Every Thursday, I have these 3 things going ALL AT THE SAME TIME. A meal or a meat in the crock, a soup on the stove top, & roasting or baking something in the oven. If you think about it, 2 of these things are no brainers. Throwing a meat & marinade in a crock pot = easy. Simmering a soup/chili all day = easy, and roasting a meat like chicken is very easy as well.
It’s the prep that takes time>>>{ugh!}:
Or make a “dump cake” rocky road cake in the crock & walk away. The end result is so delish!
Make 2 quiches in frozen pie crust. Eat one & freeze or give the other as a gift.
Make a LARGE pot of soup. Enough to have for another meal or for lunch the next day. Store in the pot in the fridge. I know this is making some cringe right now, but seriously make it easy on yourself. Do as few dishes as possible. If you have room in your fridge – why not?
Do not get me wrong, we still go through the drive thru like everyone else, there are days that I just hate to be in the kitchen. But I also know, when I do this on Thursdays – I am saving us money. Which may help me afford this little topper.
Honestly, you wouldn’t believe the freedom you will feel if you already have dinner made & all you have to do is heat it up for the next few days. It is such a stress free & wonderful feeling.
THANK YOU!
We always make more spaghetti sauce than we need and freeze what we don’t eat. So convenient for that dinner when there’s nothing in the house! Great tips! Thanks!
I actually have gotten together and made thing like wontons and raviolis ahead with friends. Everyone brings a filling and a dough and we share work and laughter. It is awesome!
I am horrible when it comes to thinking ahead with my cooking. It’s just not something I enjoy but is always on my “someday to do” list! I’m intrigued by the dump cake. Crock pot recipes seem too mixed together for me, but cake I could do!
Great idea Carri
I would love to get together with Kellie and do anything – bulk cooking included!
Kellie, wow you just opened up a whole new world to me … why have i never thought of this? Thank goodness I have friends like you.
Since I am a bulk cooking newbie … do you eat the meals over the weekend or do you freeze them?
All of your choices look scrumptious!! I’m compiling a list of tasty, healthy meals i like to feed my family & you can bet I’ll be giving these a try
Love ya
I’ve recently started the monthly cooking & I love it. It’s so nice to just grab something out of the freezer & not worry about what to cook that night for dinner.
Have you ever looked at onceamonthmom.com? She does the menu, steps & grocery lists. And if you dont’ like the recipes, there’s instructions for doing your own.
These are good tips. I wish I was doing this. You are an inspiration!
Krista
Great suggestions! When my children were home I did alot of this kind of cooking and used tips not necessarily recipes from ONce a Month Cooking.
With just the 2 of us I don’t do it quite as much but still make more of an item- maybe 2 quiches, brown up all my hamburger and stick in smaller freezer bags, make up meatball, hamburger patties etc when I buy my ground round on sale. It sure makes for an easier day especially when you have had a tiring one!
Love the table full of pumpkins in the next post too!
this is a really great idea!
This is awesome, Kellie. I just started menu planning on Mondays and writing the menu up on our new chalkboard wall. It gives me such relief to know what we’re going to be eating each night rather than waiting until someone asks me at 5 o’clock, “What’s for dinner?” I have even started putting leftovers in the freezer for another meal next week. Bulk cooking is next on my list!!! Thanks for giving us some great tips!
Great ideas! My husband and I are empty-nesters and he works odd hours in retail. So, sometimes it’s just easier to make sandwiches or call in a pizza. I have seriously been neglecting my crockpot and stewpot. But, I think I just got inspired! Thanks!
I like the way you think (: I’m trying to make larger batches so I can freeze the other half for days I’m busy or just don’t want to cook!
Yummy. Everything looks so good.
Great tips Kellie! I like how you broke it down to the oven, crock and stove top, this really makes it not so overwhelming. I am with you on storing the soup pot in the fridge! The topper is a must have for sure.
Shut up,I know you will never believe this but I bulk cook too, haha. Well duh, of course we both do. I love how easy it makes my busy nights. Can’t wait to catch up.
Cha CHa