Recipes for Freezer Meals

Yesterday in the Freezer Meals & Ready Meals For New Moms post we took a look at the logistics of getting together a group to make these meals. If you have been wanting to try preparing some freezer meals and mixes for your own family this would be a good place to start. Now the fun part, the recipes!


These were the freezer meals:
4 Pizzas
2 meat loafs
3 of Breakfast Hot pockets
3 of Creamed Chicken
3 of Potatoes with Ground Turkey
ABC Muffin Mix
3 of Skillet Lasagna Mix
2 of Pride of the Farmer's Wife Oatmeal Cookies
Homemade Wheat Bread

When you have these meals ready for the freezer don't forget to label the Ziploc bags or freezer containers. Make it easy for yourself and write out the baking temperature and time needed on the label as well. That way you don't have to dig or search for a recipe, all the info you need for supper is right before you.

A tip on freezer containers I learned from my mother-in-law. You don't have to go to the store and spend money on special containers. As you go through normal life save any containers you could use for freezer meals. That would be yogurt, butter, sour cream, cottage cheese, dips, and etc. containers that you use. When all is gone wash them out well and save for freezer containers.

Skillet Lasagna Mix:
1/4 cup plus 2 Tb instant dry milk powder
2 Tb plus 2 tsp cornstarch
2 tsp chicken or beef bouillon granules
1/4 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tsp dried parsley flakes
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 cup dried minced onion
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese
3 cups egg noodles

Layer the ingredients in the order given in a wide mouth 1 quart canning jar. Pack each layer in place before adding the next ingredient. Attach a gift tag with the cooking directions. If you aren't giving as a gift it can all be placed in a quart Ziploc bag. (Tip: I have found when making this mix that I don't like to have the egg noodles in with the mix itself. When making the mix this can result in a very burnt pan as the noodles soak up the moisture. Believe me! I recommend making the mix without the egg noodles. You can give them separately if for someone else. I would boil the egg noodles until done when making the recipe, then add the noodles to the rest of the already prepared mix. It makes life much easier and taste great.)

To Make Skillet Lasagna:
Makes 6 servings
1 batch Skillet Lasagna Mix
1 1lb. ground beef
2 cups water
1 (16 oz.) can tomato sauce
2 cups mozzarella cheese

In a large skillet, brown beef and crumble. Drain off fat and add Skillet Lasagna Mix, water and tomato sauce. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring until thickened. Boil the egg noodles until done and add to the mix. Top with Mozzarella cheese 5 minutes before serving. Turn off heat, stop stirring and allow cheese to melt.

Easy Pleasing Meatloaf
Go here for the recipe.
Once the recipe is made you can put it in the meatloaf pans with heavy foil or wax paper lining the pans and flash freeze until the meatloaf is frozen enough to hold it's shape. Once it can hold it's shape take out of the pans and cover, put in a Ziploc bag and it's ready to go.

Pizza
Go Here for the recipe for the Pizza Crust.
Make the crust first so it can be rising then gather your ingredients desired. The crust will be pre-baked for about 6 minutes then all the sauce and toppings add and frozen.

Potatoes with Ground Turkey
Buy a ten pound bag of potatoes. Peel and dice to bite size pieces. Salt and pepper well then fry up with oil in several large skillets. Put in one huge bowl when done. Have 3 lbs of ground turkey thawed. Use Turkey Sausage recipe to season the meat while cooking in a skillet. Once it is done you will combine the Potatoes and Ground Turkey together and bag desired amounts in the freezer. When it is pulled out of the freezer you will thaw it out then cook it up in a skillet with scrambled eggs (and cheese if desired) for a yummy fresh breakfast.

Turkey Sausage
3 lbs ground turkey
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp savory
5 tsp sage
3 tsp salt
2 tsp marjoram
1/4 tsp thyme
1 Tb Olive Oil in pan

Mix all seasonings together first in a bowl. Then sprinkle over turkey as it browns.

Farmer's Wife Oatmeal Cookies
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 cup butter
2 eggs
3 cups oats
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cup raisins

Beat eggs and add sugar and butter. Blend well then add the raisins and vanilla. Add the rest of the ingredients. Make small balls and place on cookie sheet. The cookie balls can be placed close together since they won't be cooked at this time. Place in freezer to flash freeze until firm. Take out and place all the cookie balls in Ziploc bags and label. When baked they need 375 degrees for 9-10 minutes.

Creamed Chicken
Go here to this great website for your Creamed Chicken recipe.
Once the Creamed Chicken is made it can be frozen in Ziploc bags (be warned that is the messy method) or in freezer containers. When you pull it out of the freezer to use it can be served over rice, biscuits, toast, or noodles. See the recipe for even more meal ideas with the Creamed Chicken. Yummy!

Homemade Breakfast Hot Pockets
The recipe is here along with pictures that show you how to make them step by step. If you are having a Freezer Day I would advise having someone start on these first thing. The dough takes like 3 hours total to be ready to put in the oven to bake. On our Freezer Day everything else was done and in the freezer with all the other ladies able to go home. My sister Caroline and I were still at the church waiting on these to finish. Once they are baked and cooled they can be frozen. According to Caroline they are worth the work!

ABC Muffin Mix
The recipe is here along with the many variations of muffins you can make with this mix. This doesn't have to be frozen. Instead it can be kept in the cupboard in a large glass or plastic container. It is very handy to have this mix ready to go!

These were our Freezer Day Recipes. You can see how wonderful it would be to have these tried and true meals in your freezer ready to pull out. You can always try a little at a time and build your freezer meals slowly. Last night I put a package of chicken breast in the crock pot with seasoning and plenty of water. I plan on using the chicken to make 3 recipes of the Creamed Chicken. I can use the chicken broth from the crock pot for the recipe. I'll be happy to have these ready to go for a meal later down the road on a busy evening. When you make a pizza, make an extra one and put it in the freezer. It can be that simple and quick to begin stocking your freezer! Being prepared with an extra meal or two for your family or someone in need will be a blessing in a day to come.

From Jennifer Allen