Stuff Parents Need

Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

Make Ahead Meals for the Weeknight Rush (Cookbook Giveaway!)

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Do you have a major problem getting weeknight meals on the table? Since Darah has joined our family, this has been a real struggle for us. I work hard to carefully plan out our meals for the week (this helps us keep our grocery bill in check), but it is really hard to find meals that come together almost effortlessly, which is exactly what we need every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night. I’ve learned that cooking dishes that freeze well is a really good option to help out on those nights. I try to cook a little bit extra on the weekends, and then on those whirlwind weeknights, I just have to heat up one of those make ahead meals from the freezer. Slow Cooker meals are also a good option, but I haven’t found very many good recipes for the slow cooker, unfortunately.

I was really excited to get to check out the e-book version of Jane Doiron’s Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms cookbook. This book contains 140 different dishes that are easy to prepare the day you want to serve them, the day before, or even up to 3 months before you plan on eating them! Jane tells you which ones are the best for the freezer, which ones reheat beautifully if you want to enjoy them now but make enough for leftovers, and which ones you can prepare up to 24 hours in advance.

Last week, while I had the time off from work, I picked out several recipes from her cookbook and stocked up our freezer with some delicious breads, muffins and main dishes. Here’s what I made:

  • Banana Nut Bread
  • Cinnamon Bread
  • Apple Zucchini Bread
  • Banana Chocolate-Chip Muffins
  • Baked Chicken Chimichangas
  • Sloppy Joes

I tasted every single thing that I made before tucking it away in the freezer. Honestly, it all tasted delicious! I made an extra apple zucchini bread for a friend who just had a baby this week because it contains so many great ingredients for a nursing mom. The chimichangas came together really easily, and they tasted fantastic. I know that these will become a weeknight staple around our house. The sloppy joes were also outstanding; one of the best versions I have ever had, truth be told. I’ll actually be bringing you the recipe this Sunday, so stay tuned!

A few of the make ahead meals listed in the book that I haven’t tried yet seem to be a little more elaborate, but that makes them ideal for when you are having company over. I hate being preoccupied in the kitchen when I have guests, but I also like to offer food that is at least a little bit special. These recipes will allow me to do just that, by giving me instructions on how to put together everything in advance.

One of my very favorite things about this cookbook is that Jane offers an e-book version! I recently weeded out my cookbook collection, because 75% of what I had was just taking up space and collecting dust. I love that this cookbook is just on my computer. I can simply print off the recipes I love the most, and that’s a huge space saver!
My one suggestion for the next book that Jane puts out (no pressure, Jane!) would be to include more freeze ahead recipes. Several of the recipes in the book were ideal for making ahead by 1 day. In my particular situation, I have several days in a row where I can’t do any cooking at all (even prep work). More meals that can be frozen is what my family needs.

Buy It!

Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms is available at Barnes and Noble and Amazon for$16.15!! This is a great price for a cookbook that will save you time and money, folks.

Win it!

Jane wants to offer Stuff Parents Need readers the opportunity to win their very own copy of her book. Yes!!! This contest will run until Sunday, January 17th at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected via random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the winning notification email before a new winner will be selected. Open to residents of the United States.

How to Enter:

Mandatory Entry: Check out the table of contents of Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms and tell me the recipe you would make first if you won!

Additional Entries:

1. Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect
2. Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email
3. Add my button to your blog (2 entries, so leave 2 comments and leave a url to your site)
4. Sign up for Jane’s newsletter(2 entries, so leave 2 comments and the email address you used when signing up)

5. Follow Jane’s blog

6. Put Jane’s blog button on your site (2 entries, so leave 2 comments and a url to your site)

I was provided with this cookbook for review purposes. The opinions listed here are strictly my own.

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Comments

  7. OMGoodness! I think I'd have to make the Baked Chicken Chimichangas first, then the stuffed mushrooms, then….. 🙂

    Reply

  80. I think I'd try the BBQ Pepper Jack Chicken first – that pretty much combines 3 of my husband's favorite things – all he needs would be a beer with it. LOL

    stormraven at gmail dot com

    Reply

  181. I didn't have to look far…the blueberry bread looks so good! My kids (and myself) would love it! Thanks!

    Reply

  187. stuffed beef tenderloin definatly. I am thrilled you are giving this book away!!!!
    (and I already subscribe to you, so I won't cheat and pretend like I just started…)

    wow… i deeply need this book. Seriously. I keep up the meal planning and cooking for two entirely seperate households. talk about simplifying my life!

    Reply

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