by Pam Thompson

Created on: February 12, 2009   Last Updated: October 30, 2009

Preparing meals in adcvance makes sense for both the busy family, and the budget minded family. There are times, such as when the flu hits, or there is a new baby in the house, or a busy school season is upon you when it is very convenient to take food out of the freezer and prepare it, rather than run out for expensive and marginally nutritious fast food.

I have taken on a modified batch cooking process that I have dubbed "Cook Once, Eat Twice" and made it work within our household. In a smaller family this could simply mean roasting a chicken one day and eating from it for a few days. In a larger family it looks more like roasting two chickens and either having chicken soup the next day, or chicken salad sandwhiches on fresh rolls the next day.

Here are some simple guidlines for "Cook Once, Eat Twice"

*If you are making a complicated dish that will freeze well, such as a meatloaf or lasagna, make two. Freeze one, or give it to a sick neighbor, and eat the other. It only takes a little more time to assemble two dishes rather than one.

*Never brown less than three pounds of ground beef at a time. Browned beef freezes well and is quick to add to soups, chili, sloppy joes or spaghetti sauce.

*The same goes for bacon, if you are browning a slice, brown the whole pound and freeze it in portions that you need for various recipes and sauces.

*Don't forget your slow cooker. If you are preparing a spaghetti sauce for dinner, start a batch of chili at the same time in the slow cooker and let it simmer the next day for a dinner that is totally fuss free!

*Work as a team. I have a friend who makes great cookies and I make a fabulous potato soup. I trade her a gallon of soup for a batch of homemade cookies.

*Think of creative uses for leftovers. That leftover ham can be tossed in a slow cooker with some broth and some dried split peas for a great soup that tastes nothing like "Leftover Day".

*Cook Dual duty meals. Choose a larger than average roast for your pot roast dinner and shredd the rest for Roast Beef Au Jus sandwiches the follwoing day. Leftover speghetti sauce can be the start of a pizza sauce, or a meatball sub. Leftover taco supplies make a great Mexican Salad the next day.

If you buy a few helpful cookbooks, or check out one of the many cooking websites available, you just may get your cooking inspiration back, and if you follow my tips, you may be spending less time in the kitchen, less money of fast food, and more time with the people who matter the most to you!

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