Saturday, March 12, 2011

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Servings: 6

Ingredients: 1 pkg (12 oz) spaghetti
1 jar (28 oz) spaghetti sauce
1 batch of 30 meatballs (frozen or thawed)
Grated Parmesan cheese, opt.

Directions:
Cook spaghetti according to pkg directions. Meanwhile in a saucepan, combine spaghetti sauce and meatballs. Cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the meatballs are heated through. Serve over spaghetti noodles; top with Parmesan cheese.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Servings: 6

Ingredients:
1 20 oz can pineapple chunks
3 T vinegar
1 T soy sauce
1/2 c packed brown sugar
3 T cornstarch
1 batch 30 meatballs (frozen or thawed)
1 large green pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
hot cooked rice

Directions:
Drain pineapple, reserving juice and set aside. Add water to juice if needed to measure 1 1/3 cup and pour into a large skillet. Add vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar, and corn starch; stir until smooth. Cook over medium heat until thick, stirring constantly. Add pineapple, meatballs, and green pepper. Simmer, uncovered for 20 minutes or until heated through. Serve over rice.

Meatballs

Yield: 5 batches (about 30 meatballs per batch)

Ingredients:
4 eggs
2 c dry bread crumbs or crushed Ritz crackers
1/2 c finely chopped onion
1 T salt
2 T Worcestershire sauce
1/2 t white pepper
4 lbs lean ground beef

Directions:
In a large bowl, beat eggs. Add the next 5 ingredients. Add beef; mix well. Shape into 1 inch balls, about 12 dozen. Place in single layers in ungreased 15in x 10in x 1in baking pan. Bake at 400* for 10-15 minutes or until no longer pink, turnign often; drain. Cool. Place about 30 meatballs each into quart sized freezer bags. May be frozen for up to 3 months.

For recipes that use these meatballs specifically, see Sweet and Sour Meatballs, Spaghetti and Meatballs, and Meatball Sandwiches.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Chimichangas

Servings: 6-8

Ingredients:
12.5 oz can chicken chunks
1 can corn
1 can black beans
1 can diced tomatoes
4 oz can green chiles
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Seasonings to taste: cumin, garlic, onion powder
12-18 tortillas
oil for frying

Get a frying pan ready with oil about a half inch deep. Heat over medium-high heat.

Drain all cans very well. I set my strainer inside another bowl and combine everything in the strainer so it can drip out as I mix.

Mix chicken, corn, black beans, and seasonings. Add tomatoes and green chiles and let drain well. Note: if you're not careful, the tomatoes will get mushed to nothingness and drip away.

Add cheese. I never measure the cheese, I just add it until it looks good and cheesy. I'll measure it next time just for the blog.

Test oil heat. It's ready when a piece of tortilla sizzles immediately after being dropped in.

Spoon about 2 spoonfuls of filling into a tortilla, wrap it by folding in opposite ends and then rolling the other sides in lengthwise. Set in oil and continue wrapping. I usually put 3-4 chimichangas in the oil together.

Turn when light brown on bottom - about 3 minutes or so depending on oil heat. After both sides have been browned, remove from oil. You can put a paper towel on a plate and set them on that to drip any excess oil before eating.

This usually makes at least 12 chimichanges but it depends on how full you make each one.

I haven't tried this yet, but I imagine that you could fry them up and freeze them individually wrapped so that later, you could microwave or bake them up again and have instant lunch or snack.

Enjoy!

Fruit Salad

Servings: 6-8

Ingredients:
1 can fruit cocktail
1 can pineapple tidbits or chunks
1 can mandarin oranges
1 apple cut into bite sized pieces
1 banana cut into slices
1 small box lemon pudding

Combine all the cans including juice* into a bowl, add apple and dry lemon pudding powder and stir. Add banana and stir only a few more times to avoid mushing the banana. Salad is ready to serve and leftovers should be refrigerated.

*Because Mandarin orange juice can be bitter, it can be drained off or added depending on preference.

Hominy Soup

Servings: 4-6

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef browned and drained
1 can Ro-tel (or diced tomatoes with green chile)
1-2 cans corn
1 can hominy
1 can pinto beans drained

Combine all ingredients in pot on medium-high heat until heated through. The extra can of corn can be added if you want to serve more people and still keep it cheap. Hominy soup can be served with cornbread or rolls as a side. This recipe was my favorite as a child!

