It seems that I am having to buy double of everything and make a double batch...sometimes triple.
I am looking for some ideas to make my life easier and cheaper.
What are some meals that you make for your family?
Thank you in advance:)
I am the second oldest of 5. Both of my parents worked. We lived on casseroles. And my dad also portioned things out. For example, if we had kielbasa, he would say you each get two pieces, depending on how he cut it. It was enough and we were never hungy. But we definitely did a lot of casseroles growing up. Sometimes I even still cook for that many, even though we are only 5, just out of habit!
When my mil was cooking for all of us - way more than 7 - she made batch meals
Big pots of red beans with corn bread
Spaghetti
Ghoulash
Meatloaf
Big Casseroles
Big Potroasts inthe crock pot
Lots of chicken fried steak, baked chicken thighs, other cheaper cuts of meat you can buy in bulk.
When I'm feeding a bunch of people, I do
tacos
enchiladas
lasagna,
manicotti
frozen ravioli
Burgers
Ditto Tracy...
In addition I would recommend:
Big Salads with a variety of toppings
Mashed Potatoes to go with baked chicken legs/thighs or meatloaf
Rice, rice, rice...everyone loves it in our family...Spanish rice, plain rice with gravy, curried rices
Curries: Indian style with veggies & meats; or Korean style with tofu, meat and veggies.
Buy your meats and seafood on sale. You'll save a bundle on shrimp and salmon, the splurge then.
I LOVE the 5dollardinners.com site. And one or more of the contributors has a large family!
Soup, woman! :) It's hot, it's versatile, it's cheap, it freezes well. It makes the most of leftovers. And making homemade stock from your chicken or ham bones is a very healthy thing to do! The stock you buy in stores is lacking many of the great nutrients you get from homemade. So one day you roast two (cheap) whole chickens or one ham and the next you make plenty of stock and use frozen or leftover veggies and meat to make soup. Throw in some rice, beans or noodles and your done.
I also like to buy the large family packs of chicken thighs and marinate them and then throw them under the broiler or on the grill. I make brown rice and steam some broccoli to go with it. Cheap easy and lots of it!
Chili with beans corn bread and a huge cobbler
Stew with lots of veggies, Bread, Cheese
Tacos, crispy or soft with a mix of ground beef and ground turkey.
Arroz con Pollo.. I will send you the recipe.. Chicken thighs works great with this.
Sausage wraps, with baked beans or ranch style beans and a big salad.
Stuffed baked potatoes.. Sour cream, cheese, chili, grilled veggies..
Mac and cheese casserole with peas and chicken cooked inside.
Roasted Turkey when you find them on sale purchase as many as you can put in the freezer.
My Aunt had 7 kids and they made pot pies in big baking pans. She used dark meat and lots of veggies.
My mom had 10 kids and she was always big with the side dishes. But she did make casseroles and Roast Beef a lot. Also, she did a lot of stuff with ground beef. Also, try substituting chicken breast with chicken thighs. I think it taste better and it's cheaper. I remember either having mashed potatoes or mac-n-cheese at every meal, and a veggie, which she always bought frozen. Everyone always got just one serving, and if there were leftovers, we could have more. She also tried to serve some kind of bread at the table because it fills you up.
Hi Mrs. A.-
I have to agree with the suggestions from below...
And cannot stress enough that having nice HOT soup and fresh bread as a first (and nutritious) 'first' course helped stretch the balance of the meal...
I typically made (when all 7 kiddos were living at home) a double batch of ANYTHING...saving leftovers for 'potpourri' nite (our name still for 'leftovers' lol)
Also...when making soups/sauces...(or ANYTHING that freezes well) I would make 'treble' so I could freeze some for another night when I needed something quick to re heat!
NOW....(with only 3 kiddos at home fulltime) I still cook 'oodles'...and have many nights where 'thaw and re heat' works nicely!
HOW I will 're learn' to cook small when all kiddos are gone...I do not know!!
Maybe a bigger freezer? lol
Best Luck!
michele/cat
Chicken from Sam's Club.
