In the beginning….

From the Chief Cook and Bottle-Washer

I began playing with the freeze and serve approach some time after my second son was born. I got inspired by a magazine article on 'Investment cooking', the cook-once-eat- for-a-month idea. I loved the idea, but when push came to shove, the recipes just did not do it for me. They did not line up with the way my family ate--Thai Meatball Soup was not yet on my children’s dinner list! So I began to tinker around.

The result is what you have before you recipes which are slimed down to bare bones --easy to make, and pretty easy to eat and get your family to eat with you. If you have never done this, start small. Do not try to cook for a month at a time your first time out. Believe me, that much cooking can feel pretty overwhelming at first! Start with no more than a week at a time, or even less if you are feeling a little intimidated by it all. To help in this, each month I will feature a group of 5-6 recipes that are easy to cook all together. If that feels like too much, just try one at a time. The important thing is that you do not let yourself get intimidated, or feel guilty. The kitchen is no place for guilt!

Enough said, bring on the recipes!