Giveaway: Once-A-Month Cooking Family Favorites book
Last week, I prepared a week’s worth of meals for a family who recently welcomed their third child into their home.
Even though we sent a lot of food, it didn’t take me much time to prepare. I made a careful meal plan for my own family, and doubled the portions and froze them immediately. There was one night when I spent about an hour chopping, simmering and cooking things beyond what I would normally do. But still, it wasn’t bad.
I prepped Caribbean jerk chicken, made a huge vat of chicken noodle soup, meat loaf balls (just took a meat loaf recipe and turned it into meatballs to make it grab-and-go), taco meat complete with taco fixins’, bowtie pasta with sausage, tomatoes and cream (I just made the sauce and included a box of farfalle with my care package), a lemon herb chicken ring that I assembled once we arrived at their house, and some jars of spaghetti sauce and a box of spaghetti for a simple, quick meal.
I froze everything flat in Ziplock bags so everything would take up minimal space in their freezer.
The beauty of freezer meals is that you can do the prepwork and cooking in bulk. You’ll save time cooking and cleaning, and by buying larger quantities of ingredients, you might be able to save money.
Rather than turning to take-out when you don’t know what to make for dinner and you’re short on time, you can just grab something you’ve already prepared in your freezer.
The publishers of Once-A-Month Cooking Family Favorites, written by Mimi Wilson and Mary Beth Lagerborg, have sent me a copy to review and one to give away.
I’m a huge fan of batch cooking/freezer cooking, so I jumped at the opportunity to learn from this book.
Unfortunately, I haven’t had time to try any of the recipes. Um. I’ll do my best to give you a general run-down of the book. It features:
- Two one-month cycles, two two-week cycles, a gluten-free two-week cycle, a summer two-week cycle, and a gourmet two-week cycle. Ooh, la la!
- Helpful menu chart, pantry list, shopping list, assembly order, and of course, recipes for each cycle
- 130 recipes, ranging from dinner entrees, soups, and a few sides
- Explanations and suggestions for how to do this crazy thing
These days, I can’t spend several hours (or all day!) in the kitchen. So, I tend to double recipes that can easily be frozen and reheated at a later time. You can take that approach with these recipes, or you can prepare several meals at once.
Here are some suggestions for making once-a-month-style cooking work for you. Some are my own, and others are inspired from the book:
- Plan your menu and shopping list one day.
- The next day, go shopping for everything you need. Do some prepwork, such as chopping vegetables, that day.
- Clear your workstations to make them free of everything you won’t need while cooking. Cookie jars, toasters, coffee pots — give them new temporary homes.
- Clean out your freezer. Toss old things you’ll never eat. Organize it to free up space. Do the same with your fridge.
- On cook day, clean as you go!
- Stay hydrated. Take breaks. Listen to music. Cook with a friend. Have your spouse take your children out for a fun day elsewhere.
- If this is your first time, for pete’s sake, don’t do a whole month’s worth of cooking unless you’re ultra-motivated and have help. Start with a one or two-week cycle.
- Label your freezer contents, and keep a list of what you have. Mark off meals as you eat them.
Final thoughts on the book:
This book is a helpful guide to making OAM cooking really work for your family. It’s well-organized, and most of the ingredients will be easy to find in any regular supermarket for a decent price. There are lots of recipes that I’d like to try, including Zanzibar Chicken, Nan’s Indonesian Pork, Southwestern Chicken, Texas-Style Lasagna, and the Five-Cheese Spinach Quiche.
It would be even better if the book was spiral-bound to lay flat while you’re cooking. ALSO — since it’s a cookbook, it really needs photos. There’s some clip art pictures sprinkled throughout, but they aren’t helpful.
Lastly, if you’re a vegetarian — this book is not for you. A huge majority of these recipes contain meat or fish.
For more info, visit Once-a-monthcooking.com. Once there, you can access a free one-week cycle of recipes complete with assembly instructions and a shopping list. This one-week cycle is a great example of what you’ll find in the book.
The giveaway:
To win a copy of this book, simply comment below. Tell me what you like about OAM cooking. If you’ve never tried it before, tell me why you’d like to start. Be sure to use a real e-mail address in the e-mail box (not in the comment box) so I can contact you if you win.
For a second entry, subscribe to my blog and post a comment telling me you’ve done so (old and new subscribers are welcome to enter this way). We’re on the honor system here!
Contest ends on Friday, Oct. 9, 2009 at oh, how ’bout 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
I will use a random number generator to select a winner. I will contact you by e-mail and you will need to tell me your mailing address, as I will be the one mailing you the book at my own expense. Giveaway open to US residents only. Good luck!
