I walk around the house straightening this, dusting that, reorganizing the cabinets, and counting the toilet paper rolls to ensure that we don’t run out…just in case. Baby’s days in the studio suite that is my belly are numbered and I’m not sure I love this waiting game. I tell myself that the baby will be here by Christmas so that I don’t get anxious. There’s nothing to be anxious about and I want the baby to bake as long as he or she needs to but we are so ready to meet him or her. Oh and about that, I absolutely love the thrill of not knowing whether we’re having a son or a daughter. I’ve had a lot of bonding time with baby in utero and I still don’t know if he is a he or if she is a she. It’s so exciting! We’re probably going to have to work pretty hard to drop the nickname Ewn (stands for Elle’s worst nightmare) after baby is born. After almost 9 months, it has kind of stuck…we don’t like calling baby “it” (even though some days it feels more like I have an alien in me rather than a baby) so Ewn has been our way of personifying the little one.
Of course I could go raid the freezer section of the store and stock up on frozen meals – there are even low calorie options. But they often are chuck full of preservatives, ingredients which make them unhealthy leading to unnecessary calories. Making the meals yourself is the next best thing to fresh and what better way to stay on track with your healthy lifestyle than to have multiple options awaiting you in the freezer! It also ensures that you know what is going into your food and gives you control over them.
Past experience has proven to me that freezing meals does not zap the flavor out of the food and they generally keep for 1-3 months so they’re ready for you when life gets busy (or when you have a baby).
2. Slow Cooker Cranberry Pork Roast –>
It’s the perfect time of year for this one since fresh cranberries are available!
3. Split Pea Soup with ham –>
4. Chicken Tetrazzini –>
Disclaimer: This recipe isn’t quite “lightened up” because of the condensed soups. I generally don’t use these soups as they are high in sodium and have a lot of other additives. They do, however, make this recipe incredibly simple so sometimes I let the Campbell’s Healthy Request version slide. If I have time, I make my own “cream of” soups as a healthier alternative. I don’t have my own recipe, but they’re fairly basic and you can find what you’re looking for with a quick Google search. Give it a try if you’re not in a time crunch and want this recipe a bit healthier.
5. Beef and Sausage Meatloaf with Chunky Red Sauce –>
It’s meatloaf. It’s ugly. It’s so good.
6. Three Bean Turkey Chili –>
This is an easy favorite that everyone loves…it’s currently in the crock pot as I type!
7. Kalua Pig –>
I like my pig to cook nice and slow for 14-16 hours, so it works best to put in the crock pot the night before and cook for 8 hours on low overnight. Then continue cooking for another 8 hours the day you plan to feast.
8. Chicken Tortilla Soup –>
An old favorite in our house. Make sure you freeze it before you add the tortilla strips or they will be soggy.
9. Slow Cooker Beef Sandwiches –>
Awesome for large groups, just make sure you have hamburger buns and pickles on hand!
10. Crock Pot Salsa Verde Chicken –>
Make chicken tacos or tostadas with this recipe – I’ve included my favorite serving options in the recipe!
ENJOY!
What are some of your favorite freezer friendly recipes?
Recent 10 things:
October: my pregnancy must-haves
September: why this September is super
August: binge-watch worthy TV shows
Alison Donlon says
Love freezer cooking! It's the way to go and you'll do more I'm sure when you have that baby! Gah! I'm so excited for baby! Glad you're keeping the baby a surprise…it DOES make you work harder in labor. Tried and true. Twice. But you threw me when you sent that onsie pic….just sayin' haha!