Many thanks to the Crock-Pot Slow Cooker Facebook Feed for linking to a blog, Freezer Cooking - Slow Cooker Meals! by Melissa Fallis. She shows how she makes eight meals all at once, prepping the vegetables then combining ingredients in freezer bags. She picks out one the night before, lets it thaw in the refrigerator, then puts it in the slow cooker for 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low. Brilliant! I will post when I've tried her meals.
Note the blogger updated this after she found her recipes a little bland. See new recipes here: http://melissafallistestkitchen.blogspot.com/2012/02/freezer-cooking-2.html?showComment=1346699136218#c3456854906029638060
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Monday, January 2, 2012
Waste not, want not - Candy Canes!
Don't you love Facebook? Post a culinary SOS, and you have answers within hours. I love the responses to this one.
Me: I seem to have overbought the candy canes. Anyone have a good recipe to use them up?
Young friend at church: Cookies
Toastmaster friend who recently moved to Hawai'i (I'm not jealous, no): I just put them with the Christmas decorations for next year. I think they last forever!
Aussie friend, who I carpooled with when we worked in Monrovia CA, who now lives in Equatorial Guinea: Crush and sprinkle on vanilla ice cream...nah! Just put them away for next year.. as [Hawai'i friend] says, they are indestructible!
New Zealand friend, referring to another scrapping buddy: Tina had one on her blog recently [Here is link to Kris Kringle Cookies.]
Church friend: They are great in hot chocolate! Or in coffee too.
Work friend: Take them to [the office]!!
Church friend who works in children's ministry: kidz praize candy box.
Sister-in-law in L.A.: Peppermint bark. Buy white chocolate chips, crush canes, melt chips, mix together, yum!
So there we are, within five hours answers from literally all over the world.
Given the name of the blog is "Fast, frugal, fit," I think I'll go with the third idea, crush a SMALL amount of candycane for the top of my non-fat ice cream.
Use that freezer!
Each of our bio kids represents an appliance. After I returned to work in 1983 after maternity leave, we bought our first microwave oven. Our dishwasher gave out when our second son was born in 1986; with two young children, we replaced that baby right away. And then, in preparation for our third child's arrival in 1988, we bought our first chest freezer.
All three appliances are essentials in my book, but the freezer has a special place in our home (and I don't mean downstairs in the laundry room). It has allowed us to buy meat on sale, prepare meals (or at least parts of meal) to serve between work, picking up the kids at school, and going out again to a school or church function, and prepare meals ahead for holidays and parties.
My first freezer bible was "Once a Month Cooking" by Mary Beth Langerborg and Mimi Wilson. I'm still using the 1986 version, but it was updated and now available in paperback at Amazon. They give options for cooking an entire month of meals, or two weeks at a time. We found that, with leftovers and meals eaten out at church, family and other functions, they lasted twice as long. Eventually, I would do a modified version of the plan, doing only chicken or beef dishes. All of the recipes were delicious, but my favorite remains the Hearty Hamburger-Tomato Stew.
Last year we were introduced to Zacon Foods, an online company that makes quality bulk foods available to consumers on-line. After signing up, you receive notices of upcoming events. Next for me is the chance to buy boneless, skinless chicken breasts at $1.69 a pound. It's only available in 40-pound cases, so you have to plan ahead with a strategy for using it. A couple of young moms - Kate Anhl and Angela Davis - have put their ideas in a great booklet available online, "The Ultimate Guide to Freezer Friendly Meals: Chicken." Cost to download is $3.99, and it's well worth it if you're intimidated by what to do with a case of meat.
Finally, got this helpful guide from Paula Deen, one of my favorite food personalities but not one I associate with fast, frugal or fit! She has good, basic tips for using the freezer. (By the way, Bobby Dean has lightened up many of his mom's recipes. I can't wait to watch his new show, Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on Food Network, "Not My Mama's Meals."
All three appliances are essentials in my book, but the freezer has a special place in our home (and I don't mean downstairs in the laundry room). It has allowed us to buy meat on sale, prepare meals (or at least parts of meal) to serve between work, picking up the kids at school, and going out again to a school or church function, and prepare meals ahead for holidays and parties.
My first freezer bible was "Once a Month Cooking" by Mary Beth Langerborg and Mimi Wilson. I'm still using the 1986 version, but it was updated and now available in paperback at Amazon. They give options for cooking an entire month of meals, or two weeks at a time. We found that, with leftovers and meals eaten out at church, family and other functions, they lasted twice as long. Eventually, I would do a modified version of the plan, doing only chicken or beef dishes. All of the recipes were delicious, but my favorite remains the Hearty Hamburger-Tomato Stew.
