A couple weeks ago I received in the mail Once-A-Month Cooking Family Favorites
Life is a wild ride, and I know a big struggle with many families is getting to the supper table together and having something good to eat! If I didn’t love to cook so much, or if I was away from my home 8-10 hours a day, this cooking method would probably save my sanity.
By spending one very full day in the kitchen, a month’s worth of meals can be prepared!
Included in the book:
- recipes for (2) 1 month cycles and (5) different 2-week cycles, including cycles for gluten-free cooking and summertime cooking
- a pantry list and shopping list for each cycle
- my favorite feature: step-by-step assembly order to complete the meals (So convenient! No worries about what to do when. Just follow the checklist and mark steps off as you go.)
- lots of helpful tips and tricks: must-have kitchen tools, freezing methods, getting started, etc.
When I think of filling my freezer with pre-made meals, I think along the lines of meatballs or cavatini. Lots of casseroles. I’m learning… not necessarily! This book is chock full of of meals such as Adobe Chicken, Hot Open-Faced Sandwiches, and Peppered Flank Steak. They really think outside the box to provide a variety of good eats.
I’ve had fun perusing and trying out a few recipes from the book. We’ve already enjoyed Italian Slow Cooker Chicken, and I’ve got some Mexican Two-Bean Chicken Chili simmering in the crock pot now. Smells good!
Although the recipes provide excellent variety and cooking methods, I did find myself thinking it would cost me more to make many of the meals than what I’m used to spending. Key items like boneless/skinless chicken breasts and rotisserie chicken don’t often make it into my shopping cart. I’m an adapt and overcome type of girl, though, so I’m sure I could save a few bucks by roasting my own chicken!
What about you? Do you do any type of once-a-month cooking? Wanna try?
I’ve got one copy of Once-A-Month Cooking Family Favorites to give to one of my readers! To enter, simply leave me a comment about your once-a-month cooking experience. Tried it? Love it? Never done it? What’s holding you back? I’ll let Random.org choose a winner on Sunday, October 11 at 8 PM Central Time. Good luck!
I loved it! I did it with friends so it was a lot of planning on the front end, but was more fun during the actual cooking part. Fun contest, thank you!
I have no experience with cooking once a month. I keep thinking it would be good to try to do a little of this, especially around the holidays when we are very busy.
heatherlbrandt (at) verizon (dot) net
I heard about once-a-month cooking about 10 years ago on Christian radio. I ordered the books and tried many of the recipes. I was never able to find time (or find another person) to organize and schedule a cooking day such as this. It seemed too daunting. But now that I have more free time, I’d love to try this method and your give away could get me going!
I would LOVE to try this book out! I try to freeze extra stuff when I have it, but would love to have the structure the book offers. With a baby on the way, I’m looking for anything that will save me time and sanity
I’ve never done once-a-month cooking…but I find it intriguing. I have a good friend who is just getting into it, and it sort of make me jealous when she pulls out her chicken enchiladas and sticks them in the oven while I’m headed home to prep my dinner!
terri at hanenkamp dot com
I’ve never done true once-a-month cooking, but I do cook once a week while my son is at preschool. Love your site!
I have tried OAM cooking and loved it. Don’t know why I stopped! Now that I have two teenaged boys, it would be good to stock up!
I actually have an older Once-A-Month cooking book. My mother-in-law gave me her copy…it’s 20 years old! However when I got it I read it cover to cover and then began incorporating some of the ideas. I don’t do cooking for once a month but I do try about every 2 months to make up some freezer meals for hectic nights and nights I don’t want to cook (and they turned out to be quite handy for my hubby when dealing with morning sickness!) I’d love to have a copy of the new book with new recipes to try!
Although I sometimes cook extra and freeze, I haven’t ever really done a once a month cooking experience. I’m hearing this is a good book!
I have not tried it, yet. I have read and heard a bit about it and thought about trying it out but have not done it yet.
I used to do OAMC regularly – monthly, in fact, what a concept! I’ve gotten away from it but would like to go back.
I have made some meals to freeze (like 3 family size portions of 2 different meals) in one day but I haven’t kept up with it. I did love having 2 meals a week practically done already for a little while though. I think this would be great for fall and winter months because you can just pop it in the oven. I would love to have ready to go supper at my finger tips.
