Right now, with our healthy eating program, I'm spending a majority of my "work" time in the kitchen. Cooking, cleaning & prep work has taken over the bulk of my to-do list! To try to cut that down, I've been skimming the internet for new recipes & techniques. In my research, I keep coming across one MAJOR time saving idea--This is something so simple, yet so revolutionary:
Prep/cook once, eat twice (or 3 or 4 times!)
So, this is something I've been trying to do more of. I like cooking, but not everyday. Some days I'm just plain tuckered out. I'm thinking: Wouldn't it be nice if all I had to do was throw something in the microwave or oven??
I've always made a little extra in most of our meals for Hubby to take as a lunch but this is a more deliberate increase in volume. I'm specifically setting out to make a full extra dinner portion for the whole family. If you're gonna be cooking anyways....
Some ideas I've been trying: freezing whole portions of soup in large tupperware containers or gallon ziptop baggies. Prepping/assembling casseroles or pasta dishes in disposable aluminum trays. I've also found that doughs also freeze well, wrapped in wax paper & stored in a large ziptop baggie- this is AWESOME for cookie doughs. (If you rolled it into logs before freezing-- you'll have your own slice & bake varieties!)
What if I don't have enough for 2 complete meals? I've also been freezing individual components like prepped veggies. What a time saver to have something difficult (like butternut squash) already peeled & diced! I've also found that you can also freeze fruits but they tend to mush up when defrosting so this is best for ingredients that will eventually be mashed, pureed, made into a smoothy, etc.
Any other freezing tips I've left out? Comment below!!
As the "Hubby" mentioned above, I like having "grab and go" food to take to work. I always get comments at work about how great my food smells and save lots of money by NOT going to fast food every night.
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