1 00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:09,200 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. I'm Kelsey Nixon, and this is Kitchen Prescription, 2 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:11,239 Speaker 1: the podcast you listen to when you don't know what 3 00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:14,800 Speaker 1: to make for dinner. Today's episode sixty eight Cook Once, 4 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:18,200 Speaker 1: Eat Twice. The end of the month is always the 5 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 1: craziest time for me because that's when I wrap up 6 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:26,400 Speaker 1: our upcoming months recipe Club recipes. So each month, I 7 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 1: develop new recipes, and I go through this whole testing 8 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:32,160 Speaker 1: process of I get your feedback what recipes you want, 9 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:34,519 Speaker 1: then I write them, then I test them, and then 10 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:36,199 Speaker 1: in that last week, I kind of go through the 11 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:40,320 Speaker 1: final testing process where I'm refining the recipe and then 12 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:42,559 Speaker 1: I take all the photos and all the videos, and 13 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 1: I get everything uploaded to the membership site. My kitchen. 14 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:48,519 Speaker 1: I wish you guys could see it. It literally becomes 15 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:52,640 Speaker 1: like flooded with food and I have to start texting 16 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 1: neighbors to ask if I can bring leftovers over because 17 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 1: at that point my family has already had that recipe 18 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 1: multiple times and they're kind of done. So what this 19 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:06,920 Speaker 1: past week has looked like has looked a lot like this, 20 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:12,800 Speaker 1: but even more exacerbated because this next month I really 21 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:16,440 Speaker 1: wanted to develop five new recipes that fall under the 22 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:20,600 Speaker 1: category of cook once, eat twice, which means that I 23 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:24,320 Speaker 1: wanted to develop recipes that you could easily double, so 24 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 1: make one to eat that night and make another to 25 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:30,479 Speaker 1: stick in the freezer or take to someone, so that 26 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 1: meant twice as much tru as we're usually trying to 27 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:36,640 Speaker 1: pass on at the end of the month. So it's 28 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 1: been crazy, but I'm so happy with where I landed 29 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:40,760 Speaker 1: on the recipes, and I can't wait for you to 30 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:44,679 Speaker 1: all dive in and start cooking. And I'm excited to 31 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 1: talk with you a little bit more in depth today 32 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 1: about this concept of cooking once and eating twice, and 33 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:54,760 Speaker 1: also just freezer meals in general, but specifically through this lens. 34 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 1: But before we do that, let's discuss a few recipes 35 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:00,320 Speaker 1: you can throw on your meal plan for the week. Member. 36 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 1: My best advice for getting control over more weeknight dinners 37 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:07,960 Speaker 1: at home is to set a specific time each week 38 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:10,280 Speaker 1: to meal plan for the upcoming week. You review your 39 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 1: family schedule, You shop your own kitchen by looking at 40 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:16,080 Speaker 1: what you already have on hand. You pick recipes, whether 41 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 1: they're the recipes we suggest in the meal plan or not. 42 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:21,839 Speaker 1: You make your list, You order your groceries and you're done. 43 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:25,560 Speaker 1: I can usually do this in about ten minutes each week, yes, 44 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 1: inclusive of ordering and scheduling my groceries, and it's one 45 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:33,000 Speaker 1: of the most valuable habits I have that benefits our 46 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 1: family tremendously. So hopefully this podcast can help support a 47 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 1: similar system for you, because I don't feel like I'm 48 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:45,000 Speaker 1: exaggerating when I say it can be life changing to 49 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:48,440 Speaker 1: getting your family's dinner situation under control. All right, here's 50 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 1: what we're making this week, Lazy lasagna. And I went 51 