How I do Freezer Meals- Maybe it's the lazy version way??

To all you mama's out there who can sit down and cook for 4+ hours and make a large number of freezer meals all at once, Kudo's to you! I am not one of those moms! Yes, I am only chasing one little monster, rather than some of you who are chasing multiple, but it just never really works out (as much as I wish it did). So I have come up with a real-life-mama-who-doesn't-have-hours-to-spend-in-the-kitchen-solution!

If you knew my husband, you would know he's a big eater-sometimes I feel like I am feeding a house full of teenage boys, and he is my only one! For those of you REALLY feeding a house full of boys-oye! Good luck! I feel like I can barely keep up, so I can't imagine how you REALLY do keep up!

One of my favorite things about cooking is experimenting. I like to try new things, try new ingredients in already perfected recipes, and I love to make my man happy with lunches prepared for him to take to work.

I have found the easiest thing for me to do to get freezer meals/lunches, ect to actually make it to the freezer (instead of being eaten all at once for dinner) is to double, or sometimes triple, or even quadruple the recipe! That may seem like a lot of work to you, but in my mind, I already AM doing the work. I am cooking dinner for THAT night right then and there, so I may as well make dinner or lunches for a few more nights while I am at it!

Here are a few of my favorite things and recipes to freeze, that we really love to have on hand. First of all, I have to preface, we're not big meat eaters! So in almost every recipe that I have adapted for us, it's how WE like it, and how WE cook it. If it's not enough meat for you, or too spicy, or whatever, feel free to experiment and make it work for your family! We're pretty adventurous when it comes to food, and I know some of you are not! Hope these can help you're little family! Happy cooking!

Carley's Favorite Meals to Freeze:

1. Meatloaf (and recently a Southwest Meatloaf): personally I am all about what I like to refer to as "veggie purging"-using as many vegetables in recipes as possible-because I know there are days when we don't have many, or there are days when I have a ton of veggies in my fridge that need to be used ASAP. This is one of my favorite to veggie purge with!

2. Chicken Chili- this is another one of my absolute favorite veggie purging meals! I love it because it's easy, it's filling for my man, and can easily be divided into smaller servings for him to take to lunch. Add a little corn bread muffin or two, (which I freeze those too, they'll be in a later post!) have it thaw in his lunch box, and it's ready to roll!

3. Lasagna- seriously, the easiest lasagna to throw together EVER! I love this recipe. It's even a quick meal, when you don't have it pre-frozen. It works great for lunches too! Just cook it, let it cool, and divide into smaller freezer ziplock bags!

4. Potato Soup

5. Sweet Pork recipe (or for chicken). We almost always use this for chicken instead of pork, mainly because we hardily have pork on hand. But it's a great recipe to have for salads, tostadas, burritos, ect. Or just to serve with rice and black beans. I'll share with you my "black bean concoction."

6. Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole This is a great one when you're feeling for something a little "fancy" but don't want to put the effort into a gourmet meal!

7. Carley's Enchiladas This is my husband's favorite meal I have made him since we have been married! He was so certain his favorite meal was lasagna, until he had this, and every since, he is always requesting these! *cilantro is a good add to this too!

8. Chicken and Dumpling Casserole

 9. Tater Tot Casserole

10. Stromboli LOVE This one for lunches!

11. Tortellini Stew I LOVE this one! My brother actually made it for a family event-he uses marinara sauce (what's the difference?!) I just use spaghetti sauce since I have it on hand, and if I am really craving it, will add a touch of sugar to make it a little sweeter!


Stay tuned for my next post on "sides" I love to have ready in my freezer! Which will include breadsticks, muffins, muffins, muffins, and so much more!

Carley