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.