2.29.2008

:: The Big Cook ::

:: Well a few weekends ago Lisa, Jenn & I had a day of cooking which we called "The Big Cook" ::
:: There were three of us "Yummy Mummies" on board for the adventure ::


:: In days prior to our actual big cook day we organized recipes and got an estimate of how much of each ingredient we would need. Then on Friday night we all went out grocery shopping together to Costco, Superstore & Safeway. That is where we really saved the cash, we were able to buy those huge cans of items that you pass right by in Costco if your just shopping for your immediate family. But since we were making 8 entrees (making at least two meals from each entree for each of us) we were able to buy everything in HUGE quantities ::

:: Here are the girls before it really got messy (thanks for letting us mess up your kitchen Lise!) :::: Here are our peppers for our Stuffed Green Pepper dish :::: Here's the finished product :: :: Our tools for the day :: :: Look at how full that kitchen was, but we were productive. We started cooking (after a brief Tim's coffee break prior to starting *thanks to Jenn!) at 10:00 am and we were putting the finishing touches on our Lasagna at 5:30 and preparing for dinner with all 13 of us as we invited the Dad's and all the kids over for dinner - the last thing any of us wanted to do at the end of the day is cook another meal! And we figured since the Dad's had the kids for the day they would feel the same! :::: Classy Chicken all lined up :::: Chicken Enchiladas :::: Here I am chop, chop, chopping! :::: Here are my meals from the day - I took home 19 entrees all together. What a productive {& fun} day, thanks ladies!!! ::
** Edited to say :: The total cost of each entree turned out to be $7.30 - unbelievable hey!?!?! Where can you get a good wholesome homemade healthy well-balanced dinner for $7.30??? Maybe back in the day, but not in my day! **

10 comments:

Rachel said...

Brilliant idea!

Lovella ♥ said...

I agree with Rachel .. this is brilliant. . .good for you to be so clever to combine such a fun day with such organization.

Lisa B. said...

It was a great day and not having to worry about what to make for dinner has been even better!

Can't wait for the next big cook!

Keri's Collage... said...

Looks like fun!

Jenn VH said...

I had such a great time and LOVE that I can choose what I want for dinner and have it done in the time it takes to defrost it!! Can't wait for the next BIG COOK!! It was a fun day!
~Jenn :)

susan said...

I've done something similar but through a place that does all the prep work for you. I have a feeling doing this with friends would be MUCH cheaper! I feel inspired but want to get my hands on a few of your recipes - everything looked delish...this would be PERFECT to do before the baby comes!!
I'm thinking this is something I need to start with some girlfriends...hmmmmm....any tips?

Seriously Shawna, you are a super mom...and WIFE!!

Canadian Kristin said...

FAN.TASTIC!

Anonymous said...

next time count me in... I often do it on my own, but 19 meals...wow...

britt said...

What a great blog site - came across it by chance but love your topic. My friends and I also did a Big Cook. We got the idea from this great cookbook we found at Costco for only 14.99 called "The Big Cook" It is by 3 busy mom's from Alberta with 11 kids between them! It has 73 delicious recipes that freeze great. They can make over 200 meals in 1 day between 4 of them and take home over 50 meals each!! They are not cooked just assembled to be cooked fresh later. The recipes are in columns of 1, 4, 6 or 8 meals and each meal feeds 4 - 6 people. It is totally awesome. They have a cool website too www.thebigcook.com. You might want to check out the book.

cathy said...

I bought that book, but never got enough time to do this! Glad it worked out well for you all! Looked like fun AND a lot of work!

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