While I was a fairly slow convert to freezer cooking, now I can’t imagine how I did without it. This week has been particularly hectic as I dealt with a troubling situation at my son’s school, found a new school for him to attend and prepared to attend the Relevant Conference. Yet, because my freezer was stocked with tasty meals, I did not have to resort to fast food or eating out. I simply pulled meals from the freezer.
There are plenty of women before me who have advocated freezer cooking, and Deanna Buxton is one of those women. Deanna began freezer cooking in 1999 when her four children, ages 4 to 12, were involved in baseball. She would get home too late to cook and was frustrated to be feeding her family fast food or making them wait until she could cook a full meal. The first time she cooked 30 meals in one day she was exhausted and vowed not to do it again! However, she soon refined her method, and began teaching her method at women’s groups. By 2002 she had published her first book, Dinner Is Ready. Her product line continued to increase, and now she has several cookbooks and compatible software available.
I have the complete 30 Meals in One Day system (R.V. $95), and I love it! Included in this system are–
-3 cookbooks—Dinner Is Ready, Lunch Is Ready and On the Side
- 30 Meals in One Day Software and User’s Manual
-White Recipe Labels
There are many reasons why I love this system. First, both the Lunch Is Ready and Dinner Is Ready cookbooks contain 14 chapters at the beginning of the book that lay out all you need to know about freezer cooking and making it easier on yourself.
I have been doing Once a Month Cooking since last fall, but I learned quite a bit by reading these chapters. I have taken her advice to shop on one day and prep all of my vegetables before the actual freezer cooking day. That made such a difference in my cooking time! Before I would chop my onion and other veggies at the beginning of the freezer cooking day, which could add 30 to 60 minutes to my work time; this time, I just had to reach for the chopped veggies in the refrigerator as I needed them.
This system also advocates choosing separate methods of cooking—for instance, pick two slow cooker recipes, two assembly recipes, two oven recipes, two stove top recipes, etc. and the cookbooks are broken down into chapters for each of the different methods of cooking. By using this method on my most recent freezer cooking day, I was able to make 22 meals, 64 muffins and 7 breakfast burritos in 6.5 hours.
But what really puts this system over the top is the software. Install this software into your computer and choose the recipes you are planning on cooking. The software creates a grocery list for you that tells you all the items you will need broken down by section in the grocery store and the exact amounts of what you will need. You can also use the software to add other items not related to your freezer cooking that you will need to buy at the grocery store.
If you are new to freezer cooking, this is the perfect system to get you started. If you are a veteran, you will still learn some information from this system. No matter your knowledge level, this system will help streamline your freezer cooking days. My only wish is that the books contained the nutritional information.
Curious what the recipes are like in this book? In a word, tasty, but one that we really enjoyed was Cola BBQ.
Buy It
If you would like to buy it, use the code CAROUSEL to receive free shipping.
Additionally, if you make a purchase on the 30 Meals in One Day website before the giveaway and end up being the winner of this giveaway, Deanna will refund you the $32 it would cost to buy the cookbook and software on their website, or if you elect to buy the entire 30 Meals in One Day system complete with 3 cookbooks and software for all and you end up being the winner, she will discount your purchase price by $32.
The Giveaway:
Deanna Buxton has offered to give away the Dinner Is Ready cookbook and software, a retail value of $40.
To enter this giveaway, simply go to 30 Meals in One Day, go to the recipe section and come back here and tell me which recipe you would like to try.
Additional methods of entry:
-Become a follower of Mom’s Plans or state that you already are, if that is the case.
-Blog about this giveaway or write about it on Facebook or Twitter
-Follow Mom’s Plans on Twitter
-Follow Mom’s Plans on Facebook
This giveaway will end on Wednesday, November 3rd. The winner will be chosen via random.org. Make sure you include your e-mail address when you enter.
I received sponsorship from 30 Meals in One Day to attend the Relevant Conference. (Thank you!) All opinions are my own.
{ 176 comments… read them below or add one }
I would DEFINITELY make the lasagna. I love lasagna but have never actually made one myself. I always buy store bought… so sad!!
I subscribed to you in my google reader.
I follow you on facebook.
I wOuld like to try them all!
I’ve been reading for a week or so (linked here to your October freezer day schedule), and have subscribed to you in my reader. My husband and I are using your Oct day as inspiration to have our own freezer cooking day this weekend! Thanks!
I want to try the maple corn bread; ever since I saw it in your list of foods you were making I thought it sounded delicious!
I follow you on Twitter.
I “liked” your page on Facebook. Thanks for the contest!
The software!!!! OMG, that is exactly what I need!!
I follow you via google reader.
I am a subscriber using Google Reader
I would love to try the Zesty Beef and Vegetable Soup recipe!
I am already a follower on Twitter
I am already a follower on Facebook
I’d like to try Lemon Rice.
I blogged about the contest. Also, there are a lot of comments by Beckys on this entry. Beckys of the world, unite!
http://www.totallyserial.com/blog/2010/10/freezer-cooking/
I want to try the cream cheese chicken, it sounds great and really easy!!
