Cook for a day, eat for a month: A handful of recipes and a freezer add up to more "freeper "time

newsobserver.com via newsmax ^ | Wednesday, October 17, 2001 | SUSAN HOUSTON

[Katie_Colic]

Thanks for the post :) I'm ready to try this again, although the first 3 times I tried it were total flops.

First time: I tried to do it pregnant and fell asleep somewhere between the chopping and sauteeing stage. Second time: I underestimated how hard it would be to cook with a baby to take care of and only made one of the 10 meals I had planned. The rest of the ingredients went back in the pantry or the freezer unused. Third time: I had energy, I had childcare...and I woke up with one of the worst cases of flu I've ever had.

I just don't think I'm destined to be able to cook this way, but for some reason I feel like giving it one more chance.

[Nora]

I like putting up about 15 meals worth of spaghetti sauce in one fell swoop and regularly freeze stock or other basic ingredients for convenience when cooking, but really the idea of freezing things like baked eggs seems awful - you lose texture, flavor and flexibility.

[usmom]

things like baked eggs seems awful

I too wondered about this. The book I have gives two alternatives to egg dishes: mix the filling and freeze, thaw later and bake, or bake first, then thaw and reheat. I am planning to try one of each and see if there is a difference in quality.

[Focault's Pendulum]

I usually just eat chili....then I Log In!!!

[shezza]

My gang loves my Texas chili--I usually do 2-3 pots at once, and we can eat off the leftovers stored in the freezer for months thereafter! (Of course, sometimes we get in the chili mode, especially when it's snowy outside, and three huge pots don't last a week!)

I also do double or triple batches when cooking other favorites, like lasagna, cause it's just as easy to brown 3 pounds of ground beef as one. Besides the oven will accommodate several pans at once, so we're actually saving on energy, too, by cooking several meals simultaneously. Of course I don't know that I'd have the energy to do 26 meals at once, however. ;o)

~shezz
(Freeper addict, homeschooler mom of 3 boys

[ST.LOUIE1]

I volunteer at a camp for handicapped kids every summer. This year, for the first time, I volunteered to be the cook. It was, by far, the hardest job I've ever had to do there. Up at 5:30 am and on my feet till 7:30 pm.

Sorry I'm a little slow to respond, dead.
Just wanted to tell you I think it's great you do volunteer work. Especially for the handicapped.
They're special. As are you.

It was also a lot of fun, though. I had a great staff of assistant cooks and a loud stereo.

LOL A loud stereo can make you forget those barkin' dogs.