Book review: Fix, Freeze, Feast: Prepare in Bulk and Enjoy by the Serving

May 18, 11:49 AMDenver Health and Happiness ExaminerLibby Murphy

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Denver Health and Happiness Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Just because you're short on time doesn't mean you have to hit a fast food joint or settle for what ever mystery meat is in your fridge at the time. Once a Month Cooking (OAMC) is a great way to reduce the stress of figuring out what's for dinner, can save time and money, and can prevent eating empty fast-food calories. Fix, Freeze, Feast Prepare in Bulk and Enjoy by the Serving says on the cover that its "Perfect for busy families!" and it definitely lives up to its promise.

Kati Neville and Lindsay Tkacsik have formulated over 125 recipes that are delicious, nutritious, and incredibly easy to prepare. Reading through the recipe titles, many of them sound like they should be on the pages of a menu in a pricey restaurant, and they taste like it, too. Urban Garlic Chicken, Apple and Cranberry Pork Loin, Rose City Teriyaki, and Maple Portobello Mushrooms are just a taste of what's inside.

Each entree recipe is set up to make 2-4 batches of 4-6 servings each, and most of them require just a Ziploc gallon-size freezer bag for all of the ingredients, but some recipes like lasagna and burritos will need a pan. Like Don't Panic--Dinner's in the Freezer, there is very little cooking involved prior to bagging. You might have to bring a sauce to a boil or steam some veggies, but that's about it! The meats are raw when frozen, so they taste fresh and have a nice texture when they've been fully cooked on serving day.

The introductory chapter, called Become a Warehouse Gourmet, has one of the most comprehensive guides to OAMC you can find. It tackles everything from organization and planning to food safety, and what to do if you make a mistake. A major bonus of this cookbook is that it has freezer labels you can copy and attach to the freezer bags with the recipe title and preparation instructions, along with a freezer inventory where you can list the recipes and check them in and out.

Speaking of bonuses, the Fix, Freeze, Feast website is phenomenal. An instructional video shows viewers step-by-step what it takes to prepare a FFF meal, and there are sample recipes you can try out if you're still not sure if OAMC is for you. They also have a blog and a podcast with great tips for saving money, making the most of leftovers, and other great information every consumer should know.

For people just starting out with OAMC--and even the seasoned shoppers--Fix, Freeze, Feast is definitely the book for you.

For more on Once a Month Cooking, check out these sites: Reduce Stress With Once a Month Cooking, Don't Panic--Dinner's in the Kitchen