Make Ahead Freezer Meals for the Month

Meal time is always one of the most stressful times in our house.  From not knowing what to cook to just not having the TIME to cook it.  Last Saturday, I spent ALL day in the kitchen, preparing various meals to put away in the freezer so that we will have hassle free dinners for the rest of the month.

Last week's dinner time was AWESOME!!  It was so nice to come home and just pop dinner in the oven with NO preparation.  I was able to do things around the house outside the kitchen.  Even better was the little to NO clean up left after dinner.....I mean seriously, how hard it it to clean a spoon and the dinner plates?!?

Here is a link to the recipes I used. 

The meals I prepared were:

1.  Mini Meatloaves
2. Ham & Cheese Braid
3. Beef Ravioli
4. Smothered Pork Chops
5. Farmer’s Casserole
6. Buffalo Shrimp
7. Shepherd’s Pie
8. Baked French Toast
9. Tater Tot Casserole
10. Simple Lasagna

For our family of 4, there ended up being enough for 2-3 meals from each recipe.  Let me know if you try it and how it goes for you!!

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Heavenly Moist Chocolate Chip Cookies (with applesauce)

I whipped up some Chocolate Chip Cookies for a New Years Eve party that we went to and they received RAVED reviews by those young and even younger.  I was pleasantly surprised because I had to do some improvising while I was whipping them up.  I ended up not having enough butter [isn't it AMAZING how much butter cookies take?]  I used the basic recipe here while substituting some of the butter with applesauce.  (see Recipe below)  I also took a risk and used my brand new NINJA to help with the cookie dough - all around these cookies are heavenly......to make, to bake, and to E-A-T!

Enjoy!! 

Heavenly Chocolate Chip Cookies  

• 2 1/4 cup flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 stick butter
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 small pkg. instant vanilla pudding mix
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 egg
• 1/2 pkg chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Stir baking soda, flour and salt; set aside.
2. Combine butter, sugars and pudding mix, beating until fluffy.
3. Add vanilla and egg; beat until smooth.
4. Add dry ingredients; mix well.
5. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.
6. Bake at 375° for 8-10 minutes.

Printable Recipe

Grandma's Crock Pot Vegetarian Chili

Although it isn't my grandma's recipe, this was definitely yummy enough to call hers.  We had this for dinner last night and it will definitely be added to the list of the family favorites AND it is super easy! 

Ingredients

• 1 (19 ounce) can black bean soup
• 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (16 ounce) can vegetarian baked beans
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can chopped tomatoes in puree
• 1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained (I left out the corn due to an allergy)
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 tablespoon chili powder, or to taste (I only used 1/2 teaspoon because my family isn't 'in' to super spicy foods)
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley (I substituted a teaspoon of 'Italian Seasoning' in for this and the next 2 ingredients)
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon dried basil

Directions

1. In a slow cooker, combine black bean soup, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, baked beans, tomatoes, corn, onion, bell pepper and celery. Season with garlic, chili powder, parsley, oregano and basil. Cook for at least two hours on High.

Lunchbox Freezer Cooking

One of the easiest ways to prepare lunch for the kiddies is by doing all the work BEFORE the wee hours of the morning.  I've been preparing large batches of their favorite meal (recipe here), then divvying it up into smaller portions and freezing it.

When morning comes and the sun is rising, I just pop the container of yummy goodness in the microwave to heat, throw it in their Thermos (which I have found there IS no substitute for the real Thermos brand thermos) and off they go to school with a hot, yummy lunch they will actually eat.  

I have also used this method with Crock Pot Mac & Cheese and hope to try it with several other recipes as well.

What do you do to make your mornings and lunch preparation run smoothly?? 

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Snickers Cake Recipe

This past Monday was the Hubster's birthday.  He is a HUGE fan of Snickers ~ Regular Snickers, Almond Snickers, Peanut Butter Snickers, Ice Cream Bar Snickers .... it doesn't matter as long as it's Snickers.

For his birthday, I thought a Snickers cake would be awesome so I headed over to Pinterest and did a quick search and found this recipe.  I tweaked it just a bit and the outcome was amazing!!!  So amazing in fact that I neglected to take a good picture of the finished product ~ every time I got near it, I had to eat a piece. 

Consumer beware ~ this is a super RICH cake so have a glass of milk handy!! 

INGREDIENTS
16.5 oz box of  Devil’s Food cake mix
1 c water
1/3 c vegetable oil
3 eggs
14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
12 oz jar Caramel ice cream topping sauce
1 c chocolate chips
1 pt heavy whipping cream
1/2 c powdered sugar
3 Snickers candy bars, chopped

STEPS

• Preheat oven to 350º.
• In a large mixing bowl beat together the cake mix, water, oil, and eggs at medium speed for 2 1/2 minutes.
• Pour the cake batter into a greased 9” x 13” pan
• Bake the cake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the middle.
• While the cake is baking mix together the condensed milk and jar of caramel sauce until thoroughly blended.
• When the cake is done cooking, but still hot, poke 20–30 holes in the cake using a straw.
• Pour the caramel sauce over the entire cake.
• Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top of the cake while hot then spread around once melted.
• Allow the cake to finish cooling completely (I stuck mine in the fridge to speed this up)
• In a medium mixing bowl beat together the whipping cream and powdered sugar at high speed until it is nice and thick, about 3–5 minutes.
• Fold the chopped Snickers into the whipped topping.
• Spread the whipped topping over the top of the cake.
• Place in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
• Enjoy!