Freezer Cooking = Success

So, I called in the help of my mom and dad (dad to entertain my wee helper, and mom to help with the preparation!)  So, now sitting in my freezer are the following:

Chicken & Spinach
Beef Dip Sandwiches
Italian Sausages in Spaghetti Sauce
Chicken Fajitas
Casserole Spaghetti
Chicken Ranch Tacos
Peppered Steak (This one may not make the cut for crock potting, I may do it on the stove top.)
Beans and Rice
Taco Meat x 2

90% of the meat came from my freezer, which in hind sight, I probably wouldn't do again.  It was sort of a pain.  The chicken was easy, but ground beef and sausage take a lot longer when frozen.

I compared ingredients and made my grocery list, then I pulled out my handy, dandy notebook and penned all of the cooking instructions, and bag instructions for all of my bags.  One recipe I had planned on doing was Chipotle Tacos, but I couldn't find chipotle peppers.  Next time I will remember to check the canned veggies.  ;)

I chopped and diced and peeled while mom browned all of the meat.  Then, we began dumping everything into bags.  Of course, I'm new to this blog thing, so I forgot to take progress pictures... this will have to do!

So, my freezer is nicely stocked, as you can see!  In the future, I'm not sure that I'll do bulk freezing again, but will likely try making double recipes.  

To Make My Meal Plan Even More Complex

I'm going to go real food style.  No dressing packets, no spice packets, no cream of x soup.  I'm going to make my own.

Ranch dressing?  I've got a pin for that.  Taco seasoning?  One for that too.  Cream of anything soup?  Check.  Who needs apps when you've got pins?  (If you haven't been introduced to the world of pinterest, you should get acquainted.  It's a wonderful place.)

Seriously, check it out.  Here's my board.  ;)

You Know the Crazy Organized People...

... who super plan out their menu, and then spend a day grocery shopping followed by several days of meal prep and freezing and the like?  I'm about to join their ranks of crazy.  I'm going to spend the rest of the month planning for my first attempt at once a month cooking.  Although, I think I'll start with two weeks, but we'll see what sales are up and what I can come up with as far as recipes go.  I may go so far as to try for a month.

Since it's approaching summer, and the temps are finally soaring, my kitchen and I are no longer such great friends.  We're going to put the AC unit in the window this week, but, even that won't keep the temperature at the ideal level.  So, I'm thinking crock pot meals will be the way to go.  Really, I think that will be the easiest way to start too.  Gather ingredients, chop, toss in a freezer bag, and voila, insta-meal.

Interested in a sneak peak of a recipe or two?  I know you are, so here are a couple!

Chicken & Spinach
4- 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 jar Classico Three Cheese sauce
Onions
Bell peppers
Sliced zucchini & yellow squash
Bag of fresh spinach
1 lb cooked pasta

Layer chicken, onions, peppers and other veggies and top with spinach.  Cook on low, 6-8 hours.

I'll throw everything in a gallon freezer bag except the spinach and then just dump it in the crock pot and top it with the spinach

Beef Dip Sandwiches
4 lb beef chuck roast
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon dried rosemary
3 bay leaves
1 cup soy sauce
6 cups water

Place all ingredients except water in a gallon freezer bag and freeze.  When ready to prepare, defrost completely.  Put into crock pot and add water.  Cook on low 6-10 hours, the longer the better.  Dip sandwiches into jus from the remaining liquid.

I'm ready to get started cooking right now, yum!

The Holly In My Head

You know the voice in your head?  The one that has no filter.  That says what he or she thinks about anything and everything.

My name is Holly, and I have a Holly in my head.  She's super snarky and sarcastic, but don't worry, she's not allowed out very often.  

Anyway.  That's not so much what this blog will be about, but my husband suggested the title, and it made me giggle.  The far more likely things you'll see will be related to sewing, or baking, or cooking, cleaning, mothering a toddler, anything like that.  Basically, whatever I feel like posting about at the time will pop up.