My Frugal Life: Cooking for Work and Busy Times

When we were busy or had to work all at the same time, we had to prep for how we would all eat. There was no going to a drive-thru, because there was no extra money. We would think of dishes that would freeze well and make big amounts. Then we would put it in the freezer in smaller amounts. Most of the family liked pasta, sloppy joe's and soup. Sometimes, we would have toast and canned beans. We had baked goods that we put in brown bags and froze them. We would put sauces in canning jars.

When I was old enough to cook, I liked baking things and putting them in the freezer to be cooked, then put in fridge for all to eat in a couple days. I could put a complete dinner together. When the family would look for something they want to eat, they knew if they picked out the big bag with a name on it, they had my cooking and there would be a little more work to warm up to eat. Some days, every one got tired of the simple foods. I cooked for 3 to 4 people. The starter was a spicy cooked veggie wrapped in eatable rice paper, then a dinner, then a dessert, I would have written instuctions and a time line, so there was no guessing about it.

This idea of recycled, and conserving and composting, all coming back under new names. We all had to do preserving and reuse and and firment. Well, the things you see on ThriftyFun, and others like it, are old ideas refaced. I tell you that my great nieces (and great great or is it grand nieces) give me a strange look when I tell them how to get ahead. Cook ahead and only eat out when it is a special occasion. I told these young people to learn how to cook in many ways; collect ideas and recipes. Oh my! You would think I was suggesting they should jump off a cliff and try to fly. I say to teach your children to cook and put some away and eat leftovers.

Thanks for your time.