| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Hoosiermom |
Posted - Apr 21 2013 : 10:54:41 PM
I would love some freezer meal ideas! We are always so busy & especially this time of year and I love to cook but not when we get in late in the evening it just makes it more hectic & too easy to say "let's just go out". I have made a few things ahead & put in the freezer, but would love some more ideas to make ahead,thaw, & throw in the crockpot or casseroles to just thaw & put in the oven. I usually try to make things on the weekend when I get a chance for a couple of weeks away.
Beth |
| 12 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| levisgrammy |
Posted - Apr 24 2013 : 12:13:13 PM
You're welcome Judith! I spent yesterday while the laundry was going cooking up some of my meats ahead. I had bought 5 lbs of burger and cooked it in 1# amounts. Bagged it and popped them in the freezer for meals like sloppy joes, chili, tacos. Cuts down on the time for those. You can make a big pot of chili and freeze part of it for another meal. I also made a meatloaf and meatballs and froze those. I didn't cook the meatloaf ahead but doing the prep saves a lot of time for me. I found cheese pizzas on sale and decided to cook up a packages of sausage that I had frozen and I will use that on the pizzas when we have them. I am doing the same with bacon. We are having BLTs and I will cook the rest to crumble for soups or salad.
Tomorrow I am hitting the Amish market near us for some pork loin and beef to cube for stew and will through the ingredients together for the freezer then I can just crockpot the stew. Using the pork for pulled pork sandwiches. Trying to get ideas for more freezer meals though. 
farm girl sister#43
http://www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com/
O, a trouble's a ton or a trouble's an ounce,
Or a trouble is what you make it!
And it isn't the fact that you're hurt that counts,
But only--how did you take it?
--Edmund C. Vance.
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| forgetmenot |
Posted - Apr 24 2013 : 10:20:11 AM
Thanks, Denise, for sharing the sissistersstuff blog. Looks like fun!
Farmgirl sister #3926
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but the belief that something is more important than fear." Ambrose Red Moon |
| FieldsofThyme |
Posted - Apr 24 2013 : 05:24:33 AM
Yikes...so sorry I left that out. My brain is a bit clogged up these days.
Bake for 25 minutes or until thoroughly heated.
Farmgirl Sister #800
My Life: http://pioneerwomanatheart.blogspot.com/
Recycle Ideas: http://scrapreusedandrecycledartprojects.blogspot.com/
Our Family Store: http://roosterscrowfarm.blogspot.com/
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| Hoosiermom |
Posted - Apr 23 2013 : 12:44:53 PM
Great, I will give these a try Kristina! As I'm looking, can you tell me about how long you bake the ruffles? I see a temp but not a time. Sounds yummy...thank you! |
| FieldsofThyme |
Posted - Apr 23 2013 : 08:22:06 AM
Spinach-Stuffed Lasagna Ruffles
1 (8 oz.) pkg. lasagna noodles, uncooked
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
2 (10 oz.) pkgs. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmasan cheese, divided
1 (15 oz.) carton ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 tsp. dried Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp. salt.
1 (32 oz.) jar spaghetti sauce
Garnishes: fresh basil sprigs, grated Parmesan cheese
Cook noodles according to package directions; drain, and set aside.
Beat cream cheese until smooth. Stir in spinach, 1 cup Parmesan cheese, and next 4 ingredients.
Spread 1/2 cup cheese mixture evenly over each cooked noodle. Roll noodles up jellyroll fashion, starting at narrow end.
Pour spaghetti sauce into a lightly greased 13 x 9 x 2 in. baking dish. Cut lasagna rolls in half crosswise. Place cut side down, into sauce in baking dish. sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.
Cover and bake at 350°F or until ruffles are thoroughly heated. Garnish if desired.
Note: I add some sauce to the top of my noodles prior to cooking too. I also found cutting my noodles in half was easier using a serrated knife.
If you are interested, I also have a recipe for Chickpea stuffed shells that's pretty good too. Just let me know.
