Does anyone do bulk cooking here?

[Ilsa]

I love making extra and freezing it for another day when I don't have time to cook.

What are your most successful recipes? I have little kids, so nothing too exotic, please.

[Lars39]

1. Funny you should ask........

I'm on the tail end of putting 6 weeks of 3-meals-a-day in the freezer! :)
Some of "What's for supper, Grandpa?" :
Lasagna, Baked Ziti, Chicken Tettrazini, Roast, Ham&Potato Casserole, Meatloaf, Salmon Loaf, Sloppy Joes, Chicken Rancheros, Tacos, Breakfast Burritos

I've got 6 banana bread loaves cooking right now; did 6 last night.
I'm going to be out of commission(surgery)for six weeks, and this seemed like the only way to keep everybody fed while staying on a budget. :)

[amazona]

2. yes, for example, chili is a big favorite

I like to make a very thick chili. It can also be used as a taco filling or to make burrito casserole as well as just plain chili.

[harper]

3. I'm starting it

I'm not doing anything like once-a-month cooking. More like once-a-week cooking. So far the most successful items have been Sloppy Joe mixture, lasagna, meatloaf and a southwestern bean soup called Santa Fe Stew. I cook it, cool it, pack it up in individual serving containers and stick it in the freezer. Then, presto...I always have lunch to take to work and something fast and easy for dinner. My main goal was to save money on the meals out and it seems to be working.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

4. Before Atkins: Baked Ziti, Mac n Cheese, Pizza

Also Spaghetti and Meatballs. Casserole-type recipes work best. I used to break them up into serving sizes in ziploc bags.

On edit: soups are good too.

[Lars39]

5. Finding out that mashed potatoes and rice are freezable opened

a lot of possibilities, too. Uncle Ben's converted rice freezes the best. :)

[fishnfla]

6. I cook ahead for a week

My kids really go for chicken wings, pasta and rice dishes. On sundays I grill a bunch of stuff for the week. The only "bulk" thing I do is homemade stocks.

[Ilsa]

7. Thanks, I got a few new ideas

from you good folks.

Have any of you used one of those food-storage-vacuum machines for your bulk meals? was it worth the price you paid in better flavor and no freezer burn? I think Tuesday morning is supposed to offer them for about $70 next week.

[magnolia]

12. I have....

...the Food Saver...vacuum packer thing. I LOVE IT! It's the best thing since the George Foreman Grill...which I also love and use constantly. Anyway...the Food Saver was worth every penny I paid for it and I use it constantly even for non-food item. My husband gets fish by setting a net, which means like 40 fish at one time. I used to freeze them in water which was a huge job. Now with the Food Saver it's so easy and no freezer burn. Wet stuff, like soup, you freeze first, then pack.

[Heddi]

8. oooh! Oooh! we do! we do!

Chili is a GOOD frozen food. You can just slap two servings in a ziplog bag and freeze that baby...mmm!

We also cook up things like rice and pasta in bulk, so we can just put it in the micro and heat it up for dinner. We eat alot of starches. Actually, we eat nothing but starches---example: Today I had a bread sandwich with extra bread and potato and pasta juice on the side....

We're big pancake eaters too, so I'll whip up 30 or so pancakes and freeze them....

ummm...

Oh! My husband makes tostads and enchaladas and freezes them. They're a quick and easy lunch for him to take to work.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

9. When I make a corned beef with cabbage

which can also be used for sandwiches, I save the broth and add either white beans, pinto beans or lentils or split peas and either make a pot of beans or soup..it's several side dishes and is quite flavorful.

[meegbear]

10. Get a couple cookbooks for crock pots

This past winter I had to pay for my own gas (it's now included in the rent). To save gas money I started crockpotting all my meals.

Make meals with lots of leftovers and all in one pan!!

[Noordam]

11. I am looking into moving to Costa Rica

and have looked into once a month cooking

A couple books are out there HERE

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0805418350.01._PE20_PIdp-schmoo2,TopRight,7,-26_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg

And I was looking into buying a vacuum sealer for like $199



You get a good bread machine and fresh veggies you can do a lot of mealing in advance.

[Kahuna]

13. Hell Yeah!

:7