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 1: back and forth on the title of this, but it's 52 00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:59,120 Speaker 1: called lazy lasagna, and essentially what it is is it 53 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:02,160 Speaker 1: was also going to beat pan lasagna because it is 54 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:05,960 Speaker 1: everything I love about lasagna without all of the steps 55 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 1: of layering. So it includes the ground protein, it includes 56 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:14,399 Speaker 1: the tomato sauce, It includes the rocotta and the spinach 57 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 1: and those delicious lasagna noodles, but done in a way 58 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 1: that can be made in a fraction of the time 59 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 1: and is also very freezer friendly. So lazy lasagna. It 60 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 1: was such a hit with my family, it was such 61 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:31,160 Speaker 1: a hit with my neighbors the Curtesis, that I took 62 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 1: an extra one too, because I made so much of it, 63 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 1: but awesome recipe. It's like all the things you love 64 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:41,280 Speaker 1: about lasagna, just a lot simpler. The second recipe on 65 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:44,800 Speaker 1: our meal plan is the sheet pan chicken ptas. This 66 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 1: is one of the very first recipes I ever added 67 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 1: to Recipe Club, and it is so fresh, so delicious. 68 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 1: The marinate in particular, for I think I use chicken 69 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:57,520 Speaker 1: tenders in this recipe, which makes the chicken cook even faster. 70 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 1: But it has this Greek seasoning in it that is 71 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:02,600 Speaker 1: one of the staples in my kitchen. I love it 72 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:06,080 Speaker 1: so much. It yields such flavorful chicken. And these pitas 73 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 1: are so great because you can kind of just build 74 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 1: them how you want. So some people in my family 75 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 1: might build a pita. I'll probably build a bowl. My 76 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 1: girls will just have everything deconstructed, and it kind of 77 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 1: gives you options. It's kind of like tacos but not. 78 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:21,960 Speaker 1: And then the last recipe is it's like a top 79 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:24,680 Speaker 1: five winter recipe for us, the cheesy chicken broccoli bake. 80 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:27,600 Speaker 1: It is everything you love about your grandma's castrole from 81 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 1: back in the sixties. One thing that I really like 82 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 1: about this recipe is it uses both rice and orzo 83 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 1: in the base and if you're grooten for you could 84 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 1: totally just do all all rice. But it's it makes 85 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 1: it like silky smooth, like it's just it's really good 86 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:49,360 Speaker 1: comfort food. It is. In fact, I just had two 87 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 1: people message me this week being like, I finally made 88 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:54,560 Speaker 1: that cheesy chicken broccoli bake and boy is it good. 89 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:57,240 Speaker 1: So I'm excited to make that because everyone always gets 90 00:04:57,279 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 1: excited about that. There are your recipes for the week. 91 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 1: You can find and print them all in Recipe Club 92 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:05,960 Speaker 1: individually or in our weekly meal plan with an easy 93 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 1: to follow shopping list. And the way we do this 94 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:10,320 Speaker 1: is we break it down by recipe. So let's say 95 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 1: you're only going to make one of the five suggested recipes, 96 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 1: you can just look at the shopping list for that 97 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:19,480 Speaker 1: specific recipe to speed up that process of ordering your groceries. 