Monday, October 5, 2009

Once-A-Month Cooking Book Review and Giveaway

I was honored to be chosen to review the book Once-A-Month Cooking Family Favorites by Mimi Wilson and Mary Beth Lagerborg.

While I have always toyed with the idea of freezer cooking this book actually got me excited and motivated to try it. This book is great for those of us who are beginners to bulk cooking and freezing meals for future use. By doing so you will save money on groceries and time in the kitchen because you won't be panicking about what's for dinner each night. You will be able to sit down to a nice home cooked meal that has already been prepared ahead of time. And for those of you who are experienced bulk cookers, there are some great new recipes to add to your collection.

The concept is easy. Plan your meals for the month, or if you want plan two two week cycles. Buy the bulk of your groceries needed for these meals. You can incorporate weekly grocery trips for fresh produce if needed. Set aside one or two days to prepare and bake all of the meals for the month and freeze them. Select an entree from the freezer on any given night. Check off the meals you have served so you know what you have left.

In Once-A-Month Cooking Family Favorites the recipes are chosen by of course their freezability, taste, variety, appeal to adults as well as child (great in my household since I have 4 children) and ease of preparation. Four of the menu cycles are classic to be used any time of the year. There are two one month cycles and two two week cycles Three addition cycles are added to this book, a Summer two week cycle, a Gourmet two week cycle, and a Gluten -Free two week cycle.

The book provides you with not only all the recipes, but it also provides the grocery lists, the preparation instructions, the assembly order, and a list of the equipment you will need along with some other helpful tips.

Like I said this book got me excited about bulk cooking. I will definitely be trying this in the near future and letting you all know how it turns out. I am always looking at ways to not only save money, but time as well. Also, there are some great looking recipes in this book. For instance I will be making the Upside-Down Fettuccine Bake this week!

If your interested in this book you can visit their website to get a taste of what they have to offer. Right now they have a free one week cooking cycle on their website at http://www.once-a-monthcooking.com.

I am excited to announce that I have an extra copy of the Once-a-Month Cooking Family Favorites to giveaway to one of my fantastic readers!! There are 4 chances to enter.

1. Leave a comment. Do you bulk cook and freeze ahead?
2. Become a follower and leave me a comment letting me know you did so.
3. Subscribe to Learning the Frugal Life, leave a comment letting me know you did.
4. Post about this giveaway on your blog and leave a link. Leave a comment letting me know you did so.

The contest ends Thursday 10/8 at midnight. I will draw a winner Friday 10/9. Good luck.

Once-A-Month Cooking Family Favorites authors Mimi Wilson and Mary Beth Lagerborg. You can visit their website at http://www.once-a-monthcooking.com.

Linked to Heavenly Homemakers Fall Giveaway Carnival.

108 comments:

  1. I love bulk cooking! I use "Don't Panic, Dinner's In the Freezer", am very interested in these authors' ideas!

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  2. I am not really a bulk cooker - whenever I make spaghetti or tacos though I'll divide the meat in half after cooking and saucing so I have dinner partially ready on another night. My girls and I love bulk baking though, we usually spend one Saturday a month making cookies and muffins to put in the freezer for easy snacks and lunchboxes. I have recently started doing a monthly meal plan and try to one big purchase at the beginning of the month with once a week stops afterwards for produce. The cookbook looks great and I'm sure there are a ton of helpful hints. Leene

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  3. I love bulk cooking! I haven't really taken the time to a whole meal but I do take the time to brown ground meat or divide up other meats into meal size portions so that it is easier for me with prep time.

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  4. I have just talked my husband into buying an extra freezer so I can bulk cook and reduce the processed foods we buy (cream soups, etc..)
    I have been on the waiting list for this book from our local library as I'm anxious to give this a try. I'm #121 in waiting and would love copy of my own!
    nikklaven at gmail dot com

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  5. I do cook for the freezer sometimes, but have never done a month at a time. I have the original OAMC book by these same authors and the recipes are great. Would love to have this one, as well. Thanks!

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  6. I follow your blog and enjoy all of your tips! I have not tried freezing meals, but do a lot of baking for the holidays and freeze Amish Friendship bread and cookies! So handy for little 'pick-me-ups' for friends/family throughout the year! I would love a copy of the book to get some ideas on how to freeze meals!

