Once a Month Cooking - is it really possible? Does anyone do it?

[Ceolas]

Have been reading about this from a labour- and penny-saving perspective.

Any experiences?

[pen poised]

I couldnt do this as i like to cook but will look at replies.

I don't mind putting a meal together either. Am expecting baby number 4 reasonably soon though.

I do cook double on occasion and freeze half. It feels terribly smug to lift dinner out of the freezer in thr morning and get it on the table with little effort in the evening.

But there are some things you just can't freeze, I think. Risotto for example as we had this evening...

Don't you need a hangar sized garage with five chest freezers in it? deffo impossible with a cabinet style freezer. I saw it once on a US TV show.

I do have a flurry where I make
spag bol
cottage pie base
chili
chicken nuggets
apple crumble

and freeze it all

Ah, Enid now you mention it... Your chicken nuggets - are they dairy free? I looked at a recipe recently and they had cheese.

And most of my freezing recipes seem to be mince based.

you can leave the cheese out

I do tbh as dd1 can smell it at 10 paces

When I'm in Domestic Goddess mode I meal plan for the month, and batch cook everything which can be (casseroles, mince etc). It helps in that I don't need to think about what to have, and I can slot in easy stuff for those days when we need tea on the table in two minutes flat. It really depends what stuff you like to eat and whether it's freezable or not.

although the mayo is essential I think (dairy???)

mince freezes and defrosts brilliantly though

mayo? I think you can get dairy free.

I do chicken nuggets you can freeze (non dairy)

Get chicken breasts, one per 2 kids, slice into nuggests or 'goujons' if it's for adults, dip into beaten egg, roll in crushed cornflakes, open freeze on a tray. Bake in oven for about 20 - 25 mins (I am assuming 25 from frozen) at around gas 5 or 6 until golden

BTW I never get round to doing this, I just defrost one or two chicken breasts and prep whilst oven heats yup

OAMC

Seems to be an American concept, hence weird recipes!

Yes it is possible, but only if you like sandwiches. A lot.

Or take away, WT

I do it if I'm in the right frame of mind! I usually make spag bol, cottage pie, pasta sauces, chicken & mushroom cassarole and beef stew. Its quite rewarding to see all the little tinfoil dishes lined up ready for the freezer and also very smug-like when it only takes 10 mins to get a decent meal on the table!

I am seriously tempted to do this, however my kids don't like shepherds pie, lasagne, casseroles etc etc therefore most stuff that can be frozen easily. Oh they don't like fise pie either!!

I've tried a week in advance but found most of the stuff we like doesn't freeze (or rather defrost) well.

Does anybody do this who's veggie? I find it really hard to think what to freeze ahead, other than soups. Curries are okay but they tend to go a bit mushy. The only thing I do fairly regularly is tomato sauce for pasta etc.

This book is by an Australian author and has a good variety of freezable food. The 'chicken in tarragon and leek sauce' and 'roasted vegetable and feta pizza' are very tasty and freeze well.

Could we, amongst ourselves, come up with 30 freezable meals?

So far suggested -

1. Spag bol
2. cottage pie base
3. chilli
4. chicken nuggets
5. chicken + mushroom casserole
6. tomato sauce
7. lasagne
8. curry
9. fish pie

Can I add -

10. barbecue chicken
11. beef cassreole
12. soup

Any more?

Chicken casserole is our frim favourite.

or even firm favourite