Friday, March 8, 2013

cook and freeze take II

Candace and I had plans to cook and freeze again yesterday.
I borrowed a couple of crock pots so that I could cook my meat to bring...
but a few things happened.

1.  I realized I still had a chicken spaghetti, a King Ranch casserole, and a pot pie still frozen from the last freeze-a-thon.
2.  I realized I needed some new ideas because Lance isn't a huge fan of casseroles.
3.  I realized that 'all that meat' really didn't make 'all that much'!
4.  I ran out of time... and didn't feel up to an early morning grocery trip before the cook-a-thon!

So instead of joining Candace in the cook-fest yesterday, we just went for moral support-- to take pictures-- to laugh at old pictures-- and to play.

Here's my prep:

Beef, pork, chicken breasts, and I made my first whole chicken!
I sought help from my first boss, Rayanne, who owns the one and only diner where I grew up and my great gal-pal, Jenna, of the famous Crockin' girls, for the nasty hen!
Though I gagged the entire time-- and haven't tasted it yet--
I think their advice was successful as it looks like chicken and smells like chicken-- and I salvaged all its meat.  Except the wings, because that was taking it too far.
and this little foil ball trick from Jenna's cookbook seemed to work rather well!

I ended up with this...
Mostly just shredded meats to add to soups or use as tacos or put on buns with a little BBQ sauce.
And a yummy roast dinner.
That I ate until I made myself sick.
And then ate more veggies at midnight, because comfort food is my favorite food!
I also have been making a little extra when I cook and freezing 1/2... building my supply that way too!
Little by little, it helps.

***
On to yesterday.

The kids and I were late rising, and made a rash decision to have icecream for breakfast!
It was really a snack, after our real breakfast--
but it felt like a wild and crazy idea, ordering it before 11:00!
The boys loved it!

Candace, on the other hand, had already got to work! 
She's still doing her gluten free stuff, so above we have 2 chicken spaghettis, 2 pasta bakes (both with rice noodles), 1 1/2 king ranch casseroles, 2 chicken and rice bakes, and a teriyaki chicken.

 She also made a pot of tortilla soup and Mexican chicken that she divided and froze as well.

I made up some fresh spinach dip to snack on while we chatted...
and the kids took advantage of the awesome weather and had a picnic and played outside!
A little hard, I guess--
because they both crashed on the way home and stayed asleep for a nice little nap!

5 comments:

  1. I am lucky to get one good dinner a week out of my kitchen... Love your cook and freeze.

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  2. The picnic picture is so sweet.
    I love comfort food too, and your roast looks so good.
    And, you know how I feel about ice cream for breakfast. perfect.
    :)

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  3. What is this little 'foil ball trick' you speak of?
    I have not heard of it and have no idea what purpose they serves.

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    1. You roll up 3 balls and place the hen, breast down. It turns the crock pot into a roaster and keeps it up out of the drippings and from one side getting more cooked! (I assume... It actually didn't say that in the cookbook!)

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  4. Mmmm making my mouth water! I have a roast in the crock pot today. Can't wait to go home after work! About once a year I take my boys for ice cream for lunch or dinner. They love it and of course we always feel like we're breaking rules which is half the fun!

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