Time Again!

A New Month, A New Meal!

So, we are getting close to February and it is time to schedule a new frozen dinner day. Post what days work for you and we will try to coordinate. Also, be thinking about the meals we've had and the meals you want to try for this next month!

Mom pointed out that I forgot the green enchiladas. I don't have the recipe, Mom can you add it in the comments, but feel free to comment about it!!

Green Enchiladas

If I have forgotten any recipes, please let me know and I will add them. Thanks!

Butternut Squash

I don't have the recipe but I wanted you to be able to comment!

Nicole's Spaghetti

2 cans crushed tomatoes (28 ounces)

2 cans stewed tomatoes (28 ounces)

1 can tomatoes with garlic (14 ounces)

2 cans tomatoes Italian (14 ounces)

2 big cubes of beef stock (no water added)

1 package Italian Season mix

1 pound ground beef

1 pound mild/medium Itialian Sausage

Garlic

1 smal onion chopped

OPTIONAL:

mushrooms

green peppers

corn

any veggies desired

Brown beef and sausage. Add onion, garlic and veggies as cooking to soften.

Put all ingredients in crock pot. Heat for 2 hours. Let cool. Place in Freezer bag.

TO SERVE: Thaw. Place in crock pot. Simmer on low all day or high for a couple of hours. Serve over noodles.

Green Bean Chili

1 pound ground beef

1/2 cup chopped green pepper

1/2 cup chopped onion

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) French-style green beans, drained

1 can (14-1/2 ounces) Mexican stewed tomatoes

1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce

1/2 cup salsa

1 Tablespoon chili powder

1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Salt and pepper to taste

In large sauce pan cook beef, green peppers, onion and garlic ove medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the remaining ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered for 30 min or until heated through. Place in freezer bag.

TO SERVE: Thaw, heat, serve with bread or in bread bowl.

PIZZA

Pizza topings desired in separate, small baggies. Some choices:

shredded cheese

olives

pepperoni (regular or turkey)

ham

pineapple

sauce

sausage

mushrooms

green peppers

Put all small baggies in one freezer bag and freeze.

TO SERVE: Make pizza dough. Use desired toppings. Bake according to pizza dough instructions. Enjoy. (next time we might have dough included!)

Sarah McKay's Whole Wheat Bread (or Half Wheat/Half White)

BLEND:

9 cups whole wheat flour

3 Tablespoons yeast

THEN ADD:

6 1/3 cups very warm water

Blend 1 minute. Turn off mixer and cover for 10-13 min. to sponge. Should rise to about double.

Make 1 cup of oatmeal while waiting for sponge to rise. (about 1 cup boiling water to 2/3 cup oatmeal--instant or regular)

AFTER SPONGING ADD:

1/2 cup oil

1/2 cup honey

1 1/2 Tablespoons salt

1 cup freshly cooked oatmeal

2 heapings tablespoon Vital Wheat Gluten

RUN MIXER, THEN ADD:

6 cups flour, 1 cup at a time. (If making 1/2 wheat, 1/2 white bread, use white flour at this step) Flour should be added until the dough starts to pull away from the side of the bowl. Knead for 7 minutes.

FINALLY:

Preheat oven to warm/lowest setting (turn on oven for about 5 min, then turn off)

With oiled hands, turn dough out onto oiled counter. Divide and gently shape into 6 loaves. Spray Pam in your 8" x 4" loaf pans and place loaves in pans.

Place pans into warm oven. Let rise for about 20-25 minutes. Leaving loaves in the oven, turn on the oven to 350 degrees and bake for 25 min. Remove from oven. Let stand 5 min. Remove loaves from pans and place on cooling racks. Cool completely before packaging.

Cheesy Ham and Potatoes

1 bag frozen shredded hash browns (2 pound bag)

1/2 cup minced onion

2 cans cream of celery soup

1 cream cheese (8-ounce)

1 1/2 cups Monterey Jack Cheese, shredded

1 1/2 cups cubed ham chunks

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Soften cream cheese and cream together with soup. Stir in onions, ham, cheese and pepper. Break apart hash browns. Gently stir into cheese mixture. Place in gallon freezer bag.

TO SERVE: Thaw. Place in greased baking dish. Bake covered for 1 hour at 350 degrees. Uncover and top with cheese. Return to oven until cheese is melted.

Hawaiian Chicken

6 boneless skinless chicken pieces

1 package dry onion soup mix

1 cup pineapple apricot jam

1 cup russian salad dressing

Arrange chicken in greased baking dish. Combine remaining ingredients and pour over chicken. Bake 45 min. at 350 degrees. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Place in freezer bag.

TO SERVE: Thaw. Heat. Serve with rice.

This was our tester meal. What did you think?

Cream Cheese Chicken

1 envelope Italian salad dressing mix

1 stick butter or margarine (1/2 cup)

6 boneless skinless chicken breasts (cut into 1" strips)

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 cream cheese (8-ounce)

Turn crock pot on High. Place butter in crock pot. When melted, add Italian salad dressing mix, mix well. Add chicken and stir. Cover and cook for 2 hours. Remove chicken to plate to cool. Add cream of chicken soup and cream cheese to pot. Stir to melt and mix well until smooth and creamy. Remove sauce from crock pot and let cool. Place chicken and sauce into gallon freezer bags.

TO SERVE: Thaw. Heat. Serve over mashed potatoes, rice, or hot buttered noodles.

WELCOME FAMILY!

Our blog will post monthly, as we have our dinner prep days. I will list each dinner as a separate post. As you eat your frozen dinner's then get on the blog and post your comments on the specific meal you ate. We will rate them and determine which ones to continue doing the following month and which to not do. Be honest, we won't get our feelings hurt. Try everything so we can get good feed back.

I am also including the recipe with each entry so that Connie, who can't be close, can try them if she wants to and comment on them also. If you have other friends who might want to try it, go ahead!

I don't actually have the recipe's yet from Mom so I will post each menu item tomorrow after I go to her house. Thanks everyone.