10.26.2012

Freezer Meals - 1

10 meals prepped and ready to go in about 2 hours. Yup! That's what this is all about! I love taking a couple of hours over the weekend to get my dinners prepared for the next two weeks, so all I have to do is throw them in the crock pot before work, or know they are ready to cook as soon as I get home. It is wonderful to know that I can serve healthy meals for little effort, and for MUCH cheaper than hitting a drive-thru on the way home. Want to make these meals, but don't have the Tastefully Simple products on hand? No problem, just send me a message or leave a comment and I will get you set up!

 

 

The Menu

Artichoke & Spinach Chicken
Beef & Onion Vegetable Soup
Fiesta Meatballs
Mama Mia Chicken Fingers
Mama Mia Mushroom Pasta Sauce
Rustic Herb Pork Tenderloin
Simple Turkey Dinner
Smoked Bacon Chicken
Taco Terrific!
Tikka Chicken

The Products Needed

Artichoke & Spinach Warm Dip Mix
Fiesta Party Dip Mix
Mama Mia Marinara Sauce Mix
Onion Onion
Rich & Tender Beef Sauce
Rustic Herb Seasoning
Smoked Bacon Warm Dip Mix

The Grocery List

Please substitute meat products as you wish to best match your family’s eating preferences. And shop your own pantry first to use what you already have on hand!

Meat

4 ½ lbs. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 ½ lbs. chicken tenderloin strips
4 lbs. ground beef
2 (3/4 lb.) pork tenderloins
3-4 lb. bone-in turkey breast half
22 oz. frozen cooked meatballs

Dairy

2 eggs
½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
½ cup orange juice

Canned/Dry Items

10.75 oz. can cream of chicken soup
10.75 oz. can golden mushroom soup
15 oz. jar Alfredo Sauce
3 (28 oz.) cans crushed tomatoes
8 oz. can tomato sauce
15 oz. can tomato sauce
3 Tbsp. tomato paste
2 (4oz.) cans sliced mushrooms
½ cup mayonnaise
1 cup unseasoned dry bread crumbs
3-4 Tbsp. curry powder
1 tsp. cumin
1 Tbs. olive oil
8-12 taco shells
12-16 oz. spinach pasta
16 oz. spaghetti
½ cup instant rice
1 cup long grain rice

Frozen

1 ½ cups frozen peas
16 oz. bag frozen mixed vegetables

Miscellaneous

Gallon-sized re-sealable freezer bags
9x13 aluminum roasting pan with lid

Prep Work

  • Place turkey breast half with 1 Tbsp. olive oil into gallon size bag
  • Place six boneless, skinless chicken breasts in 9x13 greased aluminum roasting pan with lid
  • Brown 1 ½ lbs. Ground beef and drain, place in gallon size bag
  • Place 1 ½ lbs. pork tenderloins with 1 Tbsp. olive oil and ½ cup orange juice in gallon size bag
  • Place 22 oz. bag frozen meatballs in gallon size bag
  • Place 1 ½ lbs. Boneless, skinless chicken strips in gallon size bag
  • Place 1 ½ lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch cubes in a gallon size bag
  • Brown 1 ½ lbs. ground beef and drain, place in gallon size bag
  • Brown 1 lb. ground beef and drain. Add 1 tsp. cumin and place in gallon size bag
  • Combine 1 ½ lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts cubed with ½ cup mayonnaise, 10.75 oz. can golden mushroom soup, 3-4 Tbsp. curry powder and 1 ½ cups water and place in gallon bag
  • Place 15 oz. can tomato sauce in gallon size bag

Assembly Instructions

Simple Turkey Dinner

Place 2-3 Tbsp. of Rustic Herb Seasoning into turkey and mix well in gallon size bag

Smoked Bacon Chicken

Whisk one packet Smoked Bacon Warm Dip Mix with 15 oz. jar Alfredo sauce. Pour mixture evenly over chicken in the 9x13 greased aluminum roasting pan and replace lid

Mama Mia Mushroom Pasta Sauce

Mix 1 ½ lbs. browned ground beef with ½ cup Mama Mia Marinara Sauce Mix , 2 (28 oz.) cans crushed tomatoes and 2 (4oz.) cans sliced mushrooms drained in gallon size bag

Rustic Herb Pork Tenderloin

Add 2 Tbsp. Rustic Herb Seasoning to 1 ½ lbs. pork tenderloins and mix well in gallon size bag

Fiesta Meatballs

Mix 22oz. frozen meatballs with 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes, 1 cup water, 1 ½ Tbsp. Fiesta Party Dip Mix and 1 ½ Tbsp. Onion Onion and mix well in gallon size bag

Artichoke & Spinach Chicken

Mix 1 ½ lbs. chicken breasts cubed with 10.75 oz. can cream of chicken soup, 1 packet of Artichoke & Spinach Warm Dip Mix, ½ cup water and salt and pepper to taste in gallon size bag

Beef & Onion Vegetable Soup

Mix 1 ½ lbs. browned ground beef with 1 jar Rich & Tender Beef Sauce, 3 Tbsp. Onion Onion, 6 cups water, 3 Tbsp. tomato paste and 16 oz. thawed frozen mixed vegetables in gallon size bag

Tikka Chicken

Mix 1 ½ llbs. Chicken breasts cubed, mayonnaise, golden mushroom soup, curry powder and water with 3-4 Tbsp. Onion Onion and 2-3 tsp. Fiesta Party Dip Mix in gallon size bag

Taco Terrific!