98 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 1: If this is the year where you really want to 99 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:24,520 Speaker 1: surround yourself with some support to stop driving dinner and 100 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:27,839 Speaker 1: really get a simple dinner system in place, we have 101 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:30,440 Speaker 1: bundled the product where you can save twenty bucks when 102 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:33,479 Speaker 1: you buy a recipe binder plus an annual membership to 103 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:37,840 Speaker 1: Recipe Club. And I really just I mean recipe Club 104 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:40,599 Speaker 1: is a resource. It allows you to access all of 105 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 1: these family tested, quick and simple recipes on the Internet 106 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:48,400 Speaker 1: digitally without being bombarded with the banner ads, those long 107 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:52,080 Speaker 1: blog posts, or the drawn out stories. I was so 108 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 1: frustrated that I could not find more sources like this 109 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:59,680 Speaker 1: on the Internet and just frustrate about the process in 110 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 1: gener of looking up a recipe on the Internet that 111 00:06:02,640 --> 00:06:05,120 Speaker 1: I decided I was just gonna make it better myself, 112 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:07,280 Speaker 1: and that is how recipe Club was born. And then 113 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:09,839 Speaker 1: after that we thought, oh, well, it would make sense 114 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:12,160 Speaker 1: to turn this into an app. And then after chatting 115 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:16,159 Speaker 1: with members, we realized that everyone hated cooking from their phones, 116 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 1: or at least I think our our end stat was 117 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:21,600 Speaker 1: eighty eight percent of our Recipe Club members said they 118 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:24,120 Speaker 1: didn't like cooking from their phones or computer. So we 119 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:26,920 Speaker 1: decided to take all of that energy that we were 120 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 1: going to put into an app and put it towards 121 00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:31,359 Speaker 1: creating what our members actually were asking for, which was 122 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:33,960 Speaker 1: a physical place to store the recipes that you make 123 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:36,600 Speaker 1: most often. And that's how the recipe Binder was born. 124 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:39,919 Speaker 1: So the two are a very intentional match. It's like 125 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 1: an arranged marriage, and they are created to compliment one another, 126 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:47,159 Speaker 1: and that's what makes up my simple dinner system and 127 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 1: I love it. So let's jump into the back half 128 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 1: of the podcast and discuss how to cook ones and 129 00:06:52,160 --> 00:07:02,200 Speaker 1: eat twice. Are you a freezer person? I go through phases, 130 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:05,599 Speaker 1: but honestly, having a meal that's ready to go and 131 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 1: waiting for me in my freezer is pretty awesome. But 132 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 1: it's the process of getting those freezer meals in the 133 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:15,680 Speaker 1: actual freezer that can be kind of tricky. The way 134 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:19,920 Speaker 1: I see it is there's two basic approaches to this. First, 135 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:22,840 Speaker 1: take a few hours one day, maybe on a weekend, 136 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:24,840 Speaker 1: and you make a bunch of recipes on one day 137 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 1: to stock your freezer like ten. I think it's harder 138 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 1: to do more than ten at once. Or you can 139 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 1: take the approach of occasionally doubling up a recipe and 140 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 1: slowly stalking your freezer, and I like to call this 141 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 1: the cook once, eat twice. There's a couple things you 142 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 1: want to consider with both approaches, but both certainly require 143 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:49,160 Speaker 1: some forethought and preparation, and that's what I want to 144 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:54,200 Speaker 1: discuss today. So let's discuss this first option, where if 145 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 1: you are going to just kind of batch it all 146 00:07:57,080 --> 00:08:01,000 Speaker 1: and do a bunch of meals at once. In that situation, 147 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:03,240 Speaker 1: when you're going to take three to four hours make 148 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:05,840 Speaker 1: ten freezer meals, it really can be such a gift 149 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:08,800 Speaker 1: to yourself. This might be a great thing to do 150 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 1: if you're expecting a baby, or maybe you've got an 151 00:08:11,520 --> 00:08:14,800 Speaker 1: upcoming surgery, or maybe you're traveling and your spouse or 152 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:16,800 Speaker 1: partner will be home with the kids and you just 153 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 1: want to set everyone up for success. Or maybe you're 154 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:22,600 Speaker 1: a grandma and your daughter just had her first