?

Well, it just so happens to be 37 meals. 
All made today. 
*beaming*

I did this last month too, but didn't post about it because I was so dang tired that I didn't know if I'd actually do it again. The pros definitely outweighed the cons, though, so here I am after month two of 
"OAMC" or
once-a-month-cooking.

[The milk is there because there were tons of sales this month and if you can get 4 gallons of milk for a buck a piece, you'd freeze it too. According to the internet, skim milk freezes best, so it's lucky that's all we eat anyway!]

And for those of you who are wondering, the food is delicious! (and nutritious) And makes for great leftovers the next day. I honestly don't know how people live without OAMC. I can't count how many times I've come home from work with absolutely no desire to cook anything. In the past we'd just go out. However, now when I come home and have no desire to cook anything, I don't have to. I grab a meal, throw it in the oven and put a batch of rice in the rice maker. 5 minute dinner that tastes like you've been in the kitchen all day. 

Perk #2: you do dishes ONCE. wow. [that should really read Cameron does dishes once, let's not kid ourselves.] The rest of the month, the most there is to wash is 2 [or 4 if there's company] plates, cups and silverware. Awesome. 

A lot of people have hang-ups about how much it costs to do this or how making multiples of meals gets old after a while, or how long it takes. To clear that up, we spent $130 yesterday shopping for today. We got 37 dinners, lunch meat, tons of snack food [including star wars fruit snacks...they were on sale and when you marry a jedi, he stays a jedi.], new ink cartridges, and stuff for root beer floats. It's not like we're impoverished.  Also, here's the calendar for our meals: 

 
 You can see that most of the time, we have 2 of each meal: tops! And in all honesty, they don't get old. We've got mexican to italian to american to chinese. It's gonna be a yummy month! Quite often, we're excited for each meal to come back around. 
Also, the how long it takes... welp, I've found that it takes approximately 90 seconds longer to make 2 lasagnas than it does 1. Personally, I think the 90 seconds is worth it. It's totally your call though. :) It also depends on what kind of meals you're doing. Last month, I was able to go shopping and make all our meals in the same day. I was exhausted, but the actual cooking time was 3 hours. A few of the recipes are chopping chicken and throwing it in a ziploc bag with it's marinade. 5 minutes and you have tender juicy chicken for 3 different nights that month.

I've decided that instead of baby shower gifts, I'd much rather come do this for my friends right around their due date. I figure 30 meals is better than 1, even if they're in charge of throwing it in the oven. So, that was my saturday in a nut shell. :) I'm off to shower, write a talk, and hit the temple with my man. 

And somewhere in there I'm making dinner. 
Cameron's favorite: poppyseed chicken : isn't a freezer recipe, so we have to have it on the big cooking day when I'm in the kitchen anyway. I figure at only having it once a month, it'll stay a favorite for quite a while. 

O! and if you want any of the recipes, let me know! I'll be happy to post the ones people are interested in! 

And, in other news. I'm opening my digi scrap shops on Thursday. I just finished a kit inspired by none else than my gorgeous sister Jessica. While I'm sharing, I might as well post this too. :) 



 

Happy Saturday!

28 comments:

  1. You...are...an...overachiever! But I'm so totally 100% impressed, and a little bit jealous. And so (grudgingly) one of our 11:30 chat sessions will have to be about you filling me in on your ingenuity!

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  2. Um, can you hook a sista up with some of those recipes? Pineapple chicken and sweet and sour chicken bowls in particular look delightful. And perhaps some tips with how to go about OAMC?

    Because some days it takes every ounce of willpower to throw together a meal, and I could be down with cooking once a month instead.

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  3. I have wanted to try OAMC for a while now...you've convinced me. I think I will definitely do it before my baby boy is born! I think you should post some of the recipes that are your favorite because they all look yummy!

    You are so good! And good luck with all of your scrapbooking stuff.

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  4. You should definitely post recipes or email me all of them. This looks like a great idea!!!

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  5. I would love the recipes! You are so awesome for doing that! I bet that makes life so much easier. I also really like the sneak peak for your kits. You are too talented! :) See you tomorrow.

