https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 22 Aug 2026 09:43:09 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drastic-times-drastic-measures#post-1135517 Mon, 07 Oct 2013 09:44:01 +0000 doodlepoodle 1135517@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjazz: I do exactly this! I try to make as much as I can on the weekends.</p> <p> I'll make a batch of muffins for breakfast, a crock pot meal or two and prep everything that I can so when it comes time it's not a huge deal or time commitment during the weeks after work. And cleaning is about 58395 things down the priority list. I try to keep up on dishes and laundry everyday. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drastic-times-drastic-measures#post-1135507 Mon, 07 Oct 2013 09:40:19 +0000 mrswin 1135507@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DH and I use a slightly different approach. We tend to do big batches every 2-3 months. We get all our protein at Costco or in family pack portions. We will make 5-6 different meals each time and we pack/freeze them in 3 portion servings (the extra is for my lunch the next day). The goal for us is to have the protein ready in 30 minutes and we prep side dishes and lunches for 2-3 days at a time</p> <p>The last time we did this we made the following;<br /> ~ flat chickens<br /> ~ turkey lasagnas (extra turkey meat sauce frozen separately)<br /> ~ meatballs &amp; tomato sauce<br /> ~ steaks<br /> ~ ribs (these go into the crock pot morning of)<br /> ~ stir fry beef and chicken<br /> ~ chicken skewers<br /> ~ fish fillets<br /> ~ chicken noodle soup<br /> ~ beef broth/pho<br /> ~ butternut squash soup</p> <p>It takes up most of our day on which ever Sunday we do this but it allows us to spend some time together :happy: We used to eat a lot more take out before we started this because we didn't want to start from scratch when we got home </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drastic-times-drastic-measures#post-1135503 Mon, 07 Oct 2013 09:38:56 +0000 Boheme 1135503@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Twine: You are a rock star. I've cooked only a handful of times since C was born... DH has gotten cooking duties! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drastic-times-drastic-measures#post-1135459 Mon, 07 Oct 2013 09:24:12 +0000 looch 1135459@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Bumping this up, because I also need to get more organized in the kitchen for the week. Last night I made butternut squash lasagne, and it took longer than it needed to because of my disorganization.</p> <p>This week's menu is just three things, 2 designed for 2 nights of meals: butternut squash lasagne, mexican cornbread casserole, and pizza on the grill for Friday night, one night out.</p> <p>Maybe this belongs in the weekly menu thread? But I do my prep all on Sunday as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drastic-times-drastic-measures#post-1132825 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 20:05:56 +0000 immabeetoo 1132825@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjazz: I've never done it for the month because I kind of like cooking at night (I SAH) but I want to try if/when we have LO#2! I hate also using ziplocs to freeze but I think it'd be unavoidable in those large quantities! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drastic-times-drastic-measures#post-1132824 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 20:05:08 +0000 Mrs. Twine 1132824@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjazz: I like it! Maybe I'm using the wrong recipes-- it takes me all of Lorelei's three-hour nap to make about three different meals. So Monday I made chicken and dumplings, beef bourguignon, and butter burgers. Today I made chicken marengo and polenta, roasted squash and whole wheat penne, and a sausage, egg, and biscuit casserole. It does seem to be working better for me in terms of time management. The best part so far has been the meal planning/shopping aspect. Before, I would be lax about meal planning. Fortunately I have a well-stocked kitchen, so I was always able to pull meals together, but it was very hap-hazard. And sometimes I would have ingredients go bad before I could use them. Now, I use a little bit of her nap time the day prior to a big cook to meal plan and make a grocery list, do the grocery shopping that morning, and cook during her nap. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drastic-times-drastic-measures#post-1132821 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 20:03:24 +0000 mrsjazz 1132821@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@scg00387: I can't imagine cooking once a month! I don't know why it seems so intimidating to me. I've read the site and thought about trying it, though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drastic-times-drastic-measures#post-1132814 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 19:59:39 +0000 immabeetoo 1132814@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@maybebaby: you can also google 'once a month mom' and they have whole schedules/lists for batch cooking! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drastic-times-drastic-measures#post-1132804 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 19:55:57 +0000 mrsjazz 1132804@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@maybebaby: Smitten Kitchen, Weelicious, Martha Stewart, AllRecipes, and Pioneer Woman are some of the sites I use for recipes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drastic-times-drastic-measures#post-1132798 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 19:48:57 +0000 maybebaby 1132798@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjazz: Wow, I can't imagine--she clearly learned how to prioritize her time! I think I might try this soon. Not to threadjack, but are there any blogs/websites that you use for Sunday cooking inspiration? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drastic-times-drastic-measures#post-1132796 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 19:47:33 +0000 mrsjazz 1132796@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@maybebaby: Thanks! I learned it from my mom who was a single mom with 2 jobs and 4 kids! I also make enough to take lunch :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drastic-times-drastic-measures#post-1132785 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 19:41:28 +0000 maybebaby 1132785@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjazz: Wow, you have a great system! I want to try to do this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drastic-times-drastic-measures#post-1132780 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 19:39:18 +0000 tlcbaby 1132780@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel guilty sometimes, but I usually sit LO in his bouncy chair in the kitchen while I fix lunch or dinner so that I can do school work while he is napping. This morning I made him watch me mop the floor. But he is generally happy during these times. I still feel guilty, though, but the second he is asleep I need to be doing school work.</p> <p>Like you, I try to make meals that will last at least two nights so I don't have to do this every night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drastic-times-drastic-measures#post-1132774 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 19:33:37 +0000 mrsjazz 1132774@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Twine: I cook my meals for the entire work week on Sunday. It takes me about 3-4 hours. I always make a big pot of rice and some type of bean dish in the crockpot, I will soak the beans Saturday and cook them Sunday. The only thing I don't cook on Sundays is the veggies, but I prep those on the weekend: chop up the broccoli into small pieces, peel and chop carrots, de-stalk and chop leafy greens. </p> <p>This way we don't have to worry about ordering out or waste time cooking meals after work and have more time to spend with LO having quality time since we only get 2 hours before bedtime.</p> <p>I always pack her lunch bag and mine the night before, as well as our clothing. And I shower at night. This way we have about an hour to get ready in the morning and then another hour of just Mommy and LO time reading books and playing. </p> <p>It's all worth it! But we haven't tackled cleaning yet and our apartment is often a mess! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drastic-times-drastic-measures#post-1132564 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 16:28:19 +0000 runsyellowlites 1132564@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Twine: That sounds like a pretty crazy schedule! Eek! I'm not very efficient in the kitchen so I image if I tried making multiple meals at once it would take me all day, if not multiple days! I think that would defeat the purpose. :/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drastic-times-drastic-measures#post-1132530 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 15:58:32 +0000 Mrs. Twine 1132530@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is the first week of my new, drastic schedule. Lorelei's longer daytime nap and resultant later bedtime (yes, tried it all, no, didn't work) has made me need to get ultra-efficient. I found that cooking during her nap took up enough time that I wasn't getting much else done. Now I do super-cooking 2-3 days a week, and on my "off" days I clean, help Ellie with homework, and do other household work. It wipes me out. I cook an average of 3-4 meals (typically complete with sides, although some sides I might make at the time I serve if they are fast/easy). It is like cooking for Thanksgiving. It's an adrenaline rush. </p> <p>Anyone else have to do some crazy schedule stuff to work around their children? </p>