Great Giveaway! Thanks.
I haven’t tried once a month cooking, but my sisters-in-law and mother-in-law and I exchange meals every few months so that we each have 5 meals in our freezers.
I cook in advance and freeze things, but haven’t tried the full on process – would love to though!
Thanks for the giveaway! I’ve never tried it, but I want to!
I have tried OAMC when my kids were little. We have an empty nest now and I am more interested than ever. Like many empty nesters we are still busy, but find it more convenient to run out for something than think ahead. I could really use this book!
No experience with it. BUT while I lived in Baltimore for 4 years (and worked full-time with an infant) I used to go with a friend to Let’s Dish. Same concept. We would make 12 meals together and split them. So much fun and really tasty!
I have used a once a once cooking book before, that was one LONG day! but so worth all the hard work. I’d love to take a crack at this book! Worse case can I get the ISBN #
Thanks
Andrea
@andrea, Sure! ISBN 978-0-312-53404-2
Our Bible class at church does a cooking day twice a year. I’ve helped head it up this past year and I’ve learned a lot. We pick several meals and email everyone a menu. Everyone orders what they want and we compile a shopping list. Everyone shows up at the church kitchen and we get busy. It’s a great way to get cheap meals and have girl time. Last time I went home with 11 meals for about $20. I would love this book for more meal ideas.
@Ashley, That sounds absolutely awesome! I’d love to cook with a group of friends like that.
I have been wanting to do once-a-month cooking (my mom did it when we were growing up), but haven’t scheduled the time to do it.
My favorite time to do OAMC is right before having a baby. It’s SO nice to choose something from the list of frozen meals, thaw it, and heat it up.
I haven’t seen the cookbook on your giveaway, but it sounds great, we’re not big casserole fans.
i’ve cooked in advance on occasion. but no great master schedule. i feel limited by freezer space. would love to get my hands on this book.
I’ve never done OAMC completely. I do generally double meals and freeze half, but I’d love some motivation in getting started on it!
I have never tried it. I find it daunting just thinking about it. I can barely get myself together enough to pick out an outfit the night before, let alone prepare meals in advance. I’d love to try it. It’s just scary. Lol
Never have done it, but would like to try it! I love your blog redesign, btw!
I’ve been reading about once a month cooking more and more lately, but I’ve never tried it myself. I would like to though.
I have done variations of once a month cooking but have never been consistent with it. Maybe winning this book will change that
I’ve never done the full-out, all day cooking sessions, but I love freezer cooking. So great for busy days!
I LOVE once a month cooking, but haven’t done it for a while… really need to do another session.
i’ve considered it, but don’t know that i have enough freezer room….would love the organization though!!!
I’ve never cooked once a month, but I usually do a big cooking day every two weeks. I don’t have enough space to cook once a month, but I love the concept.
I have never tried OAMC, but I am very curious about how it works. I’m definitely a procrastinator when it comes to meal planning and one full day of work seems to make sense in the grand scheme of things. I’ve done as much as getting a few links together about OAMC, but never actually done it. I’d love to win this book in hopes that it could be the push I need to try it. http://www.freewebs.com/frugalfriends/onceamonthcooking.htm
I’ve done it once with a friend whose kids are allergic to milk and eggs…made for a very hard cooking day! We had a ton made but not a lot of it I liked. I’d love to check this book out and see if there is anything in there I could try with a different friend!
I did the full on once a month cooking once, and it almost killed me. I am much more the type to make double and triple meals at a time and freeze the extras as we eat one for supper…
I really want to try once a month cooking. I have a 2 month old, and I think it would make dinner planning much easier. And leave time for the fun things, like baking! I think the best way to do it would be get a few people together to hang out for the day and cook.
I have never done it! But I am definately going to try it!
I haven’t ever tried it but am doing much better at meal planning in general and may be up for this in the coming months. Yesterday I was proud of making tomato soup while freezing tomatoes and making pesto sauce. I think I can see the definite benefits to planning ahead and making more than one meal at a time!
I’ve done freezer cooking, but never for a whole month (I have a tiny freezer and buy lots of other things in bulk to fill it up!). I have a friend who organizes a group once a month to assemble 5 or 6 meals together and it’s great! In 2 hours (3 if you include clean-up and the stay and chat phase) I have enough freezer meals to fill my needs for a while.
