The perfect number
of co-op cooking members seems to be four...any less and too many days are left to cook on my own, any more the cooking quantity becomes too much to handle.

Co-op cooking offers you a chance to share four nights a week with your family over a home-cooked meal. Priceless!




get started

Get started and have an answer to "what's for dinner?"

step 1 — recruit 3 other cooks

Good candidates could be friends, neighbors, co-workers, relatives - someone you know or would like to know. This is cooking with a social twist.

How badly do you want to save time, money and your mental health? You must market the idea and invite them to the one and only meeting to hear more. And when you find a good cook, grab them. Beware of picky eaters or finicky habits. Liver and onions will probably need to be reserved for weekends.

step 2 — the one and only meeting

  • bring a calendar for the next 3 months or start with my calendars to show you how its done.
  • come with 12-15 meal ideas
  • watch the DVD to answer your questions and to get discussion going on the following:

the basics

  • discuss food allergies and dislikes
  • decide what menus to include and quantity to serve
  • set delivery times and permanent cooking nights
  • discuss containers — each need to get 4 pyrex containers with lids, 4 plastic containers for side dishes, 4 small containers for sauces, dressings, etc.
  • mark containers with permanent pens — on the tops and bottoms
  • start your calendar of menus. Find recipes on the internet or cookbooks. Write menus ahead 2-3 months.
  • discuss meatless and ethnic cooking — okay with your family?
  • try to balance each cook's contribution to the monthly cooking. Balance a more expensive meal like French Dip Sandwiches with a meatless one the next week. Balance more time consuming meals like Lasagna with easy Brunswick Stew.

make it healthy

  • use skinless chicken or remove skin
  • when using ground beef, use leanest possible
  • avoid recipes using a lot of cream cheese, mayonnaises, cheddar cheese, etc.
  • each meal should include a non-starchy vegetable, salad or fruit
  • for variety in breads, buy specialty bread
  • watch the salt
  • increase fiber with whole grains like brown rice or whole wheat pasta versus white rice or pasta

step 3 — my night 2 cook  

Have all your ingredients on hand, put on some music and create your meal. Don't be afraid to try new recipes. Some will not be repeated, but some may become a favorite.