I haven't asked you about your kitchen goals for a couple months so I wanted to do that again in case you have gardening or canning goals that you want to share, or anything at all! Or if you've gotten through some nice sized kitchen projects recently, you can tell us about those in the comments, too. 🙂
I'll tell you about something fun I did in the kitchen recently, but first… Do you have a blog?
If you have a blog and plan to share your kitchen goals there, feel free to grab the picture above, and then leave us a link to your post in the comments.
My latest kitchen project:
Recently a neighbor had a new baby, and so did my cousin who lives nearby. I also have a friend recovering from surgery. You probably know what that means… It's time to make a big batch of something and take meals to them! I always love to do that, but sometimes I'm just not sure what to take over. Then it came to me: I'll take them breakfast instead of dinner for something different! So I made 4 batches (for 6 various sized pans) of this yummy Baked Oatmeal:
Here's what I did with them:
- I took 2 pans to the families with new babies, along with some from-the-farm breakfast sausage. (If you can’t find local sources or don’t have time to search them out, you can order healthy, safe meat here.) And by the way, no, I don't like using those aluminum disposable pans, but you can put parchment paper on the bottom to minimize the aluminum touching the food. Normally I use my glass or stainless steel baking pans.
- I took one pan to my friend recovering from surgery.
- I took one pan to my friend, Sonia, who has a birthday coming up and I thought she might like to wake up to the delicious smell of oatmeal, cinnamon and apples. 🙂
- I put one pan in our freezer to pull out some day for a quick breakfast. Sometimes I'll surprise Kent and put it in the oven the night before with the automatic oven timer set, so that it's done right at the crack of dawn and he has a hot breakfast before he heads out for the day.
- I put one big pan in the freezer to take with us to the cottage this past weekend.
A lot of my main dish recipes can be made into big batches, too.
Your turn, be sure to share in the comments!
Amber says
So for the frozen version, do you bake that and thaw it later, or do you freeze it unbaked and then let it thaw to cook?
Amber says
Oh never mind, should have actually READ the recipe first before asking, ROFL!!!
Linda says
I thought you had dropped kitchen goals. I’ve been so busy lately with my garden and ferments and everything else! I am trying to make kombucha for the first time and I think It’s working! I see a thin film sitting on top. That is so cool!
I am doing the bone broth challenge at cheeseslave.com It’s fun and I’m getting ideas on new ways to use broth. We picked a bunch of strawberries to freeze in May and blueberries this past weekend at organic farms. I want to be sure not to let my herbs go to waste.
Kelly, taking food to your friends is such a nice thing to do. I have a relative who is pregnant and I wish I could bring her bone broth. Speaking of those aluminum pans, I have some too. My vet had an accident in May. She fell off her horse and broke her ankle and shattered her elbow. I felt so bad for her so I made brownies to take over in, you guessed it, an aluminum pan. Didn’t even think to put parchment paper in. She’s a real foodie too, a member of WAPF. Hope I remember next time.
KitchenKop says
Hi Linda,
I have to do something with my herbs, too!
Yes, I sort of dropped the Kitchen Goals posts, but thought I’d still do it now and then, but probably not monthly anymore…
Kelly
kate says
What instructions do you give people for reheating the baked oatmeal when you give it away? I have a couple friends who will be having babies soon, and I love that idea as a meal to bring over!
KitchenKop says
I actually take it to them unbaked. I tell them to leave it out overnight and bake in the morning, or set the automatic oven to come on.
For re-heating, though, some put it in a saucepan with a little milk in the bottom and slowly warm it. I prefer popping it into my convection oven for a few minutes.
Kelly
shannon says
That baked oatmeal recipe is how I first found your site. It’s so yummy and adaptable. I love the idea of parchment paper on the bottom of those aluminum pans. Why didn’t I think of that?! I have about 30 of them as my frugal grandma gave them to me and I just love using them for giving food to people and will use the parchment idea from now on.
I finally signed up for the Gnowflins e-courses so can’t wait to try out some sourdough recipes. I’ve enjoyed making your soaked tortillas and am now ready to try some sourdough ones tomorrow.
Teresa says
We eat this at our house every morn because we love it so much. Since there is only 2 of us, I bake it and keep it in frig and cut off a square and put in a pan with a little butter to heat up and it is wonderful with yogurt & fruit.. Thanks for sharing! Love your site.