Last year we were introduced to Zacon Foods, an online company that makes quality bulk foods available to consumers on-line. After signing up, you receive notices of upcoming events. Next for me is the chance to buy boneless, skinless chicken breasts at $1.69 a pound. It's only available in 40-pound cases, so you have to plan ahead with a strategy for using it. A couple of young moms - Kate Anhl and Angela Davis - have put their ideas in a great booklet available online, "The Ultimate Guide to Freezer Friendly Meals: Chicken." Cost to download is $3.99, and it's well worth it if you're intimidated by what to do with a case of meat.
Finally, got this helpful guide from Paula Deen, one of my favorite food personalities but not one I associate with fast, frugal or fit! She has good, basic tips for using the freezer. (By the way, Bobby Dean has lightened up many of his mom's recipes. I can't wait to watch his new show, Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on Food Network, "Not My Mama's Meals."
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Waste not, want not - Bread Pudding
When I first got my bread machine, I found I had all kinds of odds and ends left, so I started saving them in the freezer and, when I had enough, make bread pudding. I found the recipe in my kitchen bible, the "Betty Crocker Cookbook." (I own several versions, and can't wait to get the new one, "1500 Recipes for the Way You Cook Today.")
I've been saving up special breads for a holiday breakfast. We had a tray of banana and date bread at the office from our boss' wife; I scooped up the leftovers and put them in the freezer. For Christmas, I'd made some yummy eggnog bread, and had a few leftover pieces. I cut them up for a double batch of bread pudding. I adapted Betty's recipe, leaving out the cinnamon or nutmeg called for (because the breads were seasoned) for this:
Holiday Bread Pudding
4 cups milk (I always use non-fat)
1 cube butter or margarine (cut in half if concerned about fat)
4 eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup sugar, or less to taste
1/2 tsp. salt
12 cups dry bread cubes
1 cup raisins, if desired
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Heat milk and butter/margarine over medium heat until butter/margarine is melted and milk is scalded. Mix eggs, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Stir in bread cubes and raisins. (I use large tongs to mix.) Stir in milk mixture. Pour into ungreased 3-quart casserole. Place casserole in pan of very hot water (1 inch deep).
Bake uncovered until knife inserted 1 inch from edge of casserole comes out clean. Start checking at 45 minutes, but I find my oven takes about an hour. Serve warm.
(Live outside the U.S.? Recipe conversion suggestions on this post.)
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Graduation gifts
It's that time again. One graduation party yesterday and three today - and another few over the next couple weekends.
To avoid having to run to the card store and/or the ATM before each party, I've gotten into the habit of buying gifts in bulk. Since most of the parties are for kids who grew up in our church, this year I'm giving each a copy of The Poverty and Justice Bible. (Full disclosure, I do get an employee discount, but the list price of $20 is what I usually would give for graduation gifts.) I bought a case of 10; if I don't use them all this year, I know there will be occasion over the next year.
Even - or maybe especially - in this era of electronic information, books can be a special gift. Know someone graduating college or even high school and going off on their own? Your favorite basic cookbook. High school student going off to the military? Biography of a hero from his/her service branch. Other thoughts: history book for history major; book by a business leader for business majors or kids going straight to work after school; dictionary for any student.
I've also got enough graduation cards to make it through this weekend, at least. When I was at the Hallmark store buying Mothers Day and May birthday cards, I picked up a variety of the 99-cent Shoebox cards. Yes, I said Hallmark. I am frugal, but that doesn't mean I can't have a few luxuries (which don't cost that much in the grand scheme of things).
So, graduates and graduation party attendees alike, may your dreams soar as high as those caps!
To avoid having to run to the card store and/or the ATM before each party, I've gotten into the habit of buying gifts in bulk. Since most of the parties are for kids who grew up in our church, this year I'm giving each a copy of The Poverty and Justice Bible. (Full disclosure, I do get an employee discount, but the list price of $20 is what I usually would give for graduation gifts.) I bought a case of 10; if I don't use them all this year, I know there will be occasion over the next year.
Even - or maybe especially - in this era of electronic information, books can be a special gift. Know someone graduating college or even high school and going off on their own? Your favorite basic cookbook. High school student going off to the military? Biography of a hero from his/her service branch. Other thoughts: history book for history major; book by a business leader for business majors or kids going straight to work after school; dictionary for any student.
