Thursday, May 4, 2017

10 Freezer Meal Ideas for New Moms

Looking for ways to help a new mom friend? How about providing her with a few freezer meals that she can pull out and {easily} cook up whenever she needs them. The list below includes a few of my own recipes and some of my favorites from other sites!




  1. Slow Cooker Chicken Curry
  2. Mexican Chicken {delivered with a package of tortillas that can be frozen with the meal!}
  3. Simple Ground Beef Enchiladas
  4. Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy
  5. Slow Cooker Pork Chili
  6. Baked Italian Meatballs {delivered with a package of spaghetti noodles & a jar of pasta sauce}
  7. Baked Ziti {delivered with a package of frozen garlic bread}
  8. Slow Cooker Creole Jambalaya
  9. Mediterranean Shrimp
  10. Slow Cooker Cubed Steak with Gravy
Throw in a bag of frozen veggies and a tub of ice cream and you have just made one mama very happy!


Slow Cooker Pork Chili


Ingredients:

  • 1-lb ground pork
  • 1-lb ground beef
  • (3) 14.5 oz cans of diced tomatoes
  • (1) 15 oz can chili beans in chili sauce
  • (1) 15 oz can dark red kidney beans
  • 2 packets of chili seasoning mix (1-1.25 oz each)
  • 1/2 cup cilantro
  • 1 onion
  • 2 green peppers
  • 1 jalapeno pepper
  • 1 TBSP garlic
  • 1 cup water
Directions:
  1. Brown ground pork and ground beef and drain off any excess grease. Add to slow cooker.
  2. While meat is cooking, coarsely chop onion, bell peppers and jalapeno pepper (removing all seeds from the peppers). Chop cilantro. Mince garlic. Add all to slow cooker. 
  3. Add all contents from the cans of tomatoes and chili beans to the slow cooker. Rinse the kidney beans and add with one cup water to the slow cooker.
  4. Cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours. Serve hot.
  5. Garnish with sour cream, grated cheese and/or corn chips.

To Freeze:
  1. Follow steps 1-3 from above and add all (except water) to a large freezer bag. 
  2. When ready to cook, thaw overnight and then add to slow cooker along with one cup water and cook according to the directions above.

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Baked Italian Meatballs


Ingredients: 

  • 1 lb Italian sausage
  • 2 lbs lean ground beef
  • 2 tsp minced garlic {4 cloves}
  • ⅓ cup fresh basil – finely chopped
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup Italian-style breadcrumbs
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • ¼ cup milk
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper

Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Lightly grease a baking sheet.
  2. Mix together all ingredients by hand. Roll into 1½-inch balls, place on baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes (until insides are no longer pink).
  3. Turn oven to broil and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes to brown and crisp the outside of the meatballs. Serve over pasta with marinara or Alfredo sauce. Yum!
This recipe yields about 50 meatballs -- which is way too many for my family of three, so I always freeze half of the meatballs for a later meal (which still leaves plenty cooked for dinner and for my husband's lunches that week!). 

To Freeze:
  1. Place meatballs on baking sheet and pop into the freezer for 20 minutes. 
  2. Remove from freezer and place all meatballs in freezer bag and put back in the freezer -- freeze for up to 3 months.
  3. When ready to bake, remove from freezer and thaw on greased baking sheet. Follow baking directions above once thawed.

