Lynne's Country Kitchen
lynnescountrykitchen.net

Make yourself a notebook - I use my computer. If you don't have a computer, buy a 3-ring binder and section it by meat, for example, chicken, beef, pork, fish, etc. Put each recipe in a page protector; this will keep it from getting dirty. Behind each recipe include a shopping list, notes that you have made about that particular recipe.

Label the food with the name of the dish, date it was prepared, and instructions for reheating it. Don't know if you've noticed it or not, but things don't quite look the same when they are frozen.

My family, as I sure with yours, eat basically the same meals. So prepare yourself a Master Shopping List. I normally shop in "bulk" at either Sam's Club or Costco once a month for my meats mostly, as this is the most cost effective way for me to shop since I have quite a large family.

I am always trying new recipes, but before I decide to make large quantities of a recipe, I do a preview with the family. It is useless to make 4 to 6 meals of something that they don't particularly care for or won't eat.

If you have a vacuum-sealer for freezing your foods, it really comes in handy when doing this type of cooking. If you don't have one, hint to one of the kids that you would like one for your birthday, Christmas, etc. LOL!...Alternatively, Ziplock Freezer Bags work just fine.

If you plan to have a certain dish 5 times during the month, freeze 4 of them and eat the other one the day you cook. You will be tired and probably won't feel like cooking a different meal that evening.

Make notes as you go along - things that didn't go well, changes to the recipe according to your family's preference, so that the next time you make the recipe, you won't forget what you did. We ALL FORGET!.

Plan your day - keep recipes and ingredients handy where they can be easily seen. Make a note of starting times, and use a timer. You will be too busy to remember.