I Am a Lazy Cook Part 2...or More Freezer Meals

Most ingredients. 

Since I depleted my frozen meals I figured it was time to make some more. Since the response the first time around was so great I thought I would share my adventure again.

This time I have a few tips that make it easier for me.

1. Wash all produce at once and set on a towel or somewhere it can dry. I find that I decrease the number of self inflicted injuries if my hands and the produce are dry. (No injuries occurred this time around).
2. I like to keep a dish towel on my lap (see number 1) and a wash cloth close. I am very messy and it help me to clean up a little as I go to avoid spilling all over the floor. 
3. For me it works better to do one meal at a time. I am always impressed with the people who get all there bags ready cut up all the vegetables and then start dumping. I cant do that. In part because I get distracted (kids, laundry, dinner...my cell phone) and forget what I am doing and if I had multiple recipes gong on at once I would get confused.
4. To help the time fly find something to watch on TV...this time I choose footballl...after all it is the playoffs.
5. Follow Rachel Ray's advice and get a garbage bowl. It doesn't have to be one of her fancy bowls (although they are cute and one day I will splurge and get one) any bowl you have will work. It makes everything a little easier to throw it in a bowl then dump the bowl. You wouldn't think it would be it does. Thanks Rachel for the tip.

Garbage bowl

As usual I made taco soup and hamburger stew. They are so easy and the 'pseudo" step-kids gobble them up even the picky little one. The family would be happy if we ate these once a week. Since I like to try different foods I have included 3 new recipes that I found on Pinterest and in some cases modified the recipes to make the family happy.

This time I am not doubling the recipe even though I made two of each I think the recipe is easier to read this way and if you want you can double it at home.

I also apologize for my bad pictures I took them with my phone.

Taco Soup

• 2 chicken breasts
• 1 - 14oz cans tomato sauce*
• 1 can black beans, rinse and drained*
• 1 cups corn
• 1 pkgs taco seasoning
• 1 pkgs ranch dressing seasoning
• 1 cans rotell tomatoes with chilies or 1 can diced tomatoes*
• 1 onions chopped
• 1 heaping Tablespoon chopped garlic

Directions:
Put ingredients into a gallon sized freezer bag. 

To cook add 2 cups chicken stock and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours. 

Once its done shred chicken. Serve with cheese and sour cream.

*This time I used my homemade tomato sauce, diced tomatoes and black beans. 

Turkey Burger Stew

• 1 lbs turkey burger
• 1 cans green beans (do not drain)
• 4 carrots, sliced
• 5 potatoes, sliced
• 3 celery stack, chopped
• 1 onions, chopped
• 1 heaping Tablespoon garlic
• 1 Tablespoon Ms. Dash Season Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
• 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 Tablespoon A-1 steak sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Put ingredients into a gallon sized freezer bag. 

To cook add 3 cups beef stock and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.
 Brake up turkey burger before serving
Serve with rolls, biscuit or crackers.

Maple Dijon Glazed Chicken

• 3 chicken breasts
• 1 large onion sliced
• 1 cup Dijon mustard
• 1/2 cup maple syrup 
• 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions: 

Put ingredients into a gallon sized freezer bag. 

To cook add 1/2 cup chicken stock and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.

Shred chicken before serving.

Serve with rice and oven roasted vegetables (I like zucchini and squash sprinkled with olive oil and Ms. Dash, baked at 350 degrees until tender)

I got this recipe from Six Sisters' Stuff. This site is full of yummy recipes.

Cilantro Lime Chicken w/ Corn and Black Beans

• 3 chicken breasts
• Juice from 2 limes*
• 1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1 (16 oz) bag frozen corn 
• 2 minced garlic cloves 
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed 
• 1 tsp cumin 
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions: 

Put ingredients into a gallon sized freezer bag. 

To cook add 1/2 cup chicken stock and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.

Shred chicken before serving

Serve with rice and tortillas with toppings such as with sour cream, guacamole, salsa, and cheese.

This recipe was also found on Six Sisters' Stuff.