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  7. Please put me in your drawing! I would love to try this!!!

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  8. I don't do freezer meals but I have always wanted to try!

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  9. I subscribe via Google Reader!

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  10. In the last 6 months I have made a deliberate effort to cook up extras when cooking and freezing it. I am looking for a make ahead cookbook with recipes my family will eat and enjoy. It doesn't save me time or money if we don't like the food. This cookbook may just be the right thing! Thanks for the great blog.
    msdecaf@charter.net

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  11. I do some bulk cooking and am always looking for new recipes that will work for my family. This book looks great! I mostly use online recipes from Once a month mom or other sites.

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  12. I love bulk cooking and do it for my family and my daughter's. She has a special needs child and little time to cook good, healthy meals. I need some new ideas and recipes!

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  13. I'm not a bulk cooker... yet but it is one of the things I'm intending on doing due to necessity. When I've cooked extra before the boys have always eaten it as seconds - sadly those days are now gone!

    I've become a follower so keep your great posts coming.
    Thanks,
    Amanda

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  14. I bulk cook, and I love once a month cooking! But I need more ideas...I would love this book for that!

    matthollycart@gmail.com

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  15. I follow!

    matthollycart@gmail.com

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  16. I have not tried this method of cooking to any great degree (other than making extra for a couple of work lunches) - I think I should give it a try!

    cindyjensen@charter.net

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  17. I am really interested in freezer cooking, would love this book! Thanks for the giveaway, hope to win :)

    katesadventures(at)gmail(dot)com

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  18. I have once a month cooked before but i am not a regular and my stock is depleted now. I would love to have this book so I have a guide. I have just put in my first Bulk co-op order. 50lbs of oatmeal headed my way! (And some other great stuff too!)

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  19. I wouldn't say I'm a bulk cooker. I am trying some new things now though. I cooked one pound of chicken breasts for dinner the other night. We ended up eating only one of them with salad, chopped veggies and some fresh picked apples. With the leftover chicken, we diced it up and made chicken taco meat out of it. We will freeze the rest. So three meals out of one night of cooking. I am also trying to integrate more soups into the mix. I love the fact that I can make a big batch of soup and freeze the rest for future meals. All I need to do is bake a loaf of bread and we've got a meal.

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  20. I would love to try out once-a-month cooking.

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  21. I try doubling things I make sometimes and putting one in the freezer, and am starting to divide meats up with marinades and stuff rather than just plain, so I can put it in the crock-pot. I am thinking about starting a once-a-month cooking club at our church (we could use the church kitchen). This would be a wonderful book to win! Thanks, Cheryl

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  22. I would love this book! I've dabbled in freezer cooking, but haven't tried the once a month yet.

    shannon.mangerchine@gmail.com

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  23. i also became a follower via google friend connect

    shannon.mangerchine@gmail.com

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  24. I try to bulk cook, but it hasn't been working so well.

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  25. I am following you! I would love this book. I have done a few freezer meals but I would like to try once-a-month cooking.

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  26. I don't YET but I really want to start. Would love to try this book.

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  27. I just became a new follower of your blog! I would LOVE a copy of this book to help feed my 4 small girls with big appetites, my dh and me!

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  28. Once A Month cooking is a great way to get meals on the table... I have the older version of this book and I would love to check out this one!!

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  29. I do not but I would love to try it!

    kerin0874 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  30. I also left a blog post about it...sorry forgot to mention it in the other comment!!

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  31. I have a friend who loves bulk cooking! I would love to enter this.

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  32. I have done this a little, but would love to try it more. Thanks!

    Miracle Quelle

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  33. I have done some bulk cooking, but I lost my friend who used to do it with me. TEAR. She is now working and doesn't have time, so I need to get motivated and get another day planned and scheduled!

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  34. I have the original Once-a-Month book also -- would love to see their new book, and possibly give it to one of my dd's for their 'hope chest' collection =)
    Thank you!

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  35. I definitely want to be entered into the giveaway! I am not per se a bulk cooker, but when I cook for one there are always leftovers. If they are freeze-able, I put them in one serving portions in the freezer. This works out well keeping me from wasting food.

