by photochick~ More nesting, this time in the kitchen. It ocurred to me one day last week that we live in the woods with no drive through, no restaraunt of any sort for that matter, conveniently located a few minutes away. Yeah, I've only lived here for 9 months, but THAT just occurred to me. I guess it just didn't seem as important as it does with a newborn on the way.
So, I spent a day planning, emailing friends for recipes, looking at grocery store sales and buying groceries for several meals that I would prepare and freeze in advance. By far, the planning and buying groceries (in 100 degree heat, 9 months pregnant, dragging a three year old) was the hardest part.
I then spent portions of the next couple of days putting together 10 meals. Most are casseroles so they have the meat, starch and veggie all rolled into one. All we have to do is take one out of the freezer in the morning, let it thaw, and pop in the oven for dinner. I even wrote the cooking directions for each right on the aluminum foil cover.
Included is my favorite casserole in the whole world perfected by my mom, a stew that reminds me of late night meals with my husband at our house after many basketball games, and a few newbies as well.
Let me take back my earlier statement. The hardest part was not any of the above. The hardest part was eating a ham sandwich for lunch and NOT eating one of these meals!!!
Did any of you do any pre-baby cooking? I doubt I have time to add any to my collection at this point, but it was so easy to do at one time, I might try to spend a day freezing meals once a month in the future. How nice would it be to just take a home cooked meal out of the freezer in the morning and have nothing to do in the afternoon, but pop in the oven? Divine.
That, and I roughly spent $100 for 10 meals with very little pre-planning and sale shopping. I could have done much better if I had thought about it earlier and watched the sale papers for a couple of weeks. Still, $10 a meal is great. Dear husband should be happy. Full stomach and low price. His favorite combination.
A stocked freezer.
I did exactly the same thing when I was expecting my second child. I was also in the same geographic situation as you... in the middle of no where. The written directions on the cover of the casserole were a huge help to hubby.
Posted by: Pines Lake Redhead | June 23, 2009 at 09:11 AM
Wow, you are one awesome chick! I need you to email me these recipes so I can aspire to do the same 5-6 months down the road! :)
I hope my nesting phase kicks in... I know it will on down the road, but wow these days I am just soooo tired!
Can't wait to see pics of your new addition!
Posted by: Malyn | June 23, 2009 at 10:17 AM
This is a great idea!!! good thinking. I am SO glad that I live in town, but nothing ever beats a home cooked meal. You would be glad you had them even if you did live closer to civilization, lol!!
Posted by: plannerchick | June 23, 2009 at 10:34 AM
$10 per meal is not bad at all. I may do this in July to prepare for the beginning of the school year. I'll need you to email me some of those yummy recipes.
Posted by: Lisa Nall | June 23, 2009 at 02:00 PM
That is pure genius. That's a good idea even if you're not expecting because who has time anymore to properly prepare meals. That's just incredible...why didn't I ever think of that?
Posted by: Jessica W. | June 23, 2009 at 09:14 PM
you make it look easy!!
Posted by: sofa | June 24, 2009 at 01:16 PM