Good Freezer Meals

My sister had a baby on Valentine's Day.  We're going down to visit next week and I'm bringing along some meals to fill her freezer to help her out at dinnertime.  Thought I'd share my list of good freezer meals.

Sloppy Joes
Red Beans and Rice
Burritos
Tortellini Soup (freeze without tortellini, reheat when ready to eat and add cheese tortellini the last 5-10 minutes)
Wild Rice Chicken Supreme
Franks & Beans (Recipe to come.)
Slow Cooker Pork Chops
Lil' Cheddar Meatloaves
Twice Baked Potatoes
Fajita Chicken (just cook some chicken and season with fajita seasoning.  Put in freezer and just reheat when ready to use.)

I'm also bringing for breakfast/snacks:
Butterhorns (filled with chocolate chips and cinnamon sugar)
Zucchini Muffins
Apple Pie Muffins

Quick Burritos

Just a quick easy burrito I made to put in the freezer.  Wrap them individually and then you can just pull them out and nuke them.

Spread some refried beans onto a tortilla shell.  Top with some cooked ground beef (I seasoned mine with chili powder and cumin), taco sauce, and shredded cheese.  Roll up and wrap in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag.  Microwave when ready to eat.

Menu Plan

I'm stretching this next plan over a little more than a week.  I got this past menu to last 9 days and this one should last awhile too.  It's kinda nice not going grocery shopping every week!

~Southwest Turkey Soup, biscuits, fruit
~Enchiritos, corn, fruit
~Honey Chicken Bites (processed dinner night!  Those Tyson things in the freezer section.), onion rings, maybe rice and veggies
~Tilapia - NEW -, broccoli
~Pizza
~Pancakes and Sausage
~Leftovers/Eat Out
~Franks and Beans, cornbread - the kids and I are heading out of town for a few days next week so I'll be making this for hubby to throw in the oven for himself one night, per his request.

Southwest Turkey Soup

You must like ground turkey to like this soup.  I think next time I may try it with ground beef.  I like turkey, but only if it's cooked a certain way, or with certain ingredients.  This wasn't bad, don't get me wrong, just may tweak it some next time.

Found the recipe in the Taste of Home magazine, December/January 2011 issue page 38.

Southwest Turkey Soup

In a Dutch oven, brown 1lb. ground turkey in 1 Tb olive oil. (I omitted the oil and added a small onion during this step.)  Drain if needed.  Add two cans rinsed and drained kidney beans, 2 cans (14 oz each) chicken broth, 2 cups frozen corn, 1 cup salsa, 1 can (4 oz) green chilies and 1 Tb chili powder.  (I seasoned my meat with chili powder and cumin so I did not add anymore here.)  Bring to a boil; cover and simmer fro 10 minutes.  Serve topped with sour cream and fresh cilantro.

Serves 6

Baked Ravioli (or Tortellini) with Spinach and Walnuts

 This was pretty good.  We used cheese tortellini and it was a little too cheesy for us (if that's possible).  Next time I might try meat filled pasta or use less cheese if I go with cheese filled pasta.  And I will say, you need to like spinach to enjoy this dish.  I'm not a huge fan of it, but can eat it.  I would make this again, with a little tweaking.

Baked Ravioli with Spinach & Walnuts

1 Tb olive oil
3 large garlic cloves, minced
1 lb (or more) fresh spinach (&/or arugula), well washed, wrung out, and chopped
2 Tb butter
2 Tb all purpose flour
2 cup low sodium chicken or vegetable broth
1/2 cup skim milk
1/2 cup parmigiano reggiano cheese, shredded
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
salt & pepper, to taste (I didn't use salt due to sodium in the cheese)
2 cup mozzarella or other favorite cheese, grated
20 to 28 oz favorite frozen ravioli &/or tortellini
1/2 cup (or more) walnuts, chopped


In large pot, cook pasta according to package directions until slightly underdone (will finish in oven)

In large skillet over medium heat saute garlic in olive oil for about a minute, until fragrant.  Add spinach to skillet and saute for 5 minutes until well coated and wilted.  Drain and remove to small bowl.

In same skillet, over medium heat, make roux by melting butter and whisking in flour; cook about 2 minutes.  Slowly stir in broth; increase heat and bring to boil, stirring continuously.  Add milk and parmesan and bring just to a simmer, cooking for 2 minutes.  Stir in nutmeg, salt and pepper.

Preheat oven broiler to 500 degrees (or high) temperature.  (I thought this was way too hot and was also making garlic bread at the same time so I just used a 375 degree oven until the cheese was melted.)

In 9x9 baking dish, cover bottom with a thin layer of chicken broth mixture.  Layer half of pasta in dish.  Top with half of spinach and walnuts, then about half of remaining chicken broth.  (Walnuts too if you're adding them to entire dish.)

Add other half of pasta, followed by remainder of spinach and walnuts.  Cover with rest of chicken broth mixture.  Top with grated mozzarella.

Place in oven about 8" from broiler element and broil for 4 to 5 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and golden.  Plate and garnish with chopped walnuts; serve immediately.

Serves 4-8  (I got 6 pretty good size servings.)

This post is linked to:
Seasonal Sunday at Real Sustenance
Meatless Mondays at My Sweet and Savory
Your Recipe My Kitchen at Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker
Made By You Monday at Skip to My Lou
Tuesday Night Supper Club at Fudge Ripple
Mouthwatering Monday at A Southern Fairytale
Homemaker Monday at 11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven

Menu Plan

Sorry about the lack of posts.  My sister had my new baby niece on Monday and this week has been kind of crazy.