I've also got enough graduation cards to make it through this weekend, at least. When I was at the Hallmark store buying Mothers Day and May birthday cards, I picked up a variety of the 99-cent Shoebox cards. Yes, I said Hallmark. I am frugal, but that doesn't mean I can't have a few luxuries (which don't cost that much in the grand scheme of things).
So, graduates and graduation party attendees alike, may your dreams soar as high as those caps!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Dinner - Plan ahead, and improvise
Dinner on a work night. Sort of feels like the fourth quarter when you're down by two touchdowns. Can you pull it out?
I've been doing it for 33 years and, like Brett Favre, sometimes I pull it out, sometimes I don't, often it's a spectacular success, and more often than I care to mention, I fall flat on my face.
I survive by planning ahead - to a point - and improvising.
I grew up with a mom who was so organized we knew what we were having every night of the week: meatloaf one day, on others pork chops, liver and onions, fish, chicken, etc. A simple way to organize, and I envy the predictability. I can only predict what we're having one night a week: Friday. My husband picks up take-out after depositing his paycheck.
My menu is driven more by:
Last night, for example, my daughter found a package of chicken thighs in the freezer. I defrosted it in the microwave, then - because there were three of us and only four thighs - cut it into small pieces. Put it in the cast-iron skillet with chopped onion and cooked on high until done. Tasted delicious over the rice my daughter had made. Fast, Frugal, and Fit!
More to come....
I've been doing it for 33 years and, like Brett Favre, sometimes I pull it out, sometimes I don't, often it's a spectacular success, and more often than I care to mention, I fall flat on my face.
I survive by planning ahead - to a point - and improvising.
I grew up with a mom who was so organized we knew what we were having every night of the week: meatloaf one day, on others pork chops, liver and onions, fish, chicken, etc. A simple way to organize, and I envy the predictability. I can only predict what we're having one night a week: Friday. My husband picks up take-out after depositing his paycheck.
My menu is driven more by:
- What's on sale
- Who gets home from work first
- Where do we have to get the kids tonight? (And now, that our nest is emptying, who is home for dinner and who will want leftovers after work?)
- What can I defrost, cook, and get on the table in an hour?
Last night, for example, my daughter found a package of chicken thighs in the freezer. I defrosted it in the microwave, then - because there were three of us and only four thighs - cut it into small pieces. Put it in the cast-iron skillet with chopped onion and cooked on high until done. Tasted delicious over the rice my daughter had made. Fast, Frugal, and Fit!
More to come....
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Lunch - $2 or less
My office was built in 1995 in a beautiful location south of Seattle. The campus has trees, walking paths, a view of a lake, and occasionally sightings of eagles, herons, ducks, geese, and woodpeckers. The price for that beauty is having nowhere in walking distance for lunch.
Over the years, we've had various vendors in to service a canteen. The current group does a good job, and I don't mind supporting them because it's a ministry teaching job skills. And I love their salads. Problem is, when I put my change in the tip jar, it's $7 for a salad. That works out to $35 a week, which is an expense we can't justify with two weddings coming up.
The solution I've come to is to keep frozen meals on hand. Most weeks, my Safeway store has Weight Watchers, Lean Cuisine, or its own store brand of healthy meals on sale. These are:
Fast: I just grab one out of the freezer in the morning and cook it for 3-5 minutes at lunchtime.
Frugal: Usually on sale for $2 or less. Wal-Mart often has them for $1.89. Look for coupons. Saves enough you can splurge somewhere else (my favorite is Diet Snapple).
Fit: Some are as few as 5 Weight Watchers Points Plus, but most are 7 or 8. For now, I'm not so concerned about a point or two. As I get closer to goal, I'll write the points on each when I bring them home from the store so I know which to choose in the morning.
Over the years, we've had various vendors in to service a canteen. The current group does a good job, and I don't mind supporting them because it's a ministry teaching job skills. And I love their salads. Problem is, when I put my change in the tip jar, it's $7 for a salad. That works out to $35 a week, which is an expense we can't justify with two weddings coming up.
The solution I've come to is to keep frozen meals on hand. Most weeks, my Safeway store has Weight Watchers, Lean Cuisine, or its own store brand of healthy meals on sale. These are:
Fast: I just grab one out of the freezer in the morning and cook it for 3-5 minutes at lunchtime.
Frugal: Usually on sale for $2 or less. Wal-Mart often has them for $1.89. Look for coupons. Saves enough you can splurge somewhere else (my favorite is Diet Snapple).
Fit: Some are as few as 5 Weight Watchers Points Plus, but most are 7 or 8. For now, I'm not so concerned about a point or two. As I get closer to goal, I'll write the points on each when I bring them home from the store so I know which to choose in the morning.
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