Planning Freezer Meals

I've done some planning today. If I double dinner once a week and freeze half, I will have 12 freezer meals ready to go before my new little munchkin arrives. (Yes, I'm pregnant, don't think I've said so on my blog yet, but trust me, I'm out to here.) I could even make 6 a month without adding too much to our grocery budget, and it really isn't that much extra time to prepare.

I'm using simple dollar store foil containers with lids and ziploc bags. I'm typing out instructions and labels so hubby can prepare without even asking.

Here are my favorite freezer meals. I will link up recipes and pictures as I go:

Creamy Spinach Chicken

Cheesy Texas Bake

Porcupines

Funeral Potatoes and Ham

Cheesy Manicotti

Pizza Bites

BBQ Cups

Spaghetti Sausage Pie

Sloppy Joes

Baked Ziti

Am I forgetting anything else easy and delicious? Yeah, we won't starve:)

January Menu

It's 2011 and I am back to my monthly menu planning. It's freezing cold, so I plan on using my crock pot and warm oven a lot. January is all about comfort food right?

If you want to know why I think monthly menu planning is the best, click here for my details.

Pizza Braid (freezer)

Lazy Spinach Lasagna (freezer)

Homemade Corndogs

Spaghetti

Pork Fried Rice

Rice & Bean Burritos

Citrus Salmon

Potato Soup

Apple Cinnamon German Pancakes

Porcupines

Pork Tortilla Salad

Teriyaki Burgers

Sun-dried Tomato Pasta

Stuffed Shells

Tuna Alfredo

Mini Meatloaves

Tomato Basil Chicken

Lemon Pepper Chicken

Drummies

Homemade Pizza

One Pan Ham

Chicken Taquitos

Waffles

Hubby's Avocado Tacos

I went through and added up my shopping list, it will cost me about $97 dollars for these meals, lunches and kid food/snacks. I like to keep my grocery budget under $140, so looks like we can go out for ice cream, buy some extra snacks and splurge on french bread and ice cream a few times. Fabulous!

Chicken Sale? Now what?

Have you found a great chicken sale? What comes next? How can you make it useful?

I know I've bought a big package of chicken at some great price, forgot about it or didn't get it all used and ended up throwing half of it away. *gasp* I know, I'm so embarrassed:) I want to share my easy ideas for using chicken, listen up.

This picture is an average 1 month chicken supply. It's roughly 7 lbs, and cost me just under $14. I only buy chicken if I can find it for under $2/lb, that's my rule. I always purchase it from the meat counter instead of the aisle, that way they will package it for me however I want for free.

First, I have them pack 2 chicken breasts in one package, 2 chicken breasts in another and all the rest together. The wrapped packages you see have 2 pieces of chicken and are going right in my freezer. These are perfect for when I want to make something like Honey Dijon Chicken, Ritzy Chicken Nuggets, or Chicken Stir Fry. Simply put the chicken in your fridge the day before and you're good to go.

Next, you see the ziploc bags on the right? I get several marinades ready to go for a fast meal. Here I made Lemon Pepper Chicken (delicious on the grill), Sun-dried Tomato Basil (which is delicious with Asparagus Alfredo or for Smothered Grilled Chicken) and Teriyaki Chicken (which I use for my Teriyaki Noodle Bowls or a quick stir fry. And really, all I do is dump in the bottled marinades, you could totally make your own or go coupon some cheap Kraft marinades. After I add the chicken to the marinade I label and put right in the freezer. The night before I want to use it, I toss it the fridge to thaw. Delicious!

Finally, the last thing I do with the chicken it to cook and shred it. Click here to read my easy instructions on boiling and shredding chicken. I usually put 1 1/2 - 2 cups in each ziploc bag. Shred it or dice it, or some of each. It's soooo handy to have pre-cooked chicken to whip out right before dinner. I confess, sometimes I don't even have time to thaw the chicken. A few turns in the microwave and I'm in business. The cooked chicken is essential for quick meals like Chicken Quesadillas, Chicken/Rice/Bean Burritos and Chicken Tostadas. Throw it on Garlic Chicken Flatbread Pizza or make BBQ Chicken Sandwiches.