64 Responses
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I love the idea of OAM cooking but have never actually done it. Now that I have doubled my commute meaning I can’t cook when I get home, it’s time to do this! We have a chest freezer so plenty of room for meals.
Also, I’m a long time subscriber via Bloglines to your blog.
I also love the idea of doing this. I used to go to those places where you cook 8 meals in one night but the cost of them was very prohibitive. I would love to do this at home and have been drooling over copies of the OAM cookbooks.
Dirkey´s last blog ..Songs
oh yeah and I also subscribe via bloglines :)
Dirkey´s last blog ..Songs
I sooooooooooo love the idea of once a month cooking! I don’t really do it…tried once but I would love to win this book to help me do it more often! Great Giveaway!
and…I soooooooooooooooooo love your blog!
Thanks for all the great stuff you post!
and now….I subscribe! :)
I so need to do something like this. Your menu items sound wonderful! I’ll have to try some of them. The caribbean jerk chicken sounds especially good!
Mrs. Money´s last blog ..A Tale of Two Shoes
The greatest thing about OAM? It saves so much TIME! You get the convenience of fast food with real meals. (The cheaper costs are sweet, too.)
I do some bulk cooking but really do want to do more. If I could actually complete a OAM plan I would love it!! I just need to find recipes that my family will eat and enjoy!
Tracy DeLuca´s last blog ..Turd Crayons of Doom
I love the idea of once a month cooking. I’ve done it at hectic times in our lives (before 2 babies) but always have a hard time pulling recipes & stuff together. This book sounds like the solution to that!
Heather G´s last blog ..Small Successes
Have always wanted to try OAM cooking.
Because I work full-time, having ready-to-go meals in the freezer is a huge help. It makes dinner go so much easier after a long day.
joanna´s last blog ..Alternative to the Holiday Madness
I’m an RSS subscriber!
joanna´s last blog ..Alternative to the Holiday Madness
My mom used to do this and I would love to give it a shot!
Stacy´s last blog ..Fun pictures and a bit of an update
I also subscribe. :)
Stacy´s last blog ..Fun pictures and a bit of an update
I am a RSS subscriber.
The book sounds good and I know my husband would appreciate not having to cook every night (he’s the cook – not me).
Jaynee´s last blog ..Our U2 Experience in Raleigh
I’m an old RSS subscriber, too!
I’ve never tried this before as I have no idea which recipes are the best for it. I would love to figure it out though as i have two children, I work and I go to school. It would be such a help! Thanks, Nicki
Hi! I am now a subscriber through RSS Feed!
I like the thought of OAM cooking but don’t think I have the time for it. I will sometimes double what I am making to get a little ahead though.
Becky´s last blog ..DipTacular
I also subscribe through Google reader.
Becky´s last blog ..DipTacular
It is the BEST when you are sick or had unplanned outings.
I also subscribe through Google Reader.
Thanks for the opportunity.
I’ve never done once a month cooking, but I’ve thought about trying it, that way I have some quick easy meals already made for random days that I run out of time! The less temptation we have to eat out the better!! Thanks!
Jes´s last blog ..The Tale of Two Sisters
and I’ve had your blog on my google reader for over a year or so. :)
Jes´s last blog ..The Tale of Two Sisters
I would love to try OAM cooking! I currently work 3 days a week, so it would be nice to make a couple of meals on my days off to eat on the days I work :)
Becky@FamilyandFinances´s last blog ..Teeth Are Expensive
I have been reading about OAM cooking for awhile but have yet to give it a try. Since I am expecting our first child next month, now is probably the best time to get started. Thanks for the opportunity!
And I love your blog :)
I have two young children and do medical transcription at home, so my days are packed! I’ve been toying around with the idea of doing once a month cooking but haven’t taken the plunge. I have borrowed from the library a different book written by the authors of this book, and I really like the way they put things together for you.
Another good site to check out for OAM cooking is http://onceamonthmom.com. They also have some homemade baby food menus.
I also subscribe to your site through Google Reader.
As a single, I do a smaller version. Make a large pan & divvy it into single servings before freezing. This way I can also take food to my 84 yo mother.
I love the concept of making meals ahead and freezing them, and I need to start doing this. I just went back to work full-time after my maternity leave, and my schedule only leaves me 1-2 hours with my 9-month-old baby before his bedtime. I don’t want to use up that time cooking!
