I have long been intrigued by the idea of once-a-month cooking. Recently I've taken some baby steps in that direction by doing some bulk food preparation: chopping large quantities of onions at one time, grating several pounds of cheese to use later, baking five meatloaves in one evening. But somehow I just couldn't figure out how to get started with cooking just once a month.
That's why I was thrilled to be offered the opportunity to review a copy of the brand-new book, Once-A-Month Cooking Family Favorites. After perusing this cookbook over the course of several evenings, I have to say that I'm even more inspired in my quest to spend less time cooking, while still serving my family home-cooked meals each evening.
Co-authored my Mimi Wilson and Mary Beth Lagerborg, Once-A-Month Cooking Family Favorites is not just a menu list and collection of make-ahead recipes. Rather, it is an entire "home-study" course in once-a-month cooking. Starting with cleaning out the refrigerator before the monthly cooking day, and following through to final steps for serving each meal, this cookbook covers each step of the once-a-month cooking process.
Each cooking cycle includes the following tools:
~Menu Chart--list of entrees to be prepared, as well as final preparation instructions for serving day (very helpful in planning which entree will be served each day, as well as what side dishes will be served)
~Pantry List--a list of items needed for the cooking cycle, which most cooks will already have in their pantry
~Categorized Shopping List--complete grocery list including every item needed to prepare every recipe for the cooking cycle
~Assembly Order Instructions--full detailed instructions for each step of the cooking day, in the most efficient order
I was very impressed with the complete Assembly Order instructions: literally every ingredient is listed, in the order in which it is prepared. No headaches from thinking and planning on cooking day--it is ALL done for you! These instructions are the key to successful once-a-month cooking.
All the recipes for each cooking cycle are included right after the Assembly Order instructions. The recipes are easy to follow, with each step listed, including the type and size of package in which to freeze the meal. Each recipe also includes the directions for final preparations on the day it is served. And perhaps most importantly, the recipes look family-friendly and delicious--the kind of recipes that you would want to serve your family even if they weren't conveniently prepared ahead of time!
Does all this sound like something you'd like to try? I'm pleased to announce that Once-A-Month Cooking has provided me with a copy of Once-A-Month Cooking Family Favorites to give away!
If you'd like to enter to win, please leave a comment about your experience with OAMC or why you are interested in OAMC. Don't forget to leave your email address as well, so that I can contact you if you are the winner (feel free to leave your email in a non-standard format, such as frugalathome AT gmail DOT com). If you'd like a second entry, you can blog about this giveaway, and leave a second comment with a link to your blog post. Giveaway will close Monday, October 12, at 8:00 PM EST, and the randomly-selected winner will be announced on Tuesday, October 13.
Tomorrow I'll be sharing a Q&A with the authors of Once-A-Month Cooking Family Favorites, so don't forget to check back! In the meantime, you can visit Once-A-Month Cooking for a FREE one-week cooking cycle!
{50 comments...read them below or add one}
OMGosh!! I have been wanting to try this so bad! My in-laws are actually going to be giving us a large freezer for our garage so i'll be able to start freezing meals. This looks like a fantastic way to make a lot of healthy meals even on my tight budget and without having to spend tons of time cooking every night. Awesome!!
Jamie
jlynnm21 AT gmail DOT com
I have been looking at doing OAMC for a while now but have had no clue of how to start other than the freezer we purchased. I have a special needs child that demands constant attention and then a 1 yr old. I would love to have something I can throw into the oven and then deal with my kids knowing that dinner is going to be on time for when my husband gets home especially in the winter months ahead.
