TRADITIONAL October 2011 OAMM Menu (OAMC, Once A Month Cooking, Freezer Cooking)
This month’s menu sponsor is Hunt’s. Did you know that Hunt’s has a Signature Recipe Collection? A wide selection of great recipes to choose from no matter your budget or time constraints. Check out their recipes today.
[sam_ad id="7" codes="true"]Fall is here and this months’ freezer meals are all about comfort with soups, simple family-style casseroles, and seasonal flavors. I hope that as your fill your freezer you will spend less time worrying about meal prep, and will have more time to spend enjoying the season of cooler weather, jumping in piles of leaves, visiting the pumpkin patch, and participating in Halloween festivities.
**Note that there is a Step2 Fresh Market Kitchen giveaway going on now through 10/2, be sure to enter to win. And PLEASE consider filling out our survey (it is short) so we can get to know our readers more. PLEASE!!
I hope you enjoy these meals as much as our early readers/cooks have. If you are new and not sure how to get started, read here. For frequently asked questions visit here. And there are several other helpful links under the Helpful Hints/Resources section below to help you on your cooking journey. Good luck!
Menu
- Included below are the menu items that we will be preparing as part of our Once A Month Cooking (OAMC) BIG DAY. In the printable October 2011 Recipe Cards you can adjust the number of servings to accommodate the number of people that you are cooking for. The recipes linked below are ONLY for the single batch, to see the amounts we are making on the OAMC BIG DAY you will need to visit the printable October 2011 Recipe Cards.
- Having trouble using the Recipe Cards or YELLOW BOX? See this post!
Harvest Pancakes
Breakfasts
Lunches
Dinners
- Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf
- Salsa Chicken
- Chicken Enchilada Lasagna
- Mama’s Meatballs and Gravy
- Spinach Artichoke Pasta
- Lentil Tacos
- Ground Beef Stroganoff
- Chicken and Stuffing Bake
Mama's Meatballs and Gravy
Printable October 2011 Recipe Cards
**Indicates meals that require NO COOKING on your OAMC BIG DAY!
Grocery List
- Included in this spreadsheet you will find a listing of all the items you will need to complete your October OAMC BIG DAY. For more instructions on how to use this, go here.
- TRADITIONAL October 2011 OAMM Grocery List
Instructions
- These are the step-by-step instructions you will need to quickly and efficiently approach your OAMC BIG DAY!
- TRADITIONAL October 2011 OAMM Instructions
Labels
These customized labels are designed specifically for the October 2011 Once A Month Mom Menu. They contain not only the name of the dish but also the serving instructions for preparing the dish on your serving day. They make preparation of the dishes hassle free.
These labels are designed to be printed on Avery 8163
Pinterest:
Traditional October 2011
Are you a person that likes to see the menus visually? Perhaps you should check out the October 2011 Traditional Menu via Pinterest to see the yummy goodness you will be cooking up on this menu. Not sure what Pinterest is all about, check out what Once A Month Mom has to say about it.
Facebook Fan Party:
OAMM Facebook Fan Page Party – October 16, 2011, 9:00 pm – 9:30 pm EST – We will be able to chat via video AND messaging during the event through FACEBOOK! How cool is that? We will be talking about the current month’s menus, answer your burning questions about freezer cooking and have fun getting to know one another. You can also see other past recordings from that tab as well.
Instructions for viewing live-stream:
- Go to the Once A Month Mom Facebook Fan Page.
- Click on the “Facebook Fan Night” Tab on the left.
- Hit “view live recording” – If I am live streaming it will show you what is happening in progress. If I am not live streaming at the time, you will have the option to click through other videos that I have recorded in the past.
- Enjoy!
Test Cooks
Each month we have some wonderful volunteers who “test” out the menu prior to publication. They do an amazing job of helping to eliminate confusion and mistakes. They may not catch everything but they sure do catch A LOT! Here is a little bit about this month’s test cook:
- Jeri Randall – I work two jobs for about 60 hours a week. My family includes my husband and two teenagers. The kids seem to be constantly headed in different directions. We live in a rural area so have limited access to uncommon ingredients. Combined with a tightening budget (due to the economy) the variety and convenience of the meals have been a bonus for our family.
Menu Sponsor: Hunt’s
Sponsors like this one help to keep this site FREE to our readers so we are SUPER appreciative. Consider taking a moment to say thank you by “Like”ing them on Facebook or following them on Twitter. And don’t be shy about telling them who recommended them. :)
- Facebook Fan Page: Hunt’s
- Twitter: @huntschef
Helpful Hints/Resources
- Creating Your Own OAMC Menu Series
- How To Navigate the OAMM Menu
- Preparing For A Successful OAMC Day
- Adapting The Menu for YOUR Family
- Making the Menu Healthier
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Shopping For Your Cooking Day
- Final Shopping Trip For Your OAMC Day
- Choosing The Right Containers
What do you think of October 2011’s menu?
