The Dinner Exchange Concept

I am all about making my life easier, as we all know the dreaded time of the day between 4pm-6pm where the kids are tired, hungry, thirsty, emotional and demanding to say the least. This all occurs whilst I am trying to cook dinner, unless I am organised and have pre made some things, that I can either take out of the freezer and that just need reheating or take minimal effort and are fast… VERY fast!

The dinner exchange concept began with a group of school mums, to assist during school holidays, so we had more time to spend with our kids, and less time worrying about, shopping and cooking with them at our ankles!

What is it? We get together over a coffee… (Or 3!) and plan 4 or 5 freezer friendly meals – usually things like Bolognese sauce, meatballs, cannelloni, curries, schnitzels, and chilli con carne – we then shop for all the ingredients required to make a serve for each family (in our case it is 4 families so we times all recipes by 4 so we all take home the same amounts), once the shopping has been done, we simply split the cost (this never exceeds $60 per family) then we all meet at 1 kitchen and cook everything together… (It is necessary to purchase wine and stay hydrated during this cooking session!!) I recommend doing this at night when the devils, I mean delightful children, are tucked up in bed!

We have done these a number of times and therefore know now exactly what we need to bring to the kitchen to make this a quick, enjoyable cook up – all leaving with 6-8 dinners to survive the school holidays, or just for those nights when the days have escaped us… (Don’t know about you, but this happens at least once a week in my home!)

Essential items to bring along:

1. Wine – very important as stated, to stay well hydrated
2. Own knives – everyone is different when it comes to what they are comfortable cooking / cutting with so we have found that bringing along you own personal knives makes it easier
3. Food processor – the first time we did this I think I hand cut 2kg of onions, and wasn’t using my own knife … fair to say I now know why that cook went till 1am! Chopping Onions in the food processor – 2 minute job, and I can hold my wine glass in the other hand (priorities!)
4. Meat tenderizer if making schnitzels – having one each and bashing out your chicken or beef is quicker than one person with 4kg to bash out
5. Your biggest Pot
6. 1L plastic containers
7. Foil Trays
8. Glad Bags