Read Part 1 (intro) here and Part 2 (recipes) here, if you haven’t already. Today, guest poster Shaindy Gerstein is back to tell us how to make sure our cooking day is smooth and easy, with her step-by-step guide to what to do when. Thanks, Shaindy, for teaching us how to cook for a day so we can eat for a month!
Keep Track of Cooking Times
Cooking day will be busy. If you don’t have enough timers for each item, an easy way to keep track of the cooking time is to write down what time you put each food in the oven. Use the chart below to enter the times.
_________ Mandelbrot (30-35 minutes)
_________ Sweet noodle kugel (45 minutes)
_________ Broccoli kugel (1 hour)
_________ Spinach kugel (30 minutes)
_________ Butternut squash kugel (45 minutes)
_________ Brownies (25-30 minutes)
Detailed Instructions for Cooking Day
This menu is “oven heavy”, so in between foods that have to be baked are the “dump” recipes.
- “Pantry Shopping”- cross off all items on the shopping list that you already have
- Shopping- make sure you have all ingredients
- Run dishwasher if full. Empty before beginning. (Note from Mara: Shaindy is so smart! I never would have thought of this!)
- Defrost broccoli, spinach and butternut squash overnight in fridge (or use microwave day of)
- Pre-heat oven to 325°
- Boil 16 oz. egg noodles for Sweet Noodle Kugel according to package
- Make Mandelbrot
- Chop veggies for Honey Chicken Kabobs and Fajitas
- 5 small onions, cut into 2″ pieces
- 2 red bell peppers, cut into 2″ pieces
- 2 green peppers, cut into strips
- Divide green pepper strips into 2 freezer bags. Remove all air, seal, label and freeze.
- Soak skewers in water for at least 30 minutes
- Pre-heat oven to 400° (When Mandelbrot is done)
- Make Sweet Noodle Kugel
- Prepare Shake ‘N Bake Chicken
- Pre-heat oven to 350° (When Sweet Noodle Kugel is done)
- Make Broccoli Kugels
- Make Spinach Kugels
- Cut skinless, boneless chicken breasts into 1″ cubes
- Prepare Honey Chicken Kabobs
- Divide remaining chicken pieces into freezer bags (to be used for fajitas). Seal, label and freeze.
- Make Butternut Squash Kugel
- Make Brownies
- Prepare Fajita Spice Mix
- Prepare Turkey with Sweet Potatoes
- Label all foods
- Store all food in freezer
- Clean up
- Run Dishwasher
- Pat yourself on the back!
Thanks so much Shaindy for sharing this very sensible plan for Kosher Once a Month Cooking! I am so inspired. Shaindy is happy to answer any questions you may have here on the blog. You may also email her at kosheroamc@gmail.com.
Wow–this looks so EASY! I look forward to trying it on an upcoming Sunday.
One note: For me, it’s more useful to list the time when the food should come *out* of the oven rather than the time I put it into the oven. Just my two cents worth…
Thank you!
Hi Caroline- it is easy! The part that took me the longest was cleaning the chicken. For future plans I hope to use your suggestion for putting in the times the food should come out of the oven- seems like a much better idea! Thanks!
Wow. That’s a great plan!
I used to do this, but with 4 small kids, I find that’s easier to do in pieces now. I usually make 6 or 8 of one thing each week, and then keep rotating what I have. It breaks it up a little, which is what works for me now!
Amital- The good thing about this plan is that you can break it up over several days, but you have to stick with what works for you! Btw- I love your website and hope to include some of your recipes in future plans.
Shaindy- Yay! I saw you just posted a butternut squash kugel, which is one of my regulars. Yum.
lol- the blog is not public yet… I’m not really sure where I want to go with it yet or if I even want to maintain it. I was just trying it out. I’m not even sure how you found it, but glad you did. I’ll update Mara on the blog address if/when it’s ready for public viewing.