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

March 2017 Meal Planning



1. Beef & Bean Oven Tacos and salad
2. Easy Grilled Chicken, rice pilaf and Simple Roasted Brussels Sprouts
3. Pork Chops Yum-Yum with quinoa and roasted veggies
4. Denver Restaurant Week Dinner Out! 🌄
5. Leftovers 
6. Homemade Pizza and Caesar salad
7. Pioneer Woman's Perfect Pot Roast with mashed potatoes and green beans
8. Crispy and Tender Baked Chicken Thighs, butternut squash and biscuits
9. Tin Foil Hobo Packets
10. Leftovers
11. Date Night ➽
12. Ham n' Cheese Crepes with salad
13. Stuffed Bell Peppers
14. Turkey Meatloaf with Kabocha squash
15. Green Pepper Chili with cornbread
16. Leftovers
17. St. Patrick's Day! Corned Beef and Cabbage with carrots and Crusty Bread
18. Healthy Beef Stew
19. Chicken burgers and Sweet Potato Fries
20. Breakfast for Dinner! Pancakes, bacon and fresh fruit
21. Crockpot Sesame Chicken over rice with asparagus
22. Shrimp Scampi Zoodles
23. Slow Cooker Creole Jambalaya
24. Leftovers
25. Takeout
26. Soup and grilled cheese
27. Zuppa Toscana Soup with Quick Soft Breadsticks
28. Slow Cooker Chicken Curry over rice with naan
29. Grilled steak with Roasted Parsnips and Carrots
30. Slow Cooker Carnitas tacos and guacamole
31. Leftovers

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Meal Planning for 2/16 -- 2/28


Thursday (Feb 16) -- Leftovers
Friday (Feb 17) -- Chicken Fajitas with Fajita Seasoning and Guacamole
Saturday (Feb 18) -- Chicken Burgers (from Costco) with Sweet Potato Fries
Sunday (Feb 19) -- Turkey Pepperoni Pizza
Monday (Feb 20) -- Beef, Tomato and Acini di pepe Soup
Tuesday (Feb 21) -- Slow Cooker Beef Tacos and fresh fruit
Wednesday (Feb 22) -- Leftovers
Thursday (Feb 23) -- Soup and grilled cheese sandwiches
Friday (Feb 24) -- Korean Pork Chops and Simple Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Saturday (Feb 25) -- Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup
Sunday (Feb 26) -- Birthday dinner out for my girl 💜
Monday (Feb 27) -- Simple Ground Beef Enchiladas and salad
Tuesday (Feb 28) -- Salisbury Steak Meatballs over mashed potatoes with green beans

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Meal Planning for 1/30 - 2/15

We are focused on making healthy eating choices right now, so this menu reflects a balanced menu!


Monday (Jan 30) -- Meatballs with spaghetti sauce over spaghetti squash
Tuesday (Jan 31) -- Slow cooker Chicken Teriyaki Stir-Fry over rice
Wednesday (Feb 1) -- Mediterranean Shrimp with rice pilaf and asparagus
Thursday (Feb 2) -- Garlic-Rosemary Tri-Tip Roast with Simple Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Friday (Feb 3) -- Green Pepper Chili and cornbread
Saturday (Feb 4) -- Leftovers
Sunday (Feb 5) -- Super Bowl! Healthy Chicken Nachos
Monday (Feb 6) -- Mongolian Beef over rice
Tuesday (Feb 7) -- Slow Cooker Creole Jambalaya over rice and biscuits
Wednesday (Feb 8) -- Leftovers
Thursday (Feb 9) -- Baked chicken thighs and roasted veggies
Friday (Feb 10) -- Quick Taco Salad with Guacamole
Saturday (Feb 11) -- Valentine's Dinner Celebration (because we have plans on the 14th): Grilled steak, Twice Baked Potatoes and asparagus
Sunday (Feb 12) -- Turkey Meatloaf and roasted red potatoes and carrots
Monday (Feb 13) -- Crock Pot Sesame Chicken over rice with green beans
Tuesday (Feb 14) -- Chicken & Gravy with mashed potatoes and squash medley
Wednesday (Feb 15) -- Mexican Casserole and salad

Sunday, January 8, 2017

Slow Cooker Creole Jambalaya

Ingredients:
  • 1½ pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breast, chopped
  • 13-ounce turkey kielbasa, sliced
  • 12-ounce bag of Cajun style mirepoix blend (or 1 cup each of chopped green bell pepper, onion and celery)
  • 15-ounce can of diced tomatoes
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • 1-3 tsp cayenne pepper (depending on how spicy you'd like it!)
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp Creole seasoning
  • 1 tsp minced garlic

Directions: 

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours. Serve over rice.



