Monday, January 8, 2007

Money, Menu and Time Stewardship...

This is a program that I have been working on for a long time. I have tried Once a Month Cookint (OAMC), 30 Day Meal Plan (Homemade Gourmet), Cook Once Serve Twice (COST), and Freezer Feeding, and now even the stores that offer the work for you; Super Suppers, Dish and Dine, Dinner Thyme (average $200 for 12 meals)...all great ideas and plans... and now I am setting up a program that halps me tremendously in menu planning, good meals, family dinner routine and money managment. I want to share, YOU CAN DO IT!!!
Introducing:

Freezer-Kit Cooking

The idea is to prepare "kits" to store in your freezer for ease and menu planning. By purchasing in bulk the costs are minimal. I feed a family of five monthly for around $200 for dinner, add another $50 to include lunches and breakfasts. I will post a full menu plan soon...with a receipt from the grocery and begin some recipe logs. I am trained in the culinary field, but it really isn't necessary. I want to share this kitchen technique...


Tile Baked Sourdough Pizza

Start with the best ingredients you can afford, and remember, there are many out there from groceries, like Aldi, that won't hurt your budget! Yumm-O!!!

I like to "blend" my own sauce, using canned tomatoes, roasted red peppers (1/4 the cost of fresh, and the roasting is done for you!)herbs and cheeses. Notice as well that I have gone to the hardware store and purchased inexpensive on glazed tiles to line my oven rack with. This trick will give you that rustic, old world Italian Pizzaria Crust.

The tiles were very cheap and they cut them for free...I leave them in the oven at all times and bake right on top of them with parchement for rustic breads and cookies.

After the cheeses, cooked meats, sauce and bread is divided up and measured I put them in quart size freezer bags, the place everything in a gallon size bag...the KIT is now assembles and frozen. I am in the process of making up laminated instruction cards to place in the KITS that may be used over and over again, so the family can prepare dinner.

Well, this is about all I can get done for today, it is the Pastor's day off and we must take a breather and relax...so more this week....God's richest Blessings! Shawn <><






4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Are you going to be posting recipes for your meal kits?

Anonymous said...

Count me in on the program! I am spending $250 every 2 weeks on 5 and sometimes more. I thought I was doing good...but looks like I need to shop at Aldi's too. Always looking for creative cooking ideas and ways to cut the budget! I was wondering if I could just spend a day with you or maybe even move in for a week to observe...I will clean for you to earn my keep though ;) Have a great day! ~Danette

The Parson's Wife said...

The recipes will come in the near future, it is just more work than I had originally thought...but I will post a step-by-step, and maybe put out a call for students and run a Blog-class on Freezer-Kit Cooking, I will keep things going...thanks for the great comments, I really appreciate it! Blessings, Shawn <><

Anonymous said...

Well written article.