Freezer Meal Adventure Part 2

Today I tackled:

BBQ Spare Ribs

Black Bean Taco Soup

Maple Dijon Glazed Chicken

Crockpot Orange Chicken

BBQ Spare Ribs

2 meals for 2

1-2 lbs of country-style pork ribs

1 1/2 cups ketchup

1 1/2 Tablespoons seasoned salt

1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white vinegar

Freeze: Split all ingredients into 2 freezer bags, seal, mix, lay flat, freeze 

Cooking: When ready to eat, remove from freezer and thaw in fridge for 24 hours and cook in a slow cooker on low for 6-7 hours (or HIGH for 3-4 hours).

I can not remember/find where I got this recipe.

Black Bean Taco Soup

2 meals for 2

1 lb lean ground beef (or ground turkey works too!)

1 medium onion, chopped

1 package mild taco seasoning mix

1 (16 oz) bag frozen corn

1 (16 oz) can black beans drained and rinsed (you could use kidney beans or pinto beans)

2 (14 oz) cans stewed tomatoes

1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce

1 (4 oz) can diced green chilis

Freeze: Brown meat and onions, then let cool. Split all ingredients into 2 freezer bags, seal, mix, lay flat, freeze 

Cooking: When ready to eat, remove from freezer and thaw in fridge for 24 hours and cook in a slow cooker on low for 2-3 1/2 hours (or HIGH for 1-2 hours).

I got this recipe from Six Sisters' Stuff.

Maple Dijon Glazed Chicken

2 meals for 2

1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts

1 cup Dijon mustard

1/2 cup maple syrup

2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar

salt and pepper to taste

Freeze: Split all ingredients into 2 freezer bags, seal, mix, lay flat, freeze 

Cooking: When ready to eat, remove from freezer and thaw in fridge for 24 hours and cook in a slow cooker on low for 8 hours (or HIGH for 4 hours).

I got this recipe from Six Sisters' Stuff.

Crockpot Orange Chicken

2 meals for 2

4 chicken breasts, cut in bite-sized chunks

1/2 Tablespoon kosher salt

6 oz frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed

3 Tablespoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

3 Tablespoons ketchup

Freeze: Split all ingredients into 2 freezer bags, seal, mix, lay flat, freeze 

Cooking: When ready to eat, cover and cook in a slow cooker on low for 6-8 hours.

I got this recipe from Just Another Day in Paradise.

Pepperoni Pizza Bites- Gluten Free

Great Snack Idea!

Pepperoni Pizza Bites

1 bag frozen Cauliflower
1/4 Cup Egg Whites
1 Cup 1% drained Cottage Cheese 
2 Tbs. Italian Seasoning
1/4 Tsp. Garlic Powder
3 Tbs. (dehydrated) Chopped Onion, optional 
Pepperoni

1. Pre-heat your oven to 450 F.
2. Take a frozen bag of cauliflower and warm in microwave for a few minutes
3. Grate cauliflower with cheese grater.
4. Place all other ingredients the food processor and mix until smooth.
5. In a bowl combine both the cauliflower and blended ingredients. Mix well.
6. Evenly spoon rolls of mixture onto parchment paper. Press mix down with pepperoni in center.
7. Place on cookie sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes.
8. Remove from the oven and let set until cool.

I can't recall where this original idea/recipe come from but I have changed it a bit.

Almond Flour Pancakes!!!!!!!

I have the hardest time with breakfast! I am not a big fan of oatmeal, can't have toast of other things like that, no cereal, and I don't want to eat eggs everyday. This recipe will be great for big breakfasts on Saturday/Sunday morning or to just heat up quick on the go! 

Sorry no picture we eat them before I could snap one! :)

Will be making these again!!!!

Almond Flour Pancakes

1 1/2 cups  fine ground blanched almond flour 

1/2 tsp baking soda.

1/4-1/2 tsp  salt

1/2 tsp   cinnamon(optional) 

3 large  eggs (or equivalent pastured eggs)

4-5 Tbls full fat coconut milk(Natural Value has a guar gum free version or try subbing any liquid here)

2 Tbls  honey

1 tsp vanilla or juice of half a lemon
1/4 cup fruit (optional)

1. In a medium bowl, sift and/or mix together the almond flour, baking soda salt and optional spice
2. In a separate bowl, blend together the eggs, coconut milk  honey and vanilla.
   
