tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6548039454456114385.post3606909205258830366..comments2024-03-28T09:28:36.979-05:00Comments on My Life in Transition: Stocking Up on Freezer MealsJulia Gooliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784248013181090775noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6548039454456114385.post-73298334754539164952014-10-10T19:34:37.982-05:002014-10-10T19:34:37.982-05:00Good call! We just cooked and shredded the chicken...Good call! We just cooked and shredded the chicken ahead of time, so once it was in the crockpot it was really just to warm it up again. If you do raw breasts, it would probably just take longer in the crockpot?<br /><br />Actually, by having it cooked ahead of time, I didn't even use the crock pot---just heated it up on the stove in a pot. Very good.Julia Gooliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14778787182629361642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6548039454456114385.post-5449645999764555232014-10-10T14:14:40.567-05:002014-10-10T14:14:40.567-05:00This is amazing! I picked up all of the groceries ...This is amazing! I picked up all of the groceries yesterday and I'm ready to start cooking today! One question about your mom's White Chicken Chili -- the ingredients include 1 lb. boiled, shredded chicken, but the recipe says to cook for 4-5 hours, remove and shred the chicken, then return to crockpot. So do you really use pre-cooked shredded chicken with this recipe, or do you add raw chicken breasts to the crockpot along with the ingredients from the freezer bag at the time you plan to make it??mom2lohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04174307421334196127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6548039454456114385.post-78768872808308831592014-10-03T15:12:38.368-05:002014-10-03T15:12:38.368-05:00I'm exhausted just reading this post. But will...I'm exhausted just reading this post. But will totally pay off, good for you!! I hate cooking, plain and simple, especially when there are kids around. The easier the better. I think the fact that my husband does most of the cooking, and that he's so good at it, is one of the things I am most thankful for in life!! Not rubbing it in, just saying. ;) We wouldn't eat very good meals if it were up to me, I'm sure! Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03552565623002937197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6548039454456114385.post-20399590680889623852014-09-29T08:56:18.625-05:002014-09-29T08:56:18.625-05:00When I do freezer meals I freeze everything in gal...When I do freezer meals I freeze everything in gallon freezer bags. All I do is get a huge tupperware bowl and put the bag in there. Then I just carefully use a measuring cup to scoop the soup (or whatever) into the bag. I don't think I've ever spilled it and if I have some drip down the side of the bag I just wipe it off. Plus it's nice that the bowl helps "hold" the bag from falling over.Ashleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16765467312217763744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6548039454456114385.post-82604577272126519092014-09-25T20:12:22.136-05:002014-09-25T20:12:22.136-05:00Those two year olds are NO JOKE!!!! Best of luck.Those two year olds are NO JOKE!!!! Best of luck.Julia Gooliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13784248013181090775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6548039454456114385.post-68074144515125761402014-09-25T20:11:58.448-05:002014-09-25T20:11:58.448-05:00I used one of our measuring cups to scoop it into ...I used one of our measuring cups to scoop it into a bag that I held over the large pot of soups. Not TOO messy that way, but still not the easiest!Julia Gooliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13784248013181090775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6548039454456114385.post-388233063953097462014-09-25T20:11:03.369-05:002014-09-25T20:11:03.369-05:00LOL. Well, you should be able to pin one of the pi...LOL. Well, you should be able to pin one of the pictures of the post which will save the post for you on pinterest. I thought about making something you could print out---but you could just copy the recipes and paste them into Word, then print? Or just read along on your phone as you make them?? ;)Julia Gooliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13784248013181090775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6548039454456114385.post-10479886656841843472014-09-25T20:10:06.739-05:002014-09-25T20:10:06.739-05:00Do a freezer meal but put it in the crock pot for ...Do a freezer meal but put it in the crock pot for cooking it---he will never know the difference!!Julia Gooliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13784248013181090775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6548039454456114385.post-5648660889185784622014-09-25T11:24:11.389-05:002014-09-25T11:24:11.389-05:00What is your method for pouring soups/chili into a...What is your method for pouring soups/chili into a bag? I'm picturing myself attempting it, and it would be a disastrous mess! miccihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07153126863356858070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6548039454456114385.post-36062663242954663822014-09-25T09:35:20.330-05:002014-09-25T09:35:20.330-05:00This is awesome and inspiring! I just had a conver...This is awesome and inspiring! I just had a conversation with my husband about trying to pull together a bunch of freezer meals to ease the time crunch during the week, and we only have one 2-year old to wrangle! I don't know how you do it!?! Thanks for sharing. We are definitely going to do this!Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02716169315727788347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6548039454456114385.post-1121942457933780242014-09-25T09:34:09.389-05:002014-09-25T09:34:09.389-05:00Ok. So. How do you print this??? Or Pin the entire...Ok. So. How do you print this??? Or Pin the entire post??? Sorry. Please educate me.Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01224955825114020521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6548039454456114385.post-80634703054765359232014-09-25T08:58:56.012-05:002014-09-25T08:58:56.012-05:00I wish my husband would eat foods that are thawed ...I wish my husband would eat foods that are thawed out. I have come to make 1 or 2 crock pot recipes during the week, have one or two easy meals (make calzones, homemade pizza, paninis, wraps, breakfast for dinner- make lots of extra pancakes and freeze for morning breakfasts) and try to grill out once a week. We don't do a lot of take out food or go out to eat. Maybe I will do a freezer meal day and see if he can tolerate it. Ha! Good luck going back to work. Lindseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04016101953605328450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6548039454456114385.post-50907666030509048342014-09-25T08:21:04.926-05:002014-09-25T08:21:04.926-05:00It's almost as if you read my mind! I was jus...It's almost as if you read my mind! I was just researching freezer meals the other night. We have a chest freezer that would work perfectly for storing all of this. <br />I am awful at having a plan in place for dinner. It is definitely something I stress over EVERY day.<br /><br />Thank you so much for all the details. You did the hard work and now we all get to reap the rewards :) And by the way....I'm officially starving looking at all these food photos!Amy Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04342337286981773291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6548039454456114385.post-69010773897883220822014-09-24T21:12:12.792-05:002014-09-24T21:12:12.792-05:00We actually have had the beer beef stew from froze...We actually have had the beer beef stew from frozen before---mom brought it with her last time and it defrosted really well! I wonder if it's because the potatoes were raw? But not too mushy, no.<br /><br />And YES to having a bunch of cooked meats, too. We have grilled chicken breast and also fried ground beef in bags downstairs, too. Should have mentioned this. TOTALLY agree that my brain cannot even pull it together on nights we don't have a solid meal plan in place. Glad I'm not alone in that!Julia Gooliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14778787182629361642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6548039454456114385.post-25327705366683457512014-09-24T16:28:51.330-05:002014-09-24T16:28:51.330-05:00I'm curious to hear how your beef stew turns o...I'm curious to hear how your beef stew turns out. I've learned the hard way that you can't freeze cooked potatoes (unless you like them really mushy) but I see you froze yours raw, so maybe that's the trick! <br />Another tip that I've found to help with meal prep is simply having a stash of marinated meats ready to go in the freezer. Like Breaded chicken cutlets, marinated steak tips, etc… so that all I have to do is make some rice and steam some broccoli or something to go with it. I know it isn't a major step in dinner making, but I find that sometimes I have a total mind block when dinner time rolls around and can't seem to wrap my brain around just WHAT to make for dinner. But if I go down to the freezer in the morning and pull out a ziplock of garlic rosemary chicken, my mind knows that I'm making roasted potatoes and green beans with it and that's easy enough to pull together. <br />Anyway, wishing you luck next week on your return to work. I can't believe how quickly 12 weeks has flown by. