Freezer (Bulk) Cooking Round 2



My oldest asked yesterday if I might make lasagne today.  I love lasgane, but really hate the work that goes with it, so I make them 3 at a time.  Sounds crazy, doesn't it?  Truth is, it takes about the same amount of time to make 3 as it does to make 1.
I started with about 3.5 lbs of ground beef and 2 diced onions which I browned (maybe even a little too much)! 









I added 6 jars of sauce and about 3 T of sugar.  I needed 27 noodles, but cooked a few extra in case some ripped beyond repair, which always seems to happen.

My family does really care for ricotta, but I think it is a necessary ingredient for lasagne, so we compromise.  I take one small container add some pepper, parmesan and thin it out with 4 eggs.  This one container batch is all I use for all 3 lasagnes total.

 I spray my pans with pam and start layering like so:

 

sauce, noodles, ricotta, mozzarella

sauce, noodles, ricotta, mozzarella

sauce, noodles, ricotta

sauce again, mozzarella

 

 

 

 

 

 

While the lasagne was baking, I made potato soup for tomorrow night.

5 lbs +/- peeled diced potatoes

3 -4 carrots

3 stalks celery

1 large box chicken stock

2 cans evaporated milk

pepper

chicken bouillon

1 diced onion

 

Cook until potatoes are slightly tender, you don't want them to turn to mush!  You can start it on a high temperature, but then turn it way down so the milk doesn't scald and stick to the pan.  It will ruin the whole batch with a burnt taste if that happens!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the midst of all of this I cut some chicken breast into bite sized pieces and cooked to put in the freezer.  It is always good to have cooked chicken on hand.

 

I also cooked a second big package of gorund beef with onions in case I under estimated what I needed for lasagne.  I didn't need it, so off to the freezer it went too!

 

 

 

 

Here's a picture of what went into the freezer:

 

2 homemade lasagne

1 pkg of cooked chicken chunks (3 - 3.5 lbs)

1 pkg of cooked ground beef and onions (I don't remember if it was 3 or 4lbs)

 

This was done while cooking a 3rd lasagne for today and potato soup for tomorrow.

 

We spent January trying to use up what was in our freezer, so February is restocking time.



Freezer Cooking

 

Last Monday (2-18-13) I did some extra cooking while I was in the kitchen cooking our dinner.  I started by frying some boneless chicken breast cut into strips and seasoned with southwest seasoning. This went on to become our dinner of grilled chicken salads.

I had the tomatoes, celery, carrots, peas, chick peas and cheese set up salad bar style so everyone could choose what they wanted.  One of the boys also added croutons (not shown).

This is my salad on the right.  Yummy and very filling.  I didn't take a picture of what my 2 teenage boys fixed, but let's just say they each made a salad big enough that they had to use mixing bowls!  Anyone elso have 2 teenage boys?  If you do, you know what I mean!

What does this have to do with freezer cooking?  I had 2 packeages of chicken, so while the chicken for the salad was cooking in one pan, I was starting a second dinner in the other pan.

Chicken and rice casserole...

 

Normal people:

 

cook 1-1.5 lbs of chicken breast (cut in bite size pieces)

add 2 cans of cream soup (I use 1 chicken and 1 mushroom)

2 cups of water

1 pkg onion soup mix

2 cups instant rice

 

For several people (or if you have 2 teenage boys in a family of 4)

 

Increase to:

2-2.5 lbs of chicken

3 cans of soup

3 c of water

2 pkg onion soup mix

3 c instant rice

 

 

This can be served right away, but we usually bake it first to thicken it up and brown it a little.

 

Or, what I did this time was prepare it on the stovetop, transfer to a baking pan and put it in the freezer without baking it.  It freezes well and will make a great supper for a night we are just too busy to bother.

 

While all of this was going on I was also preparing about 3 lbs of ground beef with onions.  I might sound amazing, but continue reading to see how this story ends!

I used to section the uncooked ground beef into chunks that were about 1 lb each and freeze them in tupperware containers and I could pull out whatever amount I needed.  Trouble was if I didn't take it out of the freezer in the am, it was a bear to thaw and cook.  One day I finally had a revelation that it would be better to brown the ground beef with onions, put it in ziplocs and take however much I need out of the bag.  This works much better.  I leave the bag open about an inch, roll the air out, finish closing and flatten the bag.  I also put a date on all prepared meals that go into the freezer.

