Deals and Meals...: Our Friend... The Crock-Pot!

Tips for Prepping Easy Crock-Pot Freezer Meals:

1. Search & print out recipes.

2. Make a grocery shopping list of the ingredients needed.

3. Prep meals in one setting – Take gallon zip lock bags and write the names, date and directions on each one in permanent marker.

4. Lay everything out on the counter, wash/cut/slice up all the veggies. I also cut the fat off the chicken breasts & thighs.

5. Start filling the bags with ingredients. I usually do one at a time, but you can start with putting veggies in all the bags, then the meats, then the spices & sauces.

6. Place in freezer.

More info…

· Think Outside the Box

· It is easy to freeze chili and take it out and eat it as a bowl of chili, but it is also easy to change it up. This will keep your freezer meals interesting. Freezer chili can be served over baked potatoes, as chili cheese fries.

· Taco meat can be used for tacos, but also for taco salad, enchiladas, quesadillas, and taco soup. Taco meat is one of my favorite things to keep in the freezer because it is so versatile.

· Cooked and shredded chicken can be used in soups, enchiladas, salad, sandwiches and more.

· My favorite container for freezer cooking…good quality freezer bags. They freeze flat and don’t take up a lot of space. I have frozen everything from taco meat to chili in freezer bags and it works great. Just be sure to defrost the bag on a plate or container in case the bag splits or gets a hole in it. Yes, I learned that the hard way.

· The other containers I love to use for freezing are simply disposable aluminum pans…I have found that plastic gets brittle over time in the freezer and I have had containers crack and split. Plus you throw away disposables… NO washing!

· Always try to have your food completely cold before freezing. I almost always place my food in the fridge for a few hours or overnight before placing in the freezer. This really helps reduce freezer burn.

Slow Cooker Pizza Bake

Anything with the word PIZZA in it is bound to be a winner. I have not made this particular recipe… (One very similar) but I am confident that it will be delish… Just look at that picture???

Note: This makes a lot of food, so FREEZE half before cooking it. Later it can be thawed and cooked in the slow cooker as directed.

Ingredients:

· 1 1/2 lbs. ground beef

· 1 medium onion, diced

· 1 green bell pepper, diced

· 8 oz. sliced pepperoni

· 4 oz. (1 cup) shredded mozzarella cheese

· 8 oz. (2 cups) shredded cheddar cheese

· 12 oz. Rigatoni noodles, cooked (al dente)

· 15 oz. pizza sauce

· 26 oz. Spaghetti sauce

Directions:

1. Brown meat, onion and pepper in frying pan.

2. Drain and add pizza sauce and spaghetti sauce.

3. Combine all ingredients in a large crock pot (spray with non-stick spray first).

4. Cook on HIGH for 30 minutes and then LOW for about 2 hours until the cheese melts.

Mom's Slow Cooker Chili

One of the best and easiest Freezer Meals is the one bowl wonder… Chili! A definite favorite in our Casa. This recipe is quick and most of us have

every one of these ingredients in our pantry!

So make… freeze it… eat it and you will want seconds.

Ingredients:

· 1 lb. ground beef (you could also use ground turkey)

· 1 onion, diced

· 2 (14 oz.) cans diced tomatoes

· 1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce

· 1/4 cup ketchup or chili sauce

· 1/4 cup water

· 1 (15 oz.) can dark red kidney beans

· 1 packet chili seasoning mix

· 3 stalks celery, chopped

· 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

· 1 Tablespoon sugar

Directions:

1. Brown ground beef with chopped onion. While they are browning, combine all other ingredients in re-sealable gallon-sized freezer bag. When the browned hamburger and onion has cooled down, add it to the rest of the ingredients in the freezer bag and zip closed.

2. When ready to eat, remove from freezer and thaw in fridge for 24 hours. Cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or LOW for 7-8 hours. Top with shredded cheese and your other favorite Chili toppers!

Thank you Six Sister’s Stuff!!!

Savory Pepper Steak

Pepper Steak is a dish most of us grew up eating… that and Swiss Steak. Feels like a Wednesday night sort of dinner… Anyway, this is a winner! Your house will smell divine… everyone will sit around the table complimenting you on their delicious dinner… What?? It could happen! This Pepper Steak is really… really good! Really...

Ingredients

· 1½ lbs. round steak, cut into ½ in strips

· ¼ cup flour

· ½ tsp. salt

· ½ tsp. pepper

· 1 small onion, diced

· 4-5 garlic cloves

· 1 green bell pepper, sliced in strips

· 1 red bell pepper, sliced in strips

· 1 (16 oz.) can Italian style tomatoes

· 1 tbsp. beef bouillon

· 2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

· 1 tbsp. steak seasoning

· 1 tbsp. steak sauce

Instructions

1. Toss steak in salt, pepper, & flour and add to gallon-sized freezer bag.

2. In a med bowl mix together the rest of the ingredients, add to bag. Zip close and place in freezer. When ready to use thaw in fridge overnight. Empty contents into crock-pot and cook on low 8 hours.

3. Serve over rice.

Slow-Cooker

Chicken Teriyaki

Truthfully…I don’t make Teriyaki Chicken very often. THIS recipe I make! First of all it is easy and second it is delicious! How great would it be to have this sitting patiently in your freezer waiting to be cooked? Pretty great! Make it!

Ingredients

Large bag of baby carrots
Red Onion sliced into large chunks
2 Cans of crushed pineapple 20 oz.(un-drained)
4 Garlic cloves
4-6 Boneless Chicken Breasts
1 Cup Teriyaki Sauce

Instructions

1. Split ingredients in half.

2. Place all ingredients in 2 re-sealable gallon-sized freezer bag. Mix together in bag and zip closed.

3. When ready to eat, remove from freezer and thaw in fridge overnight. Cook on LOW for 6-7 hours.

4. Serve over rice.

Slow Cooker Black Bean/Corn Salsa Chicken

One of my favorite Crock-pot Freezer Meals!! Divine! Lots of ways to serve this chicken… My first choice is a burro with the chicken AND the beans and corn with melted cheese on the side. Your favorite chips to scoop those beans with… a little sour cream. My mouth is watering...

Ingredients

2 (14 oz.) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
2 (14 oz.) cans corn, drained
1 (1 oz.) package taco seasoning
4-6 boneless chicken breasts
1 cup salsa
¾ cup water

Instructions

1. Split ingredients in half.

2. Place all ingredients in 2 re-sealable gallon-size freezer bags. Zip closed and mix ingredients together.

3. When ready to eat, remove from freezer and thaw in fridge overnight. Cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or LOW for 7-8 hours.

4. When finished cooking, shred chicken and serve over rice, with a salad, or in a burro. Top with cheese, sour cream, avocado, lettuce, tomato… etc.

Recipe source Homebased Mom

Crock-Pot Chicken and Potatoes

While you've been out, this Chicken and potatoes have been simmering away, getting more tender and flavorful.

You are looking at Simple Comfort Food… the best.

Ingredients

2-4 chicken breasts
1 large green pepper, chopped
2 cups broccoli, chopped
1 lb. red potatoes, sliced thin
1 tsp. paprika
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
¼lb. (4 oz.) VELVEETA, cut into ½-inch cubes
1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley – (I used dried parsley)

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients except for cheese in a gallon freezer bag. Seal bag and place in freezer. When ready to use thaw in fridge overnight. Cook 6 hours low. Add cheese and cook on high for 5 minutes. Stir melted cheese in.

Slow Cooker

Italian Beef Sandwiches