Showing posts with label Freezer Cooking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Freezer Cooking. Show all posts

Monday, August 22, 2011

Breakfast burritos

PLEASE visit my Caramel Corn Recipe...There is a give away going on and I really want to give it to someone!  No entries yet!

A few weeks ago, during my freezer cooking marathon, I needed sausage for my salisburry steak.  I went to Sam's and purchased 3 of the 2 pound rolls and I knew I would have enough for the salisburry steak and for some to have cooked and ready in the freezer for pizzas.  I didn't anticipate the handiness of having the sausage cooked for other things...but I have loved having it in the freezer!  A couple of weeks ago I got out some sausage for pizza and we never got to it, so I whipped up some breakfast burritos.  I usually just make them with eggs and cheese, but I decided to add the sausage and made up a bunch. 

I filled them, with eggs and sausage, and topped with cheese.  

Then I rolled them up, burrito style.  

I wrapped them in paper towel and threw all of them in a gallon sized freezer bag.  

I ended up just leaving mine in the fridge, but you could put them in the freezer to grab on a busy work morning...I have been sending them with Aaron.  You could add green peppers, onions, and/or salsa if you want, but I haven't yet.  We warm them in the microwave for about 30 seconds (from the fridge) and yum!  I made a rather large batch this weekend, because our house was full--and they were an easy, warm, meal.  Thankfully, they take very little time to make.  I thought they might be more time consuming, but they weren't. I hope you'll try these too!  
 
Blessings to you, 
Amanda

Linked up today at:




Tempt my Tummy Tuesdays


Beauty and Bedlam



The Imperfect Housewife

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Monday, August 8, 2011

Weekend Recap

We had a busy weekend around here.  Our town had it's local carnival and festivities, among them...a town wide rummage sale.  So, I spent quite a bit of time, over the last month or two, going through the boxes of stuff around here and trying to simplify.  I'm not quite sure if I was successful at the simplifying, but we did get rid of quite a bit of stuff!  My inlaws came to play with our littles and keep them occupied during the sale...and I am SO thankful they did! 

Friday they took them to the beach in a neighboring town and later that evening we went to the carnival and car show on our downtown street.  The boys got to choose a ride to do, Levi chose the big slide and Silas chose a train ride. 


Both were happy with their choice, even though Levi said it was a little scary.  Saturday, I baked in the sun...as I forgot to apply sunscreen!  The boys played with grammy and papa and on their bikes and went to the parade in the evening.  Silas even did some riding without his training wheels on!

It was a blast and they are still talking about the tractors, semis, firetrucks, and go carts in the parade...plus they came home with bags full of candy!  Sunday, after church, I made a new dish for lunch...it was amazing and I whole heartedly recommend Crescent Chicken

I served it with salads..it's easy, minimal ingredients...it's a keeper...YUM!  Today I am on clean up duty from the long weekend.  Doing laundry, dishes and getting order back from the chaos.  I have a lot to do in the garage, but intend to stay out of there for the week.

For tonight's dinner, I took a lasagna out of the freezer...from my recent freezer cooking marathon....an easy weeknight meal.  I pray you had a blessed weekend too! 

Blessings to you,

Amanda

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Freezer Cooking

Last night, after all of the littles were in bed, and I had gone to the Y to exercise, I decided to go to Owens (our Kroger) and take advantage of a good sale on non-frozen (fresh) chicken.  It was 1.97 a pound and I needed some, err rather wanted some that had not been pre-frozen to finish up some freezer cooking.  So, I bought 6 packages!  When I got home, I got promptly to work and made a triple batch of Chicken Cacciatore. (click on the link to get the recipe)
A triple batch almost overflowed my big pot!


We love, love, love, love, LOVE this recipe.  It has awesome flavor and is a great freezer meal!  A triple batch gives us 4 meals, so I froze 3 and one is for tonight!



While that was simmering, I threw together a batch of Cheesy Italian Chicken.  I got this recipe and meal from our friend Christian last year after Lydia was born.  It is yummy...and super quick to throw together! I didn't even use a bowl, but threw the ingredients into the freezer bag, let the air out, and mixed it up.