Email: razbeam@comcast.net
I have been wanting to try this so badly. With my husband leaving for basic training a week before I am due with our thrid I am really wanting to have to keep things to a minial amount of everything. I am scared to death to be a mommy of 3 and even more scared to do it by myself. It would be great to just have to go and get a groceries less and have less cooking and everything.
gjsoden@gmail.com
I want to try this because I cook a lot, and it is hard cooking everyday for a family of six after work. It would be nice to have this book so I could have things done ahead of time. And I could really use some new recipes. It would be great for my frugal lifestyle too.
shopgurl101 at gmail dot com
I blogged about this: http://sweetqt.wordpress.com/2009/10/06/win-the-once-a-month-cooking-family-favorites-cookbook/
shopgurl101 at gmail dot com
This is something that I have wanted to try for a very long time, but never knew quite how to do it. I am a stay-at-home homeschooling mom so this would be quite handy.
I posted this on my blog here. http://burcawbunch.blogspot.com/2009/10/cookbook-giveaway.html My e-mail is mwburcaw@gmail.com
I like to cook in bulk, and this book sounds like it would be useful. Please enter me:
mjkmatlock at yahoo dot com
I also linked on my blog:
http://matlockmkj.blogspot.com/2009/10/once-month-cooking-family-favorites.html
I have heard about this and am interested because I think it would be economical and save time. You'd also have something for an emergency.
I have extreme severe allergies and can't eat out. I'm allergic to yeast -so no shortcuts like sandwiches, pizza, etc. I spend so much time cooking and never travel. If I cook in bulk and freeze, it would save me so much time and I might even travel to my daughter's college graduation with some frozen meals to heat and eat! Migna V
I have been reading and planning in hopes of starting OAMC. I have a stack of books from the library, but it would be nice to have one to own and reuse as I get started.
I could really use this as I need to build back up my freezer meal inventory after our move. I've lacked the motivation to just get it done. New ideas always help. :) Thank you for this giveaway.
devildogwife97 at gmail dot com
I have been toying with this idea for a long time. Maybe this is my motivation to start!
Thanks for the giveaway! I'm looking forward to hearing more about OAMC. Everyone's talking about it!
I just talked my husband into purchasing a chest freezer (I have not had an extra freezer in all the 10 yrs of our marriage). I am so excited to start OAMC. I had requested this book from our local library to get started, and I'm #121 in waiting for it! I would love a copy of my very own so I can get started taking advantage of our new purchase :)
thanks for the opportunity!
nikki
nikklaven at gmail dot com
I do some bulk cooking but have trouble finding recipes that my family will eat! I would love to try this cook book!
I do some bulk cooking but would love to hear about a more organized method!
I have this book on my Christmas "wish list!" I am a mom of four children, and my youngest is 5 months old. The "dinner prep" hours between 4-6 P.M. have become his "witching hour" (ha!) and I am feeling very frazzled. Would love to have some great family meals to make ahead, freeze, and have on hand...probably would lower the stress considerably!
Amara at kwasfamily@sbcglobal.net
I haven't tried OAMC yet, but would like some great recipies to help me get started and I think this book would do that.
Bonnie
bjtra@yahoo.com
I would love the opportunity to learn more about Once a Month Cooking. I have heard so many good things lately. davan5 at juno dot com
Love the idea of OAMC but have not ever tried a month at a time. I do implement some of the principles when I shop, such as cooking all my meats and freezing for easier weeknight meal prep. I have the original OAMC by these same authors and would love to try this new book!
Forgot to leave my email address:
stephjem95(at)gmail(dot)com
Ooooh...I've been wanting to try OAMC. We eat out way too often because I'm unmotivated to make something for dinner, or because I don't have all of the ingredients I need. It would be great to have meals ready to go! Thanks!
butler_family AT hotmail DOT com
I keep thinking I want to try OMAC cooking but never do. I would love this cookbook as I don't have one OMAC cookbook yet!
shownfamily(at)sbcglobal(dot)net
Have tried a bit of this concept while I was pregnant to stock up the freezer once our daughter arrived. It has been sooo nice to have made-ahead meals in the freezer! I would love to have more recipes and continue using this concept!