baby 155 00:08:22,640 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 1: and you want to do something and really nice and 156 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:27,800 Speaker 1: leave her with a bunch of meals. But if this 157 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 1: is what you're after, you will benefit greatly from an independent, 158 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 1: proper planning session. In this session, this is what I 159 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:40,800 Speaker 1: would suggest. First, make sure you have the space in 160 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:44,120 Speaker 1: your freezer to accommodate all of those meals. This has 161 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 1: happened to me, and it's not pretty in sou panic 162 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:51,360 Speaker 1: when I have a freezer like totally chalk full and 163 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:54,160 Speaker 1: I have just made ten freezer meals ready to freeze. 164 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:55,960 Speaker 1: In fact, it happened to me not that long ago. 165 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:58,800 Speaker 1: So if you're going to do this, make sure you 166 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:02,800 Speaker 1: clean out your free Obviously you'll want to determine what 167 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:06,080 Speaker 1: recipes you want to make, and you can follow a guide, 168 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 1: or you can pick and choose certain recipes that you 169 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:11,360 Speaker 1: know your family already likes and that are freezer friendly. 170 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:14,000 Speaker 1: My friend Sarah from ar Best Bites has a great 171 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:17,479 Speaker 1: freezer guide for this, but you can also totally customize 172 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 1: your own, and that's kind of what I tend to do, 173 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:21,520 Speaker 1: mostly because I just want to know that my family's 174 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 1: going to like the recipes. Make sure you have a 175 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:29,199 Speaker 1: plan for writing instructions on your freezer containers before you 176 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 1: put food in them. This can be done one of 177 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:37,640 Speaker 1: two ways. You can simply print out a separate page 178 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:41,760 Speaker 1: that you slide between two freezer bags, or I guess 179 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:44,040 Speaker 1: you could tape it to it. If you do that, 180 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:46,040 Speaker 1: you're gonna want to use freezer tape. Or you can 181 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 1: simply just take a sharpie and just write directly on 182 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:53,160 Speaker 1: the bag or the container. But do it before the 183 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 1: food gets in there. Trust me, another mistake I have 184 00:09:57,120 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 1: made in the past. It's so much easier to write 185 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:03,360 Speaker 1: on the when there's not beefs doing it, So just 186 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:06,440 Speaker 1: write everything when you do your planning, whether you're using 187 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:10,040 Speaker 1: freezer bags or you're using freezer containers, just label everything 188 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:14,200 Speaker 1: before you put the food in it. And finally, when 189 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:17,400 Speaker 1: you make the freezer meals. I think my best tip, 190 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:20,160 Speaker 1: and if you only take one thing from this podcast today, 191 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:23,040 Speaker 1: it should be this, is that if you go to 192 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 1: the effort of making extra freezer meals, when you put 193 00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:29,720 Speaker 1: those freezer meals in the freezer, I want you to 194 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:32,920 Speaker 1: go to your family calendar and put on the calendar 195 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:36,280 Speaker 1: when you plan to eat those meals. Literally write them 196 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:38,560 Speaker 1: in now. And it may be we're gonna have one 197 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:42,120 Speaker 1: freezer meal every week for the next six weeks, or 198 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 1: I know that this week in particular is going to 199 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:49,480 Speaker 1: be crazy because it's a holiday or leading up to 200 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:51,640 Speaker 1: a holiday, and so I'm gonna write it in there. 201 00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:54,559 Speaker 1: In the past, I've just had a list of freezer 202 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:56,760 Speaker 1: meals on hand or like in my notes app. But 203 00:10:56,800 --> 00:10:59,959 Speaker 1: I'm telling you I still forget about them and nothing. 