Once-A-Month Cooking: Tips

Well I did it! Month One: Done.

Phew. That was a lot of work, but oh so great! I made over 20 recipes. 14 dinner recipes (most recipes make 2 dinners, some make more) and 6 breakfast recipes (each makes 4-6 breakfasts). I can't wait to share some tips, so if you're thinking about doing this for your family, you can be sure to love it. Some of the meals will either trickle into next month, or be used to bless friends.

Tip 1: Get your family's requests before you grocery shop. Has this ever happened to you: the kids liked spaghetti last week then refuse to eat it after you stock up on it at Costco? grrr...Toddlers aren't the only ones that pull this one. My husband does it to me on a regular basis, too. So, they all got a say in the recipes I make, and don't make. This helps to make sure that the things I make are worth my time and money.

Tip 2: Don't shop on cooking day
Oh my goodness this is so important! Shop 1-4 days BEFORE you cook. Shopping is exhausting and so is cooking, so split them up.

Tip 3: Put your cooking day(s) on your calendar in minimum 4 hour blocks
 I'll wait...go ahead and pull out your phone and put in on there.

You can NOT squeeze in cooking between your already scheduled programming. If you could, then your dinners would be on the table on time as it is, and you don't need to bulk cook. So, since you are doing this, set aside the time to be successful. I cooked from noon - 5:00 on Saturday and then after church for 4 hours on Sunday. That's 9 hours to make 30 recipes. It may seem like a long time, but it's really efficient use of your time if you set it aside.

Tip 4: Set aside your budget to make it work. You'll need a bulk of your food budget to make this work. Be prepared, and be creative. Use up those random items in your freezer. Clean it out, see what you can use that's already in your home to save some money. Choose/adjust recipes to create bulk-buying opportunities. 

Tip 5: Find a friend and do it together. It may be hard to schedule, but together you can buy more things in bulk. Plus, you will keep each other motivated to get everything completed.

Tip 6: If you can, use your family to help. My kids have been cooking since they were little. So, I put my daughter in charge of breakfast muffins! It was great to have her in the kitchen with me, and she make a 'tower of muffins' that we all will enjoy.