Freezer Meals 101

Hello to all!  I have had a request for some freezer meals.  A mom who works full-time and is raising two kids on her own during the week while her hubby works out of town is in need of some good, family meals that are easy to make when she comes home from work.  Below, I give you my solution.....I hope these help!!!

Spaghetti Sauce
Meal #1-Spaghetti, garlic bread and green beans
Meal #2-Meatball Subs, celery and ranch and cottage cheese

Spaghetti Sauce

2-4 T Olive Oil
2 T butter
1 medium onion, chopped
3-4 T minced garlic
1 bell pepper, chopped
2 large cans crushed tomatoes
1 can stewed tomatoes, blended slightly (use blender, magic bullet, food processor...)
3 cans tomato sauce
3 T Italian Seasoning
1 T Sage
2 T Parsley
Salt and pepper, to taste

Heat oil in large stock pot on med-high heat.  Add butter, onions, garlic and pepper.  Sauté 6-8 min or until onions are soft, being cautious not to burn the garlic.
Add crushed tomatoes, stewed tomatoes and tomato sauce.  Simmer on med heat for 10 min, then add herbs and salt and pepper to taste.  Cook this for a couple of hours, allowing the flavors to come together.

Divide this in half and place in ziplocs once it's cooled.  Grab one of the bags before you leave in the morning and throw it on the counter so it will be thawed when you get home. 

Meal #1 - Spaghetti, garlic bread and green beans

1 portion spaghetti sauce
1 lb spaghetti
1 box frozen garlic bread sticks
1 bag steamers green beans (I get mine from Schwan's)

Place one portion spaghetti sauce in a sauce pan.  Cook noodles according to directions and put into sauce when they are done.  Allow to simmer together while you cook bread sticks and green beans according to directions.  Voila!!  It's a meal :)

Meal #2 - Meatball subs, celery and ranch and cottage cheese

1 portion spaghetti sauce
1 lb frozen meatballs (thawed in fridge all day)
4 hoagie buns
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1 stalk celery, trimmed and cut into sticks
Ranch dressing
Cottage cheese

Heat oven to 400deg.  Place spaghetti sauce and meatballs in pan and allow to warm.  Once warm, cut open hoagie buns and fill w/ 2-3 meatballs and sauce and top w/ cheese.  Place in oven 6-8 min or until cheese is melted.  Serve with celery and ranch and cottage cheese.  Enjoy!!

Taco Meat
Meal #1 - Good Ol' Tacos!!
Meal #2 - Enchiladas

Taco Meat

2 lbs ground beef

3 pks taco seasoning

1 cup water

Brown meat in large skillet, drain.  Mix taco seasoning and water in bowl.  Return meat to pan and cook on low while you stir in seasoning.  Cook on low for about 5 minutes.  Divide into two portions; freeze one portion in a Ziploc for tacos and follow directions for enchiladas w/ other portion. 

Meal #1 – Tacos

1 portion taco meat

10-12 hard shell tacos or tortillas

Toppings: shredded cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, green onions, salsa

Thaw meat in fridge overnight or on counter all day.  Place in pan on med heat and allow to warm.  Heat shells/tortillas according to directions on package.  Serve tacos with toppings and enjoy!  This one’s SOOOO easy!!!

Meal #2 – Enchiladas

1 portion taco meat

1 can enchilada sauce

½ cup salsa

6-8 tortillas

1 cup shredded cheese

Toppings: sour cream, salsa, green onions

To prepare for freezing: mix meat, sauce and salsa.  Fill tortillas and place in 9”x13” pan.  Top with cheese.  Place plastic wrap tightly over pan and freeze. 

When you are ready to cook: take out of freezer and place in fridge overnight or on counter all day.  Heat oven to 350.  Remove plastic wrap and heat 30-45min, or until warm inside.  Serve w/ toppings and a box of Spanish rice.  Yummy!!!

And for Friday night—pizza!!!  Nothing quite screams ‘IT’S FRIDAY!!!!’ like ordering a pizza.  Have a movie night, or if it’s warm, eat on the deck and play until the sun goes down.  Now THAT’S what ring’s in the weekend J