Apple Crisp

Today, I helped make Apple Crisp with my sister and niece. They did most of the work... I just got to use the cool apple de-corer/peeler!

Apple Crisp

Apple Crisp Recipe

• 4-6 apples
• 1 cup oatmeal
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/3 cup melted margarine
• Peel and slice 4-6 medium apples. Place into 8 x 8 pan. Sprinkle with topping. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. Top with some ice cream and enjoy!

My niece did most of the work! 

Things I've Learned

• I enjoy cooking with other people especially my awesome family!

Chicken Fajitas

I'm did another freezer meal recipe today and made the Crockpot Chicken Fajitas.

Chicken Fajitas

Crockpot Chicken Fajitas Recipe

• 6 chicken tender or 1 lb chicken breast (I used almost 3 lbs of chicken breast.)
• 1 medium onion sliced (I chopped mine... oops.)
• 1 medium green pepper sliced
• 2 cups salsa
• 1 can of green chiles
• 1 pakage of fajita seasonings
• 2 Tbs olive oil
• Place all items in freezer bag. Toss and freeze flat. When ready to cook place all ingredients in crockpot and cook for 6 hours on low or 4 hours on high. Remove chicken from mix, shred and then add back into the mix. Serve with warm tortillas, top with your favorite toppings, and enjoy! 

Things I've Learned

• I would say freezer meals are great for if you want to give a meal to a new mom or someone who is ill, but I think it would have been easier for me to spend a half hour a day throwing everything into a crockpot instead of 4 hours making 4 meals to freeze.
• This was my husbands favorite recipe, which means it was almost too spicy for me. Still yummy and bearable, though I wouldn't recommend it to people with sensitivity to spicy foods.

Italian Sausage

I did another freezer meal recipe yesterday and made the Crockpot Italian Sausage Recipe.

Italian Sausage 

Crockpot Italian Sausage with Peppers and Onions

• 1 lb Italian Sausage Links
• 1 large pepper
• 1 medium onion
• 2 cups diced tomatoes (I used 1 14.5 oz can.)
• 2 tsp onion powder
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• Mix all ingredients in freezer bag and freeze. (I made the mistake of putting the links in first, which makes it a little more difficult to mix up.) When ready to cook, place all ingredients in a crockpot and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours. Serve on warm hotdog buns and enjoy!

Things I've Learned

• Marinating meat is the best! YUM YUM YUM!

Black Bean Chili

I did another freezer meal recipe today and made the Crockpot Black Bean Chili.

Black Bean Chili

Crockpot Black Bean Chili Recipe

• 1 lb ground beef cooked and drained (I forgot the beef.)
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 1 medium green pepper chopped
• 1 28 ounce can diced tomatoes (I bought 14 oz cans, so I added an extra can.)
• 2 12 oz cans of black beans (or kidney or pinto beans if you prefer)
• 2 tsp onion powder
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 Tbs cumin
• 1 Tbs chili powder
• Place all items in freezer bag, lay flat, and freeze. When ready to cook, place all ingredients in a crockpot and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours. Serve with warm cornbread muffins and enjoy!

Things I've Learned

• I love love love that this site has a shopping list to print at the bottom of the page! It was so handy to have while out shopping!!!! Even though I still accidentally forgot the beef. Ooops.
• I can't stress this enough if you have room in the freezer and a small crockpot DO NOT lay flat to freeze!

Crying Back Into Cooking

Alright, so I have failed over the last couple months at my new years resolution which is sad, but I'm actually crying because of all the onions I've had to cut for my freezer meals for the week. Summer has been pretty busy, but this week I'm going to get back to cooking (and hopefully once school starts catch up on scrap booking). I am pretty excited to try these freezer meals this week!

Pasta Sauce

Spaghetti Sauce Recipe

• 2 28 oz cans diced tomatoes (Oops I used only 2 14.5 oz cans.)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 2 Tbs garlic chopped (I used garlic powder.)
• 1 Tbs oregano
• 1 Tbs basil
• 1 Tbs thyme
• 1/2 Tbs herbs de provence (I've never heard of this and couldn't find it, so I skipped it.)
• 1 cup white wine (I used chicken broth.)
• Place all ingredients in freezer bag, lay flat, and freeze. When ready to cook, put all ingredients in a crockpot on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours. Serve over cooked spaghetti. (I cooked on high for 4 hours.)
• I would say this sauce is boring with hardly no flavor at all. I wouldn't recommend it for anyone to try... if you do maybe double the seasonings?

Things I've Learned

• I cut one onion and felt like I was dying! Then I looked at the other recipes and realized almost everyone calls for an onion. I used this article online to figure out a better way to cut onions. I tried to freeze the onions for 15 minutes (which turned into an hour with toddlers needing breakfast, hair done, potty time, etc). Plus, I cut them under the oven fan on high. I have pretty sensitive eyes when it comes to onion cutting, so I would say it was for sure better than just cutting. My eyes never watered so much that I couldn't see, so I guess it was a success.
• I would have to say do not lay flat to  freeze if you have the room in your freezer. I had to cut it in half in order to get it to kind of fit in the crockpot, but I have kind of a small crockpot.
• I hate onions!!!! I don't think I will ever get rid of the smell. I am never cooking with onions again!