This week we return to visit the Allrecipes' cooks who call themselves the "Make-Ahead Mamas". You might recall visiting these hip mamas earlier, getting together every couple of months, getting some serious cook on, making and freezing enough food to feed their families 8-10 meals. Now, fast forward 6 months and "What's Cooking?" finds itself back with local, dynamic Seattle mom's cooking group! They've come a long way since their Allrecipes' introduction with a magazine article, television appearance, and similar groups popping up all over the nation.
Vegetarian Moroccan Stew
This new, Make-Ahead Meal is a delicious, healthy North African-inspired stew served with warm bread or even over couscous. You can make the entire stew ahead of time, let it cool, then refrigerate it for up to 3 days, or freeze it for several months. You can also chop the veggies and mix the spices ahead of time, freeze them and assemble it with the canned ingredients the day you wish to cook it.
Beef Bulgogi
This is a hit with the Make-Ahead Mamas and their families. Not only does this dish freeze well, but it can be transformed into a variety of dishes—delicious lettuce wraps one day and beef stir fry or yakisoba the next.
Connie's Zucchini Crab Cakes
Connie's original vegetarian version is incredible, but we added some real crab and it was a big hit! If you freeze these, you will
have to squeeze out excess liquid and reform the patties upon thawing, but then they taste as good as the day you made them!
Mediterranean Lamb Burgers
These lamb burgers are the perfect combination of easy-with-wow factor. It's worth the time to make the simple yogurt sauce to go with
it and topping them with grilled green tomatoes and onions adds a gourmet touch to your summer barbecue.
Make Ahead Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Served with fresh bread and a salad, this hearty beef stew is a family favorite and can be made fresh or ahead-of-time and frozen.
Some Make-Ahead Mamas like to make it fresh, but double the ingredients and freeze the second portion for a quick dose of comfort food
mid-week.
Halibut Cheeks with Ginger Orange Sauce
The unique combination of citrus, cilantro and ginger makes this fish dish taste bright and fresh. If you want a less-expensive
alternative to halibut, you can substitute any firm, white fish in this recipe (the Make-Ahead Mamas chose Ahi)!
Spanakopita
Have this delicious Greek savory pastry anytime you want—straight from the freezer to the oven, and on your plate in under 30 minutes.
They’re wonderful as a light lunch, an impressive appetizer, and are a healthy spinach-filled snack kids will love!
Keen Green Veggie Puree
A vitamin-packed green vegetable puree made from whole steamed veggies. Add it to meatloaf, spaghetti sauces, and pizza sauces for an
extra vitamin boost, and your family will be none-the-wiser!
An easy how-to guide on "stirring up easy family meals! Find out how!
Creative packaging can overcome lack of freezer space. By storing entrees flat in zipper food storage bags,
even small freezers can hold at least two weeks' worth of entrees.
With freezer essentials like heavy-duty freezer bags and foil, you can easily store your meals until you're
ready to reheat. And just to be on the safe side, double the bags for chowders and soups.
A food processor is a timesaver when you have large amounts of ingredients to chop, shred, or mince.
My Crab Cakes
Great crab cakes with lots of flavor and spice. Serve with homemade aioli and a crisp white wine!"
Slow Cooker Beef Stew I
"A hearty, savory slow cooker stew with potatoes, carrots, celery, broth, herbs and spices.
Mexican Baked Fish
Serve with rice, black beans, warm tortillas and lime Margaritas for a festive meal!
"Bear in mind that you should conduct yourself in life as at a feast." ~ Epictetus
This week we just had to go back to visit the Allrecipes' cooks who call themselves the "Make-Ahead Mamas". You might recall visiting these hip Seattle moms last year, as they get together every couple of months, getting some serious cook on, making and freezing enough food to feed their families 8-10 meals. Now, fast forward to the present and "What's Cooking?" finds they've come a long way since their Allrecipes' introduction with a magazine article, television appearances, and similar groups popping up all over the nation!
You might recall that Deb Kapsner, Karina Kunins, Cindy Wright, Kari Larson, Sue Bae, Claudia Pettis, Maia Kelley and Bethany Febus met for the first time at Wedgwood Co-op Preschool. They shared stories about the joys and challenges of parenting, working and cooking healthy meals. At one point, the conversation led to considering using a commercial make-and-freeze meal business for family meals, but as 8 smart women will inevitably do, they decided they could do it on their own less money.
Now, with more than 20 similar groups sprouting up across the state and across the nation, including vegetarian and gluten-free groups, these ladies have their hands full with not only family and meals but mentoring as well. Regularly hosting seminars and providing tools for other groups to get started, they definitely know how to stay busy!
To keep up to date on the Make-Ahead Mamas Movement, be sure to follow them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/MakeAheadMamas.
Make-Ahead Marinades
Looking to punch up the flavor of steaks, chops or chicken before quickly cooking them on the grill? Then stir up a marinade!
Freezing Foods: A Real Time-Saver
When the work week gets a little crazy, meals made in advance are a real life saver!
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