So what do you think? If you spend a few extra minutes prepping your chicken, you have a month full of chicken meals that are ready to roll.



Now go make something delicious with chicken!

(And for all your ladies from fabulesslyfrugal.com, I'm excited to be picking up my Zaycon Foods all natural chicken this weekend. I can't believe I got 40 lbs, of chicken for $1.48 per lb. I'm splitting it with my mom, but still, that is going to last me for months!!!)

September Menu

Want to know the details of my monthly menu planning? Click here for the low-down!

Bring on September and all those yummy fall recipes. As it gets colder outside I love pulling a hot dish out of the oven or smelling the crock pot all day. September we get to use up all those delicious garden produce and await potato harvest. Seriously, there is nothing like a fresh from the dirt Idaho potato. This month my husband is usually very busy at work, so I like meals that I can make extra of and pack for a lunch or late dinner at work for him. The shredded pork will be in 2 cup portions in the freezer and the meatballs (already cooked) are so easy to reheat for a great meal. I'm trying out several new recipes, so I'll get the links up after I try them out and take photos. Welcome September!!

Here is my dinner menu for September:

Pizza Braid (freezer)

Smothered Grilled Chicken

Red Bean Tacos

Sun-dried Tomato Penne

Deep Dish Pizza (make 5, eat 1, freeze 4)

Spaghetti and Meatballs (make quadruple meatballs, freeze for later meals)

Porcupines

Baked Spinach Chicken Parmesan

Sun-dried Tomato Chicken Wraps

Asian Meatballs and Rice

Parmesan Orzo and Meatballs

Pork Roast (freeze leftovers in 2 cup. portions)

Shredded Pork Tacos

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Egg Rolls

Margherita Pizza

Spinach and Chicken Stuffed Shells (make 4, eat 1, freeze 3)

Black Bean Enchiladas

Twice Baked Potatoes with Ham

Baked Lemon Pasta with Lemon Pepper Fish

Teriyaki Noodle Bowls

Pizza Rolls (make 3, eat 1, freeze 2)

Super Nachos

Skillet Beef-a-roni

August Menu

It's time for another delicious menu. Want to know why I think planning monthly menus is the BEST? Click here for my explanation.

August is going to be a tight month for us, so this menu is all about the budget. I'll be using most of the same ingredients and don't expect anything exotic. Simple, nutritious and cheap for August!

August Menu

Pizza Braid (freezer)

Beef Enchiladas (freezer)

Breakfast Skillet (hashbrowns, eggs, ham, green pepper)

Chicken Sandwiches

Hot dogs on the grill

Taco Salad

Hamburgers

Shepherd's Pie

Cheesy Beef-a-roni

BBQ Cups

Teriyaki Noodle Bowls

Salt and Pepper Pork Chops

Homemade Pizza (Make 4 times, each Friday, new toppings)

Spaghetti

Apple Cinnamon German Pancakes (with ham slices)

Beef Stroganoff

Cheesy Texas Bake

Crispy Chicken Strips

Crunchy Fish Tacos

Hawaiian Haystacks

Chicken, Rice and Bean Burritos (make double, serve twice)

Honey Dijon Chicken

Super Nachos

Porcupines

Tuna Alfredo

Blueberry Pancakes and scrambled eggs

Chicken Quesadillas

July Menu

Here we are, another month. To read my push for monthly menu planning click here. It just makes things easier! We spend the majority of weekends in July at either barbecues or family reunions. I'm only going to plan 20 meals for this month, but I'm going to find 6 delicious appetizers or salads to bring to all these events. July is just party time! For new recipes, I'm browsing online, I've provide the links to each new recipe.
Here are main dishes for July:

