Comments on: Baking Day – Part 4 http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html Helping You Be a Better Home Economist Fri, 25 May 2012 03:57:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lucky http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html/comment-page-1#comment-235946 Lucky Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:17:08 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html#comment-235946 It was such a help to me to have a fully stocked freezer when my boy was born. One thing I made sure I did was put really easy to follow instructions for reheating on everything. Experience told me that I wouldn't remember as much as I thought I would! Do you have a stand a lone freezer? I had a kitchen day this week as well, which I linked to above. It was such a help to me to have a fully stocked freezer when my boy was born. One thing I made sure I did was put really easy to follow instructions for reheating on everything. Experience told me that I wouldn’t remember as much as I thought I would!

Do you have a stand a lone freezer?

I had a kitchen day this week as well, which I linked to above.

]]> By: Kris http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html/comment-page-1#comment-235945 Kris Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:07:27 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html#comment-235945 I made your waffle recipe. It was great. Thanks. I made your waffle recipe. It was great. Thanks.

]]> By: Janice http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html/comment-page-1#comment-235944 Janice Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:57:45 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html#comment-235944 Before my twins came 2 1/2 years ago, I started stocking our freezer about 3 months out. It was the best thing I ever did! (I also had a 2 year old at the time.) I kept a really organized spread sheet on the refrigerator, so we could keep track of what was in our basement freezer. The babies came in July. Between what I had frozen and meals from family/friends, I didn't have to cook a "fresh" meal until the Holidays!! Also, I think the process of "project cooking" works well for me. I have always dreaded the daily grind of trying to come up with something for dinner. If I plan ahead and make a day of it, I enjoy it much more...and it is much more time efficient! Good Luck! and thanks for the inspiration! Before my twins came 2 1/2 years ago, I started stocking our freezer about 3 months out. It was the best thing I ever did! (I also had a 2 year old at the time.) I kept a really organized spread sheet on the refrigerator, so we could keep track of what was in our basement freezer. The babies came in July. Between what I had frozen and meals from family/friends, I didn’t have to cook a “fresh” meal until the Holidays!!

Also, I think the process of “project cooking” works well for me. I have always dreaded the daily grind of trying to come up with something for dinner. If I plan ahead and make a day of it, I enjoy it much more…and it is much more time efficient!

Good Luck! and thanks for the inspiration!

]]> By: Elena http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html/comment-page-1#comment-235943 Elena Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:44:22 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html#comment-235943 Very impressive!!! I am glad you have enough energy to do this all. I like your recipes - they are so healthful, yummy and easy. I just wanted to share a few things with you to make your life a little bit easier next time you are going to make these things. First, when I make my sweet potatoes, instead of peeling them, I just wash them and put them in the oven on a baking sheet at 425F. When they are done, they will be easy to peel and mash. I hate peeling sweet potatoes. They are so tough. And second, I prebake my meatballs before freezing them. That makes things easier too, because you can just put them frozen in a sauce of your choice and cook in a slow-cooker. I am not trying to butt in or say my way is best. Just wanted to share some things I do. Hope this helps. Very impressive!!! I am glad you have enough energy to do this all. I like your recipes – they are so healthful, yummy and easy. I just wanted to share a few things with you to make your life a little bit easier next time you are going to make these things. First, when I make my sweet potatoes, instead of peeling them, I just wash them and put them in the oven on a baking sheet at 425F. When they are done, they will be easy to peel and mash. I hate peeling sweet potatoes. They are so tough. And second, I prebake my meatballs before freezing them. That makes things easier too, because you can just put them frozen in a sauce of your choice and cook in a slow-cooker. I am not trying to butt in or say my way is best. Just wanted to share some things I do. Hope this helps.

