Freezer Cooking

Over the past few months, I've really seen the benefit of having extra meals made up, and in the freezer. We all have those days where we just do not feel like making dinner, and eating out isn't alwasy feasible--or budget friendly.

FishMama and MoneySavingMom are hosting another cooking day. This time I'm focusing more on meals, instead of baked goods.

I was fortunate enough to win a Turkey Ticket from Happy Housewife. We were out of state for Thanksgiving, so I'm free to use my 15 pound turkey as I choose. I cooked it in my new roaster today, using this method. Oh.My.Word. That is the best turkey we've ever tasted! Now, to get it all chopped up and frozen.

I forgot to take a picture of it before we dug in. It was so moist!

My Freezer Cooking Plans are:

• Turkey Pot Pie x2
• Turkey Turnovers x2 (?)
• Turkey Broth
• Pizza Dough x2
• Refried Beans x3 Finished!




• Pumpkin Bread

Not a huge list, but enough to keep me busy and get a little extra into my freezer. As the day progresses, I may end up adding more, just depends on how my productivity is going.

What are your favorite turkey recipes?

This post is linked to Freezer Cooking Day

Freezer Tips

I love dedicating a few days out of the month to baking and cooking in order to fill up my freezer. Doing so makes things so much easier for me on a week to week basis. If I have a particularly busy week, I don't have to worry about finding the time to make our snacks, and I won't blow our grocery budget by buying processed snacks from the grocery store. In addition, having some meals in the freezer makes it easier for us to not be tempted to eating out when life gets hectic.


Knowing how to store your food is essential. If you do not store them correctly, they will become freezer burnt, or icky--which results in a waste of time, money and effort.

• I use Ziploc Freezer bags for diced onions/green peppers, muffins, cookies, breads, mashed bananas, pumpkin puree, banana chunks, strawberries and almost every liquid--such as soups of all kinds. I always try to use actual Ziploc bags. I've noticed that when I opt for the generic brand, they either end up with a hole in them, or my goods end up getting freezer burnt no matter what I do.
  
  


• When using bags, make sure you leave some space to allow for expansion, and remove as much air as you possibly can. Doing so will help prevent a complete disaster mess, as well as freezer burn.
  
  
  
  


• For the most part, I try to flash freeze my goods prior to putting them into Ziplocs. To do so, put the item into a single layer on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer. When frozen, remove and place into ziploc bags and place back into the freezer. This will help with them freezing into one big ball, enabling you to grab the exact amount you need.
  
  


• When freezing homemade chicken broth, I love freezing it into ice cube trays first. Once solid I pop them out, and throw them into a gallon ziploc bag. Freezing them into small portions is ideal when I need broth to make cream soups. This method also comes in handy to freeze juice, to use later in punches. You can also use this method to freeze small amounts of other liquids.
  
  


• Label everything! Even if you think you will know what it is--a month or so down the road, you will have forgotten. Trust me, it isn't fun being surprised! I use my trusty Sharpie Marker. If I am using a container that I frequently use in the freezer, I write on freezer tape so that I can remove it, but still be able to use the container for something else in the future.
  
  


• Keep an inventory. While this isn't essential--I've noticed that it has helped me to have a better grasp on what was in "the pit". Even though I keep it pretty organized--it is still hard to know how much of what I have at any given moment. This has also proven to help me with my menu planning adventures. Not sure how to begin one? Rachel has an awesome post on her freezer inventory here.
  
  




• I love Amy's method for organizing your freezer. I've found this quite handy for organizing my garden produce, meat, as well as my baked goods.
  
  

Here are some additional tips around the blogosphere:

Hannah from Mulberry Spot has some great tips to keep in mind about using up every last bit of your food by using your freezer to it's full advantage.



Tiffany from Eat At Home Cooks has assembled a Top 5 list of how she makes her freezer work for her.

Carrie, from Springs Bargains shared on Twitter that she likes to remove frozen pizzas from their box to conserve freezer space. You can either write the directions directly on the wrapping or look them up on the internet.

Be sure to check out this post from Katie @ Kitchen Stewardship, where she shares 1o Easy Prep Foods she always has stored in her freezer--along with tips on how she freezes them.

Inexpensively has a whole host of different freezer tips and tricks here.

Making your freezer work for you, and using it to it's complete capacity is a great way to save money on your grocery bill and have convience at your finger tips. How are you using your freezer?

This post is linked to :

• Frugal Friday
• Works For Me Wednesday
  
  
  
  

Finding Freedom Friday: OAMC/Freezer Meals

Have you ever just had one of those days where you lack all "want to" and gusto to fix dinner? It's in the plan, you have everything to make it, but you just aren't feeling it?

