- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- recipes today articles
- recipes today q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Don't Enjoy Cooking Every Night?
Try Cooking Once a Month!
5 Steps to a Month's Worth of Meals
You have to eat, right? But who has time to cook? And as you stand in front of your empty refrigerator, your husband calls from the car phone – his parents are coming for dinner. You weigh your options carefully. Turn out the lights and pretend nobody's home? Order take-out from the expensive Chinese place down the street?
There's another option – one that will save your sanity and your bank account: once-a-month cooking.
Once-a-month cooking is more than just another time-saving tip for busy spouses and parents. It's a way of life – a way to take control of your life, a way to have more time for yourself and your family. And did I mention the food?
So what is it exactly? Just what it sounds like. Once a month, you plan your menus, cook up a storm and freeze everything. Each evening, you put something in the refrigerator to defrost overnight. When you come home from work, you pop it in the oven for an hour, and dinner is served. Simple as that.
"Wait a minute," I hear you cry. "Back up to the part about cooking up a storm." Relax. It's not nearly as bad as you think. And it takes less time than most first labors. Following is 5 steps to chowing down in style every night of the month.
If you have a database of recipes in your computer, you're already a step ahead of the game. If your recipes are in various places ranging from the back of the envelope the phone bill came in to somewhere in the deep recesses of your mind, sit down and start typing. You'll soon see why it's important to have a digital file of your recipes.
Want to see more?
- Redefining Pantry Staples: The Benefits of a Well-stocked Kitchen
- Three Steps to Stock Your Freezer Before Baby Arrives
- Check out our Article Library.
- Mix It Up! Homemade Mixes Save Time, Money and Offer a Healthy Alternative to Store-bought Brands
- Cook's Library: Great Books for Your Cookbook Collection
- Recipes!
- Talk about it!