Batch Cooking - My Way
I really do try and plan during the weekend for my week ahead. Some days are better than others!
For instance, we all know that I do my salad prep and store in canning jars ... and if I'm thinking ahead, I will make some salad dressing too (lately, it's been 1/2 olive oil, 1/2 balsamic vinegar and a dash of salt ... shake well, put a lid on it and there you go ... perfect, light, nice) ...
I do some batch cooking, a little extra chicken when I grill. I make a ton more veggies than I think we will eat (especially if we are grilling them!). Same with other meats (oh, evil jungle salad with leftover steak!) ... I make it a point to cut the meat up after it's cooled to eliminate THAT step in the mornings too!
And, oh, lets not forget about cooking and freezing extra pasta!
I've discovered that the grain free biscuits freeze GREAT so that's on my list of things to make ahead (not sure how long they'd keep on the counter, they do feel a little 'moist' the next day, so I just freeze them).
And then there's the eggs. I've been seeing this stuff about cooking eggs in the oven in your muffin tins. Heh. Gonna have to put that on my list of things to try. Oh wait, it already is!!
What are you doing to prep ahead for the week?
Linking up with some of these great parties ... you should go check them out! Mop It Up Monday, Mangia Monday, Creative Monday, Melt In Your Mouth Monday, Show Me What You Got, Made By You Monday, Hunk of Meat Monday, Meatless Monday, Marvelous Mess, Mix and Mingle, Making It Cuter, Motivated Monday, Whats In The Gunny Sack, Makin You Crave Monday, I Gotta Try That Mondays, Creative Corner Blog Hop, Monday Mania, Make Your Own Monday, Mix it Up Monday, Tempt My Tummy, Made From Scratch, Tasty Tidbits, Tuesday At The Table, Tasty Tuesday, Tuesday Timeout, Handmade Tuesday, 2 Maids a Baking, Tuesday Kitchen Tips, Totally Tasty Tuesday, Frugal Tip Tuesday, Tuesday Talent Show, Teach Me Tuesdays, Tiny Tip Tuesday, Totally Tasty Tuesdays, Fat Tuesday, Penny Pinching Party, The Gathering Spot, Anti-Procrastination Tuesdays, Kitchen Tip Tuesdays, Domestically Divine Tuesday, Frugal Tuesday Tip, Show Me What Ya Got, Show Me What You Got, What's Cooking Wednesday, Its a Party!, Show and Tell, Recipe Swap, Works For Me Wednesday, What's New Wednesday, Sugar and Spice, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Wednesday Whatsits, Homemade By You, Lil Luna Link Party, Whole Foods Wednesday, Whole Food Wednesdays, Healthy 2Day Wednesday, Super Link Party, Ultimate Recipe Swap, Show Your Stuff, Taste This Thursday, Thrifty Thursday, Frugal Food Thursday, Somewhat Simple, Showcase Your Talent, Simple Lives Thursday
For instance, we all know that I do my salad prep and store in canning jars ... and if I'm thinking ahead, I will make some salad dressing too (lately, it's been 1/2 olive oil, 1/2 balsamic vinegar and a dash of salt ... shake well, put a lid on it and there you go ... perfect, light, nice) ...
I do some batch cooking, a little extra chicken when I grill. I make a ton more veggies than I think we will eat (especially if we are grilling them!). Same with other meats (oh, evil jungle salad with leftover steak!) ... I make it a point to cut the meat up after it's cooled to eliminate THAT step in the mornings too!
And, oh, lets not forget about cooking and freezing extra pasta!
I've discovered that the grain free biscuits freeze GREAT so that's on my list of things to make ahead (not sure how long they'd keep on the counter, they do feel a little 'moist' the next day, so I just freeze them).
And then there's the eggs. I've been seeing this stuff about cooking eggs in the oven in your muffin tins. Heh. Gonna have to put that on my list of things to try. Oh wait, it already is!!
What are you doing to prep ahead for the week?
Linking up with some of these great parties ... you should go check them out! Mop It Up Monday, Mangia Monday, Creative Monday, Melt In Your Mouth Monday, Show Me What You Got, Made By You Monday, Hunk of Meat Monday, Meatless Monday, Marvelous Mess, Mix and Mingle, Making It Cuter, Motivated Monday, Whats In The Gunny Sack, Makin You Crave Monday, I Gotta Try That Mondays, Creative Corner Blog Hop, Monday Mania, Make Your Own Monday, Mix it Up Monday, Tempt My Tummy, Made From Scratch, Tasty Tidbits, Tuesday At The Table, Tasty Tuesday, Tuesday Timeout, Handmade Tuesday, 2 Maids a Baking, Tuesday Kitchen Tips, Totally Tasty Tuesday, Frugal Tip Tuesday, Tuesday Talent Show, Teach Me Tuesdays, Tiny Tip Tuesday, Totally Tasty Tuesdays, Fat Tuesday, Penny Pinching Party, The Gathering Spot, Anti-Procrastination Tuesdays, Kitchen Tip Tuesdays, Domestically Divine Tuesday, Frugal Tuesday Tip, Show Me What Ya Got, Show Me What You Got, What's Cooking Wednesday, Its a Party!, Show and Tell, Recipe Swap, Works For Me Wednesday, What's New Wednesday, Sugar and Spice, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Wednesday Whatsits, Homemade By You, Lil Luna Link Party, Whole Foods Wednesday, Whole Food Wednesdays, Healthy 2Day Wednesday, Super Link Party, Ultimate Recipe Swap, Show Your Stuff, Taste This Thursday, Thrifty Thursday, Frugal Food Thursday, Somewhat Simple, Showcase Your Talent, Simple Lives Thursday
Found you from Tuesdays at the Table and love your summary of batch cooking! I'm a big plan ahead cook myself and was so inspired by your salad idea. I have jars in the kitchen and brown lettuce in the fridge :-( ....so next trip to the grocery store I'm restocking the lettuce and giving this a try. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI do some batch cooking but mostly freezer cooking. The reason for this is that no matter how much I cook, the horde in my house can finish it all off in one sitting (seriously - I once made a HUGE pot of chili and came home an hour later to find the whole thing gone). If I freeze it it slows them down slightly.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great summary you've done. I'm loving your jar salad idea too!
I love cooking foods ahead when possible. It is difficult sometimes with a family of 8, but I do try! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing with my Super Link Party! :-)
You can come plan ahead at my home anytime. :D Thanks for sharing on BeColorful and I love balsamic and olive oil btw. :D
ReplyDeletepr