I've been cooking all day

[katespade]

MrsMB - I accept your challenge.

Okay, maybe I haven't been cooking all day but it sure does feel like it.
I've got chicken noodle soup in the crockpot (my second attempt today, because I ruined the first batch and had to start over) and applesauce cooking on the stove. This is my first attempt at homemade applesauce, so cross your fingers for me because I'm not a very good cook. Haha.

[HoneySpider]

Even if you're not a good cook it's fun to experiment, that's how you get better!

I cooked dinner 3 times this past week which is a lot for me...DH joked that the estrogen pills I am on have made me a 1950s housewife, lol. Next thing you know he's going to come home from work and I'll be in my apron handing him a drink and his slippers.

[katespade]

HoneySpider - I'm hoping that I catch on quickly! I'm going to be doing a lot more cooking at home than I've ever done in the past, and in big batches so I can store meals in the freezer to save weekday cooking time, so it's definitely going to be an adventure.

[HoneySpider]

katespade I've learned I gravitate toward meals that can feed us at least twice...I love those leftover days! I've never gotten into freezer meals but I probably should

[luv2rn4fun]

I always cook something that has leftovers...we usually get dinner and lunch for two days out of meals I cook. I just started doing freezer meals and they have been a lifesaver. I think I will be making them for quite some time...a little work one day for a couple weeks of convenience.

[travelbug]

I wish I had a bigger freezer to do more freezer meals. We normally freeze a portion of our meal since it's hard for us to eat it all. I have also gotten more into cooking over the last few weeks. More meal planning. I tried a really yummy Asian Chicken Sesame Recipe a few nights ago. Delish! That reminds me I haven't made chicken noodle soup on a while. I need to put that on the menu!

[katespade]

HoneySpider - Crockpot is still going, but my applesauce is done, portioned out, and in the freezer!

luv2rn4fun - How do you do freezer meals? Do you fully prepare the dish and then freeze it in individual sizes or do you freeze the ingredients so it's ready to cook?

travelbug - We have a teeny-tiny freezer, so we bought a chest freezer yesterday to give me room to stock up on what I can eat. I'm really excited, because my meal planning has gotten pretty darn boring. My next adventure (next weekend) is going to be potato soup and either a pea or a corn puree.


I can already tell that I don't have the energy to puree all of my food every day, so I'm hoping that making big batches and freezing my soups/purees so that they're ready to grab and eat will keep me from giving in to laziness and buying pre-made stuff at the store that's full of extra ingredients I can't pronounce.

[Deleted]

The chicken noodle soup sounds delicious! I should cook more big-batch meals so that we have leftovers more often. How did the applesauce turn out?

[katespade]

@moonbeam - Really good! I eat unsweetened applesauce so I really just had to cut and cook them, but I seem to have made a good choice in apple type (organic gala) so there's enough natural sweetness that it tastes good. I'm so proud of myself. lol.

[Deleted]

katespade Good job on the applesauce! In the winter, my mom always makes an apple compote with golden delicious apples. Basically it's just boiled peeled apples, like a soup. It's a popular Russian dessert-type food (she is Russian). It's very simple and mild, but you can also put in cinnamon or other things to flavor it up a bit.

[katespade]

@moonbeam - YUM! I've always liked apple dishes. That sounds really good! Now that I know I can successfully make applesauce, I'm going to try a recipe from my GP cookbook for Maple Apple Pear-Sauce next.

[MrsMB]

I normally cook 5-6 nights a week.However, this weekend was a big weekend full of hanging out with friends. My hubby ate takeout most of the weekend.

Sent from so-called "smart" phone. Please forgive any errors!

[Deleted]

Mar 1, 2015 20:08:54 GMT -5 katespade said:

@moonbeam - YUM! I've always liked apple dishes. That sounds really good! Now that I know I can successfully make applesauce, I'm going to try a recipe from my GP cookbook for Maple Apple Pear-Sauce next.

You can also make baked apples and baked pears - so basically an apple crisp-type thing. I love making apple dishes in the fall with locally-grown apples .

[katiek]

I love homemade apple sauce! I'm glad it turned out

[bk1]

My kitchen is trashed. I cleaned it on Friday but we have been cooking. Today DH made brunch and then mini pizzas for dinner. He never cooks twice in one day!

[luv2rn4fun]

Mar 1, 2015 19:10:00 GMT -5 katespade said:

HoneySpider - Crockpot is still going, but my applesauce is done, portioned out, and in the freezer!

luv2rn4fun - How do you do freezer meals? Do you fully prepare the dish and then freeze it in individual sizes or do you freeze the ingredients so it's ready to cook?

travelbug - We have a teeny-tiny freezer, so we bought a chest freezer yesterday to give me room to stock up on what I can eat. I'm really excited, because my meal planning has gotten pretty darn boring. My next adventure (next weekend) is going to be potato soup and either a pea or a corn puree.


I can already tell that I don't have the energy to puree all of my food every day, so I'm hoping that making big batches and freezing my soups/purees so that they're ready to grab and eat will keep me from giving in to laziness and buying pre-made stuff at the store that's full of extra ingredients I can't pronounce.

I have a list of recipes (maybe 10) where you literally buy the ingredients, cut/combine in a freezer bag (with instructions on it), defrost 24 hrs before use, throw in the crockpot, and dinner is done (or maybe you have to make pasta or rice to go with it but pretty much done).  I can email it to you if you'd like, just PM me your address.  We don't have a huge freezer so this has really worked for us...lots of meals in a small space!

I also made a huge pot of chicken noodle soup yesterday:)

[ewall]

I have nothing to add other than leftovers are the best. We had meatloaf last week with leftovers the next night. We plan at least one leftover meal per week - cost effective and lazy!

[awick14]

I got luv2rn4fun to email me the recipes, I haven't tried any yet but they all look very yummy!

[luv2rn4fun]

awick14- The black bean taco soup is our favorite