Mix 1 lb. browned ground beef and cumin with 1 Tbsp. Fiesta Party Dip Mix, 1 Tbsp. Onion Onion, 8 oz. tomato sauce and ¼ cup water in gallon size bag

Mama Mia Chicken Fingers

Beat 2 eggs with 1 Tbsp. of Mama Mia Marinara Sauce Mix in mixing bowl. Mix 1 cup breadcrumbs with ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese on a paper plate. Coat Chicken strips with egg mixture and then dredge in breadcrumb mixture. Place about 6 chicken fingers on a sheet of wax paper. Layer another piece of wax paper on top of chicken fingers and repeat until all of chicken is stacked with layers of wax paper in between. Place in gallon size bag. Mix 2 Tbsp. of Mama Mia Marinara Sauce Mix with 15 oz. can tomato sauce in a gallon size bag.

Cooking Instructions (for outside of bag)

Artichoke & Spinach Chicken

Thaw completely. Place contents in a greased slow cooker. Cook on low 2-3 hours or until tender. Add 2-3 Tbsp water or milk if chicken becomes too dry.

Beef Onion Vegetable Soup

Thaw completely. Place in a large soup pan. Bring to a simmer, add rice, cook covered an additional 5 minutes or until rice is tender.

Fiesta Meatballs

Thaw completely. Place meatballs and sauce in a greased slow cooker. Heat on low 2-3 hours or up to 8 hours.

Mama Mia Chicken Fingers

Preheat oven to 350. Place frozen chicken fingers on a greased baking sheet. Bake 30-40 minutes. Prepare Mama Mia Marinara Sauce while chicken fingers are baking.

Mama Mia Mushroom Pasta Sauce

Thaw completely. Place sauce in a large pan; heat through. Serve over pasta.

Rustic Herb Pork Tenderloin

Thaw completely. Preheat oven to 350. Brown pork tenderloins on both sides in a large greased oven-safe skillet. Finish baking pork tenderloins in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until slightly pink in the middle.

Simple Turkey Dinner

Thaw completely. Place turkey in a greased slow cooker. Cook on low 8-10 hours.

Smoked Bacon Chicken

Thaw completely. Preheat oven to 350. Bake, uncovered, for 30-40 minutes. Cover with foil if top browns too quickly.

Taco Terrific!

Thaw completely. Heat on stove in a medium saucepan or in a microwave-safe dish.

Tikka Chicken

Thaw completely. Pour mixture in to a greased slow cooker. Cook on low 3-4 hours. Stir in 1 cup of peas (thawed if frozen) for the last 30 minutes of cooking.

 

 

9.09.2010

weekly menu plan

Remembering I have a blog today so that I can participate in the great menu exchange! :-) This is not meant to be a week of healthy meals, but of tried-and-true family favorites. So here goes!

Monday
Killer White Chili served with crushed tortilla chips and corn bread. This recipe comes from a fabulous bridal shower gift I received 9 years ago...everyone at work put together a recipe book with their favorites, and this has been our fave from the bunch so far.

1 large jar, Great Northern Beans
1 lb chicken breasts, cooked and chopped
1 cup chicken broth
1 tsp cumin
1 small jar salsa
8 oz pepper jack cheese, shredded
1 can beer (optional)

Throw it all in a crock pot and cook on low all day. Tastes better the 2nd and 3rd time you reheat!

Tuesday
Pizza Pasta Casserole. Make an extra for next week!

Wednesday
Crispy Baked Pesto Chicken.

Thursday
Marvellous Mini Meatloaves. We prefer the Italian and BBQ versions.

Friday
We don't cook on Fridays. It just doesn't happen. Or really much on the weekends, if I'm being honest. But in the spirit of sharing, I'll do my best. :-)

Sweet and Tangy Chicken. Dubbed "chicken meal" in college, it is a long-time favorite for over a decade.

Saturday
Tony's Famous Cheeseburgers. Unfortunately, I can't divulge this secret under penalty of death by my husband. ;-) Here's what I can share: low fat ground beef, bread crumbs, A1, and a little Garlic Garlic or Onion Onion (but not both) from Tastefully Simple. Mix it by hand like a meatloaf, form patties, and grill to medium. Add cheese. Serve on Aunt Millie's wheat buns. I prefer mine with just ketchup and bread & butter pickles. Patties are generally too large for a side, but go great with a pasta salad or wedge fries.

Sunday
One-Pan Pork Roast With Parmesan Fries. Yum.

5.08.2010

the shoeless score

freezing cold at soccer today, but ryan kept going despite losing his shoe - and managed to score a barefoot goal! that's my boy! ;-)


5.05.2010

in love

with my new family photos, courtesy of April Harnish Photography! I signed us up for a Mommy & Me session as a gift to myself for Mother's Day, and then I thought it would be the perfect time to have some pics taken of me with MY mom...so we did! I can't wait to have them printed and framed...but first I have to decide which ones I want! Tough decision!































9.08.2009

singing time with ryan - "good ol' boys"

sorry about the long ending...stop button wouldn't work! :-)

 

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