Here is the recipe:

Cheesy Italian Chicken

 (FYI: This can just be thrown into the crock pot or put in a freezer bag for a later date! Also, I like chicken tenders for this recipe)

4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, I used 1.25 pounds of tenders.
2 cans of cream of chicken soup
3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup Italian bread crumbs (make sure they are the seasoned Italian ones!)
2 cups Monterey Jack Cheese

Mix all ingredients together in freezer bag. Seal well and freeze.  As always please make sure you use a good quality freezer bag to insure quality freezing.

To Cook:
Thaw completely in the fridge before putting in your slow cooker.
Cook in slow cooker for 6-8 hours.  Stir often so the cheese doesn't stick to the bottom/sides.
Serve over rice or noodles.
You may want to add a dash of milk to thin the sauce, after it has been cooked some and you see how thick it is.



I haven't actually had this over noodles, I usually just serve it over brown rice!  I hope you have some more tasty meals to add to your freezer tonight!

Other Freezer Cooking posts can be found at the links below
Tater Tot Casserole
All American Meatloaf and Salisbury Steak
Freezer Cooking Plan and Update

linking up with Domestically Divine at Far Above Rubies, Growing Home, Comfy in the Kitchen's Fellowship Fridays, Women Living WellTitus2sdays at TimeWarpWife, Womanly Ways Wednesdays, and Raising Homemakers, and At The Well


Blessings,

Amanda

Monday, July 25, 2011

Meatloaf and Salisbury Steak

I have had a few questions regarding my meatloaf and salisbury steak recipes.  I hope you'll try them! both are awesome! 

All American Meatloaf: 

(I received this recipe at dinner club a few years ago and have never made another meatloaf since.  My friend Kristin over at Finding the Joy in the Everyday gave it to me!)

1T oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
4 teaspoons cider vinegar

2 large eggs
1/2 cup milk
2 teaspoons Worcestershire
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon Tabasco
2/3 cup crushed saltines, more if needed
1 and 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
2 pounds meat (ground beef, meatloaf mix, turkey, or pork--whichever you like best)

1. Heat oven to 350*. Heat oil in skillet over medium high heat until shimmering. Add onion and cook until softened (5 min).  Stir in garlic and thyme and cook until fragrant, about 15 seconds.  Set aside and cool (especially if freezing and not cooking right away)

2.  Meanwhile, mix ketchup, brown sugar, and vinegar and set aside.  In a separate bowl, mix the eggs, milk, worcestershire, salt, pepper and tabasco together.

3. Mix the meatloaf mix, crackers, parsley, onion mixture, and egg mixture until evenly combined and mixture doesn't stick to the sides of the bowl. 

4.  With an icecream scoop (or your clean hands), scoop the mixture and drop it into a full size muffin tin.  If you are freezing this, at this point I take mine to the freezer to flash freeze, then after they are firm, pop them out and put them in a freezer bag for later baking.  If you are cooking right away, brush the meat with half of the ketchup mixture and bake for 45 minutes.  If you are freezing, do this step after you have returned the meatloaves to the muffin tins and they are completely thawed. 

5.  After 45 minutes, brush with the remaining ketchup mixture and continue to bake another 15 minutes. 

Using the muffin tins isn't necessary, but helps with portion control and produces that nice edge around each meatloaf muffin so there is less fighting over the end of the meatloaf!  Plus, I never cook a whole pan just for us, our family just doesn't eat that much in a sitting right now.  I tend to double or triple this recipe when I am making it...enjoy!

Salisbury Steak:

My mother in law makes salisbury steak all of the time...and I love it (and so does Aaron) I have tried it a couple of times and though mine isn't exactly like hers, it is a real hit!  Any time my mother in law makes salisbury steak and someone asks her for her recipe, she responds..."just like meatloaf, but with half of your meat sausage".  So....I used the the base of the recipe above and added sausage.  I recently made 2 pounds ground beef, 2 pounds sausage...added crackers, egg, onion and garlic sauteed, salt and pepper, w sauce, and tobasco.  I mixed it well and made it into patties.  Then, before freezing...I cooked them most of the way.  I gave them a nice crusty sear and get most of the way cooked. You can use your broiler, grill pan, george forman grill, or a griddle.  My mother in law uses the george forman....I used the griddle.  I did the pre-cooking, laid them on a plate lined with paper towel and let them cool.  I then put them in portioned bags, knowing how many we usually eat in a sitting.  ( I ended up with 4 bags of patties)  On cooking day, I pull them out, put them in the crock pot or in a baking pan, make up some brown gravy and cook, serve these babies with mashed potatoes and corn....and enjoy!

