Saturday was our 3rd attempt at efficient freezer meal productivity. I prepped as many ingredients as possible beforehand making our day Saturday quick and doable.
The following RECIPE OVERVIEW includes ingredients and directions for five families (2 adults each) - resulting in 22 meals each, with 6 of those big enough for a second meal or a healthy amount of lunchtime leftovers. All of our recipes are from our families favorites. Multiplying the ingredients and prepping is the hardest part. I'm hoping that this one will have worked well for everyone and we can repeat it next quarter.
I honestly got most of the meat at Albertsons. They've had chicken breasts for 1.99 lb and pork steaks and pot roasts for 2.99 lb. I was thrilled to find a large boneless ham at URM Cash and Carry for 2.37 lb and a 5 lb roll of sausage for under $3 lb. I always buy my ground turkey at Costco. I figured each families expense was just under $100. We use my spices, etc.
One big improvement this time was to write the cooking and serving directions right on the bag. Got the idea from here:
Breakfast Casserole
BROWN 5 lbs sausage, divide into bags (1 c. each)
CHOP spinach (1/2 c. each bag) MIX (in gallon pitcher) 10 c. water and 3 1/3 c. dry milk – ½ c. in each bag
MIX 30 eggs plus 2 T. ground mustard, 1 T. salt, 2 t. pepper, /10 and add to bag
SHRED 20 c. cooked, shredded potatoes – 2 c. per bag (can buy dehydrated potatoes and rehydrate to cut time)
CHOP 2 ½ red peppers (1/4 c. each bag) & 1 ½ bunch green onions – ½ T per bag
ADD 1 c. shredded cheese to each bag
POUR egg mixture over potatoes/sausage
10 gallon sized bags
Thaw, bake 350 for 60 minutes, let stand 10 min. serve w/ salsa
Chicken Pot Pie
80 oz. froz mixed veggies – 1 c. each bag
COOK & CHUNK 10-12 chicken breasts – 2 c. per bag
2 cans (26 oz) cream of chicken soup – ½ c. in each bag
½ c. milk in each bag
5 c. baking mix (separate bag ½ c. each – tape to front of bag)
10 gallon sized bags
combine baking mix with 1/2 c. milk and ¼ c. melted margarine
8” greased pan
put thawed mixture in pan, pour baking mixture over chicken/veggies
bake 350 for 35-45 min
Meatballs
Combine 1 ½ c. bbq sauce and 1 1/2 c. grape jelly for each bag. Pour over 40 meatballs.
5 gallon sized bags. Crock pot low all day.
Serve over rice
White Chicken Chili
160 oz. navy beans, drained 4 c. in each bag
80 oz. crushed tomatoes – 2 c. in each bag
20 oz. green chiles, 1/2 c. in each bag
5 16 oz. cans corn – 1 in each bag
CHOP 2 ½ onions – 1/3 c. in each bag
MIX white chili seasoning – 1 T. per bag
10 breasts, frozen - 2 in each bag
5 gallon sized bags crock pot all day, shred chicken. Garnish with sour cream and cilantro
Potato Casserole
20 c. cooked, shredded potatoes – 3 c. in each bag
4 c. shredded cheese – 1/3 c. in each bag
3 cubes margarine, melted
2.5 (26 oz.) cream of chicken soup
3 lb sour cream
CHOP 1 ½ bunches green onions
COMBINE 4 ingredients, divide and pour in each bag
10 gallon sized bags
thaw, bake 350 for 30 min. or until bubbly
May add bacon bits, crushed corn flakes or crackers, more cheese to top
Lasagna
COOK full bag of lasagna noodles (bulk section)
2 #10 cans of tomato sauce (slight on 2nd)
BROWN 6 lbs ground turkey, add 3 onions, diced
ADD meat mixture to sauce and 4 T. chili pwd, 4 T. spaghetti seas mix, 1 T. thyme & basil, 1 t. garlic powder, 1 t. pepper and 1 t. salt. Simmer 60 min.
6 lbs cottage cheese
5 lbs shredded mozzarella cheese
10 8” sq foil pans
spray pan and cover bottom with sauce
LAYER noodles, cottage cheese, sauce, cheese (rpt)
Thaw, Bake 350 for 60 min. or until bubbly
Pasta Shells
96 oz spaghetti sauce – 1 ½ c. per bag
PRECOOK 30 oz jumbo shells6 lbs cottage cheese
7.5 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
10 eggs 3 c. grated parmesan cheese
MIX cheeses, eggs,4 t. oregano, 2 ½ t salt, 2 ½ t pepper
stuff shells with filling in gallon size bag (snip corner),
DIVIDE 9-12 shells into each bag
10 gallon sized bags, THAW Bake 350 for 30 min. 8 “ greased pan,
Meatloaf
15 c. soft bread crumbs -1 ½ c. in bag
MIX 7 ½ c. water w/ 2 ½ c. dry milk, pour ¾ c. over bread
ADD 15 lbs hamburger, thawed – 3 c. (1.5 lb) per bag
CHOP 3 ½ onions -1/4 c. per bag
SHRED 10 carrots - 1/3 c. per bag
ADD 20 eggs -2 in each bag (or 1 xlg egg)
SQUISH until combined
10 gallon sized bags - combine ¼ c. ketchup, 3 T. brown sugar, 2 T. mustard
Spread over meatloaf. Crock pot low all day. Remove from liquid and serve
Pot Roast
Roast in bag
ADD 4 medium potatoes, 4 carrots (halved), 1 onion, qtr and
2 stalks of celery, chunked
MIX 3 T. onion soup mix with 1 c. hot water and pour over
5 gallon sized bags
Crock pot low all day
Ham chunk ham into 5 sections, slice with meat cutter and put into 15 qt sized bags – cut chunk in ½ is easier to slice
Chicken spaghetti
Each bag:
1 can cream of mushroom soup, 4 oz velveeta
¼ c. diced pimento
¼ c. finely diced onion
¼ c. finely diced green pepper, ½ t seasoning salt, pepper to taste
1 c. chicken broth, ⅛ t cayenne pepper
2 frozen chicken breasts
5 gallon sized bags. Slow cook low all day. Remove and shred chicken. Serve over cooked spaghetti noodles
Salsa Verde Pork Roast
Each bag:
2-3 lb pork loin roast
2 c. salsa verde
1 onion, quartered
5 gallon sized bags. Slow cook all day. Remove and shred pork. Serve as tacos or over rice with toppings.