I would love the try the Cola BBQ recipe you posted, or the Cream Cheese Chicken.
I am a follower of your blog
The Cream Cheese Chicken looks absolutely YUMMY!!!!
The honey lime chicken looks great!
I’m now following you on facebook!
I would def try the Simply Lasagna. I do not like it with meat and this one has none!
I also follow you on Facebook
I would love to learn all the tricks that help make the actually day easier, I know that’s not a recipe per se….but honestly that is what I am looking forward to learning!
I would like to try the Zesty Beef and Vegetable Soup recipe.
The lasagna looks great! I love having stuff in the freezer to pull out!
I would like to try Sweet and Sour Chicken Bowls
I follow your blog.
I follow you on FB
I wrote about the giveway on FB.
I follow you on Twitter.
cream cheese chicken, simply lasagna, honey BBQ ribs, cheesy ham and potatoes and sweet and sour chicken bowls. I really need to add to my freezer recipes!!
My favorite freezer recipe so far is a Lemon Chicken, but that Honey Lime chicken also sounds good- would love to try that!
I follow on twitter @leolani80
following on facebook:)
Follow on Facebook (found you on LifeAsMom)
I’m following Mom’s Plans on Facebook!
Following Mom’s Plan on Twitter!
I would try the chessy ham and potatoes. Or any of the reciepes. Anything to make dinners easier I’m willing to try. It’s hard being a working mom of three.
I would love to try the lasagna recipe…. sounds delicious!!!
The Honey Lime chicken sounds really good, I’d like to try that!
hoerauf at comcast dot net
I’m a follower of your blog.
hoerauf at comcast dot net
I follow you on Twitter as Screaming_Mimi
hoerauf at comcast dot net
I like you on Facebook as Pam Hoerauf.
hoerauf at comcast dot net
honey lime chicken
Love the lasagna!!
I am a follower of Mom’s Plans.
I follow you on FB!
I posted your link & info on the giveaway on my FB page.
I’m now friends w/you on Twitter.
I would love to try the simple lasagna. It looks yummy!
I follow your blog through Google Friend Connect as Jen V.
I tweeted about your giveaway.
http://twitter.com/Greatgiveaways/status/27918113196
I follow you on twitter as greatgiveaways.
I “like” you on facebook (Jen Voss)
I’d love to try the Simply Lasagna, sounds delicious.
I found the Cream Cheese Chicken recipe a long time ago and our family loves it! Although it isn’t the healthiest thing in the world, it tastes amazing over angel hair and it is a treat for all of us!!
I’m a follower!
I now follow you on Facebook and would love to try the honey barbecued ribs!
Zesty Beef and Vegetable Soup. It appeals to me because we are watching fat, salt and cholesterol.
I just liked you on facebook!
I would like the sweet & sour salad and any of the chicken ones.
Another Facebook follower here. All the recipes look so good it would be hard to choose! The lasagna and the chicken sound delicious and easy to make with items I already have on hand in the pantry.
I follow your blog!
I would try the sweet and sour chicken bowls. The software sounds great. You’re right. I tried freezer cooking once. It took all weekend and I was exhausted, I have never tried it since, but your method sounds much better!
I just liked you on facebook
Honey Lime Chicken!!!
I would like to try the lemon rice! On a side note I would like to see the cd’s for the program available in Mac format too!
I would love to try all…but the cheesey ham and potatoes would be a new one for sure for us and sounds like something my 2 year old would eat too. I now “like” you on facebook
The Cream Cheese Chicken looks delicious. I have been freezer cooking off and on for the last few years, but I have been in a rut — this book looks like it would certainly help me break out of it!
I subscribed in my reader!
I think the Cream Cheese Chicken sounds wonderful. In fact, I think we’ll have that for dinner tonight.
I follow you with gfc (psychdog).
I like you on facebook.
The lasagna has me won over!!!!!n I’m actually going to try this recipe this weekend!
The Honey Barbequed Ribs recipe sounds yummy!
Already following via GFC: JennS
The sweet and sour chicken bowls sound great!
I’d love to make the Sweet and Sour Chicken Bowls. YUM!
I’m a follower on FB.
Can’t wait to try the cream cheese chicken… in fact, I think I’ll make it tonight!!
I officially LIKE you on FB!
I follow your blog every week. Thank you for keeping me motivated to keep unprocessed foods out of our house! I cook almost everyday for a family of 5 and would love to try the sweet & sour chicken bowls! Thanks for a great blog!
I want to try the lasanga!
I follow you on twitter!
I’m also a facebook fan!
I want to try making the honey lime chicken.
beckymonki@gmail.com
I’m a follower of Mom’s Plans already! beckymonki@gmail.com
I would like to try the Sweet and Sour Chicken Bowls. I am always looking for lunch ideas.
I am a follower of Mom’s Plans.
I would love to try the maple corn bread. Sounds delicious and simple to make
I follow you on Fb
I follow you on Twitter
I’d love to try the Cream Cheese Chicken.