Of course you can adapt homemade and organic ingredients if you prefer as well. I make my own ricotta from out goat's milk, and hope to make the cream cheese this year too. I am trying to find a lasagna noodle attachment for my hand crank, pasta maker too (homemade noodles).
Farmgirl Sister #800
My Life: http://pioneerwomanatheart.blogspot.com/
Recycle Ideas: http://scrapreusedandrecycledartprojects.blogspot.com/
Our Family Store: http://roosterscrowfarm.blogspot.com/
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| Hoosiermom |
Posted - Apr 22 2013 : 8:18:37 PM
thanks for all the great ideas and I will have to check on the book Denise. Sixsisterstuff.com is where I have got several recipes already, they have great ideas! I would like to try your Lasagna Ruffles recipe if you get a chance to post it Kristina.
Beth |
| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - Apr 22 2013 : 1:53:43 PM
The Pioneer Woman's chicken spaghetti freezes like a dream. I make one for now and one for later!
I also make up my mashed potatoes just as if I'm going to eat them for tonight's dinner, and freeze portions in containers so that I always have fresh mashed potatoes on hand for that night when you simply don't know what you want.
"Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile..."
The Only Living Boy in New York, Paul Simon |
| levisgrammy |
Posted - Apr 22 2013 : 1:41:44 PM
I found a website today with tons of recipes and some freezer meals too.
http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/
farm girl sister#43
http://www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com/
O, a trouble's a ton or a trouble's an ounce,
Or a trouble is what you make it!
And it isn't the fact that you're hurt that counts,
But only--how did you take it?
--Edmund C. Vance.
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| FieldsofThyme |
Posted - Apr 22 2013 : 08:29:58 AM
I have a Lasagna Ruffle recipe that you can double, cook one for dinner and freeze the other. I'll try to post it later.
Farmgirl Sister #800
My Life: http://pioneerwomanatheart.blogspot.com/
Recycle Ideas: http://scrapreusedandrecycledartprojects.blogspot.com/
Our Family Store: http://roosterscrowfarm.blogspot.com/
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| Ninibini |
Posted - Apr 22 2013 : 08:21:46 AM
Denise - I'm going to have to check out that book! Thank you for the recommendation! :)
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| Ninibini |
Posted - Apr 22 2013 : 08:20:08 AM
I do this, too! I make tons of meatballs and freeze them ahead, as well as meatloaf, taco meat, lasagna, stuffed shells, stuffed peppers, stuffed cabbages, pizza pasta, casseroles, spaghetti sauce and more! I also make our hamburger patties ahead of time and then freeze them in shape. They thaw much quicker that way, and I only pull out exactly what we need. And whenever I make dinner, I try to make extra - enough for a lunch for my hubby and a second meal to freeze, or, at least enough meat portion for another meal (even if I only get to pull out a frozen meat entrée, all I have to do is serve pasta or a baked potato with steamed veggies on the side). And whenever I make pizza (or if we splurge to buy it), I always make (or buy) an extra to freeze for another night! I'm not a big fan of eating out for MANY reasons, so it's great to pull something out of the freezer for an instant, delicious, nutritious homemade dinner enjoyed by all!
Good luck, Beth! And have fun!
Hugs -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| levisgrammy |
Posted - Apr 22 2013 : 06:46:30 AM
I love to do make ahead meals. Lasagna is one of the favorites here and also elegant chicken. I will have to find the recipe for the chicken but it is easy to do and you can freeze them in what ever portions you like. Have you ever heard of the book "Dinner's in the Freezer" Lots of ideas there. I also like to make and freeze my own meatballs. Makes for quick spaghetti or meatball sandwiches if you throw them in the crockpot on low with some sauce. Lots of times I will cook my hamburger ahead and freeze it and then just take out what I need for like chili or something quick to throw in the crockpot. There are lots of websites if you google freezer meals.
farm girl sister#43
http://www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com/
O, a trouble's a ton or a trouble's an ounce,
Or a trouble is what you make it!
And it isn't the fact that you're hurt that counts,
But only--how did you take it?
--Edmund C. Vance.
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