If you are feeling abundantly blessed and generous feel free to donate. :) But don’t feel guilty if you aren’t able. And don’t forget you can always go back and use October 2009‘s OR October 2010‘s menus if you are looking for something different!
Looks like another banner month! This will be the first month I pull my sister in law in on the fun, can’t wait to share the menu with her!
One quick question on the broccoli cheddar biscuits – I noticed that in the OAMM recipe card it says to use broccoli florets, but not whether they should be raw or cooked/frozen. The original recipe says to use blanched florets, wasn’t sure if we should do something difference since they are being frozen?
If you are using frozen broccoli, you shouldn’t need to do anything, but if you are using fresh, probably go ahead and blanch first like the original recipe. I will make changes in the cards. Thanks for pointing that out!!
Hi, this is my first month with OAMM and I think this is just an amazing resource. I seem to have a problem viewing the recipe cards once they are downloaded. The instructions comments come up as #####, I have tried enlarging the text to accommodate the spacing but no luck. Any suggestions?
Hi Kristy,
This post should help: http://onceamonthmom.com/all-menus-saving-printing-google-document-grocery-lists-recipe-cards-instructions/
Thanks Pam, but this doesn’t show me anything I haven’t already done. I’ll play around with some other options. If you think of anything else… maybe it’s a compatibility thing..?
One of the other writers suggested this solution:
Are you trying to use the document in Excel, or are you keeping it in Google Docs? If you keep them in Google documents and access/use them there, the integrity is maintained and you shouldn’t get the ##### anymore.
Hey Pam, I am using them in excel. You’re saying to keep them as a google doc? I will not be able to change the quantities if I leave it as a google doc, is that right(That’s ok, I can always write the quantities out)? They are right as I only encounter the issue when I download into excel.
Maybe I should see this as a sign that I should not be the cook of the household, lol.
You ARE able to change the quantities, just follow the yellow box post but instead of downloading it as an Excel spreadsheet, copy it which will copy it into your Google Docs account. And not a sign you shouldn’t be the cook, more a sign you shouldn’t be the excel wizard. :)
This would have been my second month using your menus but I am sad to see that almost all of the whole foods menu items contain cheese or cream this month. I’m not big on gluten-free versions of things like pasta and baked goods so there aren’t a lot of options for our family this month :( I will have to scour old menus…..
If the directions do not say thaw overnight does that mean that it goes straight to oven/crock pot? Thanks:)
That is a good question. We have gotten a little lazy about putting which items need to be thawed and which don’t and will work on getting better at that. The best rule of thumb is to pre-thaw items that aren’t already cooked (casseroles, soups, etc) or items that will be in the food “danger zone” for longer than 2 hours (ie slow cooker meals). If you have a question about specific dishes please let us know.
yes, please:) I was wondering about the following:
*salsa chicken (by the way love this and so excited to have freezing instructions, thanks)
*white cheddar chicken pasta
*monterey chicken
*white chicken chili
Thanks so much!! I am guessing after your info that the two crockpot recipes should be thawed:) I really appreciate your work and love following you and using your recipes!
Megan Three out four of the recipes you listed are from the Whole Foods menu :) The White Cheddar Chicken Pasta – No need to thaw you will reheat the sauce while cooking the pasta. Monterey Chicken – Yes, thaw. White Chicken Chili – Yes, thaw. As for the Salsa Chicken, yes I would say thaw as well.
Thanks! Yes, sorry, I am doing half and half this month:) I appreciate the clarifications:)
We had the same problem with Excel and after changing a few settings in “Format Cells” the text appeared as it should in place of the ####. In the “Format Cells” menu click on the “Number” tab and highlight “General” (not “Text”). Then in the “Alignment” tab check the “Wrap Text” box. Finally in the “Protection” tab uncheck the “Locked” box. Sounds like a lot of steps, but it’s just a few clicks & now it’s working. We’re brand new to this site (a friend suggested it), and we’re excited to start trying recipes.
For the Harvest pancakes, what kind of squash- zucchini, butternut, pumpkin?
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this website!!!!! Thanks for all the energy and time it takes to make this happen.
Quick note on the chicken parmesean meatloaf- the parmesean is missing out of the ingredient list. I believe the recipe calls for 1/2 C.
Thanks again :0)
Oh!! Thanks for pointing that out! Will go make the correction. Really appreciate it.
Hi. I just found your site and I’m excited to get started on this month’s menu. I’m confused about how much food this makes. If I enter 4 in the yellow box, is that 2 families of 4 each or just 1 family of 4? Thanks for the clarification.