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  6. Wow! I am super impressed! What a great idea. You are like super woman on acid!

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  7. I love it! We should do it together some sat while cam studies downstairs! I need every recipe and all the dinner help I can get! I havestruggled this week.

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  8. I'm interested in...all of them. Dude, want to email me your monthly calendar? No joke.
    I'm now controller at my company and I have been so pooped after getting home the past two weeks. But I've always been inspired by the stories of my mom freezing dinners for the family for the next two weeks before she went into labor. Genius.

    Also, we've frozen milk at my house all my life. My mom would buy 8 on the weekly shopping trip and we'd take them out as we needed them (big family, remember).

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  9. I'm impressed! I should do this just because I get so sick of trying to decide WHAT to make for dinner.

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  10. please email them, post them, something!!! Right now, this is what I need. And I hate trying new recipes without someone I trust to tell me they are good... :)

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  11. right about now i'm wishing that you lived near me and were feeling charitable....YIKES this sounds like a great idea but I don't think I'll find more than 5 minutes of uninterrupted time until Eric is working more normal hours...

    but yes, please, post the recipes!

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  12. Wow!! I have been thinking about doing this... help! can you send ALL of your recipes? :) Your meal plan looks delicious so thanks for sharing. And I am LOVING your kit. Yum!

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  13. Please post the recipes. Thanks.

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  14. WOW that is a great idea, and follow through :) If you post those recipes that would be awesome, how can you tell if it is a freezable meal anyways?

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  15. Way to hold out for the Star Wars fruit snacks Cameron! Please post your orange ginger chicken recipe:)

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  16. I'm reading your blog from Money Saving Mom's link. I am dying laughing at the Star Wars fruit snacks - I too am married to a Jedi! You did great for your only 2nd month OAMC! I'd love to know where you get your monthly calendar. I've tried several and they never upload properly. You can email me if you want (sweetdarlin25 at yahoo dot com) Thanks!!!

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  17. I would love the majority of those recipes as well. Sounds great...you've got me interested in oamc. thanks!

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  18. Wow, your calendar looks great and sounds delicious. I would love it if you posted all the recipes!

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  19. Nony (A Slob Comes Clean)March 2, 2010 at 1:49 PM

    Very impressive! I also love love love my rice cooker.

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  20. Yes, recipes, please. And those papers, gasp... LOVE them. I found a website today you might just love as well. I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised if you already know about her, especially since she's in Utah, but it's melissaesplin.com. Super cuteness. Just thought I'd share.

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  21. Wow! I will take some recipes. All of them in fact. Maybe I would feel like a better mom if I made more meals. I think I'll try your method.

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  22. My sister in law does this... It's what I do as a major and I still haven't gotten around to actually doing it. Wishing I had worked up the will to do it before the queasiness started. I hardly ever want to touch food these days. You are awesome! Some day I will attempt to be awsome

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  23. Wow Kristin...that is awesome. All the meals ready for the whole month. I couldn't read the calender, but if the popeye seed chicken is on the week of the 21st while we're up there in UT, I am all over it.

    The designs look great too. Sure love ya....Wayne

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  24. Kristin...I'm inspired! I'd love recipies too. :)

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  25. Kristin,
    You should always just post the recipes. This is amazing and you really are starting to sell me on the idea. I am impressed that you can fit that many meals and 2 gallons of milk in your freezer.

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  26. could you please send all the recipes to my email. i would love to start doing this. i have a family of eight so any amount of time saved is a blessing to me. i just was unsure of what kinds of food would freeze well. thanks so much and happy eatting.....

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  27. I would LOVE to have all your recipies if you are so kind as to post or email them? Looking to start the OAMC as well. Thank you!!

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  28. HI! I stumbled upon your freezer post today and I am delighted to see all the yummy food your are feeding your family! You must save bundles by not getting take out! Well done! Could you please email me your super yummy recipes @ hartwell_fam@att.net? I am officially a wannabe OAMC mom!
    Thanks!
    Melissa

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