Back to basics: vacation planning

The habit of doubling a recipe

I often have pep talks with myself while I’m in the kitchen. Something like this:

“Well, now look, silly. You already have all the ingredients out. You’ve already dirtied the mixing bowls making this casserole.”

Or this:  “Why would you put those unused portions away for another time? Use them up now – while they are already out! Sock away some food in the freezer for a busy night.

Realization: Frozen dinner – homemade by me – equals a weeknight vacation!“

Here are a few examples of winning pep talk recipes. When these come around in the meal plan rotation, I make double or triple:

Homemade cookie dough

1. Pick your top cookie recipe
2. Double or triple the recipe
3. Freeze in dough balls on foiled-lined baking sheet
4. Once frozen, bag dough up in freezer storage bag

For tea time, just warm up the oven and pop those cookies on the sheet. Homemade is so much better for you. Likely a third of the cost of the ready-bake, store-bought version. Also good as a last minute gift!

Italian stuffed shells

1. Make a bunch of shells, doubling or tripling
2. freeze stuffed shells individually on a foil-lined cookie sheet
3. Once frozen, bag shells in a freezer storage bag

Do you see a pattern? Pull out what you need – a few for your husband’s lunch or a casserole dish-full for company. You can be spontaneous because you’ve already done the work!

Pancakes, waffles – spend a Saturday morning flipping pancakes. During the week you have homemade convenience just a zap of the microwave away.

Biscuits – don’t you love your mama’s buttery biscuits? Don’t care to take the time rolling and cutting during the crazy time before supper? Make a triple batch and freeze it.

Peas and beans – soak then cook your beans in the crock pot, bag up that huge amount in individual, family-sized portions. Serve as the main course with cornbread or as an easy, complimentary side.

But I don’t have the freezer space you say?

• Join in the eat from the pantry (and freezer) challenge. Before you know it, you’ll have cleared out food you’d forgotten you had.

• Double your recipe and save it in the fridge. Often I cook double and then use it for lunches or another supper later in the week. When I make bbq chicken in the crock pot I make more than we will eat. On purpose. That’s so I can make chicken and cheese tortilla wraps for lunch. Or maybe throw the extra chicken into a favorite casserole. This Thursday we are having chili. I plan to double the recipe so we can have either taco salad or Chicago style spaghetti on Saturday night.

Start simple. Pick one recipe. Your family’s favorite. Double it. Stick the extra in the freezer or make two meals from one.

Have a pep talk with yourself like I do. Then start planning your weeknight vacation!

Do you have a favorite, easy recipe you like to double?

What are your sock-it-away strategies?