cook by the month large batches

[old fashioned]

We don't do by the month meals either, but I do make my own "convenience" foods. I'll prepare ahead certain things to can or freeze like...
Spaghetti sauce-canned or frozen
chicken or beef broth-canned
cookie dough-frozen
meatballs-these are precooked then frozen
meatloaf-all mixed and frozen raw
chili-homemade cooked and frozen
stew-frozen
lasagna-use canned sauce, partially cooked noodles and is all assembled and frozen in baking dish. I've also done this with stuffed shells with sauce. In fact, last time we had stuffed shells (a few weeks ago)I made extra of the cheese stuffed shells and froze them without sauce.

And of course most leftovers are given atleast one more turn around our table in some way or another, depending on what it is. I will say some things just don't go over a second time at our house, no matter what ya do to it and with these I keep trying to make just enough so there are no leftovers. I try not to make up too much of any of the freezer items at one time, but it is nice to have one or two extra and ready to go. Except of course the cookie dough, I'll always have room for that.

 

[abifae]

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[Ibicella]

I'm a once a week to two-weeks cooker myself. I've got some pork ribs marinating, bread dough in the bread maker, and a I just got myself a nice 12 quart stock pot this afternoon and I'm making chicken stock. I'll freeze the cooked chicken for putting into quick dishes later.

I have a terrible problem with freezing sauces though. Can anybody give me some tips on freezing spaghetti sauce so when I unfreeze it for meals it's not a watery mess?

 

[kimnkell]

Once a week or Once a month cooking is great! I do it every chance I get. I usually freeze entrees of lasagna , manicotti, and chicken alfredo. I make some in 9 x 13 pans and some in smaller 9 x 9 pans for when the kids just want to eat a certain dinner. I always freeze my leftover soups too. I am also a canning freak so whenever I find a big sale on meats or veggies (during the winter on the veggies) I buy them up and can them. I just love canning... You might say I am addicted to canning. lol... I just canned up my leftover turkey from christmas in which I used to just throw out to the dogs and it made 6 quarts of turkey broth, 4 pints of turkey with broth, 2 pints of barbeque turkey for sandwiches and 2 little half pints of the barbecue turkey just in case someone wanted to make a couple of sandwiches. I usually do this with taco meat filling as well and hot dog sauce... Didn't mean to be so long winded... lol..