*I actually got limes and squeezed them...this was a bad idea. I was sticky, the counter was sticky and the floor was sticky. According to Google its about 2 Tablespoons of lime juice (from those little plastic limes) equals one lime. We live and learn.

Orange Chicken

• 4 carrot  
• 1/2 large bell peppers 
• 3 chicken breasts 
• 1 heaping Tablespoon minced garlic 
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• 8 oz. orange juice concentrate

Directions: 
Put ingredients into a gallon sized freezer bag. 

To cook add 1/2 cup chicken stock and cook on low for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.

Shred chicken before serving

Serve with noodles or rice.

This recipe is from KoJo Designs.

There you have my latest freezer meal adventure. Happy cooking.

I Am A Lazy Cook...Freezer Meals

I am not sure if I have mentioned this before but I tend to be a lazy cook. To be honest I am often lazy and I am always looking for the short cut. Especially when it comes to cooking dinner.

So it is no surprise that my favorite appliance in the kitchen is my slow cooker. I love the slow cooker. It makes everything just a little easier.

I do have one complaint about the slow cooker...the slow part. This means I need to start the cooker before I leave for work. And this means I need to get up early to  prepare the food for the slow cooker. And this doesn't work for me....I am a notorious for hitting the snooze button often.

So I was so excited when I discovered Freezer meals for the slow cooker. I have been doing it for a few months and I LOVE IT!!!!

It just makes everything a little bit easier for me.

I have no tips or secrets to make it easier other than to find a movie you like to watch but have seen a dozen times to entertain you while you do it....or have your mom come and visit while you chop chop chop.

This time I did 2 family favoritesand 3 new recipes I found on Pinterest.


Taco Soup 
My family begs for this meal and would be happy if I cooked it once a week.

• 4 chicken breasts
• 2 - 14oz cans tomato sauce
• 2 can black beans, rinse and drained
• 2 cups corn
• 2 pkgs taco seasoning
• 2 pkgs ranch dressing seasoning
• 2 cans rotell tomatoes with chilies (optional) 
• 2 onions chopped

Divide ingredients except chicken stock into two gallon freezer bags. 

To cook add 2 cups chicken stock and cook on low for 4 hours or low for 8 hours. 

Shred chicken when done. Serve with cheese and sour cream.

No-Peeking Peking Chicken*

• 4 chicken breasts
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 4 Tablespoon Soy Sauce
• 4 Tablespoons Honey
• 1 Tablespoon ginger root
• 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 bag frozen corn
• 1 bag frozen snow peas
• 1 red pepper chopped
• 1 onion chopped

Divide ingredients into two gallon freezer bags.

To cook add 1/2 cup chicken stock and 1 bag to slow cooker and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours.

To serve shred chicken and serve over rice.

Chicken and Corn Soup*

• 1 lbs red potato, chopped
• 1 lbs sweet potato, chopped
• 4 chicken breasts
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 bag frozen corn
• 1 bag frozen snow peas

Divide ingredients into two gallon freezer bags.
To cook add 2 cups chicken stock and 1 bag to slow cooker and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours.
Shred chicken and serve.

Garlic Chicken*

• 4 chicken breasts
• 2 cloves garlic,chopped
• 4 tablespoons dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 large green peppers, cliced
• 1 red pepper, sliced
• 1 zucchini, chopped

Divide ingredients into two gallon freezer bags.

To cook add 1/2 cup chicken stock and 1 bag to slow cooker and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours.

To serve shred chicken and serve over rice.

Beef/Turkeyburger Stew

• 4 cups beef tips or 2 lbs turkey burger
• 2 cans green beans drained
• 4 carrots, sliced
• 8 potatoes, sliced
• 4 celery stack, chopped
• 2 onions, chopped
• 4 gloves garlic, chopped
• Ms. Dash Season Salt

Divide ingredients into two gallon freezer bags.

To cook add 2 cups chicken or beef stock and 1 bag to slow cooker and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours.

My mom asking the question, "What have you done to my daughter...or possibly planning on stealing my freezer bags.

* I got these recipes from Live, Love, Eat. This blog is full of delish recipes for the family and you should really check it out.