In part 1 of this series, I shared with you how much I look to cook in spurts, or batches. Today I will share with you what this actually looks like.
Typically, a batch cooking session with last me two or three hours. In this session I will make a variety of things usually depnding on what I have on hand or have gotten a great deal on . this past week I was able to get lots of tomatoes and hamburger so my plan was making as many dishes as I could with those ingredients. I also like to keep some breakfast items on hand for the mornings. Since I am home schooling three children, I like keeping breakfasts quick and easy too, as well as healthy. Having some things ready to reheat makes our this easier to do each day.
Once I plan what I am making, I try to break it down so that I can start with what will takes the longest cooking time. Today I am making spaghetti sauce, so I began right away with that.
I am also making a Minestrone Soup in the crock pot, so I threw in those ingredients real quick as well.
I made up a double batch of Pizza Dough and put that in the bread machine. When that is done, I put it into freezer bags and label.
Then I started on the waffles and pancakes, and in between cooking those I made up a batch of muffins. The mess is has begun!
That is ok though, because look what gets to go in my freezer and it will last us for 2-3 weeks!
My children all help me (great for some training time in the kitchen!) but on this day I had two children feeling a little under the weather, so I was down to one helper. Not to be deterred, I got her started on making the meatballs.
I like to put these on a cookie sheet and freeze them, then place in freezer bags. It helps them not to stick together or get crushed.
While my daughter rolled out the meatballs, I made up the meatloaf mixes and put them into the pans. Since the oven was already heated up for the muffins, I put them right in while the muffins came out to cool.
I fried up some hamburger to make Pepperoni Pizza Bake and since I already had the pan out, I made fried some ground chicken that I got a great deal on and made a chicken dish real quick. That was kind of a random recipe to throw in there, but I wanted to use that chicken up.
Don’t forget to save all those vegetable clippings to make yummy vegetable broth! I keep adding to a freezer bag until I have about 4 cups and then I will make up some broth during one of my cooking sessions.
By then, the spaghetti sauce has simmered long enough, so I began to portion it out and let it cool off so I could freeze it.
Time to clean up! A day well spent, and we still had time to go do some ice skating and then come home for a muffin and some tea.
I am always tired after a lot of cooking, but it is so worth it when I go to make dinner for the next few weeks!
So, do you do any batch cooking like this? Got any tips for me? Should I take the once a month cooking plunge? I am always trying to simplify and streamline this process, so any advice is gladly taken!
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could you please share you tomato sauce recipt ?thanks
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that’s amazing. thanks for all the great tips and recipes.
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I love, love, love it! 2-3 hours is all it takes you? The next rainy weekday in our forecast (which I think is Monday) you can bet I’m cookin’ it up!! Thanks for the recipes and tips. I can’t wait!
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Oh my goodness, thank you! I just discovered your website via http://adustyframe.com and caught this part 2. The instructions are wonderfully speckled with pictures, and many of the items were the few that I make homemade but haven’t put the thought into doing it all at one time. (Me, slow?) Anyways, how appropriate. Thanks.
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PS Here is the link to the blog about our “Batch Cooking” as you call it. http://sewmountainmomma.blogspot.com/2009/01/saturday-well-spent.html
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I did this recently with my girls. We spent a Saturday morning and had two weeks of meals ready to put together. It was a huge relief to have everything chopped, all the rice already cooked, meat cooked and portioned and a menu to follow.
I just read this morning that if you are going to chop/dice large portions of onions to be used later, store them in cold water in a container in the fridge. Seems like useful info.
Been enjoying your website!
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I don’t know, Stephanie. That’s one job I would dread and procrastinate. I’d rather clean toilets, seriously. I have all l can do to cook one meal once a day. Hopefully my daughters will be better homemakers than I am.
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For one thing, you are an excellent homemaker! But if you do this method, you can have several nights off from cooking! Believe me, it is worth it!
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I knew there was a reason why I liked your blog!! I do the same thing! I make tons of meatballs and freeze, only I fry mine first. I actually spent part of Saturday frying up a bunch of chicken cutlets, one of our favorite meals. I wrap them individually and freeze. I have about 20 all ready to go in my freezer for a busy day!! Enjoyed your recipes!
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