If you're a first-timer wondering if it's possible to prep such a great number of recipes all in one go, or an old hat at OAMC, this is a great resource:
Freezer Cooking Guide from 30 day Cafe
Full of checklists to get you organized and general logistical solutions. And all for the low, low price of free!
Showing posts with label review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label review. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Mmmm, chicken.
Well, we have indeed been a hungry bunch. So far, the recipes have been hits. Chicken fried rice did pretty good, although I'd make a few changes next time. I undercooked the rice a little, and it didn't really cook through on the reheating. So I'd advise cooking it to done. It also needed more carrots. So 3/5 as made, but it can easily be better.
Chicken Souvlaki was great - I will make it again, just the same. Big pieces are the key, as they get very well marinaded. To leave a bit of chicken taste, the pieces should be about twice as big as they would be if you were eating them the day they were made. 5/5
Chicken in Enchilada Sauce - also great. The sauce definitely thins upon thawing, but it's still very tasty. Served with Black Bean and Corn Salad and tortillas. A nice, easy meal for after we got back from our weekend road trip. 5/5
I really feel like I'm getting better at choosing recipes that freeze well. I have my doubts about the Pineapple Chicken Curry, but time will tell.
Chicken Souvlaki was great - I will make it again, just the same. Big pieces are the key, as they get very well marinaded. To leave a bit of chicken taste, the pieces should be about twice as big as they would be if you were eating them the day they were made. 5/5
Chicken in Enchilada Sauce - also great. The sauce definitely thins upon thawing, but it's still very tasty. Served with Black Bean and Corn Salad and tortillas. A nice, easy meal for after we got back from our weekend road trip. 5/5
I really feel like I'm getting better at choosing recipes that freeze well. I have my doubts about the Pineapple Chicken Curry, but time will tell.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
The last couple ratings...
Sweet and Sour Ginger Chicken: It was pretty good, very gingery - 4/5. I'm glad ginger seems to freeze well. Again, the vinegar in the sauce became much more pronounced. I'm thinking I need to leave the chicken in bigger pieces if I try the "dump chicken" method again. I had it in 1 inch cubes. I think I would cut each breat into at most 4 pieces next time.
Ginger Beef: 4/5 as prepared... could be a 5/5 dish if the brocolli wasn't totally cooked to mush. Next time I would just barely blanch the veggies. Cooking the beef ahead worked well, and premaking the sauce sped up the whole meal a lot. And I just love that sauce.
Ginger Beef: 4/5 as prepared... could be a 5/5 dish if the brocolli wasn't totally cooked to mush. Next time I would just barely blanch the veggies. Cooking the beef ahead worked well, and premaking the sauce sped up the whole meal a lot. And I just love that sauce.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
The Ratings
We haven't quite eaten it all yet, but I thought I'd offer up my reviews of what we have had:
Chili Con Carne: thaws great, a solid staple meal. Nothing spectacular, but good on the nights we had it. 4/5.
Asian Chicken: I didn't think this was as good as it is when I make it fresh... it tasted okay, but the vinegar becomes more prominent, and without the grilling, it's not quite the same. 3/5.
Grilled Fish: A keeper again. 5/5. Just plain delicious.
Sweet and Hot Pasta Sauce: Very convenient to have in the freezer. Plan to do it again - 5/5.
Baked Herb Fish: Okay, but nothing to write home about. 3/5.
Aztec Quiche: Fan-freaking-tastic. But it had a couple cups of shredded cheese and whole cream in it... so how could it not be? I was mostly impressed that raw eggs can be frozen and thawed, then baked, and taste great. 5/5 for taste and 0/5 for health of my poor arteries.
Spiced Citrus Chicken: Very orange. Had a lot of paprika and was an almost Indian-influenced dish. Pretty good. 4/5.
Honey Sesame Chicken: Not my favorite - very beige. Might be okay if I toasted the sesame seeds, but wouldn't make it again as written. 2/5.
Sloppy Joes: I fell in love when I simmered them, then fell in love all over again when we ate them. I will absolutely make these again. 5/5.
We've still got a chicken dish or two in the freezer, plus the ginger beef that I'm a little curious to see how it thaws. I'm starting to plan for the next cooking session and taking note of what we really liked and what we could leave, and scouting for new recipes. If you have a favourite recipe that freezes well, leave me a comment so I can check it out! I'm definitely considering adding a lasagna, and I'm on the lookout for a really good freezable soup (i.e. not thickened with flour/cornstarch).
Chili Con Carne: thaws great, a solid staple meal. Nothing spectacular, but good on the nights we had it. 4/5.
Asian Chicken: I didn't think this was as good as it is when I make it fresh... it tasted okay, but the vinegar becomes more prominent, and without the grilling, it's not quite the same. 3/5.
Grilled Fish: A keeper again. 5/5. Just plain delicious.
Sweet and Hot Pasta Sauce: Very convenient to have in the freezer. Plan to do it again - 5/5.
Baked Herb Fish: Okay, but nothing to write home about. 3/5.
Aztec Quiche: Fan-freaking-tastic. But it had a couple cups of shredded cheese and whole cream in it... so how could it not be? I was mostly impressed that raw eggs can be frozen and thawed, then baked, and taste great. 5/5 for taste and 0/5 for health of my poor arteries.
Spiced Citrus Chicken: Very orange. Had a lot of paprika and was an almost Indian-influenced dish. Pretty good. 4/5.
Honey Sesame Chicken: Not my favorite - very beige. Might be okay if I toasted the sesame seeds, but wouldn't make it again as written. 2/5.
Sloppy Joes: I fell in love when I simmered them, then fell in love all over again when we ate them. I will absolutely make these again. 5/5.