Freezer Directions:

This is a great recipe to freeze. In fact, I usually make one or two extra batches when I make it for dinner to freeze for later. For best results, combine all ingredients in Ziploc freezer bag, label and pop in your freezer (use within 3 months). When ready to cook, thaw in refrigerator and follow directions above.


Sunday, August 30, 2015

September 2015


1. Leftovers
2. Ham and Gruyere Quiche and fruit
3. Cheesy Oven Baked Tacos and green salad
4. Chicken Stuffed Poblano Chiles and Mexican-seasoned butternut squash
5. Tin-Foil Hobo Packets
6. Grilled Pizza and popcorn
7. Labor Day! BBQ Chicken Kebabs, potato salad and grilled corn-on-the-cob
8. Crock Pot Cheese Tortellini Soup and Cheddar Bay Biscuits
9. Breakfast for dinner! Fluffy French Toast, breakfast sausage and fruit
10. Turkey Chili and cornbread
11. Chicken Lazone over angel hair pasta with green beans
12. DATE NIGHT
13. Crock Pot Korean Beef over rice with fresh, sautéed green bean
14. Sausage, Cabbage and Onions and Crusty Bread
15. Shepherd's Pie Casserole
16. Baked chicken thighs, easy boxed rice and green beans
17. Salisbury Steak Meatballs and steamed veggies
18. Chicken Saltimbocca, rotini pasta with marinara sauce and roasted asparagus
19. Leftovers
20. Chicken Fajita Quesadilla with homemade Fajita Seasoning
21. Pot roast with potatoes and carrots
22. Chicken sausage with roasted parsnips and carrots
23. Happy First Day of Fall! Sloppy Joe Casserole with steamed veggies
24. Italian Herb Chicken and green salad
25. Easy Sheet Pan Chicken, baked sweet potatoes and Roasted Brussels Sprouts
26. Ground Beef Chalupas and Guacamole
27. Cheese ravioli (store-bought) with marinara sauce and green salad
28. Rosemary Turkey Stroganoff and green beans
29. Potato & Ham Chowder
30. Leftovers

Monday, July 27, 2015

Shepherd's Pie Casserole


Ingredients:

  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 cup onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1/4 cup fresh rosemary, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon ground sage
  • 1/2 cup beef broth
  • 4 medium potatoes
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 1/2 cups green beans (one can)
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese (optional)
  • paprika to taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in large skillet over medium heat and sauté onion and garlic until soft. Add ground beef and cook until brown. Remove grease. Add rosemary, sage and beef broth to ground beef and simmer for 5 minutes (or until broth is almost gone). Salt and pepper to taste. Spoon into bottom of a 2-1/2 quart casserole dish. Spread green beans on top of ground beef.

While cooking the ground beef, peel and slice potatoes and boil in hot water (hint: you're making mashed potatoes!). Boil until potatoes are soft. Drain water and begin mashing potatoes, adding milk and the remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Salt and pepper to taste. Add milk as needed for desired consistency. Spread mashed potatoes over the green beans evenly. Sprinkle with cheese and paprika as desired.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until heated throughout. Serves 6.

Monday, July 6, 2015

Weekly Meal Planning {July 6-19}

Monday (6th) -- Potato & Ham Chowder
Tuesday (7th) -- Italian Herb Chicken and green salad
Wednesday (8th) -- Country-Style Pork Loin, mashed potatoes and green beans
Thursday (9th) -- Oven Baked Chicken Fajitas with homemade Fajita Seasoning
Friday (10th) -- Chicken Sausage with Simple Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Saturday (11th) -- Grilled chicken thighs, corn-on-the-cob and green salad
Sunday (12th) -- Cream Cheese Chicken Bacon Wrap and roasted asparagus
Monday (13th) -- Turkey Chili and cornbread
Tuesday (14th) -- Spaghetti with meat sauce and green beans
Wednesday (15th) -- LEFTOVERS
Thursday (16th) -- Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes with cheese and chili, and green beans
Friday (17th) -- DATE NIGHT ♥
Saturday (18th) -- Grilled Pizza with green salad
Sunday (19th) -- TBD (family birthday)

