The Motherlode Cook... Solo August 2014

    This is a new experience for me.  For the past 5 years I have cooked with the Cookin' 4 Some, as we are called.  They were even cooking years before I was invited into the group. Three of us have been constant the entire time. You can find lots of posts on here about our group and lots of ideas.

   This summer threw our little group into a tailspin and for now I am cooking solo.  One of our precious friend's husband and son were killed in a horrific car accident injuring 2 other daughters.  Our friend and one daughter were not in the car.  They were preparing for a family graduation party while the rest of the family was traveling in the rain to help.  The summer has been lost for all of us.  This family was a friend to all and the entire community feels the loss.  You can find out more about them on Facebook at Dr. Tom Eynon and Family.  We will never be the same. Our community will never be the same.  The Eynon girls will never be the same.

     Since then our little group has just not wanted to cook.  Possibly this fall we will cook placing my daughter who shares the same name as our precious friend, in her place to cook for her to give her meals.  Since Tom and Aiden's funerals in June, families have signed up to take meals every day and it still hasn't stopped. What a blessing for this family.

     I decided to brave it alone and cook myself.  I have viewed lots of sites this summer and have found lots of various freezer cooking ideas.  What I have found is that many are VERY inexpensive at the cost of variety and ingredients.  I mean SLIM pickins'.  Some others have claimed to be using only whole foods and yet they are using canned soups.  Canned soup is NOT a whole food.

     While our group does NOT claim to be using all whole foods, we strive to make at least half this way and one of our cooks does ALL gluten free by substituting items (I will note that she does NOT have celiac so she is not super strict on spices and things that might have trace amounts in it, but does stay away from the major sources).  We also cook for the largest family, which is mine with 7 kids along with me and hubs.  We do servings for 8.  We all LIKE our meat so we try not to skimp there.  We average about $9 to $10 a meal which is equal to the freezer meal site that is doing $5 a meal since she is feeding less that 4 (one chicken breast and 2 legs will not feed 4 here and that is one of the meals).

     Another subtle fact is that we seldom pre-cook meals.  Not to say ALL.  We all love the great comfort food, chicken pot pie, and that my friends,  is with pre-cooked chicken, BUT our preference is for it to be fresh and then frozen once.

   We buy chicken from Sam's, some beef from Tevebaugh, a local meat processing place AND 2 of us buy a cow and split it for the year so that we can cut costs and get grass fed beef (we have one child who is allergic to corn and besides it's better for you).

    We use baggies and LOVE "Dump" recipes. NOTE:  Buy the expensive baggies.  Just do it.  If not you will regret it.  The end.  We like variety and change recipes every cook!  We make 100 meals in about 4 hours and go home with 24 different meals each and leave 4 for our church for families in need.  We do the cooking at the church kitchen.

   I will be cooking at home this time.  Solo. The tears will flow for the loss, but meals will be a joy to have as school jumps back into session with one going to college, 2 homeschooling, 2 going to school and 2 babies learning through the mix.

What's for Dinner?
BBQ Chicken x 4
Skillet Cordon Bleu x4
Sausage and Egg Casserole x2
Chicken Fajitas (Crockpot) x4
Cajun Braised Pork Chops x4
Flank Steak x4
Coconut Curry Chicken x4
Easy Crockpot Mongolian Beef x4