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Aztec Quiche

Serving Size : 6

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 1/4 cups Monterrey jack cheese, grated
3/4 cup cheddar cheese
4 ounces green chiles, diced
1 cup half and half
3 eggs -- beaten
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cumin powder
1 pie crust

Beat eggs. Add half and half.

Blend in the rest of the ingredients and freeze in a gallon sized bag. Put pie crust in separate bag to freeze.

Thaw mixture completely.

Thaw crust for 10 minutes and precook for 5 minutes.

Fill with egg mixture.

Bake in 325 oven for 30 minutes.

Stuffed Chicken

Serving Size : 8

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
8 ounces feta cheese -- crumbled (2 cups)
1/2 cup jarred roasted red peppers -- rinsed, patted dry, and coarsely chopped
1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives -- coarsely chopped
3 large green onions -- thinly sliced (1 cup)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
16 chicken cutlets -- (about 4 pounds total)
Coarse salt and ground pepper
2 cups tomato sauce -- (optional)


In a medium bowl, combine feta, peppers, olives, scallions, and oregano. Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.

Place cutlets on a flat surface, smooth side down. Spoon 2 tablespoons of feta mixture in center of each cutlet; fold up short sides over cheese, then long sides, making a packet.

On baking sheet, arrange stuffed cutlets, seam side down (they should not touch); freeze until firm, about 1 hour. Wrap each in plastic; place in a resealable freezer bag; label, and date. Freeze up to 2 months.

To bake: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line two large baking sheets with parchment. Unwrap frozen cutlets, and arrange, seam side down, on baking sheets; season with salt and pepper.

Bake until chicken is opaque throughout, about 30 minutes. Serve 2 cutlets per person, topped, if desired, with tomato sauce. To bake without freezing: Decrease baking time by about 10 minutes.

I have not made this one yet. If you do, let me know how it turns out. I'm very curious!

Quiche Lorraine

Serving Size: 6

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 pie crust
3 eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup cream
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup bacon bits
1 1/2 cups swiss cheese -- shredded
1 tablespoon flour

Blend all ingredients except pie crust

Freeze in 1 gallon Ziploc bag; place in 2nd Ziploc bag with pie crust.

To serve; thaw egg mixture completely.

Thaw pie crust 10 minutes then add egg mixture.

Bake at 375 for 30-45 minutes.

Let stand for 5 minutes before slicing.

Cheese Manicotti

Serving Size: 8

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 8 oz pkg manicotti
1 1/2 cups Ricotta cheese
2 cups cottage cheese
1/2 cup softened cream cheese
1/2 cup shredded fresh Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tablespoons dried parsley flakes
1 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 cups spaghetti sauce

Do not cook manicotti. Combine ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese mozzerella cheese, dried parsley flakes, salt and pepper.

Mix well.

Cover bottom of a greased foil baking pan with spaghetti sauce. Place filling into a quart freezer bag. Zip closed Snip off corner. Squeeze filling into each uncooked manicotti.

Arrange on spaghetti sauce in pan.

Pour spaghetti sauce over all.

Cover with extra heavy foil. Label and freeze.


Thaw. Bake covered for 45 minutes at 350.

Uncover top with more mozzarella cheese and bake an additional 5 min or until cheese melts.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Caramel Apple Crisp

Serving Size: 6

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
6 cups apples -- peeled and sliced
1/4 cup caramel ice cream topping
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup pecans -- chopped
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg -- beaten
5 tablespoons butter

Mix apples, caramel, cinnamon, and nuts together and bag in Ziploc.

For the topping bag: Mix flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt together and then add beaten egg to Ziploc. Place butter in sandwich baggie.

Freeze

Partially thaw topping bag in fridge and partially thaw apple mixture on
counter.

Pour apple mixture into a 8X8 pan. Crumble topping over apple mixture.

Melt butter and drizzle over topping.

Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes.

Serve warm with ice cream!

Teriyaki Chicken

Serving Size: 6

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
3/4 cup soy sauce
3/4 cup sugar
2 1/4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
3 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 1/2 cloves minced garlic
1 1/8 teaspoons ground ginger
2 to 3 pounds chicken breasts


Mix soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, oil, garlic, and ginger to make the
Marinade.

Freeze chicken in Marinade in a 1-gallon ziploc bag.

Thaw.

Pour chicken and Marinade into a baking dish.

Bake in a preheated 350 oven for 35 minutes.

Serve over Rice.

