Once A Month Cooking - You Can Do it!

I honestly can't believe this is Labour Day weekend! It feels like I just scooped the children up on the last day and school and rushed off to the beach for the afternoon. This summer has been full of cliff jumps, cannon balls, rollercoasters, camps, cottage time, day trips and lounging by the pool.... and to be honest, I'm not ready for it to be over!

When any change comes I feel the need to clean, cook and purge! I desire to get my home and things in alignment so I can tackle the new season with a sense of readiness. Yesterday was a long day, but for some reason on those really exhausting days, I seem to push myself farther?? So... I called up my neighbour and asked if she wanted to accompany me to COSTCO. I loaded up on school snacks and groceries to do my big cook off!

Today I was up and at it early so I could do another quick grocery shop and load up on Freezer Bags and Tin containers. Many of you have asked about the Once a  Month Cooking... and I always hear, "You're so organized! I wish I could do that''. YOU CAN!! I am not any more organized than another. I have list in my journal of our favourite meals and that's what I try to focus on and make for the month. To be honest when I hit the grocery store, I don't even take a list. I rush through the isles and throw this and that in. I'm not a precise cook... I"m an adventurous one. I know roughly what I'd like to make and start tossing things in the cart. It's nice knowing when these meals are completed that all I have to do is throw on a pot of rice, add fresh veg, salad or fresh bread to any of these meals to make them healthy and complete!

Why do I do the 'Once a Month Cooking?"

1. It saves time. (5 hours to complete 29 meals is better than 45 min every day for the month!)
2. It allows our family to eat great quality meals, even though we are busy and on the go.
3. It saves money. (No more stopping and grabbing what's convenient and racking up unnecessary charges)
4. It saves dishes!! No more prep dishes for the month!!
5. It brings PEACE to our home. (Anyone of us can walk to the freezer, pick out a meal, pop it in the crock pot or stove, and BAM! Dinner is served!)

Is it a long day cooking? Yes! But there are choices we make in our family to make life easier and run smoother. Eating dinner as a family is big to us. The stories we hear and the laughs we share  as we're gathered around the table each night is vital. We laugh, we laugh until we cry, we train and instil manners and this time allows us all to reconnect after being pulled in different directions throughout the day, and often times in the evening following our meals. (Side note : Our dinner table is often a gong show. The children are all expressive and animated, so although we desire to teach & train them....things can get wildly funny and Pa Paton has to bring us all back into alignment.)

I'd encourage you, if you feel run ragged, or feel something has to give to tackle this! You can do it! Sit with your family and compile a list of your favourite meals, then away you go!

List of What I made in my 5 1/2  hour stretch.
- 2 x 7 Smothered Swiss Black forest Chicken Breasts
- 2 x 7 Salsa Chicken (Family Fav!)
- 2 Ham & Pineapple
- 2 Shepherds Pie (Family Size)
- 3 Lunch Sizes that feed two (great for Jamie & Syd for work)
- 2 Family Sized Chili
- 2 Meatloaf
- 3 Family Sized Lasagna
- 1 Lunch Sized Lasagna
- 1 Family Sized Mac & Cheese
- 2 (lunch portions feeds two)
- 2 Chicken Stir Fry
- 2 Freezer Bags of cooked Ground beef (great for Tacos, Nachos, Cabbage Rolls, Spaghetti Sauce)
- 3 Freezer Bags of cooked chicken breasts shredded (great for BBQ Chicken, enchiladas)

Tips : 

• The Dollarstore has freezer bags and tin foil containers for $1.25.
• Don't stress it... your kitchen will be messy, have fun!
• If you're doing a lot of veggies google blanching. You want to make sure your veggies still taste great and are giving you all the nutrients they are desired to give! 
• Learn to treasure table time... it's when your children open up!