Freezer Meals

During the holiday season this year I get the privilege of working six days a week. Boo. So when I have time off the month of december I want to be having fun with the kids and not stressing out about dinner. I am wanting to avoid the drive thru as much as possible as well. So my goal is to have 6-10 meals in the freezer by then. Realistically 6 but my ultimate goal would be to have 10. It all depends on how time and budget go between now and then! I found this great article with tips on how to freeze meals. It was really pretty helpful. The only tip that I would add is if you don't have time to thaw your meal in the fridge you can put it in the oven as it is preheating and it will thaw a bit. Do this especially if you freeze your food in glass. Frozen glass+hot oven=a big explosion. That would not be fun! To save yourself just stick it in the fridge first thing in the morning. Oh one more thing! I am thinking of investing in a food saver to make my meals really air tight. No freezer burn for us! 

I am sharing two of my favorite meals for freezing. Baked Pasta 2.0. Which is a lot like the other baked pasta dish that I posted a while back. I am sharing Tater Tot casserole too. That is a family staple!  

Baked Pasta 2.0

1 pound medium shell pasta

1 pound Italian sausage

1 pound mozzarella cubed

1 jar spaghetti sauce

1 pound ricotta cheese

Boil pasta. While pasta is boiling brown sausage. After ever thing is cooled to room temperature mix all ingredients and pour in pan. You want everything cooled to room temperature before you freeze to prevent food poisoning! When ready to bake put in oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Bake one hour if frozen and 30-45 minutes if thawed. 

I put a layer of freezer paper over the food before I freeze. It helps to make things not stick. Make sure you remove the freezer paper before you bake! It has plastic on one side and that would be bad. Then a layer of foil goes over that. Then wrap as much as possible with plastic wrap. If you have a food saver you can forget all that and just use the food saver. Which I will be investing in! You want it air tight! Otherwise you will get freezer burn which won't hurt you but it tastes disgusting. 

Make sure to clearly label what your dish is and when it was made. It is only recommended to keep casseroles for 2-3 months in the freezer.

Tater Tot Casserole

2 pounds ground turkey

1 medium onion

1 large can cream of mushroom soup

1 pound bag tater tots

3-4 cans green beans

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Brown turkey on sauce pan. Add onion and cook until translucent. Turn off heat and add cream of mushroom soup. Let cool to room temperature. In 9x13 pan put a layer of tater tots. Then add layer of green beans. Then layer with meat mixture- you may need to thin a little with milk. At this point you can get it ready to freeze just like for baked pasta 2.0. Do not add cheese on top if freezing. Cheddar cheese can get a little weird when you freeze it. When going to bake from frozen add the cheese the last 5-10 minutes of cooking time. If cooking immediately add cheese on top. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes if thawed, 60-75 minutes if frozen. 

MMMM layers! What meals do you make and freeze? I need more ideas! It feels good having a couple down. I will be posting more over then next few months so stay tuned! Any suggestions for meals? Is asking that twice too much? HA!

Peace out- AnneMarie

Pantry Bag Meals-A freezer Meal For those who don't have a freezer

I love a good freezer meal. I enjoy the peace of knowing that dinner is planned, prepared, and ready to go! What if one does not have a freezer or freezer space? No worries! There is a solution...

Pantry Bag Meals. 

This method only requires the space for the pre-cooked meat in the freezer and then when its time for dinner the rest of the ingredients are set a side ready to go. Just follow the simple instructions heat and eat. COOL!!  I have 12 recipes developed so far and 2 to share with you today. 

First is 

Taco Soup

Shopping list

1 lb hamburger or turkey burger

 1 onion, chopped

 1 (16 ounce) can chili beans, 

 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans 

 1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, 

 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce

 1 29oz can peeled and diced tomatoes

 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chile peppers

 1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix

What to do

1. Precook the burger and onion drain and put in a freezer safe container and freeze.

2. Gather the canned goods and put in a bag or a different container of your choice

3. On the outside of the bag/container write or staple a printed sheet with these instructions....

Add 1 lb burger w onion from the freezer in a soup pot

Mix all the ingredients from the bag in with the burger, (do not drain the cans) add 2 cups of water. Heat through and eat!! 

(BTW we love to eat this soup with crushed tortilla chips and a little cheese sprinkled on the top)

The second is 

Hearty Bean Dip

(this recipe makes a great dip for chips or a filling for tortillas. Don't let the word Dip confuse you. It is hearty enough to make a meal. I promise.

Shopping list

1 lb burger

1 jar of your favorite salsa

1 large can of refried beans

1 lb cheese

Corn chips or tortillas or both :) 

PS the cheese, corn chips, and tortillas do not need to be purchased until you are ready to eat the recipe

1. Precook the burger, drain, and put in a freezer safe container and freeze.

2. Gather the canned goods and put in a bag or a different container of your choice

3. On the outside of the bag/container write or staple a printed sheet with these instructions....

Place 1 lb burger from the freezer in a pot, add salsa and beans and cheese from the fridge. Heat through. Serve with extra cheese sprinkled on top and corn chips or tortillas as a filling. 

These babies are going to waiting and ready for my family this coming holiday season! I've got 10 more recipes to get ready for my pantry and for you to see! Be watching!

ENJOY!

Loves,

Emily

Freezer Breakfast burritos (great for camping!!)

I don't know about you but my summer mornings are meant to be slept through. HAHA!! Unfortunately, they mostly don't get to be BUT I can still hope and try right?? When I do manage to sleep/get my way I like knowing that my children who prefer to get up instead of sleeping (WHAT??) have something they can eat for breakfast that isn't cold cereal or pop tarts. Enter Freezer Breakfast Burritos!! 

Freezer Breakfast Burritos

18 Eggs

2lbs Sausage

 1 Yellow Onion

3 Cloves Garlic, minced

4-6 chicken bouillon cubes

12 Med. Potatoes, chopped

4 Cups Cheddar Cheese, shredded

24 Tortilla Shells

 Salt & Pepper to taste

 Foil for wrapping

Optional: Salsa and extra cheese  

Chop potatoes and boil with bouillon cubes until soft. Crack eggs and cook over low heat until you have soft, scrambled eggs.  Salt and pepper to taste. Meanwhile Saute sausage yellow onions and garlic in 2 T. olive oil until fragrant and cook all the way through and no longer pink.  In large bowl combine Sausage mixture, scrambled eggs, drained and squashed a smidge potatoes,  cheese, and Salt & Pepper.  Divide ingredients into 20-24 tortilla shells.  Roll and wrap in tin foil -- freeze. ready to unwrap and microwave for a soft shell or fry in butter for a crisp shell or throw on the fire. Serve with salsa and extra cheese if desired. (makes 20-24 burritos)

ENJOY!!

PS they were absolutely amazing for camping!! I just put the frozen still wrapped burritos over the fire and they were great! AND they helped keep things frozen and cold also! WIN WIN!!