Rice Pilaf [SIDE DISH] Freezer Meal Recipe

RICE PILAF (side dish)

Makes 4 side dishes, 4-6 servings each

Ingredients:

1/4 cup olive oil

2 Tbsp. butter

6 cups white rice, uncooked

2 cups chopped carrots (about 4 medium)

1 cup chopped celery (about 4 stalks)

1 cup chopped onion (about 1 medium)

8 tsp. chicken bouillon (may substitute vegetable bouillon) granules

4 tsp. dried parsley

1 tsp. black pepper

4 quart freezer bags, labeled

Directions:

1.  Heat olive oil and butter in large skillet over medium heat.  Add rice, carrots, celery and onion; cook, stirring, until rice is golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes.  Cool.

2.  Divide rice mixture among the freezer bags.  Into each bag, measure 2 teaspoons bouillon, 1 teaspoon parsley, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

3.  Seal and freeze.

Bag Label:

Rice Pilaf (side dish)   Date:_________

Remove from bag & place frozen pilaf
in a medium saucepan & add 3 cups
water. Bring to boil; reduce heat & cook,
covered, for 20 min., or until water is
completely absorbed.

Slow Simmering Bean Soup Freezer Meal Recipe

Slow Simmering Bean Soup

Ingredients:

1 15-oz. can red kidney beans, drained*

1 15-oz. can pinto beans, drained*

3 cups water*

1 14-oz. can stewed tomatoes

1 10-oz. pkg. frozen corn

1 cup sliced carrots

1 cup chopped onions

1 4-oz. can green chilies

2 Tbsp. beef bouillon granules

1 tsp. chili powder

1/4 tsp. minced garlic

Directions:

Combine all ingredients* and pour into a freezer bag.  When thawed, simmer for four hours on top of stove or all day in a slow crock pot.

*Add water, cans (2) of beans, and canned tomatoes after thawing.

Bag Label:

Slow Simmering Bean Soup     Date:_________

Thaw and add 3 cups water, 15-oz. kidney beans,

15-oz. pinto beans, and 14-oz. stewed tomatoes.
Simmer 4 hrs. or all day in crock pot.

Ham Fried Rice Freezer Meal Recipe

Ham Fried Rice

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups diced ham (thick deli sliced, diced)
1 8 oz. can sliced water chestnuts, drained
1 4 oz. can mushrooms, drained
1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper (about 1/2 pepper)
1 cup frozen petite peas
3 cups cooked rice
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 eggs

Directions:
Combine all ingredients except eggs. Pour into freezer bag. When thawed, add about 1 Tbsp. oil in frying pan over medium heat. In a separate bowl, beat eggs. Fry scrambled eggs in oil, then add rice mixture. Stir fry until heated through.

Bag Label:

Ham Fried Rice     Date______________

Thaw.  Add 1 Tbsp. oil to frying pan over

med. heat. In a separate bowl, beat 2 eggs.

Fry scrambled eggs in oil, then add rice

mixture. Heat through.

BBQ Chicken Freezer Meal Recipe

BBQ Chicken

Ingredients:
3 cups cooked chicken, chopped (about 3 breasts)
1 cup chopped onion
2 Tbsp. vinegar
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 cup ketchup
3 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 Tbsp. prepared mustard
1 cup water (can be omitted and added at time of cooking, see 'Bag Label')
1/2 cup chopped celery

Directions:
Combine all ingredients (except water - see 'Bag Label') and pour into freezer bag. Freeze. When thawed, (add 1 cup water, &) bake uncovered at 350° for 45 minutes.

Bag Label:
BBQ Chicken     Date:___________
Thaw. Add 1 cup water. Bake at 350°
uncovered for 45 min. Serve over rice,
potatoes, pasta, etc.

