Once-A-Schoolyear cooking--it's here!

[firecracker]

A few weeks ago I posted that I cook in bulk before the schoolyear begins so that after a full day of teaching, I'm not wondering "What's for dinner? OH, let's just go out!"

Well, the time is here! I shopped 2 days ago, planned a couple days before that (I love the planning part!), and am cooking a couple of recipes today. Tomorrow starts at 4:30 a.m. with my mom and aunt coming to help out. We should be done by noon, if not before. Right now, I've got a total of 89 meals, but that always changes some (goes up) as we cook and see portion size, etc.

So, here's the list of recipes I'm making: (most came from our recipe thread and from lowcarbfriends.com)

Creamy, Cheesy, Italian Chicken Breasts
Crock Pot Beef
Chicken Broccoli Casserole
Zucchini Lasagna
Simmered Chicken
Sloppy Joe Pie
Pork Chops Alfredo
Champagne Salad (w/Splenda instead of sugar and the lowest carb fruits)
Crispy Rice (well, Pork Rind now!) Chicken
Parsley Parmasan Chicken
Southwestern Quiche
Meatloaf (w/brown rice instead of oatmeal)
Roast Sticky Chicken
Perdenales River Chili
Deep Dish Pizza
Chocolate Kisses
Steph's Chicken Stuff
Steph's Mexican Chicken STuff

Man, that's ALOT! I've got to get off of here---I've got alot of work to do!!!!

All of these recipes are low-carb or I've adapted them to be low-carb. Thanks to many of you for the great recipes!

I'll let you all know how many meals we end up with in the freezer!

Carmen

 

[Beastlover]

WOW!! I am shocked and amazed!! IMPRESSIVE!! I can't even imagine-------WOW!!! Is all I can say!!!
Great job and Best wishes!!!

 

[travel with kids]

Excellent idea. I am so impressed.

Do you put the meals into portion size or do you freeze as a meal? I am just wondering what might be the easiest.

Also, what type of containers do you use to freeze the meals? My neighbor has a "seal-a-meal" or something like that. She loves it.

Thanks for the update......twk

 

[Tiggerkeeper]

Good for you! I love knowing that dinner is in the freezer!

Happy cooking!!

 

[jimmytammy]

What a wonderful idea. Although I'm not in school all day, we do homeschool and finding time to cook or the energy to do so does become a problem. I have a couple of questions, do you cook the foods completely and then freeze? How do you reheat, in the microwave or in the oven. What type of containers to you use.

We just bought a freezer and I am thinking that I may need to do some of this type of planning. Thanks for your suggestion and help.
Tammy

 

[ohiominnie]

Originally posted by firecracker
Chocolate Kisses

Can you share the recipe for these? I've been eating them out of the bag, but I know homemade is so much better

I've toyed with once a month cooking, but the whole family, including myself, shudder at "leftover" frozen foods. I know it takes more time to cook it fresh every day. I just don't know how good the response would be. And I'm home most days.....so I guess this is working for me now.

 

[firecracker]

Ohio Minnie:

Chocolate Kisses

1 pkg chocolate s/f instant pudding
1 cup heavy cream
4 oz. cream cheese

Mix together. It should be really thick like frosting. Put it all in a pastry bag (or sandwich bag - just snip the corner off) and choose a wide star type tip. (If mixture is too thick to squeeze out, just add a little bit of water). Make about 200 little kisses on a cookie sheet with wax paper on it. Freeze for a couple of hours. Take them off the wax paper and store in a plastic container in freezer. 5 kisses = 1 carb

Jimmytammy:

I have a couple of questions, do you cook the foods completely and then freeze?
How do you reheat, in the microwave or in the oven. What type of containers to you use.

 

[firecracker]

Ohio Minnie:

Chocolate Kisses

1 pkg chocolate s/f instant pudding
1 cup heavy cream
4 oz. cream cheese

Mix together. It should be really thick like frosting. Put it all in a pastry bag (or sandwich bag - just snip the corner off) and choose a wide star type tip. (If mixture is too thick to squeeze out, just add a little bit of water). Make about 200 little kisses on a cookie sheet with wax paper on it. Freeze for a couple of hours. Take them off the wax paper and store in a plastic container in freezer. 5 kisses = 1 carb

Jimmytammy:

<<I have a couple of questions, do you cook the foods completely and then freeze? >>
Depends on the recipe...most meats I brown first (pork chops, cubed steak, etc.), but others, like chicken breasts are sometimes raw depending on the recipe.

<<How do you reheat, in the microwave or in the oven.>>
For most recipes, I can use either. Some, like fried chicken are better in the oven.

<<What type of containers to you use.>>
I use gallon-size freezer bags, some 1 qt. plastic tubs, and GladWare 8x8 and 9x13 pans. The gladware is great and goes from freezer to oven or micro to the dishwasher! And they're reusable!


Travel with Kids: container answer above. I package as whole meals, not in individual, TV-dinner-type portions. I package each part of the meal separately as well...meat separate from sides...that give me much more flexibility in what I combine for each meal.

 

[firecracker]

I tried to copy parts of previous posts into my post, but it didn't work. Sorry for the confusion, and I hope you can understand my answers w/out the questions!

Carmen

 

[ohiominnie]

Originally posted by firecracker
The gladware is great and goes from freezer to oven or micro to the dishwasher! And they're reusable!

Thanks for the recipe!

I had NO idea my Gladware could go into the oven!!! Wow!
THX!

 

[ohiominnie]

Originally posted by ohiominnie
I had NO idea my Gladware could go into the oven!!! Wow!

Whew! I looked up www.gladware.com to see about this....MY Gladware can't go in the oven!! I'm glad I didn't try it and melt it. Seems there is Glad OVENware too! I'll have to look for these at the store. They'd be esp good for taking meals to people who have just had babies, surgery, etc.