Freezer Meals

Weirdly enough, a lot of people have been asking me about freezer meals lately.  Do I make them?  Are they worth it?  What meals do I make?  In the same order, my answers are yes, yes, and a lot.  There are several reasons why I make them.  First, I buy food when it's uberly cheap and figure out what freezer meals I can make with it (shout out to Aldi for having the best produce deals.  Anybody else shop there?)  Reason number two:  I am totally willing to work way too hard some days so that I can, in turn, have lazy days with the kids.  And freezer meals are perfect for lazy/sick/busy/postpartum/I-have-no-idea-what-to-make-for-the-missionaries-tonight kinda days.  So you get cheap meals and low-stress all in one?  I'm in.

So.  Here are some of my recipes.  There are a lot.  Note that every single one of these recipes can be thrown together in a FREEZER ziploc bag and when ready to be prepared, dumped in a crockpot for a few hours.  No I don't care whether it's on high or low or for how long.  Just do what you want.  Because I'm obviously such a pro.

Fajitas
4 chicken breasts, sliced
1 sliced bell pepper
1 sliced onion
*actually, this is my one recipe that isn't cooked in a crockpot.  Throw this on the stove with your favorite spices and stick it in a tortilla with your favorite toppings.

Lemon Garlic Chicken
3 chicken breasts (That's how much our family eats in one dinner, do however many works for your family... the marinade is flexible.  I've actually used up to 6 in one bag.)
A Few dashes of lemon juice (probably 2-3 T.)
2 T. oil
1 T. garlic
S&P
*Whenever I buy chicken in bulk, I stick them in freezer baggies in this marinade and that way when they're thawed they taste scrumptious.  We prefer eating this grilled.  But it would be good with pasta or whatever.

Chicken Divine (makes 2 gallon sized bags)
6 chicken breasts
4 C. baby carrots
4 C. broccoli
2 onions
S&P
Add 1 can cream of chicken and 1 C. milk when putting it all in the crockpot.
*Divide all ingredients in half (besides the last two) and put in 2 separate bags.

Cilantro Lime Chicken With Black Beans and Corn (makes 2 bags)
6 chicken breasts
3 T. oil
2 limes juiced
2 C. cilantro
2 small bags of frozen corn
4 T. garlic
1 chopped red onion
2 cans black beans
2 tsp cumin
S&P
*Divide all ingredients in half and put in 2 separate bags.  Serve in tortillas.

Cranberry Apple Chicken (makes 2 bags)
4 apples cut into wedges
2 onions
4 lbs. chicken breasts
1/4 C. lemon juice
2 T. flour
3 T. honey
2 C. craisins OR fresh cranberries OR 2 cans of cranberry sauce
*Divide all ingredients in half and put in 2 separate bags.

NC BBQ

2 onions, quartered

2 T. brown sugar

1 T. paprika

2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 4-6 lb. boneless pork butt or shoulder roast

3/4 C. apple cider vinegar

4 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

1 1/2 tsp. sugar

1/2 tsp. dry mustard (I don't have it so I just use brown mustard, it works fine)

1/2 tsp. garlic salt

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

*rub roast in sugar, paprika, and S&P.  Add onions.  The rest makes the sauce.  Add a little to the roast when it's time to cook and leave the rest (in the fridge) until it's time to be served.

SOUPS

All of these soups can either be cooked ahead of time and put in freezer bags so that all you have to do is put them on the stove, or you can simply put the ingredients into a bag and prepare the soup the day of. 

Creamy Butternut Squash Soup
6 T. chopped onion
4 T. butter
6 C. peeled and cubed butternut squash (aka one really big butternut squash)
3 C. water
4 cubes chicken bouillon (or you can nix the water and do 4 C. chicken broth)
1 8oz. pckg of cream cheese
S&P
dash of cayenne (optional... but awesome)
*Blend with immersion blender.  If you don't have an immersion blender, ask Santa for one for Christmas and just use your regular blender instead.

