We pooled the ingredients.
We chopped.
And diced.
And boiled water.
And sauted.
And roasted.
And baked.
And chopped some more.
Then we assembled, divided and packaged.
It's sister's cooking day at my sister Brynn's new place. She has plenty of new kitchen space and was so kind to let us all hang there all afternoon to make freezer meals! Between my three sisters and mom, we were making meals for 5 families.
The kids played, the guys hung out and the gals cooked!
We made Lasagna Roll-ups, two stir fry mixes (one veggie, one steak), Ham Fried Rice, Chile Verde, granola bars and Chicken Strips. Whew! We were all pretty tired out after a big afternoon of cooking marathon.
I loved coming home and having my freezer full with easy meals!
* * * * * * * *
A few tips for having a successful freezer meal cooking day- by yourself or with some sisters:
--Divide and Conquer. Choose the meals to make and then divide up the ingredients, so everyone is bringing something. If it's something they already have on hand, even better! My sister-in-law Erica had a bunch of homemade marinara sauce for our Lasanga roll-ups- yummage! Also, divide up the work. We had some people chopping veggies while others were readying the pasta.
--Boxes and Bags. We divided the stir fry into freezer bags for each family. Don't forget to label what is inside each bag! Have plenty of tin foil and plastic wrap on hand. I like to seal a glass dish with plastic, then foil over the top for maximum protection in the freezer. The aluminum tins with lids from the dollar store are also great for things like the lasagna or meatballs. Plasticware, like Gladware, works well for stews and soups. Oh- Label, label, label! I promise you won't remember what the meal is when it's been in your freezer for a few months!
--Choose a few. I always go overboard on this. Really, choosing 3 or 4 meals is plenty.
--Vary similar ingredients. We made Stir Fry mix and Chile Verde- but both have onions, celery and peppers. Similar ingredients but two different, and delicious, dishes for the freezer. It's nice to have some variety with your meals.
* * * * * * * * *
There are a million places to find yummy freezer meals. Some of you may be aware of a small site called Pinterest. No? Hmmm, check it out. ;)
Some meals are tailored to crock-pots or lunches or breakfast or family size.
I found this LIST on Six Sisters Stuff a while back and have enjoyed the simple meals.
I usually just make double of a few meals a week to freeze for the next week. A few of my families favorites, Chile Verde for example, is easy to make in huge batches and freeze. As long as you are using it up within a few months! Don't stock that freezer and let it go bad! That's like throwing away money! To help remember to rotate, I like to plan one or two freezer meals a week. Working them into your existing meal plan is a break for you and ensures that they will still taste as yummage as they should. Then when the freezer is getting low- it's time for another marathon freezer day!