This can become taco meat in about 5 minutes, used in spaghetti with meat sauce, soups (like taco soup), and casseroles just to mention a few things.  The possibilites are really endless.  I make hamburgers in individual tupperware patty containers to freeze, but I didn't that day.  The ground beef price was not great, so I will try to wait it out for a better price before attempting to stock up on hamburgers in my freezer.

I was so proud of myself!  Grilled chicken salads for supper that night, chicken and rice casserole for the freezer and enough ground beef for 2 or three meals.  I was on a roll.  The plan was to put roast beef, carrots and potatoes in the crockpot on Tuesday morning to have dinner waiting when we got home... 

So I got up early Tuesday, put the beef in the crockpot and started peeling potatoes.  After I peeled the first 3 I decided to cut them up, put them in the pot, and decide how many more I might need.  As I hurried to cut the first one I gashed my finger.  You know what they say about the best laid plans!

I had my kids call their grandpa for a ride to school, wrapped my finger in a clean towel and drove myself to the ER.  It was a deep cut, but I'll spare the graphic details.  Suffice it to say I ended up with 2 shots,  3 stiches and a dead nerve in my finger.  We didn't have roast that night!

A small to do - jazzing up some potholders.

This is the other small thing I would like to do soon.  I love these bright potholders I found in primary colors at the dollar store, but they need some jazzing up!  I have seen some cute ones on pinterest.  They might stay potholders, and I might turn them into something else.  We'll see what I can do with them!

4 More Gathered Clutches Ready to Go

Wow - what terrible lighting!  Oh well, it's not the finished project.  I have 4 more Noodlehead gathered clutches cut out and ready to put together when I am feeling better.  You can see the first one I made here.  I got them ready earlier this week and then I got sick.  Hopefully they will be done soon.  I am thinking about opening an etsy shop, but I am not sure it will be worth the bother.  Any thoughts on that?

Neon Gathered Clutch from Noodlehead Pattern

Can I just say NOODLEHEAD ROCKS! This is made from her gathered clutch pattern. I still consider myself a beginner when it comes to sewing anything other than straight lines. Noodlehead's patterns come directly via computer when you pay. They are 15-20 pages or more with step by step photos and details. If you think you can't follow a regular pattern (like me) give one of noodleheads a try. It is kind of like step by step sewing for newbies. Anna has not compensated me in any way for saying these things and doesn't even know I am writing this post. It is 100% my own opinion and your opinion may differ.

Anywho, back to what I was saying - Anna's patterns are fantastic. I don't know why I held off
so long on making this because it came together rather quickly. I whipped it together in a couple of hours after dinner. It shouldn't have taken that long, but I am kind of a perfectionist when it comes to sewing. It has the option of a divider, which I did and am not happy with it. I did not put it tight enough, so I need to be more careful next time. It also has the option of single and double credit card holders, which I did both and am pleased with how they turned out. 

The divider is orange and too loose which is my fault it is NOT a faulty pattern. The single credit card holder is also orange and the double (forgot to get a picture of that) is paisley.
This was really fun to make. As a matter of fact, I already have the parts cut out to make four more. Hopefully I will get them made and a post done before the end of the week!

Noodlehead Go Anywhere Tote

Ok - I guess it is kind of a Noodlehead day here at the domestic groove.  If you saw my last post on the Noodlehead gathered clutch, you already know how much I love Anna's patterns.
I actually made this Go Anywhere Tote back in 2012 and have been carrying it as my purse for months.  I have learned at least one new sewing technique with each Noodlehead pattern I have made.  This time it was piping and a hidden magnetic clasp.  When I made the 241 tote, it was a regular magnetic snap and an interior zipper pocket.  With the gathered clutch I ruffled material and made zipper tabs for the first time for a neater finish.  These were all things that I thought I would never be able to do, but the step by step color photos made it a breeze.
I have also purchased the sidekick tote and with that I will learn to install a recessed zipper.  Just the other night I purchased her basket pattern and with that I will make my first basket with a divider in it.  The beauty is that once I learn these techniques from her patterns, I can then apply my new found skills to other projects that I want to make.

Dishcloth - a - pa - looza

Ok - so I might be a little obsessed with making dishclothes.  They are just something simple and mindless to do when I am watching tv.  I have given away about 20 of them and I still have about 30.  I can't stop making them and I am not sure why.

I like to sew, but I have to be in the mood to go upstairs and sit alone when I sew.  I can just whip these up real quick when I am sitting with my family.  They are kind of fun and I don't see me stopping anytime soon!