I never done a OAMC before, although I would like to. Yesterday I did roast 2 chickens, made the meatloaf for tonites dinner and cut and marinated the chicken for tomorrow nights dinner. I got 4 meals out of the chicken, bagged it and put it in the freezer. So, at least I’m a little ahead.
I’d love to win the cookbook!
~Liz
I just always think about it- time to leap I think
We recently moved into our first home and we have a one year old, so anything I can do to help have great home cook meals and still spend time with my one year old, I am all ears. Can’t wait to check out the book.
I have not tried the once a month cooking but have been thinking about it. I would love to win the cookbook and try it.
Thanks
Like many others I’ve never done once a month cooking. I cooked ahead a ton of things before we had our little one and it made life pretty great while dealing with a new born. (So easy my mom who stayed for 5 days didn’t cook a single meal!) I’d love to see the layout for a real once a month cooking day and this book sounds like it has some interesting ideas. I tend to freeze lasagnas and casserole type things.
And I also would be subbing my cheaper eats/meats!
Heather
I do it on a limited scale – my problem is that I don’t have enough recipes that we like well enough. (Note that the problem is not that I don’t have enough recipes. Hoo boy.) Thanks for the chance!
I cook ahead every couple of months and freeze things like taco meat, lasagna, meatballs… I would love to have more recipes that I know freeze well.
I’ve done once a month cooking before and absolutely LOVED it. It definitely makes for a really long day or two of cooking, but it is so incredibly nice to just have to pull meals out of the freezer for the rest of the month. Lots less stress during the week. This recipe book looks great – I’m always looking for more freezable recipes.
Never tried it. A little skeptical about the amount of work involved at the beginning and unsure about the kind of recipes that keep well…
I’ve never tried it! BUT I am menu planning and really think this might just help me out. Would love to know more!
This is something I’d have to look at and think about. I love fresh food – fresh veggies, fresh fruits. Frozen veggies fill in when we run out of fresh, or when I haven’t had time to go to the store.
I don’t buy rotisserie chicken either – we used to but once I learned to roast my own we just don’t want to eat rotisserie anymore.
I haven’t done OAMC but do try to freeze extra food when I can. Last week I doubled up making a bunch of meatballs for the freezer and tomorrow will make a few meals’ worth of twice-baked potatoes. Our dear friends are expecting a baby next month and I’m trying to think ahead to help them out a little as well. Love your blog and I’d love to get some more ideas for freezing meals in just a regular-sized freezer.
I have done OAMC several times before, but not too recently. It works out so nicely, though, to put in a couple of long days so that you don’t have to work much at all for the next month. Makes dinner a cinch on the other days! My biggest challenge is the planning. I am a procrastinator and put everything off, especially if it’s something that’s not fun.
I would *love* to win this cookbook!!
I do lots of make ahead food and meals, but have never done it to this level. I am intrigued and can’t wait to learn more.
I have never tried it, but I think I should!!
I always wanted to do once a month cooking (I work second shift so this would help alot in making sure my family got more than pizza for dinner) but I get a little overwhelmed! this book would be a great help!!
I’ve tried it with a friend. Don’t know if I’d do it alone!
I never done OMAC, but occassionally will cook additional and freeze for later, like meatballs, shredded beef and chicken. Just little things to make the weekday meals easier.
I love the book Fix, Freeze, Feast and I have tried many of the recipes in it. I think one of the family favorites is Cinco Layer Bake. But, I would love to try these and test them on the family!
would love, love, love to win this book! I want to try doing this on a Saturday very soon. I think it would be so helpful to free up those afternoon hours of dinner prep/cleanup/etc, plus no more hungry crying kids because dinner’s not quite ready and they wanted to eat 20 minutes ago!!
I have always wanted to cook for a month, but never seem to get around to it. Would love to have the book, and try it.
I think it’d be great to do it–I’ve made ahead and frozen on a much smaller scale.
I have never tried OAMC. I have always been intrigued by the idea, but haven’t taken the time to try it.
I have never tried once a month cooking but after reading several different blogs about it my interest is peaked. I would love to try it. Knowing that my freezer is full with good meals would make me rest better knowing that I have healthy food to feed my family and a variety.
