I was lucky enough to hook up with three friends to start a once a month freezer cooking group. Basically it's 4 woman pooling their money and time to make a total of 16 meals to trade with each other.
In the beginning of the month we decided on the four main ingredients (meats) that we would focus on for the month. this month it was Pork chops, ham, chicken and beef roast. We all went and found four recipes each and then adjusted them to make enough for 12 servings. We sent the list to one person who created our grocery shopping list. Not every item needed to make the recipe needed to be purchased however since we all have "staples" in our house that we can share with each other. So say one persons recipe called for garlic and I have a bunch of garlic I just give her some and so on.
One night we meet and head out shopping. Its a divide and conquer kind of thing and we actually get in and out very fast, quicker than it takes me to shop alone! We hen we head back to a house and divide the groceries by who needed what. Careful planning here is essential. Our grocery list basically has a initial by each item. that initial dictates who needs what and how much. Once we have split everything up accordingly, we say goodbye and head home with our groceries.
At home we have the week to prepare, cook and divide our dinners (remember we each have 4recipes to make) and freeze them. Once that is done we meet back up and trade. So in the end all of us will end up with 16 dinners that serves 3 servings each. Now we all have a freezer full of food, enough for half a month, and it only cost us $68! That's $4.25 a meal or less than $1.50 per serving! You cant eat anywhere for that cheap and how awesome that you only had to cook four dinners!
I have dubbed these ladies my dinner divas. Its a great tool to have in this economy that you have friends like these. Not only does it save me money and time but the friendship and time spent together fills other needs as well. Whats that old saying, "It takes a village?"