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Rosemary Turkey Stroganoff

Ingredients:
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1/2 cup onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, minced
  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1 (8 oz) can sliced mushrooms
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 cup plain Green yogurt
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Parsley for garnish
  • Egg noodles, cooked per package directions
Directions:
Melt butter in large skillet or stock pot and sauté onion and garlic until soft. Add rosemary and ground turkey and brown. Add flour, mushrooms, salt and pepper. Cook for 1 minute. Add cream of mushroom soup and water. Simmer for 10 minutes, uncovered. Add Greek yogurt and serve hot over egg noodles, garnished with parsley. Delish!

I like to serve this dish with a side of green beans :)




Monday, June 1, 2015

Weekly Meal Planning: Weeks 3 & 4

June is crazy busy in our house so I will be planning fairly simple meals two weeks at a time!


Monday (June 1) -- leftovers
Tuesday (June 2) -- Grilled burgers, baked beans and corn on the cob
Wednesday (June 3) -- Grilled pork chops, seasoned rice and grilled veggies
Thursday (June 4) -- Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken with asparagus
Friday (June 5) -- Tomato soup (canned) and grilled cheese sandwiches
Saturday (June 6) -- Spaghetti and meatballs with green beans
Sunday (June 7) -- leftovers
Monday (June 8) -- Chicken sausage, Noodles Alfredo and green peas
Tuesday (June 9) -- TBD 
Wednesday (June 10) -- Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes with chili and green beans
Thursday (June 11) -- Grilled chicken, seasoned rice and green salad
Friday (June 12) -- Tacos with tortilla chips and Guacamole
Saturday (June 13) -- Takeout
Sunday (June 14) -- Grilled pizza

Monday, May 25, 2015

Weekly Meal Planning: Week 2

So, my three-year-old oven is currently out of commission (and I'm not happy about it!), so for now all my meals will be stove-top cooked, grilled, slow-cooked or eaten out ;)

Monday  -- Memorial Day! Grilled burgers, potato salad, tortilla chips and Guacamole
Tuesday  -- Slow cooker green chili chicken over rice with sautéed bell peppers
Wednesday -- Grilled pork chops, seasoned rice and grilled veggies
Thursday -- Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes with cheese and chili, and green beans
Friday -- DATE NIGHT ♥
Saturday -- Greek Chicken Kebabs with Tzatziki Sauce
Sunday -- Grilled Pizza and green salad

Friday, May 15, 2015

Weekly Meal Planning: Week 1




Monday  -- Skinny Meatballs with tomato sauce over baked spaghetti squash with green beans
Tuesday  -- Turkey Chili and cornbread
Wednesday -- Teriyaki grilled chicken and veggies with rice
Thursday -- Ground beef taco salad with fresh Guacamole
Friday -- Leftovers
Saturday -- Chicken Sausage with Simple Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Sunday -- Oven Baked Chicken Fajitas with homemade Fajita Seasoning

