In recent months I’ve become a fan of preparing batches of meals to freeze. It’s so handy to be able to pull out a meal and throw it in the slow cooker in the morning knowing when I get home at the end of another busy day that dinner will be ready.
I spent the afternoon today doing just that. Six bags containing curried chicken, Hungarian goulash, and barbecue chicken are in the freezer. (I do need to find some glass containers to freeze them in so I can stop buying those plastic freezer bags too.)
It was a pleasant way to spend the afternoon. I deviated from my usual routine of having silence in the house and turned on the TV and watched and listened to two episodes of The Walton’s while I worked.
I chopped, measured, chopped some more, and puttered around the kitchen. All of the kitchen scraps went to the Worm Hotel–those busy worms continue to labor making precious compost for next year’s garden.
I was content.
It was a difficult week on the work-front and this time spent in my kitchen was good for me. It grounded me. Time in the kitchen, coupled with a chatty conversation with my daughter, Laurinda, helped remind me of what’s important and to let go of all the rest.
One of my friends on Facebook reminded me to consider my retirement countdown chain too. My mantra for the day: “less than sixteen months”.
Dear Linda, I, too, need time to be alone in the kitchen, potching, cooking, baking. And I’m so happy for you that you give yourself that time. When one is working full time, weekends and evenings become so precious.
The countdown has begun! In a little more than a year you will be able to work on that novel you’re planning without having to get to a job. You’ll have a new job–being true to your muse. Peace.
Time is indeed precious, Dee. I think we all sometimes struggle with the challenge of balancing all of the things we want to do. It’s the price we pay for living in the modern world with so many choices available to us.
How I wish I were as organized as you in the kitchen. Do you cook the meals before you freeze them? Or just chop everything up?
I love my crock pot. I feel more like cooking in the morning than I do at my low-point that hits sometime aroun 4 p.m.
You’re right about the kitchen work grounding you. I don’t know why I fight it so much.
Everything is just chopped up and thrown together, Christine. That’s the beauty of it! I did do one recipe this way that called for ground beef though, and I browned it before adding it. My crock pot is a life-saver! On a side note, the crock pot I use belonged to my mom. She’s been gone for almost thirty years–doesn’t that say something about quality of things in days gone by?!
Linda, what a wonderful way to spend quiet time and relax doing something you love to do! Can you believe how you’re closing in on retirement? I hope you will find it as fulfilling as I have.
Thanks for reminding me even in retirement time to enjoy the things I truly love to do.
Blessings, Sherrey