Search Results for: freezer meal

Postpartum Freezer Meals List

My friend Erinn from Embracing Everything asked for a list of the freezer meals that I used after this pregnancy, so I thought it might be helpful to a few other people as well. Why kill two birds with one stone when there are eggs in your bush that you shouldn’t count?

I started too late preparing for Eli Benjamin. I felt like doo-doo for most of the pregnancy, so I blame it on that. In all honesty, you should start prepping freezer meals in the middle of your second trimester. Most meals and foods will be fine for 6 months in the freezer. Even starting late, I managed to get quite a bit put away. I used a lot of meal components this time so I would be able to throw a meal together quickly instead of making a vast amount of fully cooked meals.

Also, 4 weeks before my due date, I made a HUGE shopping trip and stocked up on everything I might need: snacks, condiments, nuts, butter, etc. After my babies are born, I don’t get out much…I usually take a 2 month hiatus from shopping and gallivanting around the countryside. My mom went with me on this trip and I literally filled the car up with supplies and groceries.

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From Bowl to Freezer – Good Freezer Meal Options

Y’all ask me all the time, “Hey Stacy, can you give me a good list of freezer meals?” The truth is, I don’t have such a list. Here’s how freezing food works for me – I make it and then I freeze it. I don’t really do too much advance planning.

I don’t seek out special meals that are just for freezing – I just use my normal recipes and make them work. BUT if you are looking for freezer specific meals, you need to check out Once a Month Mom – one of my favorite recipe sites.

So, you say, how DO you make that meal work for the freezer, Miss Stacy? Well, I’ll tell ya….over at Intentional by Grace. I’m over there sharing how I freeze meals and I’ll give you a list of some good ones to try.

If you want to know how to freeze bread (baked or in dough form) or if you want to turn your crock pot meal into a freezer meal, I’ve got you covered.

Meet me over there…if for no other reason than you like to look at pretty pictures of food. *Slobber*

A Good Freezer Meal – Tater Tot Casserole

Y’all, I’ve been following the blog Hallee the Homemaker for a long time now. If you like a honest blog, one with good food and good family values, make sure you subscribe to Hallee the Homemaker. I asked Hallee to write a post for y’all and she knew I was working on freezer meals for The Bean, so she’s sharing a GREAT freezer meal with us today…and in case you didn’t know, it’s the family favorite of the Duggars. 🙂

I have been reading and participating in homemaking blogs for over three years now, and one thing that a lot of bloggers really enjoy doing is “freezer cooking”. They buy a whole bunch of supplies, and spend a day or two in the kitchen making several meals, freezing the meals, and then they can just pull a meal or pre-prepped ingredients for a meal out of the freezer as needed.

It’s a great idea and one that a lot of people have great success with. However, for me, spending that much time in the kitchen just to save meal prep time just doesn’t appeal to me. I think I really enjoy the art of cooking for my family on a regular basis, and the time it would eventually save me just doesn’t seem worth the time and energy it would take to properly do the freezer cooking.

However, Jill Bond, author of Mega Cooking, has a BRILLIANT method of freezer cooking that doesn’t require two full days in the kitchen. [Read more…]

Crock Pot Freezer Cooking Tutorial: 6 Meals in 1 Hour

Guest post by KM Logan

Are you a busy family?

How would you like 6 chicken recipes that can be assembled in less than one hour, and cost well under $100, especially if you have a stocked pantry?

These recipes couldn’t be simpler – assemble the raw ingredients ahead of time in freezer bags then freeze. Thaw in your refrigerator the night before cooking and throw the contents in the crock pot, 6 hours on low or 4 hours on high. (Always check for doneness as all crock pots are different.)

When it comes to the amount of ingredients for these recipes let the size of your crock pot be your guide. If you have a 4 quart crock pot and are using gallon-size freezer bags, be sure to leave some room in your freezer bag so everything will fit and cook well in your crock-pot. [Read more…]

The Basics and Flow of Meal Prep (Kitchen Day)

One day per week, my morning/afternoon is dedicated to Kitchen Day…the time I dedicate to meal prep. I focus on things like: bread, buns, rolls, mixes and seasonings, chopping veggies, washing and cutting fruit, breakfast prep for the week, pantry staples, etc.

