Project: Freezer Meals

Pinterest got the best of me, yet again. After seeing several pins about "meals for a month", "$100 Crock pot dinners" and "Inexpensive Freezer meals" I decided to see what all the hype is about. Is it really possible to make a month of relatively inexpensive freezer meals?

At 4pm on Sunday I decided to head off to the grocery store and take on this challenge. For the record: Do not got to Superstore at 4pm on a Sunday. It was absolutely crazy! Everyone and their entire family was shopping. From now on, unless I'm going to die of starvation, I will not step foot in a grocery store on the weekends.

Aside from a few items I already had in the kitchen, the total cost of my Superstore trip was $101.84. 5 Hours later, I had 18 crock pot dinners bagged and in the freezer. That's a pretty small price to pay for not having to plan dinners for the next 18 nights.  That works out to $5.66 per dinner.


Here's the grocery list: (depending on the size of your crock pot you will need different amounts of meat, so I have just included how many recipes call for each ingredient.)

Meat

Chicken Breasts (2 recipes)
Beef Stew Meat (1 recipe)
Pork Shoulder (1 recipe)
Cooked Italian Sausage (1 recipe)
Pepperoni (1 recipe)
Pork Chops (1 recipe)
Ground Turkey (1 recipe)

Veggies
Bell Peppers(2 recipe)
Carrots(1 recipe)
Onions (3 recipes)
Garlic (2 recipe)
Celery (1 recipe)
Parsley (1 recipe)
Spinach (1 recipe)
Potatoes (1 recipe)
Fresh basil leaves (1 recipe)

Canned Food
Chicken Broth(2 recipe)
Mushrooms (2 recipe)
Diced Pineapples (1 recipe)
Pasta sauce (2 recipes)
Lima Beans(1 recipe)
Kidney Beans (1 recipe)
Chick Peas (1 recipe)
Corn (1 recipe)
Jar Pizza Sauce (1 recipe)
BBQ Sauce (1 recipe)
Diced tomatos (2 recipes)

Other
Oregano (2 recipe)
All purpose Seasoning (1 recipe)
Red pepper flakes (1 recipe)
Taco Seasoning (1 recipe)
Cajun seasoning (1 recipe)
Corn starch (1 recipe)
Salt & Pepper (3 recipes)
Lemon Juice (1 recipe)
Brown Sugar (2 recipe)
Butter (1 recipe)
Cheddar Cheese (2 recipes)
Cream Cheese (1 recipe)
Freezer Ziplock Bags (about 18)
Pasta (1 recipe)
Soy Sauce (1 recipe)
Tortilla Chips (1 recipe)

Recipe #1    BBQ Pineapple Pulled Pork 
- One 4-6 pound pork shoulder
-all purpose seasoning
-one bottle of barbecue sauce
-one 15 oz can of diced pineapples, undrained

Because I have a baby slow cooker, and the meals are only for 2 people, I divided the ingredients into two bags (two separate meals). Combine the ingredients and freeze. Cook on high for 6 hours, or low for 10 hours.

When placing the bag into the freeze you may want to position it in more of a 'slow cooker' shape to prevent a necessary, 'melt-to-fit' phase of cooking. (oops...see photo)

When you're ready to cook it, add some water to almost cover the pork and let'er cook! Very tasty, very tender. I will definitely be making this one again.


Recipe #2    Lemon Garlic Chicken
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
2 lbs skinless, boneless chicken breast halves 
2 tbsp butter
1/4 cup water
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup chicken broth

1 tsp chopped fresh parsley
1 pkg cream cheese 

I divided the ingredients, except for the parsley and cream cheese, between two bags and chucked 'em in the freezer. Cook on high for 3 hours, or low for 6 hours.

20 minutes before taking the chicken out, add the parsley. When it's time to take the chicken out, set it aside and keep it warm. Add the cream cheese to the crock pot juice15 minutes before serving. steam some vegetables or make some minute rice while you wait for the cream cheese sauce to blend. When it's ready to serve, put the chicken on rice, add the veggies as a side, and pour the sauce over the chicken.

Personally, I won't be making this one again. The sauce was a little runny, and when I added corn starch to try and thicken it up, it just didn't go well. Open to some modifications in the future. I can't just give up on chicken, garlic, and lemon...


Recipe #3   Chicken & Spinach
 4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 Jar Pasta Sauce 
1 Onion
1 Bellpepper
Cajun seasoning to taste
Mushrooms sliced (fresh or can)
Bag or container of fresh spinach (i break off the larger stems)

Divide the ingredients into two bags. Freeze. Cook on low for 6 hours. This one was really easy and low maintenance. I didn't add the spinach, because I forgot to pick some up. But even without the spinach this one was really good. I used a three cheese pasta sauce which I'm pretty sure was what made this soooo good. After all, cheese makes everything better. 

Oh ya... and wine. Wine also makes everything better. Definitely making this one again, I'll try the spinach next time.


Recipe #4  Lazy Day Stew
4 lbs cubed stewing beef
4 cups of baby potatoes (cut in half)
10 oz package of dried lima beans
1 15oz can of pasta sauce
2 tbsp brown sugar
4 cups baby carrots
2 onions chopped
2 cups chopped celery
Salt and Pepper to taste

Divide ingredients between two bags and freeze. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
 

Oops! Forgot to get a photo of this one.

This one is really good. Very filling, a little bland, but overall very good. I would recommend adding some other spices, or perhaps some spicy salsa instead of the pasta sauce. This one really is "Lazy Day Stew".  I ate it just as is, without any rice, or pasta or veggies... what can I say, I'm having a lazy day. Enjoy.

Recipe #5 Crock Pot Pizza Soup
1 jar (14 oz) of pizza sauce
3 empty jars full of water
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1/2 red onion, chopped
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 can diced tomatoes, drained
2 cooked Italian sausage
1 cup sliced pepperoni, sliced in quarters 
8 fresh basil leaves, chopped (or 1/2 T dried)
1 T dried oregano

1/2 to 1/3 cup of dried pasta
shredded mozzarella cheese (to add later)

Cook on low for 7-9 hours or high for 5 hours. Combine all the ingredients (except the pasta and cheese) between two bags. With 30 minutes left add the pasta, and while serving top with the cheese. 

This one was pretty tasty, but make sure you add the pasta! Pasta makes everything better!  

Recipe #6 San Francisco Pork Chops 
4 pork chops
Salt and pepper for seasoning
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon cold water

Mix 'em up, split 'em up,  & freeze 'em.  Cook on low for 7-8 hours.

Serve with potatoes or rice. The flavor of this was GREAT!!!  The soy sauce gives it a really interesting flavor. I'm not a huge pork chop eater and I had some questions. There were little bone like pieces in my pork chops! I'm talking really small, like if you were to cut a slice out of a popcorn kernel and put it in your pork chop... that's how small it would be. Next time I will be buying the more expensive pork chops.   

Recipe #7 Turkey Taco Soup
1 can kidney beans
1 can chick peas
1 can corn

1 large can diced tomatoes
1 packet taco seasoning
1 lb browned ground turkey

shredded cheese and sour cream for embellishment
1 package of tortilla chips or bake corn tortillas

Brown the ground turkey. Combine all the ingredients and divide into two bags. Freeze. This one wasn't the greatest. However, if you were ever in a bind and needed something 'stew like' this one would be great. Perhaps serve this on garlic bread with lots of butter... mmmm, butter.




Challenge completed.