Christina´s last blog ..The Breastfeeding Challenge
Also, I’ve subscribed to your blog via Google Reader for a little over a year now, I think. I enjoy it!
Christina´s last blog ..The Breastfeeding Challenge
I really want to start doing this, as I know that it can be an incredible timesaver!
Oh – and I’ve been a subscriber for what seems like forever! (Before I even started my own site!) ;-)
Mindi´s last blog ..HOT Coupon: $3.50 off Glade Fragrance Collection!
I love once a month. We are a family of six with two adults working full time(plus one going to college also), one college student two high school student and my mom, oam allows us to have meals done and be able to sit down and eat together most nights. Or at least avoid going out
thanks
I love the idea of having good food ready to go. I am working on saving money and having my family eat more healthy. I have tried this on a very small scale but need some structure, from experts, before trying cooking for a whole day. Thanks for the great giveaway.
I have been subscribed to your blog for quite a while now! Thanks again.
I love cooking everything at once and freezing it. I don’t always know when my husband will get home at night from work (it varies over a couple of hours) and freezer cooking allows me to pull something out and have it hot for him in a couple of minutes.
I would like to try it. I am a little nervous about getting in too deep and having a huge mess but nothing completed. We are a family of 8. With the kids running us ragged, this could be very helpful.
I tried OAMC awhile back and loved it. I need to plan it more in my schedule. Would love to add this book to my collection. Thank you for the giveaway.
koinonia572001@yahoo.com
I am a subscriber. Thanks!
koinonia572001@yahoo.com
I love to do OAMC and would love some new ideas/recipes.
I subscribe to your blog via Google Reader
I like the idea of always having something planned for dinner!
marybeth at http://www.babygoodbuys.com´s last blog ..Disney Pictionary DVD Game 61% Off
I’m a subscriber!
I’ve never tried cooking this way, unless you count making about a month’s worth of taco meat at once and pulling it out of the freezer over the course of 6 months or so. I doubled and froze almost every meal I made the last month I was pregnant with Roanin. I think I’ll need to start that sooner this time around. I’ve got to try your jerk chicken recipe. It sounds like something Scott would really like.
I love the idea of OAM and this would be a great tool to get me started and focused!
I do a version of once a month cooking. I just make a few recipes once a month. It’s certainly not enough to feed us for a month, but it helps us get by once a week, or so, when cooking just isn’t realistic!
Tiffany´s last blog ..Two Months!
I subscribe to your blog, and I love it!
Tiffany´s last blog ..Two Months!
I’d love to try this type of cooking to help eliminate the question at 5 pm – what’s for dinner? Having a bunch of dinners in the freezers might make life much easier for me and my husband! actingadult at gmail dot com
Jessica @ Acting Adult´s last blog ..I’m horrible at Rock Band!
I’ve always wanted to do OAM cooking, but haven’t found any user-friendly cookbooks to help guide me. This sounds like the very tool I need. Thanks for the giveaway!
Amanda´s last blog ..Baby Brystol and the Two Month Stats
I subscribe to your blog via Google Reader.
Amanda´s last blog ..Baby Brystol and the Two Month Stats
I think it would be a great idea to cook meals and freeze them. We eat A LOT of take out. I want to go back to home cooking.
I am subscribed to your blog via Google Reader.
I do some pre-cooking but want to get much more into it as I am finding less and less time to get dinner on the table each night. I always feel such a sense of relief on nights where I know it is already made and I just have to defrost, but I am looking for something that gets me step by step to that point – this book sounds like just the thing!
oh, I subscribe via Bloglines
I like OAM cooking because it makes my life easier throughout the week.
I subscribe via RSS.
I really would like to get into this kind of cooking. I have four kids and when they get home from school it is chaos! Hardly the right time to figure out what’s for dinner, right? I just know it would simplify my life and that helps me be a happier mom. Thanks!
Well, I am the world’s worst cook and could use help with anything…
Sandy´s last blog ..Photo Hunt-Words
I have tried freezing leftovers, but one meal every week or two is not enough to help fill the menu plan when I work full-time and go to school full-time. I usually only get one or two days a month to really cook, so OAM plans would be great :)
i subscribe on google!
i did this a bit right before Cadence was born but have not been motivated enough to do it again until recently. However, the foods i cooked in advance did not turn out too well (i basically just froze recipes i liked) so meals that are made to do well in the freezer would be great to learn!
Love you! Have a good trip!
jessica´s last blog ..An almost one-year-old named Cadence
I love OAMC because we both work time in the evening is precious with our daughter, I don’t want to be stuck in the kitchen when we can spend that time together.