3. Add the liquid ingredients to the dry and mix well. Let rest for a few minutes.Pre-heat your pan over medium heat
   
4. Fry the pancake till it starts to bubble and the edges just start to form(and dry a bit). 
   If they start cooking to quickly (burning before it's time to flip) then adjust the heat.
   
   
5. Flip over carefully using a THIN METAL spatula. Continue to cook till the pancake firms up.
   
6. Makes about 25-30 silver dollar size pancakes
   

   
   

   Add batter to pan.  If you have trouble flipping the pancakes, try making them silver dollar sized.
   
   I got this recipe from Urban Poser.

Crock Pot Pizza

Crockpot Pizza
2 meals for 2

.75 lb ground beef, cooked


.75 lb bulk Italian sausage, cooked


15 oz. ounce jar pizza sauce


3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded

Slices of pepperoni

Any of your favorite pizza toppings, we used
10 oz. Mushrooms sliced
6 oz sliced onion
1 tsp. garlic

Freezing:

1. Cook ground beef and Italian sausage then let cool
2. Split meat equally into 2 small freezer bags
3. Split all ingredients into 2 and place in there own small freezer bags
4. Place small bags into large freezer bag to keep all ingredients together
5. Seal, lay flat, freeze 

(Don't mind my crockpot drawing)

Cooking

1. When ready to eat, remove from freezer and thaw in fridge for 24 hours.
2. Combine sausage and hamburger with sauce and onions.
3. Place half of sauce mixture in crock pot.
4. Place 1/2 amount pepperoni and 1/2 desired toppings on top.
5. Place half of mozzarella cheese on top of pepperoni.
6. Repeat layers ending with mozzarella.
7. Cook on low 4-6 hours.
8. Let cool slightly and cut into 8 slices. Refrigerate remaining.

I got the original recipe from Your Lighter Side and modified it a bit.

Freezer Meal Adventure

SO... My Husband and I have been trying to find ways to cut down our spending and waste of food. We have found, just being the two of us, we threw out A LOT of food. Months ago I started making double batches and freezing one batch for later (which was so helpful on busy nights).

Then on one of my Pinterest spirals I found pins for freezer cooking and freezer crockpot cooking. I went on a rampage and decided to do it and give it a try!

I got recipes form lots of sites, made a grocery list, and set out to try this.

I had to find Gluten-Free (and Sugar-Free if at all possible) recipes and change a few things to suit our tastes (love veggies, HATE bell peppers and things like that, hehe)

I shopped at WinCo and Costco (only thing I got there was Olive Oil and Thin Cut frozen Foster Farms  Chicken breasts) for everything I didn't have at home in the pantry/fridge already. I spent less then about $180 for what will make about 25 meals (meals=main dishes/single dish meals or pre-marinated meats). We eat mostly chicken so a lot of these will be chicken meals.

It was all a little to adventurous a task to get all the meals done in a few hours today because I had a busy schedule and it was my first time trying it all.

Today I made:

Applesauce BBQ Marinated Chicken

Mongolian Broccoli Beef

Island Marinated Chicken

Teriyaki Chicken

Twice Baked Potatoes- Bacon and Garlic Chive

Gluten-Free Chocolate Banana Peanut Butter "Ice Cream"

Tomorrow I will tackle:
BBQ Spare Ribs
Black Bean Taco Soup
Maple Dijon Glazed Chicken
Crockpot Pizza
Crockpot Orange Chicken
Garlic Pest Chicken with Penne Sauce
Cilantro Lime Chicken with Corn and Black Beans

Gluten-Free Chocolate Banana Peanut Butter "Ice Cream"

1 desserts for 2

2 cups frozen bananas
2 tbsp. creamy peanut butter 
1 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder (more if you want)

Makes 2 servings

1. Allow the bananas to sit out on the counter for about 10 minutes so they just begin to thaw slightly. Cut them up in slices.
2. Put the bananas in a processor (or use a hand mixer as I did) and mix until smooth.
3. Stir in the peanut butter and cocoa powder. Mix well and serve of freeze for later.

I got this recipe from The Gracious Pantry.

Twice Baked Potatoes- Bacon and Garlic Chive

Make as may as you need/want

Potatoes (as many as needed)

Favorit potato toppings

1. Bake potatoes at 425 degrees (f) for 30-40 minutes.
2. Once your potatoes are done cooking and cooled enough to handle slice them right down the middle
3. Scoop the insides out into a bowl.
4. Add butter, softened cream cheese, milk, chives,crumpled bacon, shredded cheese, ranch dressing or whatever else you like.
5. Use a potato masher until it's all mixed in and then spoon the filling into your potato shells. 
6. Wrap these individually in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and then put in a bag. 
7. On serving day you thaw and then bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes or until heated through.

