Like most moms I know, I'm always looking to save time, money, and panic when it comes to supper. It's so daily, you know, and everyone expects to be fed. <sigh> I created a new Pinterest board, Freezer and Crock Pot Meals, to help me out. You might find help there, too.
 |
| Source: Add a Pinch |
Some meals are ones you make ahead and then freeze. Some are simply slow cooker meals. Others are those so-called "dump" meals: dump all (or most) ingredients into a freezer bag; freeze until needed; then dump frozen contents into your slow cooker in the morning and cook all day. I must admit -- those are my favorites for saving time.
It does take a bit of planning to make these happen. But the investment you make at the outset saves gobs of money and time -- not to mention last-minute panic over what to have for dinner -- that it is worth it to protect your sanity.
Do you have any favorite time-saving meals? If so, I'd love to hear about them!
Linking up with:
Between Naps on the Porch's Metamorphosis Monday
Motivational Monday
A Stroll Thru Life's Inspire Me Tuesday
Savvy Southern Style
I just try to do things ahead...if ground round is on sale, for instance, I'll make meatloaf, meatballs, brown some loose meat etc then freeze most. If I saute onion and pepper for one recipe and don't need it all, some goes into a freezer bag. Another trick is if you bake potatoes for a meal, bake extra...you can make german fried potatoes or some sort of breakfast casserole of your choice on another day with them.
ReplyDeleteSounds as if you are quite organized about it all and your family should be happy about that ( and lucky too! :)
So funny you mentioned the ground beef, Deb! I just bought six pounds ground chuck at The Fresh Market yesterday (on sale for $2.99/lb!) and have been dealing with it today: meatballs, hamburger veg soup, and the browning the rest in the crock pot to freeze for other recipes!
ReplyDeleteI'll be glad to get some new ideas. I like to have pulled pork and then use it in wraps, sneak it into a casserole, etc. Hope your fall is going well. I homeschool my older daughter, and my younger just started high school, so I imagine the panic about meals in our households must be pretty similar. :)
ReplyDeleteHello Ellen. So lovely to visit you on your blog :)
ReplyDeleteI had no idea you could could stuff from frozen in the crock pot! That would mean that the food would have to cook all day right? Sometimes I find my crock pot get's my food ready quicker than I anticipated so I'm thinking that cooking from frozen might be the way to go! I've found you on Pinterest btw ;)
HI Shirley! Frozen food doesn't necessarily have to cook all day in the crock. I typically add another 1.5 or 2 hours to the total cook time. Just check it as it cooks!
ReplyDelete