-Jenna
i_will_not_be_shaken23(at)hotmail(dot)com
I just posted on my blog, too. :)
http://lifewithjack2.blogspot.com/2009/10/once-month-cooking.html
I have always to try once a month cooking. I have done 5 and 10 meals at a time. It would be helpful for our family of 6!
Once a month cooking sounds great. My husband and I both work and go to school, so we try to prepare large quantities of food on the weekends and eat from them during the week. I'd love to see how this book recommends doing things.
On a side note, I was really touched by Gina's post above (Oct. 5). We're thinking about you and your family.
<3 Katie
k_egging AT yahoo DOT com
Thanks for this giveaway. I am interested in OAMC because I think it would save our one-income family money by being able to buy bulk when there are sales, cook, and then have yummy meals ready to go in th freezer.
camelfam at hotmail dot com
I want my family to eat out less, but I don't want to spend every evening in the kitchen. This sounds like a good solution!
mindymc73 AT gmail DOT com
This sounds fabulous - I have looked at the menus on their website and requested the book to be purchased by my library but that usually takes almost a year. I would love to win this!
Yours,
Meredith
mcnamara22@yahoo.com
I'm interested because it seems like OAMC would save time and help me to feel less stressed while cooking and caring for my two year old son :)
heatherlbrandt (at) verizon (dot) net
i love oamc, but i never have enough good recipes! i need this book! lol
matthollcycart@gmail.com
I love the idea of bulk freezing, especially since my husband and I are talking "baby" and I'm afraid I'll be so over-whelmed in general with everything that I wont want to cook. *lol*
eod_army_wife04(at)yahoo(dot)com
wow, I have never even heard of OAMC, it would be a big time saver with 2 kids, 2 working parents, and so on.....
davidbden AT yahoo DOT com
I just heard about OAMC...I would love to learn more about it! It sounds so convenient.
rebecky1982@gmail.com
I would love to try OAMC.
mdeardorff at windstream dot net
I used to do this off and on. I really need some good recipes to feel confident that my family would enjoy it. I only have a few that we like well enough to do this with.
jensteed dot 08 at gmail dot com
I'm fascinated by the theory, but would love to do more reading about it! I dabble in freezer cooking, myself, but that's about it. Thanks for the chance!
nettacow at gmail dot com
I've been wanting to try this, but don't have many good freezable recipes in my normal menus, would love to win this!
this is a cookbook i dont have and would love to add and share with my mom
I have a hard time getting the oomph for cooking dinner when it is just me and the boys and often have PB&J. OAMC would be great to have things ready to heat and eat.
Thank you for participating in the Fall give-away carnival.
Thanks,
hsmamafl atgmaildotcom
I have never done OAMC as I've always felt there are too many unknowns for me - like I don't even know what things freeze well or how to store them, etc - so this books seems like it would be detailed enough for me to learn. It sure would be nice to have meals ready to go on days that I just don't have the energy to cook anything.
Crude I forgot to leave my email address, so I deleted the post but it looks like it still left my name there - sorry! Anyway, here's my email: kevin173 at yahoo dot com
I have the first Once a Month Cookbook and I'd love to win the next edition! We love freezer cooking - it's a great way to save money! jfelten at wowway dot com
I would love this. With two small children some days I just lose track of time and we end up getting take out.
I have never tried for a whole month, but have done 15-20 meals at a time. I usually do smaller sessions--if hamburger is on sale I'll do a hamburger session, same with chicken & I'll do 7-10 meals at a time. If I stick to one main meat I find it easier. Thanks!
Mrspoofa(at)aol.com
I'm really good at researching OAMC but not so good at getting started. This book would be a start. anaroscoe at msn dot com
I'd like to try OAMC to save time, and energy. I like to bake, more than I like to cook, so not having to cook as much would definitely be nice and keep us from eating out as much.
sarah at northernlightsaquatics.com
I might as well enter your giveaway :-) - sounds like a neat idea, though Mom is my cook currently - and I did link to the giveaway a few days ago :-)
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