204 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:02,600 Speaker 1: It's more frustrating than going to the effort and the 205 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:05,640 Speaker 1: cost of making freezer meals and then not even using them. 206 00:11:06,320 --> 00:11:09,240 Speaker 1: So just put them on the calendar right when they 207 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 1: go in the freezer, and then if you need to adjust, fine, 208 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:14,079 Speaker 1: you just moveing around. But at least it's a reminder 209 00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:18,560 Speaker 1: that you have that waiting for you, typically a freezer meal. 210 00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:21,600 Speaker 1: I three months, that's about the time that I feel 211 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 1: good about having it in there. It's not going to 212 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:25,920 Speaker 1: hurt you to have it after then, but then you 213 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:28,560 Speaker 1: increase the likelihood of freezer burn and the quality can 214 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:31,200 Speaker 1: go down. So sometime within the next three months, just 215 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:33,400 Speaker 1: put it on the calendar that you are going to 216 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:36,360 Speaker 1: eat that freezer meal. It will be such a gift 217 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 1: to yourself on super busy weeks. So this is one approach, 218 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:43,080 Speaker 1: and it approach that a lot of people like to take. 219 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:47,000 Speaker 1: But promise me you won't try and do this without 220 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:51,560 Speaker 1: a proper planning session beforehand, because it will feel frustrating. 221 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:54,839 Speaker 1: I have been there. Also, just a personal note here, 222 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:57,960 Speaker 1: because I have done this a handful of more than 223 00:11:57,960 --> 00:11:59,959 Speaker 1: a handful of times, but recently in the past year, 224 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:02,560 Speaker 1: and it can be such a nice thing to do 225 00:12:02,679 --> 00:12:05,439 Speaker 1: for someone going through a tough time. A few months ago, 226 00:12:05,480 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 1: I did this for a friend I loved so much 227 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:10,440 Speaker 1: who had a tragic thing occur in her family, and 228 00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:13,200 Speaker 1: I just wanted to do something that would help, and 229 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:16,160 Speaker 1: the best idea I could come up with was taking 230 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:19,640 Speaker 1: care of dinner for her for a few nights. So 231 00:12:19,880 --> 00:12:22,680 Speaker 1: I took an afternoon and I prepped ten freezer meals. 232 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:24,720 Speaker 1: I printed out the instructions and I dropped them off 233 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:28,840 Speaker 1: in her freezer. And I think it really was I mean, 234 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:31,719 Speaker 1: to not have to worry about dinner when you were 235 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 1: processing grief, or you are recovering from a surgery, or 236 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:37,480 Speaker 1: you are taking care of a new baby. It's is 237 00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:39,760 Speaker 1: it not the ultimate gift? Like it really is the 238 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:42,200 Speaker 1: best thing you can do. And the reason I did 239 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:46,200 Speaker 1: this is because years ago, eleven almost twelve years ago, 240 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:48,160 Speaker 1: when I had my first son, who was born at 241 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:51,920 Speaker 1: twenty eight weeks. We had a nicubaby. We lived about 242 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:55,040 Speaker 1: forty five minutes from the hospital, and it was when 243 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:57,319 Speaker 1: I was shooting my show with Food Network and Cooking Channel, 244 00:12:57,960 --> 00:13:02,400 Speaker 1: and the kitchen staff, the Test kitchen staff did this 245 00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 1: for me. They made a bunch of meals at Food 246 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:07,720 Speaker 1: and New Kitchens, they brought them, they stocked my freezer. 247 00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:10,520 Speaker 1: And I will never forget how that felt. And so 248 00:13:10,520 --> 00:13:14,720 Speaker 1: I've tried, I've tried to pass it on return the favor, 249 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 1: and it's just like one of my most special memories 250 00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:23,320 Speaker 1: of being taken care of by my community. So that's 251 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:26,160 Speaker 1: one approach, but I also want to spend some time 252 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:29,880 Speaker 1: talking about this concept of cooking once and eating twice. 