Want to Have a Cooking Night with Friends but Need Help

I don't have any website recommendations, but a book I found helpful for just this situation is called "Frozen Assets"--I got it from my library through interlibrary loan. It has a number of good recipes that I use frequently for my family. The Mexi-Chicken is especially good.

Jennifer,

My husband and I love to cook and we hardly eat the same meal twice unless we really enjoy it and have a craving for it. We rely on these 3 websites to give us new things to try.
www.cooks.com
www.allrecipe.com
www.americastestkitchen.com

My friends and I use Dream Dinners on Belmont, none of us have big enough kitchens and buying all the ingredients was more expensive than just going there.

Plus and added bonus - they have awesome tools and gadgets and they clean up after you!

www.homemadegourmet.com all about the slowcooker

try searching under meal planning, once a month cooking, or make ahead cooking. There are a ton of sites. Here's a couple sites I found http://busycooks.about.com/od/makeaheadrecipes/a/cookOAMC... http://www.recipelink.com/rcpmenus.html

good luck

I've done this myself and used the book "The Occasional Cook" by Cindy Salzmann. It has recipes that work well to freeze, and tells you how to create your own work day plan. I just used the plans already in there, I believe it even gives you shopping lists for the pre-made plans as well as what order to do everything in. Like "chop this while browning that". It takes nearly all day, but with friends to help, I'm sure it'll cut down on the time.

I would love to help you with some ideas. I know we live far apart, but I have some ideas and many recipes I can share with you. Let me know if you want more information. I am an Indpendent Consultant with the Pampered Chef and if you send me a personal message I will be happy to share more!

If you do a web search for any of these terms you will find all kinds of good resources: OAMC, once a month cooking, freezer meals. There are several good sites that have lots of plans but I don't have the web sites handy. You can freeze food in foil pans, regular freezer safe dishes, or in ziploc bags. I used to do OAMC quite a bit and really appreciated having food already fixed and need to get back in the habit of doing it. Good luck with your group plan. If getting together doesn't work, you might also try having each person make multiples of their favorite meal and then do a meal exchange.

Hi Jennifer,

I just wanted to say that I am going to try and do the same thing myself this weekend. I have been reading through the dinner by design posts and stuff like that. I feel I can make the same meals for less money. I have the spices, ingredients, cooking tools, etc..... I use allrecipes.com for meal ideas all the time. I read up on freezing and it basically said the most important thing is to make sure the meal is frozen in appropriate containers/bags and that you get out as much air as possible. Also, to freeze as fast as you can. Some freezers have separate shelves for quicker freezing. (Mine doesn't!) Basically this can seal in the moisture and flavor. I bought ziploc reusable containers that were on sale and freezer/dishwasher/microwave safe to try out. Also some chinet plates and gallon size freezer bags. We plan on doing about two to three weeks worth of meals. I know things like stew, chili, soups freeze well. I am interested to see how something like meatloaf, chicken breat, noodles will thaw out. I am also wondering if I should cook things fully and then just reheat in the microwave? Or do you just par cook veggies and things like that? I guess it will sort of be a learning experience to get it right. I know things that have cream sauces will not freeze the best. I can't seem to find a website that actually explains all this. Most sites just want you to come use their facilities and pay to cook there. Sorry if I haven't been of much help. I will be watching to see what other recs you get.....I'll let you know how ours goes this weekend!

Try the Dinner Diva at http://www.savingdinner.com/. I found her through FlyLady. She does have some free recipes, but others you need to buy. She has different categories, and making freezer recipes is one of the categories.

Here is a YouTube video of a freezer meal she makes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lY9CBY_yF3k

You can check the library for her book as well - can't remember if her book has freezer recipes.

Her fees are reasonable (I think). She has great ideas for soups in the crock pot that are easy and wonderful.

Good Luck!

There are once a month cook books that you can probably check out from the library. These even have the Grocery List included which really makes it nice.
S. O.

When you get this started, I'd love to join in! I always say I want to try the once-a-month cooking thing, but I think it would be so much easier if there was a whole group! It would make it a social event, rather than a chore.

That is such a great idea!! My favorite website is www.allrecipes.com
I like this website because you can read reviews from other cooks and you can search for recipes by rating. Try it out. I hope you enjoy this website as much as I do. Plus it is free to join. Have fun!!

Jennifer -
I teach a power cooking class to groups. Let me know if you would like me to help your group with the first class.

M. Hay
____@____.com

Someone mentioned a book. My recommendation is to check the local library. I believe there are multiple books out there on this (and they are free). Good luck.

Great idea :)

Most soups and stews freeze well. Italian food freezes well too, like lasagna and stuffed shells, etc. Pizza crusts (plain) and bread are other good freezers. You could do breakfast or snack foods too- biscuits, muffins, pancakes, etc.

Usually I use allrecipes.com and you can read reviews to see if any others have frozen the recipe.

sounds like a neat idea, can I be your friend??

I am so NOT a cook, and my family is NOT adventurous, ok, revise that, my husband is not adventurous, so even though I've wanted to go to one of those dinner prep places I don't think my husband would eat much of what I made.