The official CM thread!

[redring]

there are some convenence mixes on the site that are what I mean. Thank you starsinnight !!!

Convenience Mixes

[mdowdy]

not sure. most the mix recipes I have seen are cocoa and soups and biscuts. I want to work out dinners. Things that keep us from going out to eat because there is little time ,we feel too tired or just plain lazy. I also want to avoid haveing to cook all day just to make that happen. I know there are the freezer sites whear you cook for two days straight and freez everything but thats about all the time I get each week and its taken up with other chores. I thought the meals were only good for a month though. Six monthes is better and makes the venture a more worth while one. I would be happy for those recipes. What about a food sealer?? I have heard If I get one that I can make some meals that can be cooked right in the bags?? that would be handy. maybe then they can be microwaved or put in a crock pot at work for meals?? I am still trying to solve the work meals thing. I am easy to please but I work with DH and he is a paine. We ended up out $60 this week in take out because I ran out of time to prepare anything and he wont do sandwiches or reheats without sulking. maybe I just need to let him sulk but then I just feel like a bad partner.

ok maybe I am a little confused, I see you want freezer meals but DH doens't like reheats. I don't know of anything you would be able to make an entire dinner without at least one item being a reheat. Am I misunderstanding what you need?

[Margaret K]

How about the crock pot? Fill the liner ( assuming it is removable) the night before & stick in the fridge. Next morning take out the liner & put in the pot, turn it on & off you go. Dinner is done when you get home or shortly after. I did that while I was working as we never ate out & the family enjoyed a hot meal every night.

[redring]

We are not home for lunch or dinner. Our shift is really odd. We do work togather though. well we are the whole shift actually. I have been trying reciped in the crock pot this last week for meals at work. We only ate out once!!! yay us!!! I need recipes that can be done in 4hrs or I need another crock that I can swap the liners in though. Right now sandwish lunches and crock pot dinners are doing well. I petitioned Dh for a food sealer too. that may also help. You can cook in the bags!!

[faxonfive]

These container meals are great ideas for my kids too!! Thanks!

[redring]

Thanks ill post any others I find that work.

[tsgal]

Redring, I love your idea you have here. I also would love to be able to make a few thing like this for my family. Even if they have to be froze is okay. I agree with Kim, ours isn't in the freezer that long, we use it up to fast to stay in there for six months. It's just nice to know that it's there when your ready to use it. I have a food saver, and I love it so much. I use it for everything. And yes you can put a bag in boiling water if you need too. I'm going to make some biscuits this weekend and freeze them so that they are there when I need them. My family loves biscuits, so this will be easy for me to just pop into the oven. I also am going to do redrings recipes on here to save me sometime during the week, and seal them using my food saver. Keep the recipes coming, and if can come up with one, I'll post it also. Thanks Redring for the recipes, you have something good going here

[JoAnn]

redwing,

Six months is a good standard to stick with. That way you can stay on top of your freezer inventory and have the freshness you desire.
If I were you I'd take a little time, when you cook and cook extra of what you are have that day ( freeze those protions ), DH shouldn't think of this as a left over then. Or when you are cooking use some of that time in the kitchen to have an extra burner going with another quickie meal.. Once you get into this type of habit , it should become a natural thing that you are doing in the kitchen. And within less then a months time, the freezer will be full.
Sounds like a good plan that you have going on too. Every little bit helps.. I like the idea of having two crockpots also..
I'm looking forward to more of your recipes here too. Like Tonia said

Keep the recipes coming, and if can come up with one, I'll post it also.

.

[Margaret K]

Most everything we cook we get 2 or 3 extra meals for the freezer. It is very nice for the busy days. Every morning DH says 'what are we having for dinner?' I usually say go dig in the freezer. This morning (6a.m.) I said 'before you ask-I want turkey & dressing'. And yes, we even have the gravy to go with it. How easy is that?

[redring]

LOL thats wonderfull margret!!! I do still love to cook its just time is so much a facter now. If I make a meal each night befor bed for the fallowing day I end up cooking till i need to go to bed. The mixes and crock pot meals are working well. now i just need to get meal planning. I think I can shorten my gerocerie list a lot that way. Now I just go through the store and think "That looks good ill cook that sometime. So i better get the ingreadents" Its awfull I Know.