If you enter it for 4 it is for 4 servings (1 family). That will give you two of every recipe for those 4 people which is what you will need for the month.
I was wondering on the pumpkin seeds and the sunflower seeds are we using actual seeds or do we need to open all of the seeds up for the insides?
The seeds are for the granola bars. The granola bar recipe has suggestions for substitutions if you’d rather omit or use something different.
Some quick questions….
onions – grocery list says 10.
chopping says – 12…..and that will make 45 cups? i’m assuming there is a typo somewhere…..
i’m looking forward to trying my first OAMC Big Day!
Fixed. Thanks.
I’ve started doing this using the Diet Menu, since it has all of the nutrition information listed and I’m super-conscious of what I’m feeding my kids. I’d love to use a few of the recipes from the Traditional and Whole Foods menus, but they don’t have any nutrition info. Any chance that will be added at some point?
Hi Devon,
It may be something we consider for the future, but in the meantime, you can plug in any recipe and find the nutrition facts using this resource: http://caloriecount.about.com/cc/recipe_analysis.php
Glad I read the comments first :) I am new to the site and really appreciate the menus and work that has gone in – was hoping to see nutrition info in the whole foods (and traditional) section as well. Thanks for the link, though!
I’m trying to understand which month the meals are for. If you posted your October menu on Oct. 1st, are you then shopping throughout October the sales to purchase the needed items and then your big cooking day is actually at the end of October to provide meals for November??
That’s the idea if you are wanting to maximize your savings and shop the sales.
i just came across this website oh my gosh i love it!!!!!!i love oamc and this site helps a bunch only having the meals recipes for one person brilliant!!!!thanks for the website!!!
Welcome! We are glad you have joined us!
Hi,
Looking at the Recipe cards, chopping amounts, for 5 servings it tells me I need 56.25 cups of chopped onions, that can’t possibly be right, can it? This is my first month trying the big batch cooking. Thank you so much for your website!!
Well, this months cards seem to be possessed. I don’t know what happened. That should be 18.75 cups for a 5 servings, the amount of onions was correct. Sorry, that is changed now for everyone!
Thank you! I mean we DO like onions but… :) Not to be nitpicky because I appreciate the giant amount of work this must be, but I noticed that several of the recipes didn’t accurately change when I changed the servings to 5. In particular the pumpkin chocolate chip muffins (which are delicious by the way!) and the chicken enchilada lasagna. And the grocery list formulas seem to be off as well, most of the dairy items, containers, baking goods in particular. Thank you again
In some cases the formulas won’t change when you put in a different servings. It is a formula issue when you have things like eggs in a recipe. It is difficult to explain but we write the formulas for best serving size but also what makes sense for ingredients. And yes, as for containers, those will be off too, we do our best to write the formulas to the best of our ability but you do have to manually think about containers that make the most sense for what you are doing. For instance, instead of 8×8′s you might want to use 9×13′s, etc. But we do like you to check with us on these things because we aren’t above making mistakes. It happens. We edit what we can and rely on readers to help us make them better. Thank you.
Thank you!
Little Confused. The chop page says to slowcook 1 lb. of chicken the night before. But the recipe (chicken enchilada lasagna) calls for 2 lb. of cooked chicken breast. Do I make the recipes exactly as listed (after I put my yellow number in (4)), and that makes 8 servings? 2 meals for my fam? Also, wouldn’t it be great if the night before prep could be listed on the top of the instruction sheet? Thanks in advance. Loving this concept and excited to be a once a month mom!!!!
Thanks for catching that typo.
Yes, if you put in 4 servings, this will actually make 2 of that meal for the 4 of you (or 8 servings).
Cooking Pumpkin…
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Just stumbled on your site while trying to find freezer meals to prepare for my family while I’m in nursing school. Totally love it and you ROCK! Thank you soooo much! I can’t wait to get started!
Welcome! Yes, this should surely help you get through that hectic time. We start a new series in just a few days for new oamc cooks or new Once A Month Mom readers. Enjoy.
4 friends and I just finished up making 6 dishes from the October menu. It was AWESOME! I totally appreciate all the work that you put in and that even the ingredients are on sale! We were able to get 6 family meals each for less than $30 per family! I am so excited, I can’t wait to start planning our next cooking day :)
Just put the pumpkin chocolate chip muffins in the oven – good thing I’m a batter licker :) because I tasted and thought “something is missing.” After re-reading the instructions, it says “combine pumpkin, eggs, etc” and the brown sugar is not listed so I didn’t include it. I had to dump all my batter back in the pan, add the brown sugar and use new muffin liners in the pan. Just FYI you might want to edit the instructions. But they smell great now!
lentils nutrition…
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