I have a small cooking group of two friends and myself. A few weeks before our ‘TEAM COOK DAY’, I pick the recipes and e-mail the strategy form to my friends. This strategy form becomes our menu and gives basic information about each recipe; like how many people it serves, what meats to use, how to prepare the meat, and what containers to bring (Ziploc bags or pans). My team e-mails me back the form. Once it is filled in with the number of meals each lady wants of each recipe. I add up the total number of meals and compile a shopping list. Actually, MasterCook® does it for me. My girlfriends take the shopping list and search the grocery adds for sales and compare bulk prices for the best deals. Normally, each of us shops for and prepares our own meat. If Saturday is our cook day then shopping, chopping, shredding, and meat preparation is done on Thursday and Friday. On Saturday we meet at my house around 8am and assemble meals until we finish around 4:30pm.

Typically, our menu consists of 9-11 different recipes and we will assemble 60-90 meals. Team cook days happen every 2-4 months.  We enjoy sharing the preparation and various responsibilities. A ‘team cook day’ makes for a fun, but intense weekend. The freedom and flexibility this method of cooking gives us keeps us hooked. 

 

Put others to work for you. Your local butcher will tenderize and cut up your meat for you. Often they need advance notice, usually a few hours is sufficient. Rarely when buying meat in bulk will they charge for these services.

Put your computer to work for you. I use MasterCook® to organize my recipes, plan my menu, and make my shopping list.

Simplify meal planning. A freezer full of meals and a simple list to remind you what you have is all you need to plan a week’s menu in a few minutes.

Work smarter. In twice the time it takes to make one lasagna, you can assemble five.  A little bit more time in assembly can save you a lot of time later.

Wash once. Preparing many meals from one use of the pans saves time. Our stuffed pork chops with sweet potatoes and cinnamon apples takes numerous pots, pans, and cutting boards to prepare. Getting several meals and only having to clean up once is a celebrated benefit of freezer cooking. I love maximizing my time this way.  

Buy in bulk. Bulk prices are usually less per serving than buying in smaller quantities. Usually, buying in bulk will cut down shopping time, because you will not have to shop as often.

Trade a meal. Consider trading meals for services: babysitting, housecleaning, haircuts, etc. A few times I made a little income by selling meals. One word of caution: don’t undercharge. Freezer meals are valuable and so is your time.

Share a meal. Hospitality is simplified when the main dish is in the freezer. Occasionally, I will pull out a frozen side dish and dessert too. When the meal is made ahead of time, you can focus your efforts on preparing your family, your home, and your table to be welcoming for guests.