Pizza Braid (freezer)

Grilled Pizza

Navajo Tacos

Taco Salad

Chicken Kabobs

Chicken Tomato Wraps

Country Fried Steak Strips from Heavenly Homemakers

BLT sandwiches

Linguine with Sundried Tomato and Avacado from Sister's Cafe

Sloppy Joes

Italian Chicken Pitas

Sweet and Sour Meatballs from Melanie

Won Ton Cups from Melanie

BBQ Cups

Citrus Glazed Salmon from Britt Bakes

Bacon Chicken Skewers

Crispy Pork Milanese from get off your butt and bake

Grilled Tostadas

Red Bean Tacos from get off your butt and bake

Foil Campfire Dinners from get off your butt and bake

Appetizers/Salads:

Mucho Cucumber Pasta Salad

White Chili Mini Tacos from Betty Crocker

Guacamole Squares from Taste of Home

Tomato Corn Salad from Taste of Home

German Potato Salad from Taste of Home

Deviled Eggs

Menu Planning

I've received a couple of questions about menu planning and how I choose what to make for meals. I've been using this system for a few years and it's getting fool-proof! Feel free to comment or email me if you have any questions. I will post my monthly menus as I go so you can get a feel for it.

I plan my menu 1 month at a time. At the beginning of the month I start by making a menu of 30 meals. If you count in some lunches, eating out, events and parties, I generally cook 30 big meals per month. I go through my cupboard, fridge and pantry and make a shopping list. I hang my menu on the fridge, and when it's time to cook I can choose any item off the list, knowing that I have every ingredient.

Advantages: I like the freedom of choosing what I want instead assigning each meal to a day. Sometimes the day gets crazy and I just need to throw something together fast like a Taco Salad, other days I have the time and feel like making Chicken Cordon Bleu. I spent $92 at the store yesterday and I will probably make 1 or 2 more small trips during the month for produce, milk or eggs. It's cheaper because I can stock up when items are on sale and keep them in the freezer for the next meal.

At the top of the list I write down some of the meals I have prepared in my freezer. After that, I ask my husband what meals he's been craving. Next, I look through my fridge/pantry and see what items I need to use before they spoil, like spinach or a half-eaten bag of tortilla chips. I like to browse through cookbooks at the library or cooking websites online to try new recipes, this month I used the Taste of Home Cooking recipes for 2007.

Enough talking, here is my June Menu:

Swedish Meatballs (freezer)

Pizza Braid (freezer)

Baked Ziti (freezer)

Steak Fajitas (freezer)

Navajo Tacos

Tuna Alfredo

Garlic Chicken Pizza

Chicken BLT Tacos

Pigs in a Blanket

Ham/Potato Pancakes

Chicken Kiev

Mushroom and Turkey (pg 206)

BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

Winger's Sticky Chicken Fingers

Apple Stuffed French Toast (pg 84)

Pizza Blanco

Taco Salad

Creamy Ham and Macaroni (pg 66)

Crab Cakes

Gourmet Hot Dogs (on the grill)

German Pancakes and Grilled Ham

Salisbury Steaks

Shepherd's Pie

Twice Baked Potatoes

Hamburgers (on the grill)

Skillet Beef-a-roni

Chicken, Rice, Bean Burritos

Crab Tostadas

Marinated Steak (on the grill)

Orange-glazed Chicken (on the grill)

Chicken Quesadillas

As you can see, some are complicated meals while others are throw together fast. We are members of a Food Co-op, where we get a basket of farmer's market fruits and vegetables twice a month. You never know what you're going to get, so the basket makes up our side dishes. If we get asparagus, I'm serving it with the Chicken Kiev, corn on the cob with the hamburgers and carrots into the shepherd's pie. And since it's June I am using the grill a lot, where in the winter my meals often use the crock pot. Make sense? Save your monthly menus for a year, and you could have a delicious year-round menu!

Watch for the recipes coming throughout the month!