253 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:32,920 Speaker 1: If what I described above just feels a little too 254 00:13:32,960 --> 00:13:37,400 Speaker 1: overwhelming to you, consider this. Pick a few recipes that 255 00:13:37,480 --> 00:13:40,360 Speaker 1: you know your family loves, and when it works with 256 00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:44,079 Speaker 1: your schedule, just plan to make two, one you can 257 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:47,719 Speaker 1: eat that night and one to freeze for later. So 258 00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:51,760 Speaker 1: the same principles I laid out above still apply, but 259 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:55,720 Speaker 1: it requires far less planning and feels a bit more manageable. 260 00:13:56,160 --> 00:13:58,560 Speaker 1: Let me give you some actual examples. So there are 261 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:01,120 Speaker 1: five new recipes I just added Recipe Club that make 262 00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:03,600 Speaker 1: up the recipes that I think are ideal for this, 263 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 1: the lazy Lasagna or the baked CD. But the Lazy 264 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:10,360 Speaker 1: Lasagna is even fewer ingredients and less steps than the 265 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:14,679 Speaker 1: baked CD. Both freeze great, like a baked pasta dish 266 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:23,000 Speaker 1: awesome for this baked chicken tiktos insanely delicious, A talon bowlanaise, 267 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:25,320 Speaker 1: which is like a meat sauce that we like to 268 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:29,000 Speaker 1: serve with like a wide noodle, beef stew, and a 269 00:14:29,040 --> 00:14:32,200 Speaker 1: creamy wild rice soup. So I have a soup, a 270 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:36,960 Speaker 1: stew a meat sauce, a taketo which can be either 271 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:39,320 Speaker 1: an afterschool snack or it can be a full family 272 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:44,160 Speaker 1: meal and then a full blown, like straight from the 273 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:47,800 Speaker 1: freezer to the oven, full family meal. All of these 274 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:51,400 Speaker 1: recipes live on my Winter Greatest Hits list, and if 275 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:53,320 Speaker 1: you're not familiar with what that is, go back in 276 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:57,120 Speaker 1: episode or two where I talk about it. And they 277 00:14:57,160 --> 00:15:00,320 Speaker 1: are the recipes that I pull from and typically only 278 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:02,720 Speaker 1: make in the winter months, with the exception of the 279 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:05,000 Speaker 1: tiktos in the Baked CD we make those all year round. 280 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:08,920 Speaker 1: But those are the recipes on that Winter Greatest Hits 281 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:13,680 Speaker 1: list that are most ideal for this doubling and freezing process. 282 00:15:14,320 --> 00:15:17,400 Speaker 1: So when I schedule them in my weekly meal plans, 283 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:21,640 Speaker 1: I ask myself, could I double this up? Could I 284 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:24,160 Speaker 1: just order double the ingredients in factor in a bit 285 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:26,800 Speaker 1: of extra prep time so that I can make two? 286 00:15:27,320 --> 00:15:30,200 Speaker 1: And if I think yeah, I could do that, then 287 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 1: I ask myself, Oh, okay, do I want to make 288 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:36,320 Speaker 1: it for my family and stock my freezer or do 289 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:39,200 Speaker 1: I want to take one to someone? Because once I 290 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:42,640 Speaker 1: think it is just the best gift for someone to 291 00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:45,480 Speaker 1: drop off dinner. So if you have someone in your 292 00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:47,560 Speaker 1: life that is going through something and you're like, you 293 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:50,600 Speaker 1: know what, I could make too, lazy lasagnas. Let's do that, 294 00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:53,320 Speaker 1: and I'm going to take one to this family. That 295 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:56,360 Speaker 1: could be a really nice thing to do. And same 296 00:15:56,560 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 1: thing is above. I want to just re emphasize the 297 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:02,440 Speaker 1: tip after you have made the second thing, if it's 298 00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:05,560 Speaker 1: staying in your household, immediately add it to the calendar 299 00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:08,360 Speaker 1: after it's been made, so you don't forget about it. 300 00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:11,400 Speaker 1: All right, So there you have it. Cook once, eat twice. 301 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:14,200 Speaker 1: A couple of basics for freezer meals. Let's just end 302 00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:17,840 Speaker 1: by talking about a couple of tools. I recommend first, 303 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:21,440 Speaker 1: gallon sized freezer bags. Make sure you get the freezer 304 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:26,239 Speaker 1: bags and not just the gallon sized bags. Baggy holders, 305 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:29,240 Speaker 1: especially if you're going to do that first option where 306 00:16:29,280 --> 00:16:31,280 Speaker 1: you make a bunch of freezer meals at once. They 307 00:16:31,320 --> 00:16:34,920 Speaker 1: sell these baggy holders you can get on Amazon that 308 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:37,240 Speaker 1: hold your bag upright and make it really easy to 309 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:40,720 Speaker 1: spoon whatever the meal is in there. Those are awesome. 