Happy Cooking! Let me know if you try these recipes and how you like them!

Blessings to you and yours!


Amanda

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Freezer Cooking--Update!

Well, I got the tater tot casserole to fit in 2 pans (8x8) and got Honey Chicken and Buttermilk Herb Chicken made, from the new book I ordered.  My freezer is looking very full and I'm running out of chicken...I might have to curb the rest of my endeavors until I can get some more...

How is your freezer cooking going?  Leave a comment and let me know what's on your list!

See the first post about freezer cooking HERE.

Blessings,


Amanda

Tater Tot Casserole

Ingredients:
2 pounds ground beef--I cook mine with onion and salt and pepper too!
2 cans cream soup--I almost always use cream of mushroom,but this is my mother in law's recipe and she uses chicken
1 small onion
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 c. milk
1 pkg tater tots

line bottom of 9x13 pan with ground beef, mix soup, cheese and raw onion and pour over the ground beef.  Cover with tater tots.  pour the milk over and bake.  350* for 45 minutes. 

I have to admit, I didn't do these instructions this time...I used 2--8x8 pans--our family is small and we just don't eat that much in one sitting. Also, I was in a hurry and just mixed everything together and put it in the pan, then topped with the tots. Oh, and since I was freezing I left the milk out too...and will add it on baking day.  Enjoy!

Blessings to you,

Amanda

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Freezer Cooking

Well, I've been kind of absent for the last week. I meant to have this amazing list of freezer meals I was planning to cook on Saturday, and awe you with my wonderful skills, great deals, and freezer full of food...however... Levi got sick last Tuesday and Wednesday.  Then, I got it..and it totally kicked my but..so out of commission for 2 days. (I think it has gotten worse as it has progressed throughout our family) and now, well yesterday, Lydia got it.  I have been fighting her fever surges at night, and last night couldn't get it below 103...so I took her to the ER.  They did very little and sent us home.  Sometime through the early morning her fever broke and I still did the meds, though not so intensely, all day...put her to bed--with medicine in her--and she woke up an hour later back at 103...again.  So, for the last 4 hours or so I have been praying, and medicating, and consoling, my almost 1 year old, bright, blue eyed little blessing...I hope she feels better before we travel on Wednesday night. I will, hopefully, be able to get her in to see our new Dr. sometime tomorrow...or at least a Doc in a Box...I HATE this fever stuff... I was able to function throughout the day today on very little sleep..that is, until nap time.  Lydia was asleep, I laid down with the boys, and I was out before they were. 

I got a good deal on some reduced meat and had already purchased 8 bags (2 for $10) of Amish Chicken at our local grocery store.  So, I planned a BIG freezer cooking adventure, had planned for the boys to play with daddy a lot on Saturday, and well...that didn't happen (you know, because of my fever).  But, in the meanwhile...meat did have to be dealt with and so I have gotten some done (and hopefully more tomorrow) Here is what I have so far!

Meatloaf (I make these in muffin tins-better portion control, and we don't eat a whole loaf pan right now, so it goes farther if I do it this way...I LOVE the recipe I use and will hopefully share it soon.) I have 24 meatloaf muffins right now.

Salisbury Steak (my mother in law's recipe) 3 different meals worth.

Lasagna:  4--8 by 8 or 9 by 9 pans...we just don't get a 9 by 13 eaten, so I don't cook that much at one time--right now at least.

3 bags, 1 pound each of cooked ground beef with onion for Spaghetti.

3 bags, 1 pound each of cooked ground beef with onion and Taco Seasoning.

Chicken Parsiene--from my new book.

Tater Tot casserole, 1 batch, hopefully it will make 2 pans worth..I just need to throw it into the pans and flash freeze it :)

I have quite a few chicken dishes to throw together, but they seem less labor intensive than all of the ground beef dishes.  They are all from my new book too!  I'll hopefully get an update up before we travel....hopefully...

What's going on in your freezer?

See the update of this post HERE.

Blessings to you,