]]> By: Veronica L. http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html/comment-page-1#comment-235942 Veronica L. Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:17:51 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html#comment-235942 First of all, let me say that I absolutely LOVE your site! I am also pregnant with #3 and due in April. So I have been looking for great ways to try to stock my freezer full of food so it will help my husband and our other kids out when the time comes. I enjoy your ideas and your menu planning. Congratulations on your little one and I look forward to reading more about your Baking Days :) First of all, let me say that I absolutely LOVE your site! I am also pregnant with #3 and due in April. So I have been looking for great ways to try to stock my freezer full of food so it will help my husband and our other kids out when the time comes.
I enjoy your ideas and your menu planning. Congratulations on your little one and I look forward to reading more about your Baking Days :)

]]> By: a.k http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html/comment-page-1#comment-235941 a.k Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:52:20 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html#comment-235941 I baked dinner...some chicken breast soaked in water salt,garlic, pepper flakes, and vinegar. dumped it and then cubed it. then chopped peppers onions and cauliflor. Mixed the veggies with a can of cream of mushroom, some sour cream, and shredded moz cheese (all low fat). also threw in some extra seasoning based on how spicey u like it. put raw chicken in baking dish, cover with veggie mizture, then top with stuffing mixture. turned out pretty tasty. I baked dinner…some chicken breast soaked in water salt,garlic, pepper flakes, and vinegar. dumped it and then cubed it. then chopped peppers onions and cauliflor. Mixed the veggies with a can of cream of mushroom, some sour cream, and shredded moz cheese (all low fat). also threw in some extra seasoning based on how spicey u like it. put raw chicken in baking dish, cover with veggie mizture, then top with stuffing mixture. turned out pretty tasty.

]]> By: Victoria http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html/comment-page-1#comment-235940 Victoria Wed, 21 Jan 2009 11:22:44 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html#comment-235940 I want to have a baking day before baby #3 comes. (I am due just a few days before you, April 28) My last round of bloodwork showed that I am severly anemic. I'm hoping that the iron supplements do the trick and I'll have the energy to get things done! I've already started my list! :) I want to have a baking day before baby #3 comes. (I am due just a few days before you, April 28) My last round of bloodwork showed that I am severly anemic. I’m hoping that the iron supplements do the trick and I’ll have the energy to get things done! I’ve already started my list! :)

]]> By: Sarah http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html/comment-page-1#comment-235939 Sarah Wed, 21 Jan 2009 10:34:22 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html#comment-235939 You may not have gotten everything done on your to-do list, but you sure accomplished an impressive amount! I filled up our extra freezer with casseroles, taco meat, rice, breads, etc. these last few months in preparation for #4 (who is now 8 days late!) and am looking forward to the luxury of all those ready-made meals! Other things to do ahead: baby announcements (all done except for filling in vital stats and printing), laying out outfits for the other kids (I ironed and laid out Sunday outfits so Dad won't have to do it), making sure bills are paid ahead, arranging for others to fill in for me at church, filling in the baby book (as much as can be done ahead, because there's not much time afterward), of course washing and organizing the baby clothes, having thank you notes ready. There are many things one can do ahead of time (which I'm sure you know all about, being an old pro at this by now). You may not have gotten everything done on your to-do list, but you sure accomplished an impressive amount!

I filled up our extra freezer with casseroles, taco meat, rice, breads, etc. these last few months in preparation for #4 (who is now 8 days late!) and am looking forward to the luxury of all those ready-made meals!

Other things to do ahead: baby announcements (all done except for filling in vital stats and printing), laying out outfits for the other kids (I ironed and laid out Sunday outfits so Dad won’t have to do it), making sure bills are paid ahead, arranging for others to fill in for me at church, filling in the baby book (as much as can be done ahead, because there’s not much time afterward), of course washing and organizing the baby clothes, having thank you notes ready. There are many things one can do ahead of time (which I’m sure you know all about, being an old pro at this by now).

]]> By: Janet http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html/comment-page-1#comment-235938 Janet Wed, 21 Jan 2009 10:08:16 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html#comment-235938 Wow, you really accomplished a lot. You will be very thankful for those freezer meals with 3 littles. I do a lot of freezer cooking. Mostly not once-a-month, as that is so labor intensive to me. I always double recipes and freeze the "extra" one. Also, when I get a great deal on meat, I freeze already cooked hamburger and chicken portioned into two cups for casseroles, tacos, BBQ sandwiches, etc. Other times chicken can be frozen in a marinade for cooking later. I never freeze raw hamburger as-is. I mix into meatloaf and freeze raw; just line the pan with saran wrap and pop it out and put in a ziplock once frozen. My meatballs I bake in the oven and freeze cooked since they go into a sauce later on. I make hundreds at a time since this saves so much time. Just flash freeze on a cookie sheet or tray and bag them, so they don't all freeze lumped together. Most baked goods freeze well and I often individually wrap them so the kids can get one at a time. Slices of banana bread, cinnamon rolls, muffins, unfrosted cupcakes, etc. are all good choices. There is a yahoo group called friendly-freezer that I belong to and they are a wealth of info if you want to post your recipes and see how it can be frozen best or ideas for freezer foods. I would recommend getting the emails in digest if you join though, with 5000 members there are a lot of emails! Janet Wow, you really accomplished a lot. You will be very thankful for those freezer meals with 3 littles.