Here's my menu that I had for the past week or so, that will continue until Sunday:

~Wild Rice Chicken Supreme (x2 for freezer), green beans
~Cheddar Sausages (you know, the Beddar Cheddar...SO good, yet SO bad.  Got the turkey ones for myself), scrambled eggs (with veggies for me)
~Crockpot Tamale Pie (x2), fruit
~Southwest Turkey Soup - NEW - fruit, maybe some bread
~Baked Tortellini with Spinach and Walnuts - NEW - fruit, garlic bread
~Eat Out...the weather was amazing here yesterday, 75 degrees, so we went to one of our favorite places to eat outside.
~Leftovers

I'll be posting the SW Soup and Baked Tortellini recipes soon.  And I'll apologize in advance for any lack of posting, since there are a few days I'll be at my sister's and possibly a few more if the baby goes back to the hospital.

Macaroni Salad

This is a basic macaroni salad.  I've never been big on macaroni salad, but as I've gotten older I've come to like it a little more.  I prefer a homemade version, like this one, that doesn't have so much mayo.  I cut this recipe in half and got about 4 servings since I'm the only one who will eat it.

Macaroni Salad

2 cups dry elbow macaroni
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup diced dill pickles
1/4 tsp onion powder
1 medium stalk celery, diced
1 small sweet red pepper, chopped
1/2 cup cooked frozen peas and carrots (I just used uncooked peas)
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3 medium scallion, chopped

Cook macaroni according to directions.  Drain and rinse with cold water; drain again.

Meanwhile to make dressing, combine mayo, sour cream, pickles, onion powder; mix well.

In large mixing bowl combine macaroni, celery, pepper, peas, carrots, cheese and scallions.  Pour dressing over salad; toss lightly to coat.  Cover and chill at least 2 hours.  Yields about 1/2 cup per serving.

Be on the Lookout!

for a new design for my blog.  I won a custom blog design over at http://crazyjayzplace.blogspot.com/2011/01/introducing-new-blog-custom-blog-or.html and I can't wait to see how it turns out!

On that note...I'd like a new name for my blog.  Preferably something without my name in it.  There are so many out there that I like but I can't think of anything very creative for mine!  I really like Cooking During Stolen Moments because as a work from home mom of two young kids it kind of applies to my life.  So if you have any ideas please comment and let me know.  Thanks!

Menu Plan

We were supposed to go out tonight for my husband's birthday but thanks to the lovely snow our babysitter, aka my mom, can't make it.  So...not sure what we'll do tonight.

~Breaded Catfish, calico beans, cornbread
~Soup, garlic bread (just canned soup I had bought and we've never eaten.  Plus we have swim lessons two nights a week for the next four weeks so this will help time-wise.)
~Quesadillas:  chicken and cheese for family, veggie and black bean for me, corn, fruit
~Chicken Breasts (honey mustard and plum glazed), macaroni salad, onion rings, biscuits
~Italian Meatball Casserole, green beans
~Beddar Cheddar sausages (turkey for me), scrambled eggs (w/ veggies for me), fruit
~Nachos for the Super Bowl

Baked Potato Soup

This is a receipe I grew up on.  Quick and easy, very adaptable to your tastes.

Baked Potato Soup

3 strips bacon, diced (I use real bacon pieces with the salad stuff)
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp pepper
2 lg potatoes, baked, peeled, cubed (about 2 cups)
1 cup 1/2 and 1/2 cream
3 Tb flour
1 tsp salt and dried basil
3 cups chicken broth (I use a little more than this depending on the amount of cheese and thickness of the soup)
shredded cheddar (and/or Velveeta)

In large saucepan, cook bacon until crisp.  Drain, reserving 1 Tb drippings.  Set aside bacon.  Saute onion and garlic in dripping until tender.  (Since I use bacon pieces that are already cooked I saute my onion and garlic in some oil and butter.)  Stir in flour, basil, salt, and pepper.  Mix well.  Gradually add broth.  Bring to boil and stir 2 minutes.  Add potatoes and cream; heat through but do not boil.  Garnish with bacon, cheese, and parsley.  (I mix the cheese into mine, about a cup of shredded cheddar and 1/4 lb of velveeta)

You could easily add veggies to this.  Corn or broccoli would be good, maybe some red pepper.

This post is linked to:
Show Me What You've Got Thursday at It's a Keeper
Full Plate Thursday at Miz Helen's Country Cottage
Tasty Traditions at Coupon Cookin'
Recipe Swap Thursday at Prairie Story
Tip Day Thursday at Around My Family Table (where I was featured this week!)
Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum
Your Recipe My Kitchen at Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker
Seasonal Sunday at Real Sustenance
Meatless Mondays at My Sweet and Savory (where my French Toast Casserole was featured this week!)
Mouthwatering Mondays at A Southern Fairytale
Homemaker Monday at 11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven

My First Features!

I was told that my Ham and Cheese Puff Pastries would be featured tomorrow at Around My Family Table.  Looking forward to seeing that.

But last night, as I was linking up my Baked French Toast Casserole recipe, I saw that my Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies were featured on Fudge Ripple's Tuesday Night Supper Club!

Thanks to both of you for featuring my recipes!