Kay sent me this e-mail with some wonderful suggestions. Here is her list.
Terri, Here are a few other ideas to add if you want:
Kitchen fee also includes paper plates, plastic wrap, tin foil, and plastic bags. Don't use any recloseable bags due to cost. Buy the ones that come with a twist tie - much cheaper, but getting harder to find.
Charity - may be whole month of food for family or divide between 2 families - just depends. Might stress flexibility in all areas is also one of the keys to the success of this. Example: not enough of a particular ingredient might mean an experimental change - change of meat, sauce, fill ingredient such as rice, etc.
One woman to watch small kids at their house all day in return for her share of the meals (she still pays, just isn't there to cook.) No small kids allowed.
Older kids help off and on and play at other times.
In addition to our buying the majority of ingredients others are welcome to bring (and encouraged to buy really good sales) what they have gotten for a really good price. We just don't assign anything in particular to anybody. We encourage them to call us and see if the price is a good one before buying large amounts since it takes really watching the sales to know how low prices get.
Works best to have one in charge of baking and one in charge of meals and delegate chores. Most of the women are really overwhelmed with this process when they first start out and need direction.
Not only do we clear the kitchen surface, we put up folding tables, clear surfaces in adjoining rooms that are practical, etc.
Favorite dish - homemade pizzas. Use large sheets of cardboard (another prep idea - have someone cut up boxes and cover sheets with plastic wrap. Use these to assemble and freeze pizzas. Just pop off and put on pan to bake.
Onions - try to do #100 one time for the year due to the mess/smell and do outside with breeze - otherwise too difficult.
Utilize Costco, etc. for large bulk cans of tomato sauce, vegetables, rice, beans, cheese, etc. - prices about 1/2 on lots of those kinds of items. Also have huge rolls of plastic wrap and tin foil that make it very affordable.
Prep work - precooking of all meats. Often done when purchased and frozen prepped.
For pricing tub also put cans lids in with prices written on them - just rinse off first.
Free food for dishwasher mostly because she is single and takes very small dishes home (think participants would have a problem with this otherwise)
Large roaster holds #40s of meat
In addition to lentils/barley added we use lots of beans (multiple different kinds)
Some items to buy in bulk that people might not think about: Margarine, eggs, flour, sugar, cheese, marshmallows, milk, rice crispies, oatmeal, large cans of cream of chicken soup, spices, salt, pepper, potatoes, beans, rice
For wrapping - use minimum possible to cut costs - these items are meant to be used up within a few weeks and will hold well without extra wrapping. Example - cookies/bars put on paper plate and just a cheap twist tie bag on it. One layer of tinfoil on pans (some women wanted to do plastic wrap first).
Hope this helps!"
Yes, Kay, I'm sure it will. Thank you so much for your example and sharing your ideas!
Once-a-Month Cooking