I do a lot of freezer cooking. Mostly not once-a-month, as that is so labor intensive to me. I always double recipes and freeze the “extra” one. Also, when I get a great deal on meat, I freeze already cooked hamburger and chicken portioned into two cups for casseroles, tacos, BBQ sandwiches, etc. Other times chicken can be frozen in a marinade for cooking later. I never freeze raw hamburger as-is. I mix into meatloaf and freeze raw; just line the pan with saran wrap and pop it out and put in a ziplock once frozen. My meatballs I bake in the oven and freeze cooked since they go into a sauce later on. I make hundreds at a time since this saves so much time. Just flash freeze on a cookie sheet or tray and bag them, so they don’t all freeze lumped together.

Most baked goods freeze well and I often individually wrap them so the kids can get one at a time. Slices of banana bread, cinnamon rolls, muffins, unfrosted cupcakes, etc. are all good choices.

There is a yahoo group called friendly-freezer that I belong to and they are a wealth of info if you want to post your recipes and see how it can be frozen best or ideas for freezer foods. I would recommend getting the emails in digest if you join though, with 5000 members there are a lot of emails! Janet

]]> By: Tara http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html/comment-page-1#comment-235937 Tara Wed, 21 Jan 2009 09:45:00 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html#comment-235937 How did you like the rice cooker? I've always thought that it would be wasted space (and money) to buy this when I can cook it in a boiler. But I have had a lot of people tell me how much they love their rice cooker recently. Curious as to how it did. I would also love the BBQ meatball recipe. Thanks for sharing your days with us! How did you like the rice cooker? I’ve always thought that it would be wasted space (and money) to buy this when I can cook it in a boiler. But I have had a lot of people tell me how much they love their rice cooker recently. Curious as to how it did.

I would also love the BBQ meatball recipe. Thanks for sharing your days with us!

]]> By: FrannyFrugal http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html/comment-page-1#comment-235936 FrannyFrugal Wed, 21 Jan 2009 09:16:35 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html#comment-235936 Thanks to your inspiration I've begun my own baking day. It is amazing how much quicker meal time prep is when most things are already done. Plus, it's a much more peaceful time of the day. And the savings (to buying the premade stuff at the store) are amazing. Thanks! Thanks to your inspiration I’ve begun my own baking day. It is amazing how much quicker meal time prep is when most things are already done. Plus, it’s a much more peaceful time of the day. And the savings (to buying the premade stuff at the store) are amazing.

Thanks!

]]> By: Sunshine http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html/comment-page-1#comment-235935 Sunshine Wed, 21 Jan 2009 09:13:28 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html#comment-235935 Great ideas! Thanks for sharing! Great ideas! Thanks for sharing!

]]> By: gina http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html/comment-page-1#comment-235934 gina Wed, 21 Jan 2009 08:20:16 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html#comment-235934 very inspiring! think i could pull it off with only five weeks to go in my own pregnancy? very inspiring! think i could pull it off with only five weeks to go in my own pregnancy?

]]> By: Donna http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html/comment-page-1#comment-235933 Donna Wed, 21 Jan 2009 08:18:55 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html#comment-235933 Good Luck with all of your planning... I would love to have an extra fridge/freezer! I also have had 3 kids under 4 years and I am only now starting to get back to a "normal" routine and Ethan just turned 1 last month. Things will be hectic for a while... just enjoy your time with your new baby and don't sweat the small stuff! Time goes by so quickly..... Good Luck with all of your planning… I would love to have an extra fridge/freezer! I also have had 3 kids under 4 years and I am only now starting to get back to a “normal” routine and Ethan just turned 1 last month. Things will be hectic for a while… just enjoy your time with your new baby and don’t sweat the small stuff! Time goes by so quickly…..