I haven’t tried it, yet. What has been holding me back is that I live overseas and so many recipes I’ve seen call for instant items that just aren’t available. I really need to plan up front to have substitutes available and with a full cookbook of ideas I just might be able to pull it off.
I have always wanted to but I have never tried. We finally got a freezer so maybe soon I will.
I have not tried once a month cooking, but I really would love to. I think I do a great job everyday, but it would be nice to have something extra for those busy nights.
I haven’t tried it yet, but have been reading up on it. And have started to stock my pantry in preparations. Would LOVE to have a recipe book like this to help!!
I’ve never tried it, I just can’t imagine having that much free time to myself in the kitchen. Now if there was a “three hour power cook” system, that one I could handle.
I’ve never done a full fledged baking day, but I have gotten better about trying to make a double batch and sticking extras in the freezer, or at least having the difficult part of meals in the freezer…i.e. browned hamburger, cooked cubed chicken, marinated meats, etc. That’s about as close to convenience food as I can get! Great giveaway!
I’ve never done it. I actually have attempted at once a week cooking and love it. I can’t even imagine having the whole month taken care of! I would love to get my hands on this book. I’ve been eyeing it at the store for a long time.
- Amy
When we were first married and VERY broke, my wonderful MIl suggested that we do OAMC. She bought all the ingredients and we went at it. It was a huge blessing to have all that food and not have to pay for it, but there was one dish that was particularly interesting, it was a chicken and stuffing combination and there was a LOT of it for the two of us. I went to camp to help my MIL with the cooking and I left my dh with a 9×13 pan of this casserole. He ate it without complaining for a couple of days. I got morning sickness up at camp and had to go home, so he drove the three hours to get me, the whole way thinking about eating something different and some of his mom’s good cooking. So, he gets there right about dinner time and lo and behold, his mom has made chicken stuffing casserole for 500 for dinner! He wound up eating a peanut butter sandwich, poor guy. He loves to tell that story and other than that dish, which is forbidden from our house, the OAMC is fantastic! =0
@Deb, What a funny family story!
I have never tried it. ;( I HAVE ALWAYS wanted to, but could never get myself to. A book would definitely put me into the mood!
This book sounds good. I use to do bulk cooking once a month but, then I got depressed and didn’t feel like doing anything. Now I am feeling better and would like to try again.
I have never done it, but I have thought about it many times. Who knows maybe, I will get busy & do it this weekend!
Because of Chronic Kidney Disease, my energy level is always up and down and usually down around dinner time. To keep from eating out so much, some friend of mine have talked about doing some OAMC for me. This book would be excellent for us!
I did “freezer” cooking before each of my kids were born. It was so convenient to pull out a meal & pop it in the oven. I really need to get in the habit of doing this for our family each month.
I double my recipes often, but haven’t graduated to the once-a-month-cooking method yet. Maybe soon.
I have their first book, and it was the one I used when I first tried OAMC. Except I did a two-week cycle, which seemed to work better for me. I LOVED everything about it, except for the fact that my feet were killing me by the end of the day.
I havn’t actually done any OAMC, but I regularly cook and freeze quantity’s of items for later use. Such as chicken and dressing and lasagna, four pans at a time, one to eat, three to freeze.
I would love to have recipes that are known to freeze well as well as something organized better for using the same ingredients to make multiple things. I try hard to have 5/7 homecooked made from scratch meals a week and that’s hard being a working mom.
Thanks for your blog and the giveaway chance!!
I have done “some” freezer cooking (for example, baby meals for after babies come home) but would LOVE to be more adept.
Please enter my name.
BTW, found your site eons ago thru Money Saving Mom and I check your blog every few days. I really enjoy your ideas AND the fact that you are a proud, public schooling family.
We are raising Christian children ourselves…in the public schools. Like you, we are blessed that our daughters LOVE school, that our district is good, and that they have daily contact with excellent, caring, loving, Christian teachers. I certainly don’t feel that I’m sending my children into an “evil” environment each day.
Blessings and thanks for all your work!
@Olathe mom, We happy public school families have to stick together.