Stuffed Manicotti Freezer Meal Recipe

Stuffed Manicotti Freezer Meal Recipe

Meat Sauce
3 cups cooked ground beef (about 1 lb raw)
1 1/2 cups water (can instead be added at time of baking, see 'Bag Label' below)
4 tsp. dried basil (triple if using fresh)
12 oz. tomato sauce
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. dried parsley

Cheese Stuffing
12 oz. low-fat ricotta cheese
12 oz. low-fat cottage cheese
1 egg
1/3 cup parmesan cheese
2 Tbsp. dried parsley
1/4 tsp. salt

14-16 dry manicotti shells
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (to be added at time of baking)

Directions:
Combine ingredients for cheese stuffing and fill dry shells. Put into freezer bag. Then combine ingredients for meat sauce and pour over shells in bag. When thawed, bake at 400 degrees 45 minutes covered, add 2 cups grated cheddar cheese and bake additional 15 minutes uncovered.

Bag Label:
Stuffed Manicotti    Date:___________
Thaw. Add 1 1/2 cups water. Bake at 400° for
45 min covered. Add 2 cups cheddar cheese
& bake an additional 15 min uncovered.

Healthy Mama BBQ Chicken Freezer Meal Recipe

Healthy Mama BBQ Chicken
adapted from Stephanie of mamaandbabylove.com

Ingredients:
5 medium unpeeled red potatoes, cut into 1/2 inch pieces, about 2 cups.
2 large green peppers (red, orange, or yellow also work well), cut into chunks, about 2 cups.
1 zucchini, chopped, about 1 cups.
1 medium onion, chopped, about 1 cup
2 tablespoon quick cooking tapioca (or flour, or some other thickening agent).
3-4 chicken breasts
1 (15-oz) can of tomato sauce
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
2 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt

Directions:
Place everything into a gallon-sized freezer bag. Mix around, making sure all vegetables are coated with some sauce.  Make sure as much air as possible is removed from bag. Label and lay flat in the freezer.

Freezer Meal Label:
Day of cooking, thaw on your counter for 30-60 minutes, or until it can easily be removed from the bag. Place contents into your slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours, or until chicken is cooked through and veggies are tender. Serve over egg noodles or rice, if desired.

Notes:
I included the chicken in a separate bag because it was pre-frozen. I just labeled one bag (1 of 2) and the other (2 of 2) to make sure they remembered to add the chicken (and stir sometime during cooking).

Mexican Black Bean Casserole Freezer Meal Recipe

Mexican Black Bean Casserole

Adapted from http://momonamission.me/

Ingredients:

·      1 can whole kernel corn, drained and rinsed, or 1 ½ cups frozen corn (about 16 oz)

·      1 can black beans, rinsed (1 ½ cups)

·      1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano

·      1 (4 oz) can chopped green chilies

·      1/3 cup sliced green onions

·      ¼ cup chopped cilantro, optional

·      2 tsp ground cumin

·      1 tsp oregano

·      1/8 tsp chipotle chili powder, optional

·      4 small (about 6 inch) corn tortillas

·      1 ½ to 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (you could also use a Mexican blend)

Instructions:

·      Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease a 9x13 pan with cooking spray.

·      Combine the first nine ingredients in a bowl and mix well.

·      Place 2 tortillas side-by-side in the bottom of the pan. Spoon ½ of the bean, corn, and tomato mixture over the tortillas. Top with ¾ to 1 cup of cheese. Repeat the layers in each pan.

·      Cover with foil and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.

·      Serving Suggestions: Garnish with sour cream or guacamole. Serve with green salad and/or vegetable, Mexican rice, tortilla chips and salsa.

Freezing Directions: Cover with labeled foil and freeze. Thaw for 24 hours and bake covered at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. (I lined a 9x13 pan with foil, assembled casserole, covered with plastic wrap & more foil, and then placed in the freezer. After frozen, I removed the foil-covered casserole and placed it in a large Ziploc bag with a label. This way it takes up less room in the freezer and you don’t have your pans in the freezer.)

Freezer Meal Label:

Remove from bag, place in 9x13 baking pan, and thaw in refrigerator for 24 hours. Remove plastic wrap and replace foil. Bake covered at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.

Serving Suggestions: Garnish with sour cream or guacamole. Serve with green salad and/or vegetable, Mexican rice, tortilla chips and salsa.