Monday, July 28, 2014

Meal Planning -- August 2014


  1. DATE NIGHT ♥
  2. Mexican Chopped Salad with Lime Cilantro Dressing and chicken
  3. Pesto Grilled Shrimp, Grill-Roasted Rosemary Potatoes and corn-on-the-cob
  4. Grilled pizza
  5. Baked chicken thighs, easy boxed rice and green beans
  6. Leftovers
  7. Easy Crockpot Tortellini Soup
  8. Chicken Fajitas
  9. Girls' Spa Night! Tea Sandwiches & Spinach Salad
  10. Grilled Chicken Sausage (We like Sabatino's Smoked Mozzarella Chicken Sausage from Costco!) with Simple Roasted Brussells Sprouts
  11. Grilled chicken and Strawberry and Avocado Spinach Salad
  12. Chicken Tortilla Soup
  13. Better-Than-Takeout Chicken Fried Rice with pot-stickers 
  14. Grilled pork chops with roasted parsnips and carrots
  15. Nasty Nachos with roasted asparagus
  16. Leftovers
  17. Spaghetti with meat sauce, green salad and garlic bread
  18. Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes with all the fixin's
  19. Beef & Bean Oven Tacos and green salad
  20. Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken with Lightened Up Coleslaw
  21. Breakfast for dinner!
  22. Takeout
  23. Grilled chicken with rice and teriyaki grilled veggies
  24. Salsa Verde Turkey Burger and Sweet Potato Fries
  25. Baked Ziti (Tip: Double the recipe and freeze one pan for another dinner later!)
  26. Sloppy Joes and green salad
  27. Corn and Black Bean Quesadillas
  28. Mediterranean Baked Chicken
  29. Tortellini Skillet Lasagna and green salad
  30. DATE NIGHT ♥
  31. Simple Ground Beef Enchiladas and green salad

Monday, June 30, 2014

Meal Planning -- July 2014


  1. Grilled chicken and Healthy Pasta Salad Caprese
  2. Taco Pasta Casserole and green salad
  3. Grilled pork chops with roasted parsnips and carrots
  4. Fourth of July BBQ!!!
  5. Beef & Bean Oven Tacos and green salad
  6. Parmesan Chicken Bake and butternut squash
  7. Baked Turkey & Jack Cheese Chimichangas with sautéed onions & bell peppers
  8. Grilled chicken and Summer Pasta Salad with Baby Greens
  9. Ham and Gruyère Crêpes with fresh fruit
  10. Leftovers
  11. DATE NIGHT
  12. Asian Peanut Noodles with Chicken and Easy Garlic Snap Peas
  13. Easy Pesto Tortellini Salad
  14. Grilled chicken sausage, grilled asparagus and Crusty Bread
  15. Stuffed Bell Peppers and leftover crusty bread
  16. Grilled Chinese Chicken Kabobs, pot-stickers and Sesame Garlic Green Beans
  17. Chicken Stuffed Poblano Chiles over rice
  18. German Cabbage Buns and green beans
  19. Barbequed Burgers, Sweet Potato Fries and green salad
  20. Take-out
  21. Caprese Chicken with spinach salad and French bread
  22. Beef & Spinach Lo Mein
  23. Mexican Chicken over rice with salad
  24. Smoked Sausage Hobo Packets with dinner rolls
  25. Fresh Quinoa Salad with chicken and rolls
  26. Chicken Enchiladas and green salad
  27. Baked Potatoes with turkey chili and roasted squash
  28. Hamburger Oriental Casserole and applesauce
  29. Leftovers
  30. Cream Cheese Chicken Bacon Wrap, salad and bread
  31. Healthy Chicken Quesadillas with added veggies

Monday, June 16, 2014

Cream Cheese Chicken Bacon Wrap

We eat a lot of chicken breasts in our house {thank you Zaycon Foods!}, so we love finding new ways to cook them up! This recipe is A+ in our house -- both in taste and ease of preparation. Hope you will enjoy it too!


Ingredients:
  • 2 large {or 4 small} chicken breasts
  • 8 strips of bacon
  • 1 8-oz container of fat-free cream cheese
  • 1 4-oz can of green chiles
Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and grease 9x13 baking dish.
  2. Place a piece of a plastic wrap on top of each piece of chicken and use a meat tenderizer to flatten. If you have two large breasts, cut each in half before tenderizing.
  3. Place 1/4 of the cream cheese and 1 ounce of green chiles in center of each piece of chicken and roll with cream cheese mixture on the inside and 2 slices of bacon on the outside.
  4. Place chicken breasts -- seem side up -- in the baking dish and bake covered {I used aluminum foil} for 45 minutes.
  5. Uncover and bake for an additional 5 minutes to brown the bacon.
Serves 4.


