Family

Family Affairs

I get asked this one question a lot of time which is "How do you manage to do all?” which something is very irritating for me as I think once you become a mother it automatically makes you a wonder-woman. Anyways, here is my introduction for those who don’t know me. I am a mother of 3 sons, one with special needs, I work full time, have a wonderful husband and I devote some of my time as an assistant to the wonderful facebook group FOODILCIOUS "COOKS @ WORK" where I have found wonderful loving sisters which are also known as Foodi admins. Here is the link to our group just in case you are not already aware of it. 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/FOODILCIOUS-COOKS-WORK/298089336594


I never want to come across like I’m superwoman because I can assure you I’m most definitely not. What I am though is very careful with my time and I guard it like there’s no tomorrow. Every minute of my time is well accounted for well most of the time. I don’t have a lot of commitments to the “outside” activities in my life as my life revolves around my husband, my kiddos and now Foodi. When I am at work, getting bored because of night shift, I help out my “sisters” with our group Foodies . Once I am home I have every minute accountable from making kiddos breakfast to dropping them to the bus stop for their school to taking kids to the Dr. appt or therapist appt, I even have time set for my sleep time and also for my cooking time. My husband doesn’t have any demands or expectations from me but all he asks for is fresh food on the table or at least in the fridge ready for him to reheat. Every other weekend I "cook for my freezer" just in case I get busy with “life” and don’t have time to make supper. By cooking for the freezer doesn’t mean that I don’t cook food during the week rather it is for emergencies only. So when I am too busy to cook I go and “shop” in my freezer and within 20 minutes the dinner gets served Alhamdullillah It is all about being organized.

The purpose of writing this post is organizing / managing your time. Being organized is not a one size fits all routine for everyone. What works for me may not work for everyone. I am in love with Google. Its Calendar helps me stay organized. I have my budget to menu planning on Google Docs which I can access at work, at home even at my mom’s as it is online. I have got everything all set up on my laptop for me. It may not work for you. May be for you writing on the calendar is enough to stat organized but for me I have to have access to the internet and for the backup I store my appts on my cell phone. I am a big fan of paperless time management. Few of my friends has to have their iPhone to help them stay sane between work, kiddos appt. to the parties organization but I personally can’t justify the big cell phone expense so I have my Sony Ericsson with No data plan and has bare minimum features and it is just for emergency but it has enough features for my basic need which is a peace of mind for the JIC needs. (Just in case)

I have a Menu planner spreadsheet which helps me stay organized in the kitchen. I make plan for the week which helps my hubby for the grocery shopping which I haven’t done since I was pregnant with my oldest son. I just don’t have to temperament for the grocery shopping, car repairs, gas (petrol) filling of the car, household repair and also mowing the lawn. I just don’t do these chores. It is my hubby’s job and he does that. We (Me & my hubby) had agreed on dividing our responsibilities really early on after I started working full time so one knows what is other person expecting from them. We had to agree on these things because when both parents work opposite shifts it gets hard to keep track of everything. I manage Kiddos appointments, money management and cooking. Hubby manages everything else.

Following is the screen shot of one of my doc on Google Documents where I keep track of all of our expenses. Below is the sample for you. It is really helpful for me to see where the money is going and Help me stay on budget. It has helped me organized money wise tremendously. I hope it helps you as well. I will talk more about budgeting in future post. 

Sample :

DUE	BILLS
1st	Suhail's RRSP
1st	Property Tax
1st	Water & Gas Bill
1st	Yusuf’s Nursery School
Every 3 month	Raahim's Machine
Biweekly	Mortgage
Biweekly	Amber's RRSP
15th	Zain's RESP
18th	Hydro
18th	Roger's Cell
20th	Bell Bill
20th	Car Insurance
20th	Raahim's RESP
20th	Yusuf's RESP
25th	Life Insurance
25th	Property Insurance
monthly	BMO Credit Card
monthly	BMO Line of Credit
monthly	CDN Tire Option
monthly	HBC Credit Card
monthly	Walmart Credit
Monthly	RBC Visa Bill
Last day	Total Bills
Last day	Account Balance

Post by Ambreen Khan

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Freezer Cooking


I got the idea of this post from a question asked by one of the member. So, I decided to share what I do to stay sane in the Kitchen while working full-time and especially when guests come over to stay. Freezer is my best friend and a biggest helpe. I do this every 2nd weekend

So, First thing first! I PLAN my freezer menu, which is pretty simple.

Freezer Menu:

Shami Kabab
Chicken Roast/Chicken Tikka
Spring roll
Chicken & Ground beef Patties
Koftay (ground beef & Chicken)
Yakhni for Pulao
Meat Sauce for Lasagne & Macaroni


2nd step is the grocery list. Since I have been doing this for a while now, so I have an excel Sheet on my laptop which I just update it and print off the grocery list after checking my pantry and freezer. I have noticed a huge difference in saving money ever since I am doing this. It almost eliminates impulse shopping. (Well almost: D ) I also like to buy Frozen chopped vegetables to make life a little easier. Here in Kitchener, Canada. I get frozen chopped Okra (Bhindi), frozen chopped spinach, frozen chopped methi, Frozen French fries,

3rd step is Chopping and lining up everything. I chop tons of veggies that day so I use my chopper’s special attachment. It makes life easier.

My grocery list:

Chicken Legs (Thigh & drum stick separated)
Full Chicken with Skin
Ground beef (Regular)
Ground beef (lean) for Lasagne/macaroni
Ground Chicken mince (for spring rolls & Patties)
Boneless, meat (for shami kabab)
Bone-in Meat (For yakhni)
Tenderflake Puff pastry ( I make 8 patties from 1 packet)
Spring roll wraps
Yogurt
Choice of Vegetables for Spring roll
Pasta Sauce
Tomato Sauce
Freezer bags & containers


Method of my madness

First of all, I add daal and Boneless Meat with other ingredients for Shami Kabab in the pot and let it cook.

At the same time I add everything to the Meat for Yakhni according to the recipe and let it cook on another burner.

Then I pack it in individually and off to the deep freezer. It is THE easiest part.

I then marinate the Chicken legs and thighs and use the containers to store it in the freezer not the bags. And I try to leave some gap in between the legs and thighs while they are in freezer to make it easier when it is the time to either use Bar B Q or the oven.

Now I start working on the Meat Sauce for Lasagne and Macaroni/Pasta. I follow the recipe and when it is done. I leave it aside for it to cool down until it is cool enough to handle bare-handed, and then freeze it. Never try to freeze the meal while it is still piping hot.

I don’t make everything in one day but during the whole weekend. I work really hard for 2 days but it helps me whole lot to stay organized while working full time & be a good host. I never had to order a take out just because I have got an un-announced guest at my door. Idea of this post is to help you envision that this is something you can do too and enjoy the fruit of your hard work for weeks to come.


Since I lived outside Pakistan, so every time I have guest over at some off time, I never worry about what I am going to serve them. I just open my freezer take out Koftay. Make curry for Koftay while rice is being cooked. Meanwhile bake chicken legs (as it takes less time (which is about an hour to bake than full chicken which takes about one hour and 45 minutes AFTER I defrost it in the microwave) cook sabzi while curry is being done and voila Food is served.

 

Post by Ambreen Khan