I got this recipe from A Turtles Life for Me.

Teriyaki Chicken

2 meals for 2

1 lrg. bag of Medium Carrots

1 Red Onion cut into large chunks

2 med/small cans mandarin oranges, undrained

4 tsp. garlic

1 cup teriyaki sauce

4 Thin Cut frozen Foster Farms  Chicken breasts

-1/4 cup teriyaki sauce for later-

Freeze: Split all ingredients into 2 freezer bags, seal, mix, lay flat, freeze 

Cooking:

1. Add additional 1/4 cup teriyaki sauce to crockpot.
2. Cook low 6-7 hours.

I got this recipe from Ring Around the Rosies.

Island Marinated Chicken

2 meals for 2

½ cup vegetable oil
3 tbsp. lemon juice
1½ tbsp. Tamari sauce

1 tsp garlic, minced
½ tsp. dried oregano
¼ tsp. salt
Freshly ground black pepper
4 chicken breasts

1. Combine all ingredients except chicken in a mixing bowl.
2. Whisk well until the marinade is well mixed.  
3. Add the chicken breasts to the  plastic bag. 
4. Add marinade evenly to each bag.  
5. Press out all the excess air and seal the bag tightly.  
6. Freeze.
7. When ready to cook the chicken, thaw 24 hours.
8. Preheat the oven to 350° F.  
9. Place the chicken breasts in a baking dish and pour the excess marinade over them.  
10. Bake in the oven until cooked through.
11. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

I got the original recipe from Annie's Eats and modified it a bit.

Applesauce BBQ Marinated Chicken

2 meals for 2

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
2/3 cup applesauce
2/3 cup barbecue sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon chili powder

1. Place 2 chicken breasts in freezer bags.
2. In a small bowl, combine the ingredients
3. Pour half the ingredients into each bag.
4. Freeze.
5. When ready to cook the chicken, thaw 24 hours.
6. Preheat the oven to 350° F.  
7. Place the chicken breasts in a baking dish and pour the excess marinade over them.  
8. Bake in the oven until cooked through.
9. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

I got the original recipe from TasteofHome and modified it a bit.

Mongolian Broccoli Beef

2 meals for 2

1 lb stew meat

2 tsp. olive oil

1 white onion, cut into large chunks

1 tbsp. garlic

1/2 cup Tamari sauce

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp. fresh ginger

1/2 cup Hoisin sause

Freeze: Split all ingredients into 2 freezer bags, seal, mix, lay flat, freeze 

Cooking:

1. Take the bag out of the freezer the night before and let it defrost in the fridge. 
2. The next morning dump the bag into the crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours. 
• If you're going to be longer just add a bit more water so it doesn't dry out

I got this recipe from Who Needs a Cape.

Welcome. First Post!

Hello Gluten-Free Friends! 


I have struggled with Food Addiction (compulsive eating) for the last 4 years after a very emotional life event leading me to gaining over 150 lbs. in just about 2 years. Its so much more then what everyone thinks;"There is no such thing as Food Addiction, just stop eating!","Your just fat and lazy, but the food down!". I have come to find it is so much more then that. Its a drug, the most dangerous kinds because we have to use it to live... literally. 


I have tried all kinds of diets (and pills). Most pre-made meal diet plans are to expensive for most everyday people, some diets are unrealistic, and some are confusing. For the last few years I have tried (some times more successfully then others) to stick to a Gluten-Free and Sugar-Free life style and a eating plan based on the Food Addicts Anonymous guild lines.


I have lost 30 lbs. (and counting) since putting my head down and deciding I NEED to make a life style change or I may never get better. 3 years ago I was diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), which is a condition in which a woman has an imbalance of a female sex hormones, which has lead me to have trouble getting pregnant and trouble loosing weight. PCOS, gone untreated can lead to Diabetes. While being over weight can cause PCOS, mine isn't totally caused by that. BUT loosing the weight is my best chance to get control of the PCOS. 

What I plan on doing here is giving recipes I have tried, encouragement when I can, and a place to share my path. Most blogs, websites, ect. have recipes for whole families (of 4 or more) but its just my Husband and myself so these recipes can be doubled up.