Back to School with a Hot Breakfast

Back to school means crazy mornings, but that doesn’t also mean that you can’t serve your kids a hot breakfast. Although we do have our share of cereal mornings, I enjoy knowing that I got them out the door with something warm and filling most of the time. It also helps me control the ingredients and cut down on the preservatives and other additives that go into pre-prepared breakfast food. One of the tools that I use to help serve a hot breakfast despite a busy morning is my crockpot. I can either fill it with ingredients in the quite … Continue reading

Once A Month Cooking

I don’t really like cooking, I mean, I don’t hate it but it’s not at the top of my list of things I want to do after working all day. I’m always looking for shortcuts and ways to make dinner easier without resorting to packaged foods or fast food. Once a month cooking takes care of all of those things. The idea behind once a month cooking is that you do all your cooking in one day, package your meals for the freezer and then you have dinner with minimal prep work. There are many websites that will do most … Continue reading

Freezer Cooking without Effort

Today my freezer is somewhat stocked with meals that are ready to go. This really comes in handy on those nights when you just don’t feel like making dinner or the times when you want to save money and reduce your budget. Forget the elaborate all day plans that keep you in the kitchen morning until night cooking away. There is a reason that these methods encourage you to do it with a friend. It is a lot of work! While there may be a time and a place to do these massive freezer cooking sessions, I find that our … Continue reading

More Ham Freezer Cooking

Today I woke up knowing that I had to do some freezer cooking. Remember all of that inexpensive ham I have been telling you about? Well, it was time turn the last ham deals into some freezer meals. I’m still in the process of finishing up actually. In the oven now, excuse me when the timer beeps, are the second batch of ham and cheese hot pockets. These will be great for quick out-the-door lunches or take-to-work lunches. I tried a new dough recipe this time. The previous one, using bread flour and a pizza dough recipe seemed to make … Continue reading

Encouraging Your Teens to Eat Breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day… so the saying goes. But try telling that to your family! My younger brother used to hit the snooze on his alarm clock until the last possible second, then throw on some close and rush off to high school without eating. There are lots of “good” reasons for skipping breakfast: I wanted to sleep in. There’s nothing good to eat. It takes too long to make something. I’m not hungry when I first wake up. I want to lose weight. But research has shown that eating breakfast can help boost concentration … Continue reading

Freezer Cooking: What I Love Best (2)

As I explained in the other article, there are many different reasons that I love freezer cooking, but there are a few reasons that I really love it and a few ways it has changed me and my family. I already explained a few, but here are a few more. Open Door Policy The other thing I really love about freezer cooking, is that if you have a last minute dinner guest, or you wish to have friends stay for dinner, you have meals all ready to go. Just grab them from the freezer and prepare as directed. You always … Continue reading

Freezer Cooking – Choosing The Right Freezer

One of the hardest things people face, when dealing with freezer cooking, is lack of space, or not enough freezer room. Although freezer cooking can be done using only a regular side by side refrigerator and freezer, it is best done when you own a separate freezer chest. The reason a bigger freezer chest is necessary, is it allows for more storage, and easier organization. So how do you know which freezer is right for you? It really is not a difficult choice, but I first recommend that you evaluate a few things first. Before even considering the purchase of … Continue reading

A Freezer Cooking Weekend

Freezer cooking is an easy method to stay frugal and help you save money on food costs. Preparing foods in advance can save time as well. It does require a little extra time once a month, but is totally worth it throughout the month when you are short on time and can throw a meal right into the oven. This weekend is my frugal cooking weekend. It will start today, and end sometime tomorrow afternoon. Sometimes I do have to do a little on Sunday’s but I am hoping to avoid that this time. That does not mean that I … Continue reading

Still More Freezer Cooking Breakfast Recipes

Thought I’d share three last freezer cooking breakfast recipes. Let me know what your family thinks. My family of seven absolutely loves these! Cinnamon Raisin French Toast Soufflé 1 large loaf Cinnamon Raisin Bread (chopped — enough to fill 13 x 9 in. pan) 12 oz. Cream Cheese, softened 6 oz. Butter, softened 3/4 cup Maple Syrup (divided) 10 eggs 3 cups Half & Half Cinnamon Sugar Buttered Maple Syrup (50/50 mix of butter and maple syrup) Place chopped cinnamon raisin bread in a well buttered 13 x 9 in. glass pan. Mix cream cheese, butter and 1/4 cup maple … Continue reading

Freezer Cooking Soup and Stew Recipes For Those Cold Winter Months

With the cold autumn and winter months rapidly approaching, I thought it should be my freezer cooker queen duties to share with you a few of my favorite soup recipes for this time of year. I try to make hearty soups in the winter, to fill the stomach and warm the soul. There are two tips I have learned about freezing soup. First, allow the soup to cool completely before putting it into the freezer. Second, when storing soup, use plastic microwaveable containers to freeze. This way it can go from freezer to microwave without anything in between. Typically I … Continue reading