Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Planning Day!

I have deemed today a planning day.  I wanted to get some things done but my head cold is not allowing that to happen.  So I thought, well, I certainly can plan the meals I am going to make for Baby D's arrival!  :)  And since our freezer was delivered yesterday I have all sorts of motivation to fill it full of food!  :D

So here is the gist of what I plan to make for when Baby D makes her arrival.  I will be making 3 of each so that will be just over a month's worth of meals.

Main Dishes
Chili
Beef Stew
Cream Cheese Chicken
Chicken/Turkey Tettrazini (Betty Crocker Recipe)
Taco Stuffed Pasta Shells
Chicken Pot Pies
Lentil and Sausage Soup
P'sghetti and Meatballs (Rachael Ray Recipe)
Sloppy Joe's
Pizza Bagels
Taco Meat



Breakfast Foods
Zucchini Bread
Chocolate Chip Muffins
Blueberry Muffins
Pumpkin Bread
Chocolate Bran Muffins

Snacks
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Brownies
No Bake Cookies


Here are a few tips that I have found on-line to help with your freezer meals.

1.  Label what your freezer meal is and date it.
2. Rotate your freezer meals.  New goes on the bottom of the stack or back of the freezer and the older meals get moved up.
3. Don't place your hot food directly in the freezer.  Let it cool slightly, at least 30-45 minutes, on the kitchen counter.
4. If you are cooking your meal directly from the freezer to the oven make sure to add additional cooking time.
5.  If you are using potatoes, combine with a liquid or moist ingredient.  Potatoes don't always work well in freezer meals.
6. If you are including rice or noodles in a freezer meal, leave them out and add before cooking.  Or under cook them slightly and make sure they are included in a sauce before freezing.
7.  Include frozen vegetables, bread, rolls, loaves of bread or dough for side dishes in your freezer recipes.
8.  Try creating your own homemade frozen dinners by using dishes that are large enough to include side dishes.  Place a meat and two side dishes in a freezer container and freeze.  You have a healthy homemade frozen dinner for a busy night.

No comments:

Post a Comment