]]> By: Make Life Delicious http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html/comment-page-1#comment-235932 Make Life Delicious Wed, 21 Jan 2009 08:14:01 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html#comment-235932 I didn't bake these today, but I did bake them over the weekend....and boy are they good! I didn’t bake these today, but I did bake them over the weekend….and boy are they good!

]]> By: Joscelyn http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html/comment-page-1#comment-235931 Joscelyn Wed, 21 Jan 2009 08:01:43 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html#comment-235931 Crystal I have a recipe similar to that. If you want them to have peanut butter...stir in a half cup or so to the honey/ brown sugar mix *after* it's done boiling. (And maybe add a little bit more oats or something) They are so delicious with the peanut butter! I add chocolate chips a lot too! :o) Crystal
I have a recipe similar to that.
If you want them to have peanut butter…stir in a half cup or so to the honey/ brown sugar mix *after* it’s done boiling.
(And maybe add a little bit more oats or something) They are so delicious with the peanut butter! I add chocolate chips a lot too! :o )

]]> By: Joscelyn http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html/comment-page-1#comment-235930 Joscelyn Wed, 21 Jan 2009 07:59:56 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html#comment-235930 Crystal I have a recipe similar to that. If you want them to have peanut butter...stir in a half cup or so to the honey/ brown sugar mix *after* it's done boiling. (And maybe add a little bit more oats or something) They are so delicious with the peanut butter! I add chocolate chips a lot too! :o) Crystal
I have a recipe similar to that.
If you want them to have peanut butter…stir in a half cup or so to the honey/ brown sugar mix *after* it’s done boiling.
(And maybe add a little bit more oats or something) They are so delicious with the peanut butter! I add chocolate chips a lot too! :o )

]]> By: Tausha http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html/comment-page-1#comment-235929 Tausha Wed, 21 Jan 2009 07:17:20 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html#comment-235929 Yeah! I'm so excited. I baked my first loaf of bread that actually turned out well. I found out about bread flour. I had no idea there was more then one white flour. I have alot to learn. That is why I appriciate these baking day posts so much. They give me a glimpse into how a stay at home mom can effectively spend her time and some cooking basics. Yeah! I’m so excited. I baked my first loaf of bread that actually turned out well. I found out about bread flour. I had no idea there was more then one white flour. I have alot to learn. That is why I appriciate these baking day posts so much. They give me a glimpse into how a stay at home mom can effectively spend her time and some cooking basics.

]]> By: Trisha http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html/comment-page-1#comment-235928 Trisha Wed, 21 Jan 2009 07:00:15 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html#comment-235928 THANK YOU for posting the granola bar recipe! My son Joshua (3 and a half) adores granola bars, but even buying them at Aldi's it irks me to pay $0.18 a bar. Now I can make my own!!!!!! THANK YOU for posting the granola bar recipe! My son Joshua (3 and a half) adores granola bars, but even buying them at Aldi’s it irks me to pay $0.18 a bar. Now I can make my own!!!!!!

]]> By: Sarah http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html/comment-page-1#comment-235927 Sarah Wed, 21 Jan 2009 06:43:29 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/01/baking-day-part-4.html#comment-235927 Just had my 3rd baby in 4 years, and my stocked freezer is great. She is 6 weeks old, and we still have plenty of food left in the freezer. What I am doing now that she is actually here is planning meals during the week (while my husband is at work) that come from the freezer. Then on the weekends, when my husband is home to share the work, I cook. It is making my freezer food last much longer. Also, we have been blessed with lots of people from our church bringing food, so that helps it stretch even farther. Just had my 3rd baby in 4 years, and my stocked freezer is great. She is 6 weeks old, and we still have plenty of food left in the freezer. What I am doing now that she is actually here is planning meals during the week (while my husband is at work) that come from the freezer. Then on the weekends, when my husband is home to share the work, I cook. It is making my freezer food last much longer. Also, we have been blessed with lots of people from our church bringing food, so that helps it stretch even farther.

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