Mulligatawny Soup (For people with awesome taste and love Thai food)
1/4 C. butter
1/2 C. chopped onion
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 carrot, diced
3 T. flour
1 14 oz. can coconut milk (or if you don't have it, it'll still tastes good)
3 T. red curry paste (A must.  Go out and buy it in your jammies if you have to.  It's worth it.  I don't judge.)
4 C. chicken broth
2 C. chopped apple
1/4 C. rice
3 chicken breasts
S&P
cream added just before serving (optional)
*mix flour with veggies before adding broth.  It'll thicken the soup without making it lumpy.
*You can opt to not add the rice in the soup and serve it on top of rice. 

Split Pea Soup
2 C. dried split peas
1 ham bone
3 stalks chopped celery
3 chopped carrots
3 quarts water
1 onion, chopped
1 T. Italian Seasoning
S&P
*Remove bone before freezing.

Just a Few Notes

• Despite what a lot of freezer meal recipe maker uppers say, I don't actually like making freezer meals while I'm making dinner at the same time.  I like to multi-task, but not that much.  I'd much rather set aside an afternoon when I can make these in just a couple of hours and not focus on how to salvage my burnt dinner.  This week I made 16 meals in about 2.5 hours. 
• It makes sense to make them when chicken is on sale since it is the most common and most expensive ingredient.  I go and buy about my own weight's worth of chicken, clean them, and cut them in half since they're usually humongo.  I have a mountain of chicken ready to be put into different bags with different meals that way.
• You will chop a lot of onions.  If they make you look like you're watching a chick-flick marathon like Ben (as in tearing up, not actually watching those movies), be prepared.
• Make your baggies as flat as possible so that they take as little space as possible in your freezer.  That way they're also easily maneuverable.  It's not so fun to undo tetris shaped freezer meals when they're frozen together.  Bags may rip.  I may or may not know this from experience. 
• If there are spices or marinades in the bag, mix it all together in the bag before you freeze it.  That way everything is evenly coated and flavored.

Lily's First Primary Talk

So.  There are a lot of Sunbeams in our ward.  So Lily has waited patiently this entire year to give her first talk in Primary.  Each week she even gets up at the pulpit and talks into the microphone until I take it down along with all the other Primary props that belong in the closet.  So when she was given a little slip a couple of weeks ago saying that she was going to give a talk on RESPECTING OTHERS (remember this, it's important), she was thrilled.  She sat down with Ben and they wrote it out.

 

The day of her talk came and after Sacrament Meeting ended, the boy who sat in front of us handed Lily a picture of a horse that he had colored for her.  To say that she was ecstatic would be an understatement.  When we got to Primary I made her put it under her seat so that she wouldn't be flashing it around during her talk.  Little did I know that while Lily was giving her talk, one of her fellow Sunbeams would steal it and run around the front of the room with it (check him out at 39 seconds). 

 

 

The best part of her talk?

 

"In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

 

"HEY!  THAT!  IS!  MIIIIIIIINE!!!!!"

 

Cue the part where Lily totally chews out her little buddy in front of Primary. 

 

I think we can all agree that Lily totally understood the concept of respecting others.

 

Did I mention that I was conducting that day?  And that I started my laugh-cry?  And that I basically just had to point at people to sing the welcome and birthday songs?

 

Yeah.

 

Unfortunately while I was recording this, I had no idea that her talk would end on such a.... dramatic note.  Otherwise I would have recorded that, too.  But at least you get the first "HEY!" 

 

Enjoy.

 

 

And we're back.

Since I know you're wondering, no I did not in fact die.  I realize that this must be the only explanation for going three weeks without blogging, but in reality Ben's parents came into town for two weeks and we also lost internet.  So prepare yourself for some serious blog binging.  You're about to witness some serious picture overload.

