Friday, October 3, 2008

What's in my freezer?

I think I'm getting to the end of my quest to fill my freezer. Well, the meal part anyways. I have a few more things I'd like to do, but I'm kinda waiting for chicken breasts to go on sale. So I'll wait.

A friend sent me a link to this book that looks really good. I have not read it, but I printed off the free recipe and am seriously considering buying it. After my impending tropical vacation.

While I was still in the planning stages...I came across this post on a blog I frequent. I haven't been through all the sites mentioned in there yet, but I fully intend to in the future and did find a couple good recipes so far.

My challenge has been to find meals that are easily freezable and economical and that are not ground beef based. In that, I have not faired great. But, like I said...waiting for the chicken to go on sale. Anyone have any good chicken casserole recipes that do not contain cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup?

I actually jumped up and down last week (no I'm not joking) when I found a whole bunch of extra lean ground beef on half price because it was nearing its end date. So, I bought $60 worth of ground beef for $30 and felt very proud of myself as I lugged it all home and immediately began ignoring my family while I cooked up all that meat. Luckily, Brian was off that day.

A few of the meals I have in my freezer:
  • Vegetable based soups (frozen in individual containers for quick, low point lunches for me)
  • Beef Barley soup
  • Lasagna
  • Casserole of ground beef, tomato soup, corn and noodles
  • Orange chicken and penne
  • Shepherd's pie
  • Meatloaf (full sized and little mini one's for when Brian needs a quick meal)
  • Tomato meat sauce (to use with pasta)
  • Some pre-cooked ground beef
  • Sweet and sour meatballs
  • Saucy franks (a new recipe...not sure how they'll go over)
  • French toast sticks (to pull out for quick breakfasts for the kids)

That's pretty close to it for now. I have grand plans of baking some muffins and cookies and stuff by the end of the month. So, maybe next week or the week after. I'm a little weary of being in the kitchen right now.

Oh! And an exciting discovery for me this week. Spaghetti squash freezes well. I love that stuff and the fact that you can eat a cup of it for 0 points. But, my kids won't eat it and Brian would prefer not to...so I don't cook it as much as I'd like cuz it'll take me a week to finish it up and that's no fun. I usually end up throwing some away. Well, I decided the freeze my leftovers the last time I made it and it turned out great! Not only did I have a quick, low point meal, but it tasted good too. So the next time I find some good spaghetti squashes at the grocery store (which doesn't always happen), I will buy a bunch, cook'em up and freeze them. I'm very excited. No really, I am.

2 comments:

  1. I don't have any chicken casserole recipes, but I have some good chicken recipes that have been tested by my kids and are pretty easy to make. Let me know if you want them.

    What a great idea to "mass produce" meals for your freezer! I think that I may have to try that so I don't take the non-healthy/easy way out at mealtimes.

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  2. hey honey..wanna share that spaghettie squash recipe?

    i'm TRYING to like it, I really am!!!

    xo

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