We've still got a chicken dish or two in the freezer, plus the ginger beef that I'm a little curious to see how it thaws. I'm starting to plan for the next cooking session and taking note of what we really liked and what we could leave, and scouting for new recipes. If you have a favourite recipe that freezes well, leave me a comment so I can check it out! I'm definitely considering adding a lasagna, and I'm on the lookout for a really good freezable soup (i.e. not thickened with flour/cornstarch).
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Update (again)
I think I'm a convert.
We're down to the last few meals - tonight is Chicken Cattiatore. It's been probably about 50/50 on eating freezer meals and eating something else in our house. We have a weekly potluck, I don't mind cooking on the weekend, and we usually have homemade pizza once in a week. For the rest of the nights... it's been a lifesaver. I love not having to decide what's for dinner. I love knowing the major part of making it is done. I feel less resentment to DH for not cooking more. He helped do the big cooking day, so he's kind of "off the hook" in my head.
I'm planning my next round of cooking. I did 12 meals last time, and it lasted us about a month, so I'll aim for a similar amount this time. It took 4 cooking hours, plus a couple shopping hours. That's a little over an hour/week investment for sooo much peace.
Recipes since the last update:
Grilled fish - the best recipe of the bunch. Will make again next round.
Chicken spaghetti - freezing pasta is a mistake. Barely edible.
Mandarin Orange Chicken - okay... 3 stars of 5 for us.
Grilled Chile Pepper Cheeseburgers - fantastic. We cheated and used Costco burgers, but the concept was in the pre-made meal plan.
Rainy Day Chicken w/ Rice - my husband liked it better than me. Reminded me of something Mom used to make... a little to "cream of" for my taste.
Polynesian Pork Loin - again, a 3/5 recipe. Good, but a bit dry.
Blackened Chicken Breast - Fantastic! I already had this in my rotation. I love it.
Chicken Caccitore - 4/5. Pretty good, but not remarkable.
Meal on the Run Pork Loin - Great! Moist, easy, tastey.
Savory Beef - 3/5.
All we haven't tried is the Chile Verde. Wow! We still have a meal of the stew, and possibly another MOTR pork loin.
We're down to the last few meals - tonight is Chicken Cattiatore. It's been probably about 50/50 on eating freezer meals and eating something else in our house. We have a weekly potluck, I don't mind cooking on the weekend, and we usually have homemade pizza once in a week. For the rest of the nights... it's been a lifesaver. I love not having to decide what's for dinner. I love knowing the major part of making it is done. I feel less resentment to DH for not cooking more. He helped do the big cooking day, so he's kind of "off the hook" in my head.
I'm planning my next round of cooking. I did 12 meals last time, and it lasted us about a month, so I'll aim for a similar amount this time. It took 4 cooking hours, plus a couple shopping hours. That's a little over an hour/week investment for sooo much peace.
Recipes since the last update:
Grilled fish - the best recipe of the bunch. Will make again next round.
Chicken spaghetti - freezing pasta is a mistake. Barely edible.
Mandarin Orange Chicken - okay... 3 stars of 5 for us.
Grilled Chile Pepper Cheeseburgers - fantastic. We cheated and used Costco burgers, but the concept was in the pre-made meal plan.
Rainy Day Chicken w/ Rice - my husband liked it better than me. Reminded me of something Mom used to make... a little to "cream of" for my taste.
Polynesian Pork Loin - again, a 3/5 recipe. Good, but a bit dry.
Blackened Chicken Breast - Fantastic! I already had this in my rotation. I love it.
Chicken Caccitore - 4/5. Pretty good, but not remarkable.
Meal on the Run Pork Loin - Great! Moist, easy, tastey.
Savory Beef - 3/5.
All we haven't tried is the Chile Verde. Wow! We still have a meal of the stew, and possibly another MOTR pork loin.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Update
Well, it's been just over a week since my cook-a-thon Saturday that put 10 dinner recipes into my freezer. So far we've eaten:
Hearty Hamburger Stew - meh. We ate this for two meals, and there's another bag in the freezer that will do one. It was edible, but I won't make it again. I'll make chile next time.
Chinese Chicken Morsels - all right. Cooked really well, marinaded beautifully. Will probably sub in a marinade I know we like better next time, but will remake the concept.
Roast Beef Sandwiches Au Jus - delicious, hubby pleaser, will make again.
It's been great to not have to decide what's for dinner. I have the calender that was in the cookbook on the fridge. The night before I know we'll need a meal, I take it out and put it in the fridge. Next night after work, I just take it out and do what it says. It can still take up to an hour to get it on the table, but that's generally baking a casserole time, not actual doing stuff in the kitchen time. I'm looking forward to trying another round of cooking in a few weeks.
It has been a huge help during the workweek. I am not a person that can sit down and meal plan, so this has done it for me. Decide if we're eating at home tomorrow, take next item on list out of freezer. Decision made, meal ready to go. It's great.
Hearty Hamburger Stew - meh. We ate this for two meals, and there's another bag in the freezer that will do one. It was edible, but I won't make it again. I'll make chile next time.
Chinese Chicken Morsels - all right. Cooked really well, marinaded beautifully. Will probably sub in a marinade I know we like better next time, but will remake the concept.
Roast Beef Sandwiches Au Jus - delicious, hubby pleaser, will make again.
It's been great to not have to decide what's for dinner. I have the calender that was in the cookbook on the fridge. The night before I know we'll need a meal, I take it out and put it in the fridge. Next night after work, I just take it out and do what it says. It can still take up to an hour to get it on the table, but that's generally baking a casserole time, not actual doing stuff in the kitchen time. I'm looking forward to trying another round of cooking in a few weeks.
It has been a huge help during the workweek. I am not a person that can sit down and meal plan, so this has done it for me. Decide if we're eating at home tomorrow, take next item on list out of freezer. Decision made, meal ready to go. It's great.
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