If you have been following my Weekly Wrap-Up, my Menu Plan or reading on Facebook this week, you know that I scheduled a Freezer Cooking Day today and tomorrow.
I will be doing a half day each day and am hoping to include my 4 year old in the fun! She is very excited about helping. I know it won’t be as productive as doing it myself, but she loves to help me in the kitchen and I think it is important to provide her opportunities to grow her love in the kitchen. We will be making lots of Christmas treats to give to teachers, friends and family and preparing meals that I will need for Christmas day meals. To make it fun, we will play festive music in the background!
I am heading out to the library, gym and Aldi this morning. So we will get started after my smallest goes down for a nap this afternoon! So, come back and join me later. Below is my plan for the next two days. Things may change a bit, but here is what I would ultimately like to tackle.
Here is my plan:
Baked Sweet Potatos
Sweet Potato Fries
Sweet Potato Casserole (for Christmas Day dinner)
Hashbrown Potato Casserole
Sausage Cheese Balls (Christmas brunch)
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread and Muffins (depending on if I find more pumpkin!)
Flash Freeze – red, orange, yellow peppers
Sugar Cookies – decorated by Ainsley
Creamy Chocolate Fudge
Candied Fruit Treats
Crockpot Apple Butter
I am not the only one doing this today and tomorrow. A few of my blogging counterparts came up with this GREAT IDEA, so be sure to check out Money Saving Mom and Fish Mama’s plans here for more inspiration.
What are you planning to prepare? Do you have any plans to get ahead of the holiday rush to make your days less stressful and easier? Tell us all about it and please share your wonderful recipes with us. Join me by commenting here, following me on Facebook, or on Twitter under the hashtag #oamc (which is short for Once A Month Cooking).
Another cooking guinea pig!
Here’s my list of what I’m doing:
My Freezer Cooking Day
http://savingmoneyplan.com/freezer-cooking-day/
Pics and Videos to come!
1st – Thanks for such a well written, informative site!
How do you freeze the cookies? After you bake them?
How far ahead do you freeze your pumpkin chocolate chip bread? Thanks for the great ideas & motivation! Your excitement is contagious! =0)
And how long can you keep the pumpkin bread frozen for?
Kelly,
FYI, they have Libby’s canned pumpkin at the Publix on Concord Rd ($1.59 ea). There were about 2 dozen cans when I was there today.
I would love to do more freezer cooking, but I’m daunted by the thawing and (if necessary) reheating process. Do you have any tips or guidelines for reheating frozen casseroles, or thoughts on freezing and thawing baked treats? Thanks!
Christy – I reheat everything straight from the freezer, no thawing. The only things I thaw are raw meats I have to cook. As far as baked treats like breads and muffins, I find they thaw very quickly.
I am so confused….. I know its freezer day but when do I freeze this stuff??? Do i COOK everything first then freeze??? or do i make it up then freeze??? I love the idea of a “freezer” day…. Just a hint/tip. I do the same thing with lots of things. Like I will make a whole box of pancake mix what ever is left over i let cool completely then put 2-3 pancake in a sandwich bag and freeze, when I want pancakes I pull out a bag and microwave for 30sec- 1min. Works with French toast. I make the whole loaf of bread and let cool, freeze then microwave. Waffles are the same expect they keep their crisp taste if you re-heat in the toaster!
I love seeing other people’s cooking list. We’re a family of two and only one of eats meat, so I cook a little differently (more variety, less volume) but I love seeing how others do it.
I look forward to seeing more of your recipes and I’m going to try sweet potatoes one of these days. I’m 48 and have never had one!
Connie
.-= Connie´s last blog ..Sandra Lee – Semi-Homemade Mocktail Drink Recipe to Celebrate the New Year =-.