The Castle Completed

Remember this post?  So a year and a half ago Ben built what we call "The Castle" and later mudded it, primed it, and left it alone.  But then the Macbeths came into town a couple of weeks ago and  Ben's dad finished it and made it look FANTASTIC.  Like, beyond our wildest dreams.  He painted it, installed carpet on the stairs and upper level, and even added trim to the bottom to really make it look professional.  It was only fitting to put our Macbeth sign up on it since it was a true labor of love for the Macbeths by the Macbeths.  Thank you Ben and Dad for all your hard work.  This has always been the kids' favorite place in the whole house and now it is even better.  It will be a truly wonderful memory for the kids.

Mum and Dad's Visit

Ben's parents' visit was FABULOUS.  They stayed with us for two whole weeks and we loved every moment of it.  Best trip ever.  We had lots of fun and lots of bonding.  The kids especially loved this special time with Grandmum and Pop Pop.

 

 

Finding animals in the clouds.  Brownie points to Mum who patiently laid in that bermuda grass.  During the summer it feels like walking on upright needles.

 

Reading with Pop Pop.

 

This is a multiple time a day/everyday occurance.  My girls are already tight.  It's been quite a wonderful thing to witness a newborn and a 4 year-old become best friends.  Note: check out the difference in skin tones.  Poor Ella has inherited my unfortunate skin color.

 

Who is the only person  who looks good in this picture?  I'll give you a hint: this person is older than 4.

 

I Love You a Bushel and Peck.  Then spin around and say, "Wheee!!!"

 

Just a Pop Pop and Ella conversation.  These two are close.

 

Oh, you know.  Just brushing his teeth while wrapped in his blankie.

 

 

Becca -- Mum said that this picture of Lily looks like you.  What do you think?

 

Pop Pop and Skyler building a lego tower.  Which turned into....

This.

 

My hottie.  And my little angel.

 

The girls.

 

Best picture ever?  I think yes.

 

Mum and Dad celebrated their 41st anniversary on the 18th.  So Ben and I put this up when we all went to bed at about 11:45.  It was so loud with the painter's plastic and squeaky balloons that we decided to turn on the bathroom fan, water from the sink, and air conditioning to cover up the noise.  We could only imagine what they thought we were doing out in the hallway.  Luckily they didn't hear anything and when Mum opened the door the next morning she got showered in balloons.

 

 

Making smile cookies.  Please, Lily.  Control your emotions.

 

 

 

I am constantly frustrated that all pictures of Ella never really look like her.  But this one is the real deal.  Isn't she adorable? 

 

Need another look?  I thought so.

 

 

Making banana candles out of a pineapple ring, banana, and a cherry.

 

This visit was so fun.  We will always remember how great this was for the whole family.  We can't wait until we get to see Mum and Dad again next year, and hopefully also get to visit them in St. George next year for Christmas!

Ella's Blessing

Ella was blessed on September 16th.  We were grateful that both sets of grandparents could be there as well as most of our friends.  After hearing the blessing, and hearing some other impressions that Ben felt during it, we know that this little lady is a special one.  We're glad she ended up in our home. 

 

 Ben's parents.

 

 

My parents.

And us.  Ella's hair was doing some amazing things that day -- both literally and sarcastically.  And whenever I see this picture of Skyler I always imagine him saying, "Sup."

Krispey Kreme Pirates

 

This past week we got to celebrate one of my favorite weird holidays: National Talk Like a Pirate Day.  And since Krispy Kreme gives you a free donut just for saying a pirate phrase ("Er, Matey!" according to Skyler), or a free DOZEN for dressing up, we opted to dress up all three of the kids so that we could gobble up our share of unhealthy goodness.  We put together some outfits from what they alreeady had, made some paper hats and eye patches, gave Lily jewelry, and covered Skyler in a liquid eyeliner beard.  The kiddos even stole toilet paper tubes from the trash can and used them as telescopes. 

 

Isn't Krispey Kreme amazing?  I guess that's Raleigh's claim to fame.  It did all start in this city, you know.

 

With the combination of three dressed up kids and six people saying pirate phrases, we ended up scoring 42 free donuts.  Suh-weet.  Literally.

 

And in case you're wondering, we did eat all the donuts.  No need to comment about it.