The rules

Everyone is welcome to participate. I would like to use the facebook dinner group page as much as possible due to it being the easiest and fastest way for everyone to communicate.

The guidlines are as follows:

Don't feel obligated to participate every month.

Between the 1st-8th of the month please post on the facebook page

1. How many people

This way we will be able to split the groups up accordingly. We will most likely do one group with meals for 4 and one group for meals of 6, this will depend on how many are participating and how large the family size is. We will try to keep each group to no more than 5 people to keep it manageable for making the meals. Once again this will vary depending on the number participating

2. Three meals you would be willing to make.

Everyone will then get a chance to vote on which meal for you to make, majority rules. This way everyone will get a say and hopefully prevent duplicates. Voting will end on the 9th of each month.

I will then assign everyone to a group and their meal by the 10th

The meal exchange will happen around the first of each month, dates/times will be determined when the majority can get together to exchange. We would like to keep the time to exchange to 15-20 min.

so for an example I would post on the facebook page before the 8th

4 people, chicken tacos, lasagna, sloppy joes

people will then be able to vote until the 9th which meal they would like me to make.

then on the 10th I will put up something like this

group one families of 4

Name - Meal

Name - Meal

group two families of 6

Name - Meal

Name - Meal

Sound complicated enough? I sure hope not! I really think this will work but I am open to suggestions, so if you have any suggestions please let me know! So lets get started.:)

help on serving sizes

CONTAINER OR PACKAGING SIZES

FOUR SERVING SIZE

• If it goes in a pan use an 8x8 or a 9x9 (Good for casseroles, and meat dishes)
• If it goes in a bag use a gallon size bag filled 3/4 full (Good for soups and stir-fry's)

SIX SERVING SIZE

• If it goes in a pan use a 9x13 (Good for casseroles, and meat dishes)
• If it goes in a bag use a two gallon size bag and fill it 2/3 full or use a gallon size bag and fill it all the way. (It will bulge when you do this) (Good for soups and stir-fry's)

Side note

Remember to put on each meal what it is, servings, and instructions on cooking the meal.

PORTION SIZES
FOUR OR SIX SERVINGS

• If I am making a soup or stew (for example beef stew for six servings) I would use 2-3 lbs of beef chuck, six potatoes, six carrots, and six celery stalks and then I would season to taste with pepper, onion, and other seasonings. (if this were for four servings I would use a little less meat and then 4 of each of the above)
• If I am doing a chicken based meal I would do the same as above except use enough meat to equal six breasts for six servings or four breasts for four servings.
• If I am making Empanadas, Pot Stickers, Egg Rolls, etc. for six servings I would make between 9-12 depending on the size of the item. If I were doing it for four servings I would do between six and eight. REMEMBER A SERVING SIZE MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE JUST ONE ITEM. If I am doing a Lasagna or some type of pasta bake or casserole I would make enough to fill a 9 X 13 for six servings or 8 X 8 for four servings.

ITEMS TO KEEP IN MIND
***I have had some people mention that they end up with leftovers and so they want less food. I have had others mention that sometimes they don't get enough food to feed their family. So as a general rule keep these things in mind.***

• All portion sizes should feed an adult. This is beneficial for those that feed not only themselves and a husband, but teenage children as well. Those that have teens know that they eat a lot! (Also, remember that a serving for an adult should fill your palm and fingers if you held your hand flat.
• I realize this may mean that those who don't have children or have young children, will be eating leftovers. I apologize for those that don't like leftovers, but feel this is beneficial for those that like to eat them. It also keeps things even. If we keep our portion sizes equal everyone will always get the same amount of food that they put into it. I don't want anyone feeling like they put more into their meals than they receive.