I’ve been wanting to do once-a-month cooking a try, but just keep chickening out. I’m scared and for several different reasons. I love the fact that they don’t just do casserole-y type dinners. I think it would help it go over a lot better in our house. I’ve done freezer cooking here and there, but not on this scale. Thanks for the giveaway!
I have been intrigued by OAMC for several years now, but have yet to bite the bullet and go for it! I would LOVE to win this cookbook, because I think my main reservation is knowing what freezes well and how to do it. Thanks for the contest!!
We love freezer cooking, but rarely set aside an entire day of cooking. Instead, we buy 20-30 lbs of chicken breast at $1.39/lb and make it into 3-5 different recipes.
I have the first once-a-month cookbook, but haven’t seen the newest one!
Would LOVE this book! Always have intentions of doing once/month (or once/every two weeks) cooking, but I think the variety in this book would really help.
OOOOH I want this. I have been so unmotivated to cook lately. Maybe this will help. I have never done the Once a Month thing. I would like to try.
I would LOVE to win this book- I’ve always wanted to try once a month cooking but never knew how to tackle it. This book would make it really easy!
I would love to try OAMC. I’ve hinted to my hubby he needs to watch the boys for me while I do it, They are 4 and 1. Hopefully here soon… and this book would help me! THanks for the giveaway!
I’d love to be entered! So far I haven’t tired OAMC, but I’m definitely interested in trying!
I tried OAMC a while back and loved it. I just need to take the time to do it. Would love to get on a schedule and do this more frequently. Thank you for the giveaway.
koinonia572001@yahoo.com
Once a month cooking is the only cooking i have done for the years! i started a group 7 years ago and we have been exchanging meals on the first friday of the month ever since. It has been a huge contributor to peace and preparedness in my home. I would love to have this cookbook to help me continue leading this group for another 7 years!
I have done OAMC in the past but I really need to start again. I would love some fresh ideas! Thank you for the drawing. Have a blessed day!
I have done this once but some meals were good while others were not so good, but I guess learning what you like takes trial and error! I could use some new recipe ideas. Thanks for the chance to win a free cookbook!!
Wow! I could really use this. I think it would lessen the need for eating out. I’ve never batch cooked, but would definitely give it a whirl.
I have just begun getting into baking days. I have a two year old daughter and pregnant with my second (very exciting) and am so loving the homemade meals. I am going to start stocking my freezer and this book should definitely give me the ideas I need! Thanks for the opportunity!
I have never done it but after reading your posts, I may have to try it!
I have tried OAMC a couple of times and would feel really satisifed once done. However, when we would eat something I had made:
1. it was a casserole!
2. the casserole would be either too watery or too dry
So, I had given up. This cookbook, though, looks GREAT!!
The most I usually do is brown up all the ground beef when I come home from the store and freeze in qt. containers. I usaully quadruple soups, taco meat, chili etc and freeze half for another day for my family of 7.
I would real like to try the OAMC method. I think it would be a huge benefit to my schedule and budget.
I have never tried this, but I would love to try it!
I’ve never tried it but have been wanting to for a LONG time and never know where to start! Help me!
I am still making progress on our journey to cook more and do it from scratch rather than picking up fast food or using prepackaged foods. We’ve come a long way in the last year and I’d love to try this as another step to help us keep up our better habits!
I have never done it, but I am in my first trimester and I know having meals on hand would revolutionize my life
I have never batch cooked, but continually consider it. What’s holding me back? Fear things won’t taste good after they’ve thawed and I’d have wasted so much time and money. A cookbook sure would help!
I’d love a copy!
I have been really getting into making things from scratch and making extras whenever possible to freeze. I would love to give OAMC a try and winning this book would be a great way to start.
I have never tried it, but have been wanting to try it!
The first time I ever froze a meal was just a couple months ago to prepare for my second kiddo’s birth. With two little ones, cooking once every two weeks or once a month sounds really appealing!
Have never tried the once a month cooking. I could never get enough recipes together that I thought would freeze well. Sounds like a great and helpful book.
I really need some ideas. This book would be fantastic.
I do a lot of freezer cooking, but I’m always looking for new recipes to try!!
I have done it once (though it was more like a 2 week version than OAMC) with my sister. We did 7 meals plus dozens and dozens of frozen burritos. It was awesome.