Yummy!
I follow you via GFC.
I follow you on Twitter
@pippirose77
I follow you on FB (under my name, Piroska).
I follow you on Facebook.
I would love to make and try the Sweet and Sour Chicken Bowls!
SImply Lasagna looks great.
I follow you on Facebook. Thank you for the giveaway.
I’m already a follower, and I would love to win this!!!! I have been wanting to start freezer cooking, but I’m not sure where to begin and don’t have the money to buy Deanna’s system.
I want to try the Honey Lime Chicken!
I would like to try the zesty beef and vegetable soup…sounds yummy especially with the fall weather upon us.
The Cream Cheese Chicken sounds delish!
Andrea in NC
I follow you on Twitter, @andreaholloman.
Thanks,
Andrea in NC
I follow you on FB.
Andrea Cook Holloman
Tweeted the following today: Dinner Is Ready OAMC Cookbook & Software Giveaway! Click here: http://bit.ly/agf3V7 #MomsPlans
I would love to try the lasagna. Yum!
subscribed to new feed
the one I would love to try is the Zesty Beef and Vegetable Soup, but then again the Sweet & Sour Chicken bowls look yummy too.
subscribing by twitter
subscribing by facebook too
twogoots at yahoo.com
I would like to try the Simply Lasagna – my hubby & I love lasagna, but I never make it because it involves too much time & too many differrent things to go in it. As a mom of a 4 yr old & 6 mo old this would be a great, quick to put together recipie it looks like!
The cream cheese chicken sounds awesome! Yummy!
The Cream Cheese Chicken- oh my – in fact I’m printing it and will try it this week! YUM!
I would love to try the Sweet and Sour Salad with the Sweet and Sour Dressing. I would probably love it, and might even convince the guys to have a few bites.
Cream Cheese chicken sounds good!
cozycreations07@aol.com
I’m going to try Cream Cheese Chicken and Maple Corn Bread.
The honey lime chicken sounds great!
The cream cheese chicken sounds yummy (and easy!)
the cream cheese chicken sounds yummy!
The lemon rice looks yummy! I am trying to find more ways to incorporate brown rice into our diets, and this looks like I found another one.
~eunice b
tigergal01 @gmail .com
I would try the cheesy ham & potatoes
Just “liked” you on facebook!!
Cream Cheese Chicken….Yum!!
The cream cheese chicken for sure!
I follow you!
I like you on fb!
id like to try the cream cheese chicken
Lasagna!
GFC sarah_roxy_21
sarahlovesvegas@hotmail
I’d like to try the Honey Barbequed Ribs, they sound like something my family would really enjoy!
I wpuld love to try the Candied Carrots! Great for Thanksgiving
I would try the cola BBQ Or the lasagna.
I would love this system so much>
i’d love to try making the maple corn bread!
new gfc follwoer
fb fan jeanine feldkamp
shared on twitter :
http://twitter.com/neenee_is_me/status/28993429460
I have always been intimidated by the thought of freezer cooking, would love to try it with an actual plan!!
The recipe I would like to try would be the ribs, have never done them before.
thanks for the chance!!
nmceachern at shaw dot ca
I would like to try Coconut Shrimp!
Liked Mom’s Plans on Facebook
I posted about your giveaway on my site!
Follow Mom’s Plans on facebook
The cream cheese chicken sounds really yummy!!!
I’d make the lasagna!
I follow your blog.
I Follow Mom’s Plans on Twitter.
I Follow Mom’s Plans on Facebook.
I’d like to try the Apple Roast Pork Sandwiches.
Thanks!
KellyH
We love homemade salad dressings; I’m going to try the Poppyseed Dressing.
Follow you on Twitter!
Tweeted about this giveaway, with a link back. Thanks for the giveaway!
I follow on facebook!
Thanks!
KellyH
I would love to try the Simply Lasagna recipe!
i would like to ry cream cheese chicken
i follow on fb
What a neat idea, thank you for sharing. I would love to try the Honey Barbequed Ribs or the Honey Lime Chicken. Looks like there are some great recipes there!
Subscribed to your RSS feed. Thanks!
mm, honey lime chicken!
I think the Sweet and Sour Chicken Bowls sound yummy
I’m a follower of your blog on gfc
and I’m a moms plans fan on fb Jennifer Harriman
I am ready to try Simply Lasagna, seems so easy.
The Sweet and Sour Salad sounds wonderful and best of all kid friendly
We subscribe .
I would like to try the Honey Lime Chicken!
Sweet and Sour chicken bowls sounds yummy
I am a follower. Have been for a while now. Hope you pick me!
Mmmmm. Maple Cornbread. That sounds really good.
Coconut Shrimp!
I follow you on facebook.
id love to try the Coconut Shrimp recipe
google friend klp1965
kathypease(at)gmail(dot)com
like you on facebook kathy l pease
kathypease(at)gmail(dot)com
Cheesy Ham and Potatoes
I would like to try the Simply Lasagna recipe.