Insert Once a Month Cooking (OAMC). It solves that problem for you.

Ever forget an ingredient at the grocery store for your planned meal, and nothing else comes to mind to fix. Or the planned meal just doesn't sound appetizing at all?

You guessed it! OAMC solves those problems too.

Having a meal in the freezer has also saved my budget on those occasions when I think I want to eat out. Then I remember that there is some Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup, or a casserole waiting for me in my freezer. That isn't to say that we don't eat out, because we do..on occassion. Honestly, I can't wait until I have a whole freezer full of meals to choose from (I would be happy with half a freezer at this point!).

Basically the concept is to cook up a whole bunch of different meals or partial meals that are freezer friendly in one day (or a couple or even just do one extra when you make your regular dinner). I've been dreaming of doing a OAMC day, but frankly I've just not made it that far. Honestly, in the OAMC world, I've not made it far at all.

Here are some of my tips, from my very limited experience:

• Freeze your meat in a marinade. That way when you need it, all you have to do is take it out of the freezer and thaw.
• Freezing individual servings is ideal for lunches. For soups and broth, let cool first and then pour into a paper cup. Once frozen, you can pop them out of the cup and put into a Ziploc bag.
• Label, Label, Label. You will definitely want to make sure that you label everything, even if you think that you will recognize it later on. There are so many foods, that when frozen, look alike. Avoid the guessing game, by labeling when you put it in the freezer. I have guilty of this too many times to count!
• Cook like meals together. For instance; Hamburger meals, Chicken meals, etc. This will make your prep so much easier instead of having numerous different kinds of meat out.
  

What to freeze?

• I freeze lots and lots of soups mostly because when making them they take on a life of their own. By the time I am done I have a huge stockpot full and it just isn't possible for us to eat it all before we grow tired of it, or before it goes bad (which just isn't an option). To take up less space put them in a Ziploc bag and lay them flat.
• Pasta Sauces. Brown up a bunch of hamburger meat and add the desired amount of pasta sauce (perfect for the summer months when you have an abundance of garden fresh vegetables). Freeze in family sized portions. Perfect for lasagna, spaghetti, tortellini, or any other recipe that calls for a meat marinara sauce. Just thaw your frozen portion and proceed with the recipe!
• Endless amounts of baked goods. So very handy to freeze muffins, cookies, cakes, breads, etc for using later as snacks or in packed lunches. TIP: Pop a frozen muffin in your lunch box, and by lunch time it should be ready to eat. It also helps keep your other food cold.
• Various Casseroles.
• Breakfast Burritos. Scramble up a dozen eggs, fry up a pound of bacon or sausage, add some cheese and wrap up a bunch of burritos. Perfect for mornings on the run. I used to make up a bunch of these when I was still working and my husband and I would both grab one on our way out the door. When we made them, I would wrap them in aluminum foil. When ready to heat, remove the foil and pop in the microwave. Beats McDonald's burritos any day!
• And although I've never tried it (but have been meaning to): Make your own frozen pizza. Why not? Homemade pizza is way better than those processed, lacking toppings, no choice, store bought frozen ones. I'm hoping to try freezing our new favorites.

Right now that is all that I have tried, but it is just a sampling of the endless possibilities you have with OAMC/Freezer Meals.

Once you get started, you'll be Finding Freedom in no time!

What are your tips for OAMC or for making Freezer Meals? Have any recipes to share? How has it helped you?

I really can't wait to see what you all bring, but please abide by the rules. (You can find them at the bottom of this post)

1. Stephanie (Batch Cooking: What It Is and How I Do It Part 1) (Part 2)
2. Lynn
3. Amy- Cutting Coupons in KC
4. Changing Reflection (making meal prep easy)
5. pennypinchinmomma (guide to oamc)

Don't Forget Finding Freedom Friday Tomorrow

I can't wait for it to get here!



Tomorrow for Finding Freedom Friday we will be talking about OAMC/Freezer Meals. While I am really new at this concept, I've loved every bit of it!



Since I am brand new, I can't wait to see how everyone else does it. I'm ready to grab some new OAMC recipes, and hear all about this has helped you find freedom in the kitchen, financially and any other possible way.



If you are not familiar with OAMC (once a month cooking) I encourage you to dabble in it. The possiblilites really are almost endless and the benefits are numerous.



And, for all you seasoned veterans (or beginners like myself) be sure to bring your tips, tricks, and recipes tomorrow so we can all become pros!