Making Life A Little Easier

THE GROUP LISTS WILL BE COMPLETE MARCH 1. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO PARTICIPATE SO THE LIST WILL CHANGE. PLEASE CHECK BACK ON MARCH 1. THANKS!

Hi Girls,

We will be starting the meal exchange program in March. I have assigned each of you to a group and a group leader. If you do not want to be the group leader, please ask someone in your group to take over the assignment. The groups were assigned by number of family members, ages, etc. The groups have three members. If more individuals would like to join, I will add them to the each group. Each group will do their own thing. They will figure out what works best for them and do it to fit their needs. However, there are a couple guidelines that need to be followed. I have listed the groups and then below are some ideas/suggestions, etc. This blog will be used to keep everyone up to date. You can even post comments or suggestions that may be useful to another group. I hope you enjoy this program and it makes your life a little easier.



Group 1
Gail Williams* Group Leader
Marci Toyn
Lynne Greenwood

Group 2
Angie Erickson * Group Leader
Michelle Meyer
Dani Thon
Kim Hall

Group 3
Michelle Prososki * Group Leader
Maria Richards
Kris Saxton
Steph Dixon

Group 4
Lynda Money* Group Leader
Cathy McAbery
Renee Flinn

Group 5
Brandi Stokes * Group Leader
Amanda Stewart
Ann Bosler

Group 6
Susan Walters *Group Leader
Loren Baguley
Stacy Nielson

There are many options your group can do. Here are a few to get you started. If you have any problems or issues, please contact me. Also if you would like you could post your recipes on this blog for the group to view. You can just add a comment or email them to me and I will post them.

Idea #1:
Each month, you will be assigned a week (always the first, second, third, or fourth week of the month). Sometime during that week (you decide what day is best for you, and it can vary from month to month), you will prepare three main dish meals. You will set a time for the others to pick them up. Then throughout the month, three meals will be prepared for you!

Idea #2
Here is what Michelle Prososki did in Arizona: We had 3 families, total of 15 people. That was the amount of people we could all cook for sanely!! We did it every-other week. I cooked for everybody on Mondays, Becca cooked on Tuesdays and Kimberly cooked on Thursdays. It was the dinner for the night. We didn't freeze it. We did the main course, choice of veg or salad, and either dessert or bread. If it was your night to cook, it had to be at their homes by 6 pm. If we wanted to cook in crock-pots we would plan ahead and get each others crock-pot. In the beginning we each bought re-usable pans. Then we re-used the pans that came with our food. So we weren't re-buying pans each time.

Idea #3
Freezer meals are also an option. Your group could make three freezer meals twice a month and then meet twice a month to exchange the meals.

Idea #4
Meet at someones house once a month or more and everyone bring ingredients for 2 meals and then you go home with 6 meals.

Idea #5 from SugarDoodle.net
We do freezer meals in our ward and we have a very large attendance from people who are older to young mothers. We sign up for 1 or 2 specific meals and pay in advance for the meals and have one person buy everything. We meet at her house and assemble 1-2 meals. It has gotten so big that we even have 2 different 2 hour sessions the same day. One in the morning and one in the evening. We just show up anytime during that time period.The cost of each freezer meal is different. They have ranged from $4 dollars to $8 and we always do it for 6 people. Some of us with smaller families separate it into 2 meals. We send around a sign up sheet with the cost of the two freezer meals we are doing that month. They can sign up for one of them or one of each. Most people do both. We have like 30 people sign up from older women, single women, and younger women with small children at home. We meet at one sisters house and assemble in order. We have recipes we send home with them if they want to make it again. It is amazing how many things freeze well. We are doing a chicken carbonara this month and something else. Hopefully I have answered your questions. In my sisters ward they form a group of 8 and they make 8 of the same meal and swap once a month.

Freezer Meal Recipie Ideas: http://organizedhome.com/freezer-cookbook-recipes-freezer-cooking


Here are some basic guidelines we should follow:

1. Food restrictions: Cater to food restrictions as needed.

2. Absolutley no boxed/packaged meals. This can be discussed some more within your group. No "meals" like Kraft Mac 'n Cheese or Hamburger Helper. Discuss withing your group to determine if you would like amount each meal should cost or even what it should include : meat, vegetable, bread, etc.

3. If someone will be out of town/unavailable for a cooking date, the two parties should arrange an alternate plan (maybe put it in the freezer to be picked up later).

4. The group may want to invest in covered baking dishes (all the same; $8-10 each). When you've finished your meal and cleaned your dish, drop it off at the home of the next person who cooks. (Note: your dish doesn't have to be made in this pan. It's just an easy way to prepare the meal, and have it ready. For some meals-like soup- you would need to use something of your own.)

5. When it's your turn to cook, determine a "pick up" time. Email or call the time to the group with at least 24 hours notice. If the chosen pick up time does not work for you, you need to contact the person cooking and make alternate arrangements."


A couple more helpful hints:

Flexibility: Flexibility is important, but also involves more communication. Maybe you think you'll always cook on Mondays. But plans change...meetings & events come up. A Tuesday may work out better for you when your week comes up. When you have a choice, you can pick what works best for YOU during your assigned cooking week.

Save money: If you plan well, you lower your costs & save money! When your cooking week comes up, look at what the “loss leaders” are at the grocery stores. Are chicken breasts or beef on sale for a great price? Vegetables? If you look at what's on sale, then look for recipes using those ingredients, you can keep the costs down.

Why four families? It is easy to break up a month into four parts. It's easy to quadruple recipes. For people just starting to cook in large quantities (also known as “batch” cooking) having to make more than four meals can be overwhelming. We want this to be fun, not a chore!

Have a smaller family? If your family is on the smaller side, you will probably get two meals out of this! Or...you can put individual servings in a freezer bag/container and save it for later.

E-mail! E-mail the group, letting them know what our cooking dates & pick up times are.

Un-cooked meals: If your family already has dinner plans on a member's cooking night. Or maybe you simply know that the following day will be hectic, and like to use the meal that night. Tell the person prepping the meal. If the meals are prepped, but not oven-baked, most can be popped in the oven the following day.Casserole/oven-baked meals: Finding something that others can just pop in the oven simplifies the cooking.

Include the recipe: This way they will know the time and temperature for cooking the meal. Also, they will have the recipe so they can make it again!