Preparing most of our meals at home is important to me for our family’s health and budget, but it definitely takes TIME. Freezer cooking comes to my rescue once again. I popped the kids a bowl of popcorn, turned on a movie, put Lyddie down for a nap, and got to work in the kitchen. In literally ONE HOUR I was able to get a ton of prep work done which will save SOOO much time later on.
Here’s what I was able to do in one hour:
- Cooked and packaged several pounds of ground beef
- Cooked and shredded several pounds of chicken
- Chopped and assembled several onion and pepper veggie packets (for fajitas, stirfry, pizza, Sausage and Pepper Penne, etc.)
- Made two batches meatloaf (cooked one batch in muffin cups for kid-size “meatloaf muffins”)
- Chopped and froze onions
If preparing a month’s worth of meals feels too intimidating, I really encourage you to just take freezer cooking baby steps. I am at a stage of my life where I don’t have an entire day to spend cooking and filling the freezer. But one hour–one hour a week–I can do, and I thank myself for making the effort everytime it’s time to prepare dinner.
Here’s what’s on our menu this week:
Breakfast:
- Homemade Oatmeal Packets with freeze dried strawberries x4
- Cereal, toast x2
- Sausage and Pancake Muffins(double the batch and freeze extras)
Kiddo Lunch:
- Mac and Cheese, grapes
- Homemade Uncrustables, string cheese, carrots
- Cheese Quesadillas, cucumbers
- Meatloaf Muffins, apple slices
- Chicken Pot Pie Bundles, applesauce
Dinner:
- Fiesta Chicken Enchiladas, black beans
- Minestrone soup, Freezer rolls
- Meatloaf, baked potatoes, garlic-roasted green beans
- Homemade Mac and Cheese with ham, peas
- Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup, Freezer Rolls
- Daddy Cooks (AKA: My Work Night): Pancakes
- Leftovers
What’s on your plate this week?
Hi! My name is Pam and I believe no matter who we are or where we come from, we all have a story to tell. My blog is the place I tell mine. My story isn’t always as organized as I’d like, but the truth is, life is full of rough drafts, isn’t it? If you think this might be a good place to hang out, why not subscribe to my RSS feed so you don't miss anything?
I’m going home for my 3rd nephew’s birth. She’s been on bed rest for the last week.
While I’m watching the other two, we’ll:
-Cook several pounds of hamburger for tacos and spaghetti. Freeze in one pound packs.
-make stuffed shells that can be frozen. I’ll put in spinach in the cheese b/c the kids think eating green cheese is cool.
-cook two chickens in the crock pot. From one I will make enchiladas. From the other, I’ll shred the chicken so she can make bbq chicken just by heating it up.
-We’ll make chocolate chips so that the oldest can work on his counting and reading with the recipe. We’ll freeze them so she can just heat them up for the eldest’s after-school snack.
-Chicken and rice for when they come home. Freeze one for heating up
-make waffles and pancakes for the boys’ breakfasts.
-I think I will try the chicken and biscuit recipe that you posted with some of the shredded chicken.
[Reply]