310 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 1: And if you are going to go straight from your 311 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:50,160 Speaker 1: freezer into a slow cooker or an instant pot, I 312 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:55,560 Speaker 1: recommend getting some round seven cup containers that are are 313 00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:58,520 Speaker 1: friendly for this because as great as a freezer bag is, 314 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:01,440 Speaker 1: and the reason I like use freezer bags is because 315 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:04,000 Speaker 1: they take up less space than your freezer. When you 316 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:08,600 Speaker 1: freeze flat, it's not the right shape for a slow 317 00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:11,760 Speaker 1: cooker or an instant pot. And so if you're going 318 00:17:11,840 --> 00:17:14,720 Speaker 1: to utilize that freezer meal, you really do need to 319 00:17:14,760 --> 00:17:17,520 Speaker 1: remember to take it out a little bit beforehand and 320 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:20,560 Speaker 1: defrost it now. Once again, because it's frozen flat, it's 321 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:23,920 Speaker 1: not that big of a deal because it should thaw 322 00:17:24,119 --> 00:17:27,560 Speaker 1: pretty quickly. But still, if you want to go straight 323 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:31,520 Speaker 1: from the freezer to either of those kitchen appliances, consider 324 00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:35,280 Speaker 1: those seven cup containers. Let's finish with the weekly gimme 325 00:17:35,359 --> 00:17:37,960 Speaker 1: five now, these are five things I share every week 326 00:17:38,119 --> 00:17:40,840 Speaker 1: that either made my life easier or made my life 327 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:45,600 Speaker 1: more enjoyable. The first one is this five minute journal. 328 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:48,520 Speaker 1: So I saw this bouncing around. I think it was 329 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:50,879 Speaker 1: not a lot of gift guides, and at first I 330 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:54,320 Speaker 1: was like, oh, that's nice. But one thing that has 331 00:17:54,359 --> 00:17:57,440 Speaker 1: been a huge shift in my daily schedule over the 332 00:17:57,480 --> 00:18:00,159 Speaker 1: past six months or so, as I have started to 333 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:03,000 Speaker 1: become a very early riser, so I go to bed 334 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:06,080 Speaker 1: when I put my young kids to bed between eight 335 00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:08,000 Speaker 1: thirty and nine, and I am up at four o'clock 336 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:12,199 Speaker 1: every day, and I love those early mornings and I 337 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:14,120 Speaker 1: want it to be a bit more intentional with how 338 00:18:14,119 --> 00:18:16,880 Speaker 1: I was using my time in those mornings I tend 339 00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:20,160 Speaker 1: to work, but before jumping right into work, I really 340 00:18:20,359 --> 00:18:24,680 Speaker 1: love this five minute journal. It incorporates a gratitude practice, 341 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:30,280 Speaker 1: very very manageable memory making aspect to it. It's very 342 00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:32,720 Speaker 1: pretty and it just sits right on my desk, and 343 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:36,080 Speaker 1: so that has been something that I think it helps 344 00:18:36,119 --> 00:18:38,879 Speaker 1: me kind of set my intentions for the day and 345 00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:40,879 Speaker 1: it just makes me feel a bit more balanced. So 346 00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:44,639 Speaker 1: I'm loving that five minute journal. So in doing the 347 00:18:44,680 --> 00:18:49,199 Speaker 1: recipe testing with the Lazy lasagna, the Italian bolonnaise a that, like, 348 00:18:49,520 --> 00:18:53,040 Speaker 1: I used a lot of ground meat in the recipes 349 00:18:53,119 --> 00:18:57,159 Speaker 1: this month because ground meat freezes awesome. And I just 350 00:18:57,200 --> 00:18:59,720 Speaker 1: want to make sure everyone's got a meat chopper, and 351 00:18:59,760 --> 00:19:01,240 Speaker 1: I I wish we could think of a better name 352 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:03,040 Speaker 1: for it, because I know that meat chopper does not 353 00:19:03,119 --> 00:19:06,600 Speaker 1: sound that great, but it is a tool that's got 354 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:08,720 Speaker 1: a long handle and on the bottom it almost looks 355 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:11,959 Speaker 1: like a windmill or something, and it just breaks up 356 00:19:11,960 --> 00:19:16,000 Speaker 1: that ground meat into perfect bite sized pieces, and I've 357 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:18,800 Speaker 1: had a couple. There's the most popular one that you're 358 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:21,120 Speaker 1: gonna see is like ten Bucks, and I think it's 359 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:26,879 Speaker 1: Faberware that makes it. I don't love cooking with plastic 360 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:31,080 Speaker 