Cooking Cautions For Round Pans

FYI

Be sure to remove the cardboard cover to the round pans, they burn and the foil part will bubble and smell like burnt plastic. 

March Totals

Here are the totals for March. We will settle them at our swap at the end of April. If that does not work for any of you, let me know. Just remember, if you have half meals you should get a little back. If you have full meals (two halves) you will owe money.

Our total cost for each half meal was $3.93 (including packaging).  Not too shabby!

Don't forget, the cap for meals is $60. This ensures that our costs always stay under $4 per half meal. As we add more people, and have more meals, the total may go up. If you absolutely cannot keep your recipe costs under this, you can swap recipes or see if everyone is willing to pay a little more for the amazing meal. Note: Jessi's total is over $60 because she was 2 meals short so I added the cost of two half meals to her total for reimbursement.

(Click to enlarge)

February Poll Results

Any meal with more than 3 "Once in a Lifetime" votes was booted. I figure that is a third of the group and is enough to try a new meal in its place. Thanks everyone!

Keeper
Cathy - Chicken Enchiladas
Cyntha - Chicken Pot Pie
Jen - Peaches and Cream Stuffed Pork Chops
Jessi - Cheesy Tomato Penne Bake
Karen - Sloppy Chicken Sandwiches
Kelly - Chicken Noodle Soup
Keri - New England Pot Roast
Lindsay - Sweet Pork

Once in a Lifetime
Kristy - Ham Casserole

March Polls are now updated for all our new meals! Enjoy!

Hey Ladies! Can you believe the time is coming up again for our swap?!?? Here are some items of business to look over for March...

1. If you want a different amount of food (i.e. go from 1/2 meal to whole or vice versa) let me know by tomorrow. If I don't hear from you by late afternoon, I'll assume your all good with the amount you had in March.

2. Christina Sherrin-Helm joined the group so now we will have 10 prepared meals each month (10 members=10 meals)!!!

3. I will post the total amount of meals to you by tomorrow night, so you have all week to shop. (right now it will be 16 half/8 full meals, unless someone changes.)

4. YOU MUST HAVE YOUR TOTALS IN TO JEN BY MONDAY, MARCH 22. SHE GOES IN FOR HER C-SECTION ON THE 23RD SO IN ORDER FOR OUR TOTALS TO BE ACCURATE ON THURSDAY'S SWAP, SHE NEEDS THEM ON THE 22ND AT A DECENT HOUR ;).


5. Kelly has pans and bags for pick-up. We are going to disperse the $120 total (500 pans and a huge box of bags) over 5 months. This way if you leave or someone new joins, it will be fair to all. Assuming we use 100 pans a month ( we should use less than that) they will last more than five months. Pretty much, you'll pay a couple dollars a month for supplies each month you participate.

6. Let me know what your preference is on the amount of people in the group. I know some say the more the merrier and others think too many is overwhelming. I think about 12 people would be ideal, but leave a comment below and let me know.

7. Lastly, make sure to go and rate all your meals that you ate this month so we can ditch them or keep 'em. Then we'll clear up that space for next month's recipes.

I think that is it!

Aluminum Pans

They are here. I have a huge box of them.

Cook It Frozen

For those of you who have not figured it out, the meals that are completely cooked and in the aluminum pans can be cooked frozen.  I cooked it at 450 for about 30+ min. 

So far I have done this with the:
Cheesy Tomato Penne Bake (cook with foil on so it won't dry out)
Chicken Enchilada (cook either way I did half on half off)
Chicken Pot Pie (be sure to remove plastic wrap under foil.  I cooked it with foil off too)

Ziploc Bags and Aluminum Pans

I ordered 9" round aluminum pans with cardboard lids. They are being shipped now. I also have a bevy of ziploc bags from Sam's Club that I bought for our group. Let me know what you need and how much. You will be able to come by and pick it up. I am hoping by next week. I will let you know when they get here.

Are you loving this as much as I am?!?!?

Hey all, our next exchange will be

Thursday, March 25 at 8 p.m.-Topaz Pavillion

Start looking for sales now on your ingredients to try and keep the costs as low as possible. If you know of anyone else who wants to join, they must be committed by March 15 so that we can prepare the amount of ingredients. At that time, we will make official how many meals to prepare.

Ham & Brocolli Rice Bake

This recipe is super easy beacuse the servings are really up to you!! First, just figure out how many servings you need and start by making the rice. So for example, for my family, (3 kids, 2 adults) I do about 3-4 cups (uncooked) rice. When its done, first mix in 2 cans cream of mushroom soup, 1/2 cup milk, next chop up and add 2-3 cups of ham, about one head of brocolli and 2 yellow squash, (both steamed). Mix together, add cheese if you want and spread it out in casserole dish and top with shreddedd cheese. Bake at 350 for 30 min or until heated through and ENJOY!!!! :)

MEAT SALE!!

Smiths is having a big meat sale this week, and Alberstons has some great deals too... check out your recipes for the upcoming months and see if there is anything here you need!