Can use steak or shrimp as well

Baked Eggs Casserole

Serving Size: 6-8

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
6 slices bread, cut into cubes
1/2 cup chopped onions
3 cups grated cheddar cheese
6 eggs
1/4 cup chopped green onion
3 cups milk
1 cup chopped ham

Combine all ingredients except the eggs and milk in the 9x13.

Whisk together the eggs and milk and pour over the top.

Freeze

When thawed, bake, uncovered at 375 degrees for 45 minutes.

Goulash

Serving Size: 6

Amount Measure Ingredient
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 pound ground beef
1 onion -- diced
1 tablespoon chili powder
garlic -- salt, and pepper
1 can ranch-style beans
1 bay leaf
1 can diced tomatoes
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 cups macaroni

Cook and drain beef and onion.

Add chili powder, garlic, salt and pepper, beans, bay leaf, diced
tomatoes, and Worcestershire sauce.

Mix together and put into bag.

Put macaroni in a quart Ziploc bag, then put both sealed gallon meat mixture bag and sealed quart size Macaroni in another gallon bag together so that you have everything you need in one place in the freeze.

Freeze.

Thaw.

Pour beef mixture into a large skillet. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes.

While mixture is simmering cook macaroni in boiling water for 7-9 minutes.

Drain macaroni and add to beef mixture. Mix and serve.

Great with Parmesan cheese on top and salad.

Homemade Salsa Chicken

Serving Size: 6

Amount Measure Ingredient
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 pound Chicken Breast -- cut into strips
15 ounces diced tomatoes
1/2 cup apricot jam
1 package taco seasoning mix

Put chicken in gallon freezer bag. Sprinkle with Taco seasoning and mix
to coat.

In a bowl, mix the tomatoes and jam and pour into the chicken bag.

Freeze.

When thawed, sauté for 5-7 minutes or until chicken is done. (can serve
with rice and salad).

Apple Peach Pie

Serving Size : 8

Amount Ingredient

2 pie crust
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons tapioca
½ teaspoon cinnamon
5 Granny Smith apples -- peeled and sliced
1 peach -- peeled and sliced, or 1/2 cup frozen solid pack peaches
½ cup crushed corn flakes
2 tablespoons dry lemon Jell-O
2 tablespoons butter

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line 9" pie pan with one crust of Refrigerated Pie Crust. In large bowl, combine sugar, tapioca, cinnamon, and apple and peach slices.

Sprinkle corn flakes in the bottom of the pie crust, and fill with apple-peach mixture. Sprinkle with the dry lemon Jell-O and dot with butter. Add top crust and flute. (At this point is when I would freeze it.) Cut decorative slits in top crust. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, then lower temperature to 350 degrees and bake for another 45-50 minutes, until juices are bubbling and crust is deep golden brown. Let cool for at least one hour before serving.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Two Bean Chicken Chili

Serving Size : 6

Amount Measure Ingredient
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 medium zucchini -- sliced 1/4-inch thick
15 ounces black beans
15 ounces pinto beans
8 3/4 ounces whole kernel corn -- drained
29 ounces chicken broth
16 ounces salsa
8 ounces Tomato sauce
3 cups Chicken -- cooked and diced
1 clove garlic -- crushed
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin

Drain and rinse beans and drain corn.

Combine all ingredients in 1 gallon Ziploc bag. Place in 2nd Ziploc bag.

Freeze

Thaw and place in a 4 quart sauce pan.

Bring to a boil and then simmer for 30 minutes.

Optional toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, crushed corn or tortilla chips, sliced green onions or fresh cilantro.

Peach Cobbler

Serving Size : 6

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
2 cans peach halves
1 package butter pecan cake mix
1 cup mixed nuts
1 cup coconut
1 cup melted butter

Drain 1/2 liquid off peaches and pour remaining juice and peaches into a baking dish.

Layer cake mix on top of peaches

Pour butter over cake mix

Mix coconut and nuts and pour on top.

Freeze.

When thaw, bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

Serve with vanilla bean ice cream.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Great new recipes!

My sister-in-law just sent me this link with tons of great freezer recipes. Good luck and let me know when you find a real winner!
http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/freezer-friendly-foods

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Freezer Meal Recipes

Hi everyone!
I have moved to a new area and still have not gotten a group of ladies together to do freezer meals. However, I still intend to post some recipes up here occasionally. I'm just still getting moved and settled. Sorry for the delay! :D