OAMC ( Once A Month Cooking ) chit chat...

[Mavourneen]

Though I didn't plan it, today turned out to be my OAMC day.

I came across 12 pounds of 85% lean ground beef at the grocery store, priced at .99/lb.

I came home and processed immediately:

2 Meatloaves
1 Impossible Cheeseburger Pie
70 smallish meatballs for meatball subs, sweet and sour meatballs, spaghetti
About 3 lbs browned and frozen for sauces, pizza - etc
About 2+ lbs browned with taco seasoning - divided into portions
About 2 lb browned and mixed with sloppy joe sauce - divided into portions

Do you OAMC? What are your favorite recipes? What do you do?

[StaceyS]

I'm so jealous! I haven't been able to OAMC for a while. I do similar to you. I usually do meatballs, baked chicken breasts and ground beef. This makes it so much easier for DBF to just grab a bag and fix dinner.

[DJ1972]

I got two 10 pound bags of chicken leg quarters for $2.30 a bag the other day. I was so stinking excited! lol. I should have cooked it up when I got home, but I didn't have time so ended up just dividing it up on freezer bags. Oh well, still excited about the price.

[Mavourneen]

Nice price! I agree - I would have been excited too!

I bought 2 large trays of chicken thighs for about $5 total. I put them in the crockpot with several large cans of diced tomatoes ( the kind with herbs in it ), garlic, onion, mushroom - whatever else I feel like adding - and then let it cook for 8-10 hours. I let it cool completely then divide into freezer bags. I lay the bags flat to freeze, then I have a flat bag to turn on its end for long term storage!

Serve over rice - we love it!

[LastDragonfly]

We call OAMC "the big cook". We've done it for the better part of 13 years now. This past Sept. when we SHOULD have done it again, we lost our minds and became lazy. OY!

DH and I were chatting yesterday about $$$$ and at the same time exclaimed it was time to BIG COOK!

So I've pulled out all my recipes and added a few others. We will hammer the final list out in the next 24-48 hours. I make the list, he goes to the store for me; I cook, he takes out the trash and marks the packages and put them in the freezer; He pulls out the entree when he leaves for work; I have it and the accompanying side dishes ready when he gets home.--Works for us.

It takes my approximately 6 hours to cook for a month.

We do a thorough prep the day before and I have a battle plan. After the big cook we splurge and eat out if we want to or hold something back and save the eat out for later.

My original recipes came from the OAMC book by Mimi Wilson & Mary Beth Lagerborg. I since have added and subtracted my own recipes and tried new ones.

I like my recipezaar recipes too!

I'll take pictures and keep you posted on the out come.

Here's the best part of all: I save $200 + per month by oamc. And my refrigerator stays cleaner. go figure.

[ri*smom]

So, how many meals do you get from a big cook? I've never done it before; the idea certainly sounds appealing . . . and would certainly keep us from being tempted to dine out if we have stuff ready to go in the freezer. I'll have to see if I can find that book at the library.

[madhen]

I am not nearly as organized as Misti. When I do a "big cook" it is more spur of the moment and looking at what I have on hand. Typically, I'll get 14-20 meals out of one batch. I need to make more pot pies this week!!

[ri*smom]

Wowzer. So what sorts of things do you cook?

[beks37]

I came home and processed immediately:

2 Meatloaves
1 Impossible Cheeseburger Pie
70 smallish meatballs for meatball subs, sweet and sour meatballs, spaghetti
About 3 lbs browned and frozen for sauces, pizza - etc
About 2+ lbs browned with taco seasoning - divided into portions
About 2 lb browned and mixed with sloppy joe sauce - divided into portions

Would you care to share your meatballs recipe??

[madhen]

Lately, meatloaves, pot pies, lots of single-serving loaves of bread, some casseroles, soups, and chili.

[LastDragonfly]

So, how many meals do you get from a big cook? I've never done it before; the idea certainly sounds appealing . . . and would certainly keep us from being tempted to dine out if we have stuff ready to go in the freezer. I'll have to see if I can find that book at the library.

Stacey, I end up cooking about 30 different things. Now I usually end up with about 40-45 meals. I do this because I want to always run something over to my elderly parents or to a family in need.

Once you've ever done it, it will change your life for ev-ah. lol

I loved Mimi Wilsons book. If she said, it will use XXX amount of baggies, you can guarantee it will use exactly that #.

She can actually put her freezer meals in the freezer of her refrigerator! She will tell you that, you'll have to forgo the ice cream just a few days to get room back!, but gosh. It's awesome. Now many years ago when I first started doing this, we didn't have a stand alone freezer. Yep it worked.

When my kids were smaller, they didn't eat much so I learned to portion accordingly.

I wont lie, it is hard work,,,,, but only one day.

My dh is helpful. His theory is that if he helps me, he has more time because I wont be telling him to run by the store and pick up XXXXX on his way home! And since he keeps track of the grocery $$$ he LOVES the fact we don't lose control.

Do we still treat ourselves and go out for a hamburger or something? Yes! Only when we WANT to not because I don't have anything prepared.

Do we have every meal that is frozen? Nope! sometimes I change plans when I have to.

If I get sick and don't feel like cooking can everyone else eat? Yep! Do I have to cook it? Nope it's already done.


Can you tell I like cooking like this? It's just freeing in my opinion.

Mimi Wilsons book has a two week plan if you don't think you want to try for a whole month. But I have found, I put exactly the same amount of prep time in with the two weeks as I do with the month plan.

Don't feel you have to follow the recipe exactly. Make substitutions as needed. For instance: my entire family hates anything with curry powder in it. So I sub some other spice.

After you've done it once, you will begin to plan how you will change your next big cook.

I usually do not do a big cook from Nov 15th -Christmas, but I have meals left over from my previous cooks.

Let me know if I can help you.

[mom2matty]

Wow......I'm so impressed by what you are all able to do!! I'm hoping to try OAMC this next year!!!

[MNmommy]

I just got done with a mini session that will last a week approximately. I did 5lbs ground beef, spaghetti sauce, filling for shepards pie , filling for tatertot casserole, filling for cheeseburger and fry casserole, 4 chocolate chip cookie dough logs for cut and baking, 9 bags of brownie mix. so i'm good for alittle while and I will do it again next weekend for longer I'm starting my planning now for 15-20 meals.

[LastDragonfly]

Wow......I'm so impressed by what you are all able to do!! I'm hoping to try OAMC this next year!!!

You can do it! I'm always so relieved after I'm done.

[LastDragonfly]

I just got done with a mini session that will last a week approximately. I did 5lbs ground beef, spaghetti sauce, filling for shepards pie , filling for tatertot casserole, filling for cheeseburger and fry casserole, 4 chocolate chip cookie dough logs for cut and baking, 9 bags of brownie mix. so i'm good for alittle while and I will do it again next weekend for longer I'm starting my planning now for 15-20 meals.

I need to incorporate things like cookie dough logs and dessert mixes. My family loves dessert.

good job on getting so much finished. Yay it's done, you only have to clean up the supper dishes.