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  36. I just started with the freezer cooking. I have only made a few things so far and are trying them this week for dinner. Thank you for this.
    trishbazin@yahoo.com

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  37. I LOVE bulk cooking. I need to get get back into the swing of it. It's a great timesaver. Definately gonna check out this book.

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  38. Sometimes I put meals in the freezer, like right before my 2nd daughter was born. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  39. I used to freeze meals ahead, but haven't made the time recently, I should get back to it.

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  40. I need this cookbook. I really want to start doing this. Being a working mom leaves little time for dinner.

    jord8031@yahoo.com

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  41. i am just now starting to cook and freeze ahead so more info would be great!

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  42. we do not as of yet cook and freeze ahead but my mom is very interested in it! thanks!

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  43. Iv been cooking a little extra here and there and freezing meals to make life a little easier, but this book sounds like it would really help to spur me along. Great Giveaway.

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  44. I also subscribed to your feed and became a follower. Thanks!

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  45. Thanks for the great giveaway!! I try and freezer cook whenever I can. Saves me lots of time on those nights when I'm running the kids to soccer, volleyball, work, etc!

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  46. I do not do this currently but I would love to see what it is all about. I currently buy some items in bulk. Kbroderi@msn.com

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  47. I do buy in bulk, make things ahead, and freeze my foods. this book would be so helpful!
    amber84d (at) gmail (dot) com

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  48. I don't necessarily do bulk cooking but I often will make a double recipe of a dinner and then freeze the extras. Also, Friday night is automatically left over night in our house so we clean out whatever is left in the fridge and that is one night that I don't have to cook!

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  49. I need to start doing it more often now that we have extra mouths to feed. My twins are just beginning to eat "adult" food.

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  50. I don't bulk cook but would love to do so if I had the freezer space. I would love this book for ideas!

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  51. i do freezer cook and i love it!

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  52. I do some cooking ahead and freezer meals but I would love to check this book out!

    shownfamily(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

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  53. I don't cook in bulk or use the freezer, but I would really like to learn how it's done effectively!

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  54. I have always wanted to bulk cook but never got to it. This book would be a great help, I have 3 children 3 and under so I need all the help I can get! Thanks!

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  55. Great giveaway...would love to try this book...thanks!

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  56. I'm trying to get started with once a month cooking. I've been doing lots of reading and planning so far, not much cooking yet... I would love to have this book for my own!

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  57. I am trying to start buying in bulk and freezing meals ahead. I need a lot of work though and would love this giveaway!

    couponrn(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  58. I am now an email subscriber!

    couponrn(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  59. Would love to win this!
    I have done bulk cooking many times. I am now begging DH for a new deep freeze so I can do more- this would be a great incentive (not to him but to me- to keep begging!;-)
    laptopmail(at)twlakes(dot)net

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  60. I too have toyed with this idea, but never tried it. This would give me great motivation to start!

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  61. I have attempted to start bulk cooking. At any given point, I have a weeks worth of meals in the freezer. I would LOVE to get to once a month cooking!

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  62. I bulk cook and freeze by accident. I'm single and every darn recipe is made for 6 or 8 people. It's easier to follow the recipe and share with others or freeze than adjust the recipe for 1 or 2.

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  63. I love to bulk cook! Otherwise I swear there would be nights that we just wouldn't eat dinner at all!

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  64. I don't bulk cook but would like to try.

    mdeardorff at windstream dot net

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  65. Don't do much bulk cooking but would like to try.
    Bonnie
    bjtra@yahoo.com

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  66. I bulk cook as much as possible. But as a newlywed college student, it's difficult to find space in our little freezer. It saves so much money and time though!

    Molly
    mollysteffen@gmail.com

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  67. I need to do this more often...I've done it on a here and there basis but not nearly enough! This would be a great motivator and kick start!

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  68. I buy in bulk but freezer cooking has eluded me thus far!
    I really want to try it!

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  69. Also, I became a subscriber to your feed!