1: kitchen tools, and honestly, it has less to do with 361 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:35,479 Speaker 1: like I don't know the material and being toxic or whatever, 362 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:37,119 Speaker 1: and more to do with I just don't like how 363 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:39,280 Speaker 1: it feels in my hand. And I had one of 364 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:41,240 Speaker 1: those for a long time because I swear nobody was 365 00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:44,359 Speaker 1: making them out of another material, and then the handle 366 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:48,040 Speaker 1: just broke off. There's a brand called Gerr Gir. They 367 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:52,040 Speaker 1: make amazing spatuless silicon spatuless and they make a meat 368 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:55,080 Speaker 1: chopper made out of silicone, and I really really like it, 369 00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:57,120 Speaker 1: So keep an eye out for that one. That one 370 00:19:57,200 --> 00:19:59,560 Speaker 1: definitely saved me some time as I was breaking up 371 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:03,080 Speaker 1: meat in recipe testing this week. The next I'm going 372 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:07,399 Speaker 1: back to my morning routine. These dual end highlighters. So 373 00:20:08,080 --> 00:20:10,399 Speaker 1: I love a planner that should not be surprised to you. 374 00:20:10,560 --> 00:20:13,960 Speaker 1: I use a Golden Coil planner, and instead of just 375 00:20:14,119 --> 00:20:18,600 Speaker 1: checking things off my list, I like to cross them 376 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:22,080 Speaker 1: off with a highlighter, and I like this dual end 377 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:25,200 Speaker 1: highlighter because it's two colors and so I can cross 378 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:28,480 Speaker 1: the personal things off with one color and the work 379 00:20:28,520 --> 00:20:32,520 Speaker 1: things off with another color, and it just makes me happy. 380 00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:36,320 Speaker 1: It just makes my week a little more enjoyable rather 381 00:20:36,359 --> 00:20:38,919 Speaker 1: than just a check mark. I already mentioned the baggy 382 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:41,080 Speaker 1: racks for making freezer meals because I did so much 383 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:43,119 Speaker 1: of that this week that made my top five list. 384 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:46,280 Speaker 1: Those are really great if you want to do freeze meals, 385 00:20:46,320 --> 00:20:48,920 Speaker 1: and they're not expensive, so take a look at those. 386 00:20:49,840 --> 00:20:53,040 Speaker 1: And then finally, another thing that has just been the 387 00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:56,320 Speaker 1: perfect wait for the winter we're having in California is 388 00:20:56,359 --> 00:21:00,600 Speaker 1: this cropped cardigan from Quinn's. I get compliments every time 389 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:04,159 Speaker 1: I wear it. It's got these really cute big buttons 390 00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:08,119 Speaker 1: on it that are like turtleshe kind of, and it's 391 00:21:08,200 --> 00:21:11,040 Speaker 1: like not too heavy, it's not too light, and it's 392 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:14,200 Speaker 1: just cozy. I've washed it twice. It's washed up great 393 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:18,120 Speaker 1: and I just love it. That's it. All of those 394 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:20,600 Speaker 1: will be in my newsletter that goes out tomorrow with 395 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:23,280 Speaker 1: links to everything. That's it for today. You guys, make 396 00:21:23,280 --> 00:21:25,360 Speaker 1: sure you're subscribe to the podcast so that you never 397 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:28,679 Speaker 1: miss an episode. Remember, I created this entire podcast so 398 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:31,440 Speaker 1: that you can have a quick twenty minute or so 399 00:21:31,560 --> 00:21:34,639 Speaker 1: listen while you map out meals for the week. Listening 400 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:37,359 Speaker 1: to a podcast while imeal plan has been a huge 401 00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:40,320 Speaker 1: part of my own simple dinner system for as long 402 00:21:40,359 --> 00:21:42,920 Speaker 1: as I can remember now, so I try and put 403 00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:46,160 Speaker 1: out a perfect fit for that each week. Next week 404 00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:48,119 Speaker 1: we are going to be chatting about how to organize 405 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:51,159 Speaker 1: your pantry, where I will walk you through a recent 406 00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:53,560 Speaker 1: experience I've had of helping a friend to organize her 407 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:56,800 Speaker 1: pantry and all the systems, strategies, and products we use 408 00:21:56,880 --> 00:21:59,840 Speaker 1: to get her setup for success. So subscribe to the 409 00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:03,280 Speaker 1: that that episode automatically pops up for you next week. 410 00:22:03,480 --> 00:22:05,920 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for listening today. I'm so glad 411 00:22:05,960 --> 00:22:09,000 Speaker 1: you're here. Until next time, happy cooking. I'm Kelsey and 412 00:22:09,040 --> 00:22:10,879 Speaker 1: look forward to chatting next week.