Ninja Cooking Skills

[lcertuche]

I like to freeze cookie dough when I make it up. I'll mix up several batches and freeze dough shaped like the kind you see in the grocery store refrigerated isle. Take out of the freezer and slice to bake.

I bought a bread machine a few years ago for something like $7. DH and the Wildbunch loves fresh bread so I use it frequently. With the price of decent bread over $2+ in the store the homemade probable doesn't cost more than 50 cents/loaf and probably much less since I buy flour on sale most of the times.

Check out the Dollar Tree. You never know what you'll find. DS got Himalayan sea salt at the Dollar Tree. I have bought canning salt there, canned roasted red peppers, and spices of all kinds. Not everything is a bargain but there is some. I like to buy parchment paper, waxed paper, etc. for a $1.

 

[sumi]

You guys shared some brilliant tips here. The only things that come to mind right now is when I make soup, I cook a huge batch, then spoon leftovers into freezer bags, which I place in a soup bowl for measuring. Once the bag full of soup nearly fills the bowl, I know I have a portion in there and I tie the bag and freeze it. Also, when I make pies, I make a big batch of smaller pies, which can make a meal with added vegetables/salad. These go into the freezer too for quick, easy meals.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Those are great tips Sumi! I love the soup bowl for measuring.

 

[lcertuche]

Yes, the soup bowl measuring is a super idea (or is that a souper idea).

 

[lcertuche]

Have a list of quick meals on the refrigerator. I like things like Taco Soup which is a few cans thrown in the pot with a little bit of cooked meat, or breakfast for supper, spaghetti or whatever it is you make that is quick. I did this when I was going to school. It is so much quicker to throw a few things in a pot then go fight traffic and sit in a drive through fast food lane or go to the store when everyone else is doing the same. Not to mention healthier. I cooked up roast pork on the weekend and the rest of the week it was tacos, barbecued pork sandwiches, fried rice, pot pie.

Most my recipes use much the same ingredients so I would prepare all my vegetables ahead of time. Throw some meat and veggies together with rice, potatoes, or pasta.

 

[lcertuche]

Keep zones in your kitchen. For instance, coffee pot, filters, coffee, creamer, sugar, and coffee cups in one small area within reach of each other.

I keep all my baking goods, flours, cornmeal, sugar, baking soda, shortening, etc. in one area.

The yeast and baking powder is kept in the same place in the refrigerator (to keep fresh) all the time.

My baking pans, sheets, cake pans are in the same cabinet.

If you keep everything in its place it really saves a lot of time. If it takes you a half hour to find every thing you are much less likely to cook your own breads, cakes, biscuits, etc. I can have a pan of cornbread in the oven in five minutes and biscuits maybe a minute or two more. The same goes for my homemade bread. I keep my bread maker in the corner near my baking goods, flours and such. So the longest time is waiting for the yeast to proof before throwing in the flour, and salt.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Great ideas!

 

[baymule]

Organized kitchen......I used to have one, then we retired and DH helps me now.....

 

[frustratedearthmother]

 

[lcertuche]

Yes my sons and DH put things in the weirdest places. I accuse them of doing it passive aggressively in revenge of being put to work.