This weekend, we hibernated to get things done. There was a lot of cleaning, and a quick trip to the mall for the husband to see the new iPhone (we’re a bit behind), but otherwise, it was all about the food!
On Saturday, I made granola. This was my second batch. It is so good that this whole thing only lasts about a week around here. I had never made granola before trying this recipe, and now I think we’ll always keep it in the house. It’s easy to make and comes in super handy as a good snack to have around.
I also went grocery shopping!, which doesn’t sound like a big thing. However, this trip was a bit nuts, as I was buying food for a month for two families for freezer meals using the Once a Month Mom August menu. On Sunday, my friend Kate and her family came over and we made freezer meals! We made 44 meals for the two families, so 22 meals a piece. I can’t say that making a month’s worth of meals with two husbands and four kids under the age of 5 in the house was a peaceful and magical experience, but it was relatively easy and I think we’ll do it again! We learned a lot of lessons that will make it easier in the future, as well.
Lesson One – Thoroughly read all recipes prior to shopping. There were a few that we might have modified a bit for ease of putting together or just personal taste. We followed the plan blindly this time, mostly due to time constraints, but I’d read a bit more closely next time.
Lesson Two – Start earlier! Due to naptimes, we didn’t really get started until around 3:30. With one of us nursing a newborn and with three other little boys in and out, we didn’t get finished until around 8:30. Five hours isn’t bad for a month of meals, but would be better if we got finished earlier.
Lesson Three – I need a chest freezer, but we already knew that. We were joking that we were going to come out this morning and find freezer meals all over the floor from where the freezer exploded. It’s like when you “cleaned” your room by shoving everything in the closet, shove it all in and close it really fast!
onestitchshort 
I follow Once a Month Mom on twitter & her blog. The main thing that’s holding me back is the chest freezer. I may try to purchase one with our tax return in February.
Let me know how it all works for ya’ll!! When I start doing this I may go in with my MIL & see what she thinks.
Oh & would you mind sharing your granola recipe?
I need to make freezer meals! Thanks for the link to that website! And that granola looks awesome! I want to make some but can’t see the recipe. I assume it’s on that flickr photo you link to from your photopage but that photo is marked private 😦
Is it available somewhere else online?
Yeah, didn’t remember that it was private on flickr. It’s pretty similar to this one – http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Fruit-n-Honey-Granola/Detail.aspx – but I don’t add all that different fruit, just raisins and chocolate chips. I’ve found using the bulk bins at the grocery store helps me keep the cost down.
Thanks!
We had two chest freezers growing up since we raised our own meat. The big ones are a total pain, because they are so deep. We have a small secondary freezer (a bit bigger than a mini-fridge) in the garage right now and my in-laws have an awesome freezer that looks like a fridge and I’d personally recommend both of those for their ease of use over a chest freezer.
Good point! Hadn’t even thought of the ease of an upright vs a chest freezer. Thanks!