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  70. I'm not a bulk freezer, but I'd love to be. After we got the swine flu last week, we were both so exhausted and neither of us were up to cooking, soit'd been nice to hae something already made in the freezer we jus thad to pull out. *lol*
    eod_army_wife04(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  71. I want to start cooking in bulking and freezing. I have not tired it yet, but want to
    silverhartgirl at gmail.com

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  72. So funny I found this! I just went to the store to buy things I can cook and freeze. I've been wanting to try doing freezer meals for a while now. Finally brave enough to try it!
    hatt1380(at)aol(dot)com

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  73. I don't do a lot of freezer meals although I wish I did. I do make homemade pizza dough in large batches and freeze it. It makes homemade pizza a breeze. I also mix up the dry ingredients for our homemade pancakes and put each portion in a freezer bag and store in the freezer.... basically a homemade pancake mix to simplify the process.

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  74. I want to win this book. It looks fantastic. Crossing my everything! Hugs, Bobbi Jo

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  75. I want to be a bulk cooker. I am trying to learn how to shop and cook in larger quantities to make better use of my time.

    clarksrfun (at) gmail (dot) com

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  76. I usually bulk cook meats and freeze for easier meal preparation. My hubby is always deployed or in school somewhere and we have 4 kids and 1 on the way in January so I've just started thinking about bulk meal prep to make life easier especially when the baby comes. I downloaded the instructions from the once a month cooking website and I can't wait to start using it. I posted on Facebook as well. Thanks for the free started copy
    Dawnkaree at aol com

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  77. I would love this cookbook. I have never tried freezer cooking but have always WANTED to try it.

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  78. Looks wonderful and I would love to learn to utilize my freezer better.

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  79. I do freeze ahead, but not on a OAMC level. Thanks for the chance!
    nettacow at gmail dot com

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  80. Hi, I just found your blog. :) Looks like my kind of blog.
    And I would love to learn more about Once a month cooking. :)

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  81. I do bulk buy but not so much on the bulk cooking. BUT i want to learn how!!

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  82. I have wanted to try this but never have. Would love to win!

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  83. I bulk cook and freeze...gotta love Sam's Club haha
    disintegratingstarr@hotmail.com

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  84. I double-up on recipes or cook meat in advance to freeze. Definite time-saver!

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  85. I used to get together with a group of gals from my church and we would make freezer meals. We would all choose two recipes and make six servings of each. When we were done we all have a freezer full of a variety of foods. It was wonderful to always have a fresh frozen meal. We are planning to do this again soon! Would love to win this new cookbook to try some new recipes! :)

    jendd@usa.com

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  86. Thank you for participating in the Fall give-away carnival. This sounds wonderful.

    Thanks,
    Michelle
    hsmamafl at gmaildotcom

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  87. Occasionally I'll save food in the freezer, but I haven't done much bulk freezer cooking at all, but I think it'd be a thrifty thing to try!

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  88. I follow and would absolutely LOVE this cookbook!!!

    Thanks!
    Janelle

    janelle-schark@uiowa.edu

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  89. I'd love to try cooking in bulk, once a month-that would be amazing!

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  90. I subscribe, thanks!

    fawnwoodusa@netscape dot net

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  91. I don't bulk cook and freeze but I think it's a great idea!

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  92. Freezing is so much easier when you are busy and making in bulk as well
    a10small@hotmail.com

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  93. I would love this book. I often think about giving monthly cooking a try, but haven't made time for that attempt yet. I do often try to make doubles of something and freeze it for later - especially before I have a baby!
    Kori

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  94. I try to make double of some meals and freeze them ahead, but I often times don't! I wish I could get into it more!

    charlotte.harloff at gmail dot com

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  95. I would like to do more cooking and freezing of meals since I find myself out and running around after the kids right when it's prep time for supper. I would love to win this book to give me tips on what to do! :)

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  96. I do only a little freezer cooking. If I'm making a casserole, I usually make it double and throw the other in the freezer. As a family of 3 (2 yr. old), we don't eat a lot, so we survive on a lot of frozen leftovers, but not so much planned meals. ellaclare85@yahoo.com

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  97. I do batch cooking whenever I cook. Tonight
    I made up a batch of burrito filling using
    one pound of ground beef, one pound of ground turkey and two 1-lb. cans of refried beans. Made
    enough for burritos for four tonight and froze enough for six or so more meals for the two of us. I can't do any additional batches of anything now, however, until I can get my freezer cleaned!
    Betty Cracker

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  98. I have always been a bulk cooker, and really enjoy freezing it. Saves me a couple of days that I don't have to cook. I love it.
    motherlove243@yahoo.com ~ laura

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