I am actually 6 months pregnant and I plan on doing a couple of smaller sessions to stock up on ready made meals before the baby comes in with the new year. The 2 week sessions sound perfect for that.
Tried it last week, only a few meals but loved it, will definately try to have at least a few freezer meals always ready to go. Especially with the second bub arriving any day now!
I’ve never tried this, but have been reading more about it and would love to try it out. I do cook up ground beef and chicken in bulk, so I have that ready to go. Would love to have meals all ready prepared in the freezer.
The idea sure sounds nice, especially when I’m planning meals for the week and realize we have an activity 3 or 4 of the evenings! I would definitely be interested in reading the book.
Jennifer
I could use more ideas on how to be organized with my meals. I know all about giving up every couple of weeks and heading out for fast food – I would love to head for the freezer instead!
I love OAMC! I make French toast sticks, muffins, pancakes, waffles, cookies, chicken potpie filling, 3-cheese stuffed shells, beef stroganoff, lot of different soups, etc. This has made such a difference in my stress level!
I am just beginning. With kids starting to do more activities outside the house, I am trying to cut back on a lot of cooking in the evening. Would love to try out this book.
Thanks
I have never done a Once-A-Month Cooking Day but would love too!!!
I am always looking out for and trying out recipes to see if they freeze well. This book would be great for some new ideas!
I so need to do this. I have stocked up before but tend to do it gradually not all in one day. My husband has wanted us to do something like this since we were married. He is the one that is great with time management.
Love to OAMC, but don’t do it often enough. I need to get more faithful to plan and cook!
I tried it once and loved it! Would love to have new receipes!
Love it! I’m part of a OAMC club and it’s so much fun! This book would come in very handy.
I have never tried Once A Month Cooking; but I did try Once a Week Cooking a while back so I think I am ready to move up to once a month.
I have never tried once-a-month cooking, though I’ve thought about it! Maybe actually having the cookbook would get me jumpstarted!
I have never tried the once-a-month cooking concept, but I would love to try!! With a two year old and a new baby I could use some time saving techniques!
i have never tried it…but would be willing to
I’d love to try it. I haven’t ever been able to use the recipes they suggest either, due to multiple food sensitivities, but maybe having a book on it would allow me to make the modifications I need to make?
I have never done a OAMC, but I think more about it each day. I’m thinking that I may give it a try!
I have never tried to cook just once a month. I love the concept but would probably start at just making a few meals to freeze at a time. I like having flexibility!
I have never tried-once-a-month cooking. I have heard a lot about it. I think it would be great to do and would save my husband & I from eating out as much as we do.
i love cooking so much that i cook ahead too much…….we probably have about 3 months worth of food frozen up
I’ve never tried OAMC. I want to try it but don’t know where to start. I have three young children and would benefit from the time saved.
I’ve never done OAM cooking — I think. I do a good bit of prep ahead of time so that I don’t have as much to do at dinner time. But, never planned out a month’s worth of meals and cooked it all day long.
I’ve only tried to cook ahead meatballs, sloppy joes, and taco meat. I’d love to “think outside the box” and get more adventurous. Pick me!!!!!
I actually haven’t tried it yet. Baby number 2 is due in December so I’m hoping to start in November.
I’ve never tried once-a-month cooking–I’m not sure I’d want to do a whole month’s worth at once, but I would definitely try a week or two at a time, and would love to learn their techniques and organizing tips.
This is something I really want to start doing. I watch my nephew four days a week while my sister attends college. Twice a week I have him about eighteen hours straight so on those days being able to pull supper out of the freezer and reheat it in the oven would be a tremendous help.
I haven’t tried once a month cooking. For three years now my husband has done most of the dinner preparation, but this fall his schedule changed and I have to make dinner now! I need help! If my husband and I could throw together a bunch of meals on a Saturday morning, that would be ever so helpful!
I have always wanted to try once-a-month cooking! This could be a great opportunity!
I do make-ahead cooking as often as I can. The best cookbook I have discovered so far is: “Fix, Freeze, Feast.”
Our 3 favorites recipes have been:
* Vegetarian Lasagna
* Beef Skewers with Blue Cheese Dipping Sauce
* Tequila Lime Chicken
I look forward to trying other recipes in the upcoming months…