Thursday, May 29, 2014

Meal Planning - June 2014

 

  1. Skinny Chicken Fajitas with Guacamole
  2. Grilled Pizza with Mango Ginger Habanero sauce, sautéed onions & bell peppers and fresh mozzarella 
  3. Grilled Chicken Sausage (We like Sabatino's Smoked Mozzarella Chicken Sausage from Costco!)with Simple Roasted Brussells Sprouts
  4. Fresh Quinoa Salad with chicken
  5. Leftovers
  6. Family Night @ Home! Nasty Nachos and green salad with Crescent Sopapillas for dessert
  7. DATE NIGHT ♥
  8. California Chicken Burgers, Grilled Tator Tots and Grilled Asparagus
  9. Simple Ground Beef Enchiladas and green salad
  10. Grilled chicken salad
  11. Baked Ziti, green beans and Garlic Knots
  12. Healthy Chicken Quesadillas with added veggies
  13. Meatloaf and butternut squash {recipe to come}
  14. Take out!
  15. Ranch Turkey Burgers, green salad and Sweet Potato Fries
  16. Father's Day! Treat dad to Grilled Steaks, Party Potatoes and Grilled Veggies {recipe to come!}. Polish it off with Homemade Ice Cream
  17. Grilled chicken, teriyaki grilled veggies and Wine and Rosemary Quinoa
  18. Mexican Chicken over rice with Sautéed Bell Peppers
  19. Leftovers
  20. Breakfast for Dinner!
  21. Bacon Avocado Grilled Cheese and green salad
  22. Grilled hot dogs, sliced watermelon and Loaded Baked Potato Salad
  23. Saucy Asian Meatballs, Jasmine Rice and vegetable pot stickers
  24. Spaghetti with meat sauce, Caesar salad and garlic bread {recipe to come}
  25. Stuffed Bell Peppers and Homemade Naan
  26. Leftovers
  27. Grilled chicken & veggie skewers {recipe to come} and Caramelized Green Beans
  28. Beef & Bean Oven Tacos and green salad
  29. Grilled BBQ Chicken Quesadillas and corn-on-the-cob
  30. Sloppy Joes and green salad

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Meal Planning - April 2014


  1. Better-Than-Takeout Chicken Fried Rice with pot-stickers 
  2. Grilled chicken with rice and teriyaki grilled veggies
  3. Baked Potatoes with turkey chili and roasted squash
  4. Chicken Pesto Pizza with green salad
  5. Chicken Salad sandwiches and green salad
  6. Meatloaf muffins (recipe to come) with seasonal veggies
  7. Mexican Chicken with simple roasted Brussels sprouts
  8. Leftovers
  9. Rosemary Chicken and Potatoes with green beans
  10. Stromboli with green salad
  11. Chicken and Asparagus Penne with French bread
  12. Nasty Nachos with green salad
  13. Grilled Chicken Sausage with grilled veggies
  14. Skillet Tuna Noodle Casserole with green salad
  15. Spaghetti with meat sauce, green salad and garlic bread
  16. Leftovers
  17. Grilled pork chops with roasted parsnips and carrots
  18. Chicken Stuffed Poblano Chiles over rice
  19. Parmesan and Sage-Crusted Pork Chops with simple roasted Brussels sprouts
  20. Easter Baked Ham with Maple Glaze, mashed potatoes, 
  21. Tangy BBQ Chicken with roasted butternut squash
  22. Pork chops and roasted balsamic sweet potatoes
  23. Breakfast for dinner
  24. Smoked Sausage Hobo Packets with dinner rolls
  25. Chicken Fajita Burritos with chips & guacamole
  26. DATE NIGHT♥
  27. Grilled Chicken Sausage and teriyaki grilled veggies
  28. Bacon-wrapped chicken with rice and asparagus 
  29. Leftovers
  30. Pesto Orecchiette With Chicken Sausage