The House on the Corner: A day of Freezer meals

I have had many people ask me some tips on putting a freezer group together. Here I will give you a step by step guide on what I do from beginning to end. I would say if you are just starting out; start small. This can be a big project and gets overwhelming very fast.

WEEK OR TWO BEFORE FREEZE DATE:

1. A week or two before freezing date I make a list of 5-10 meals that your family would like. I try to mix the meats up (port, Beef, poultry) so that you have variety in your meals.

2. I then get a list from everyone on what meals they want. Some people do all, some people do some and some people do multiples.

THE NIGHT BEFORE:

3. I do all the grocery shopping the night before. (Don't try to do shopping and cooking on the same day), don't forget the freezer bags (I use ziplock witgh smart seal) Other may also want to use their own vacuum seal bags. (I suggest soups be put in a ziplock)

4.I make a "Prep Chef List". Read the recipe and list all the items that need to be sliced, diced, chopped, precooked.

5. Some of the meat I cook the night before. Like the chicken that needs to be cubed, or roast that would be shredded.(For my beef stew I cook the roast overnight in the crock pot)

THE DAY OF COOKING:

1. Have some music, supply yourself with drinks and snacks for munching, make sure the kids are safe and happy.

3. Make your labels. You can write the reheating instructions on each bag or I use sticky label I print off the computer the night before.

2. Have people broken up on task from the prep list. You will need bowls for each item that is chopped.(I suggest getting all the chopping, slicing and cooking done first.)

3. Place all the prep bowls in an assembly line and assemble your meals one at a time.

4. At the end you will have a pile of meals ready to freeze.You will be tire so treat your self and go out to dinner!