I have found that if I take one day per week and dedicate it to cooking and meal prep, it saves me SO MUCH TIME both at breakfast and dinner time. And for me, that’s a game changer. If you want to know more about how I “schedule” my days, you can check out that in the Homemaking How-To ecourse I offer.

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Easy Meals for Busy Seasons

We are in a very busy season of our life right now. We’re sometimes tired – and constantly have a lot going on. But the things that are keeping us busy are ALL good things! Being busy is not something that we don’t want to do. This is the good kind of busy. Hence the inspiration for this post on easy meals for busy seasons.

It’s really easy, when you’re busy, to compromise on food.

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A little Bit About Meal Planning

I have written about meal planning before – and shared how I use this Meal Planning Printable I adapted from Jessica Fisher to make my life simple and more organized! I print a copy of this meal planning sheet EVERY week to do my meal planning. And I should add that my favorite saying is on this printable…

Feed the people, keep them alive.

I get a lot of questions about my meal planning routine and how I go about doing it. The real reason for the success of my meal planning method is actually a relatively new approach and it may come as a surprise to you! My new secret is that I actually ask the family what THEY want to eat! My new secret weapon to meal planning seems pretty obvious, but until recently I never did this! I just planned my menu based on what I wanted or what I thought they might like. Now, the day before I sit down to meal plan, I actually ask everyone… [Read more…]

Sending Meals to Those in Need…Local or Long Distance

Food speaks to people. People of every race and nationality. There is just something about FOOD that can bring people together…and bring comfort at the same time. Food is my love language. It’s how I show love to others…and it’s how others show love to me.

After the birth of Ruth Ann, we received an abundant outpouring of love from friends and family in the form of food. At 3 weeks in, I still hadn’t touched ANY of my freezer meals. But, this wasn’t always the case. After one of my births, we were at a different place in life and hardly received anything – I felt all alone and on my own.

And I’ve seen that same sentiment shown from others on Instagram when I talk about giving food in times of need:

-No one ever brings me anything.

-I was all alone after my birth and had to do it all myself

-No one sends sympathy gifts any more

-People are too busy to help

I’m issuing a mandate to you all – let’s see how many people this year that we can bless with food.

Yeah, you heard me…food. Everyone needs food. It’s a universal need and mostly a universal love.

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How to Get Three Meals from One Chicken

A long while back, when I conquered my fear of cooking a whole, naked chicken in the crock pot (Crock Pot Baked Chicken), I felt like the world opened up to me! Behold! All those glorious Pinterest recipes calling for 2 cups cooked chicken would no longer add 20 minutes on to making a meal! A whole neeeeeeeeeeew worlddddddddddddddddddd! Come with me on my magic carpet.

So, today we’re talking chicken – and how you can make three meals from one chicken. That’s right – ONE whole chicken to make three meals. First off, let’s clear the air: I’m only feeding 2 adults and 4 small children people. So, if you’re feeding more than that, you might only be able to get two meals.

Honestly, we don’t eat a lot of meat. I I try to make sure vegetables and healthy whole grains are a bigger part of our diet than meat…mainly because I’m stinking’ ~~cheap~~ frugal. And high quality meat can get expensive! [Read more…]

100 Days of Meal Plans – Whole Foods Style (for FREE)

So, I have this thing I like do to do in my spare time…it’s called – planning meals. Yeah, okay. Stop your laughing. Some people knit. Some people sew. Some people play sports. I read cookbooks and dream up meal plans. I’m a wild and crazy girl.

You already know how much I love Plan to Eat. But what you don’t know is that planning meals is one of the highlights of my week. I also enjoy making beds, ironing clothes, and de-boogering my children. Gosh…I AM a weirdo.

But something I’ve learned is that not everyone enjoys de-boogering their children with a Nose Frida – and not everyone enjoys making their bed daily – and some people don’t even own an iron (THE HORROR!). And the most crazy thing of all is….some of you hate making meal plans! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!! Cue the freaky scary movie music! What is wrong with you people!? [Read more…]