Freezer Meals

After many requests for my freezer meal list I decided to just put it on my blog for anyone who would like it. I am a freezer meal JUNKY! I love spending a day cooking and then not having to cook dinner like 10 times. We probably have a freezer meal twice a week. None if my meals are very fancy, but I think they all taste good and are pretty easy. I have a bunch more easy recipes and freezer meals on my recipes pinboard http://www.pinterest.com/carissaabrams/recipes/

A couple of tips: 

• Don't freeze raw potatoes. They turn gray and mushy 
• I prefer Italian, Mexican, and Chinese food frozen. It holds its flavor better. Some things turn really bland when frozen.
• I really like to freeze crock pot meals over casseroles. The casseroles will sometimes dry out or taste bland, but it really depends on the recipe. 
• I usually cook 8-10 meals in a day. I try and pick ones with similar ingredients, I go to the grocery store, and then make all if them    
• Pretty much every time I make soup or anything in the crockpot, I put half in the crock pot and the other half in a ziploc bag for the freezer.  

 Here's some of my go to meals. I have some more that I really like, I'll put links to those at the bottom. This list is always evolving, so if you find some you like, be sure to send them my way.

My favorites:

BBQ Sauce and honey with frozen chicken for the crockpot.

Chicken, 1 can cream of chicken soup, 8 oz cream cheese. Add to the crock pot with one package italian dressing and serve over noodles or rice.

Chicken enchiladas: Mix 1 container sour cream, 1 can cream of chicken, one can diced chills, and cooked chicken. Fill and roll taco shells and place in pan. Top with grated cheese and extra cream sauce. Thaw in refrigerator before baking @375 for 45 min or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Hamburger stew: uncooked hamburger, carrots, potatoes, onions, celery, etc. Freeze. Add water and beef stew seasoning packet. Allow extra time for meat to cook in crock pot.

Chicken pockets: Buy canned crescent rolls and roll out. Seal two together to make rectangular dough. To make filling, mix cream cheese, chicken, and green onions. Put filling inside and seal pockets together. Freeze on a cookie sheet. On day of baking, after pockets have thawed in the refrigerator, top with melted butter and breadcrumbs. Bake @ 375 for 18 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with chicken gravy. 

I also make spaghetti and meat sauce and freeze it, then heat it up in the crock pot the day of. I do the same with taco meat. 

This is a great post on super easy chicken marinades to be frozen. I've tried a few and they were good. 

Forgotten Chicken is also a good meal to freeze. I add brocolli and seasoning because it's a little bland

I've made almost all the recipes from this post, and they were all good; it was a good variety. I haven't made the maple dijon chicken or french dip sandwiches. 

I've made Broccoli Supreme before and froze it. I just added the crackers the day I baked it. I add a little extra seasoning and it is so yummy. 

Santa Fe Chicken is one I make every time I do a batch of crock pot meals because it's so easy. I just omit the chicken broth and put it into taco shells. You can also sub the taco seasoning for salsa and it is healthier. 

Chicken tortilla soup is also one I always make as well.. 

Pasta Fagoli is really good and super easy. Instead of adding italian seasoning, tomatoes, and tomato sauce, I put a jar of spaghetti sauce in and it's really good. 

Chili Crock Pot Burritos are yummy, but they're more time consuming than I like. I cook all the meat and make one for dinner on a night I'm not busy and freeze the other one. 

Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole is Dallas' favorite freezer meal. It's more work (of course!) so I usually make two or three to make it worth the effort. 

This is my favorite go-to freezer meal list. There are five parts to this series and they are all really easy and good. When I do a day long freezer cooking session, I always pick some from this list. 

Here's a new article I found with some really good crock pot meals, they're not freezer meals but I think most could be frozen. http://www.iheartnaptime.net/slow-cooker-recipes/ 

Family Pictures 2013

I'm so far behind on my blog (again). I wanted to post some of the family pictures we took in Idaho before I forget. :) Hoping to update my blog soon!

Katelyn Wray took our photos again. I love them so much!

Meet Me in St. Louis

Dallas' cousin Bracken and his family are our nearest family, since they live 8 hours away in Arkansas. :) St. Louis is about half way for both of us, so we met up their for Labor Day weekend.

We were late getting up there because of Dallas' work, but we caught the tail end of a Rams game. I'm so ticked I forgot to get a picture of our family!

 Bracken and Katie were nice enough to watch the kiddos for us so we could go to the St. Louis temple on our 5th anniversary. 

This is what I said on Facebook, "Five years ago I was sealed to the most amazing man in the Idaho Falls Temple. Today we were able to spend the day at the St. Louis Temple. I'm so thankful I get to spend forever with him. He has held my hand through childbirth, kissed my bald head during chemotherapy, supported me through multiple surgeries, and comforted me through a computer screen when we were 7000 miles apart. He has made me smile through my tears and multiplied my happiness. He has seen me at my worst but always thought the best of me. He has always supported my dreams and helps me see my own potential. He brings out the best in me and makes me want to be a better person. I love you forever Dallas!"

 The St. Louis Zoo was awesome! All the animals were so close and, even better, it was FREE!

Bracken and Maverick

The (other) Abrams

Amaya was freaking out in the penguin house because it stunk so bad. Later she told me it was her favorite part. Figures.

Oaklie didn't seem to mind the smell

She is the queen of photo bombs! All the world's a modeling shoot.

This is probably my favorite picture of Dallas ever. 

The kiddos

I took this picture. It's definitely Christmas card material, huh?

What Oaklie came to see, the bears.

This huge butterfly's wings were the most gorgeous blue on the inside, but I wasn't able to catch a picture of it.

Union Station in St. Louis

This fish were all trying to get fed. I so wanted to go buy a net and just start scooping them up.

Don't drop the baby!

Inside the St. Louis arch is a little tram that takes you to the top. We went up in these little pods. 

Checking out the view from the top.

We had a great trip and can't wait to see Bracken and Katie over Thanksgiving!