I’m a huge fan of cooking ahead. I’ve tried Once a Month Cooking, and it was great… after all the work was done. I truly enjoyed being able to pull something from the freezer each night for the next evening’s dinner!
My problem with once-a-month-cooking right now is that my schedule has been CRAZY! I know, you once-a-month-cooks out there are reminding me that a small investment of time now will allow me to reap time benefits for the next month. It just seems a little overwhelming to plan 30 days worth of meals at this moment in time.
So I’m starting the Two-Week Cooking Project. I am planning out meals for two weeks…. 14 meals. I’m going to set aside time this weekend to prep them and get them into the freezer. That will give me two weeks’ worth of peace of mind when it comes to dinners.
Want to join me?
I’m going to make it easy for you if you’d like to cook along. I’ll do the planning and the list-making. We’ll each do our own shopping and prep work.
My plan is to post my full two-week meal plan, complete with a list of ingredients for each meal, later this evening. I’m using recipes that are kitchen-tested (in my own kitchen) and easy to prep. I’m not getting into anything complex here, folks! I’ll also include a shopping list. You can cross off anything that’s already in your kitchen and then buy whatever you don’t have.
My menu includes items that are on sale at my local Kroger store this week, so I’m hoping to keep things as budget-friendly as possible. My meals are also health-friendly, as we have to keep in mind my husband’s need to keep his cholesterol numbers in check!
So are you in? Are you ready to set aside a small amount of time this week to shop and this weekend to prep some meals? Are you ready to sit back and enjoy not having to worry about what’s for dinner for the next two weeks?
Bloggers: If you’d like to participate, you’re welcome to grab the graphic from the top of this post. I’ll also be offering opportunities for you to link up your meal plans and your progress.
I thought about easing us into OAMC through this way, so I’d love to have some help my first time through!!
Your comment on my Menu Plan Monday post stuck with me. I don’t think you’re alone in not being motivated to cook. I know that it’s been a struggle for me! I thought it would be more fun (and motivating!) to do this together. Somehow planning for 2 weeks sounded less daunting than a month. 😉 Just think of how much we’ll save by not eating out, right?!?
Oh my goodness! YES! I am the MOST unorganized kitchen gal EVER! A certain guy will be THRILLED with this endeavor! I am SO in!!
You’ll seem like the most organized kitchen gal around after this! 🙂 And I’m glad your guy will be happy too!
I am very excited about this! My sister and I have done some once a month cooking together, and we have been trying to get it together before school starts back. With a two week plan, it might just be a little easier! Thanks! =)
I’m glad you’re both joining us, Mary Ann! I’m also hoping that a two week plan will help me regroup and try the month-long plan soon.
I’m in! We live such hectic lives that cooking a month’s worth of food just doesn’t work for us. But two weeks worth would totally work. And I love the idea of doing this “with” others who can discuss it together. I tried doing it on my own last summer and ran into a few problems with the recipes that I used.
Sounds like we’re in the same boat. And doing it together may help us feel like we’re not going it alone. It’s always more fun to cook with friends!
I’m very excited to see what you come up with! I also love to find great freezer recipes to take to people when they are having a new baby, are sick, etc. Thanks!
Feel free to share some of the recipes you take to others, Renee. I’d love to hear about those!
I agree with Amanda. I like the thought of easing into the OAMC. I’m not ever excited about getting in the kitchen, but I do love to see my husband enjoying meals when I actually take the time to cook well. He will be thrilled about this!
You’ll be cooking well without all of the time required to pull it off every day! Happy husband! 🙂
I would love to have 2 wks worth of menus ready after a long day at work.
So true Karen! It’s so much less stressful to go grab something out of the freezer the night before so it can defrost during the day. You should try it! 🙂