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07929850176678535570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6548039454456114385.post-76569840056982333282014-09-24T16:15:17.162-05:002014-09-24T16:15:17.162-05:00Holy cats, thank you for doing this! I predict thi...Holy cats, thank you for doing this! I predict this will be one of your most-liked/most-linked posts since that home-from-work/dinner hour seems to be universally terrible. I actually love to cook, but I do *not* love to cook with a kid at my feet. This is super, super helpful - thanks so much for organizing it and posting!Kristahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16496157979670264769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6548039454456114385.post-42293239308761519642014-09-24T15:16:58.517-05:002014-09-24T15:16:58.517-05:00That's just the recipe, I guess! My mom uses c...That's just the recipe, I guess! My mom uses cottage cheese for her lasagna recipe and it's what I had growing up, but I do like Nate's mom's ricotta a lot, too. I think you can do it either way!Julia Gooliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14778787182629361642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6548039454456114385.post-30951525364631725032014-09-24T15:16:21.315-05:002014-09-24T15:16:21.315-05:00I'm officially hungry. I freezer cooked before...I'm officially hungry. I freezer cooked before my daughter was born. Cheesy chicken casserole was my favorite: rice, chicken, black beans, corn, and cheese I think. Reminds me, I should make that!The Long Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09075506652203322911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6548039454456114385.post-50214963822286477212014-09-24T15:16:19.401-05:002014-09-24T15:16:19.401-05:00We have two regular refrigerators with freezers---...We have two regular refrigerators with freezers---one upstairs in the kitchen and one in our basement. Right now it all fits between two freezers just fine---if we needed a chest freezer, we could borrow my in-laws and HAVE done that before for frozen breast milk!Julia Gooliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14778787182629361642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6548039454456114385.post-58339698298135211392014-09-24T14:59:37.360-05:002014-09-24T14:59:37.360-05:00I have never heard of using cottage cheese in lasa...I have never heard of using cottage cheese in lasagna. How come you don't use ricotta? Just curious ;)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13553495090252676302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6548039454456114385.post-72714744903747346832014-09-24T14:33:55.261-05:002014-09-24T14:33:55.261-05:00Reading this reminded me once again how happy I am...Reading this reminded me once again how happy I am to have a husband that cooks. On the rare and random nights that Chad isn't home, I'm at a total loss because I know how to make basically nothing. So we eat buttered noodles and cake batter. :)<br /><br />(Also, no spicy food?!)Kristalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13844262891800455616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6548039454456114385.post-84176413445867482982014-09-24T14:26:32.477-05:002014-09-24T14:26:32.477-05:00This is awesome! I noticed you froze the bagged fo...This is awesome! I noticed you froze the bagged foods in kind of a flat shape--that would help with stacking! About how much freezer space did this require/do you have a chest freezer? Tesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03277050620298307210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6548039454456114385.post-78375456567115474032014-09-24T14:18:25.741-05:002014-09-24T14:18:25.741-05:00I also "do not love" cooking. In fact, I...I also "do not love" cooking. In fact, I hate it. I blame the fact that my brother is a chef, but that doesn't necessarily make sense. I especially hate cooking the evening meal. If left to my own devices, I'd eat apples and popcorn for dinner. I'm hoping that the inspiration I feel now reading this post while on lunch break at work will carry over into my weekend when I can prepare several meals ahead of time. Thanks for sharing your specifics, so those of us who are *lazy* can just straight up copy you.Joannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08634142627588677338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6548039454456114385.post-27004377192191330312014-09-24T13:57:49.859-05:002014-09-24T13:57:49.859-05:00This is fantastic! Totally saving this post. We ar...This is fantastic! Totally saving this post. We are in the same boat. At this point, weekday dinner has to take 10 mins or less and hopefully only require reheating for us! We get home around 6:30pm and bedtime routine for our 6 month old begins at 7pm. When we had our older daughter, I remember just waiting until after bedtime when she was a baby, but now with a routine for both girls, we aren't finished until around 8:30 and I want to SLEEP by then! I do like to cook, but not in that environment/time crunch. Right now we try to cook a few meals on Sundays that we can eat for the week, but that's alot of effort as well!Tiffanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04762736736633080512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6548039454456114385.post-61483800834487274412014-09-24T13:26:08.919-05:002014-09-24T13:26:08.919-05:00Wow, this is great! I've been intrigued by fr...Wow, this is great! I've been intrigued by freezer meals, but have never done any, so I'm definitely saving this post for future use. And now I'm hungry...Jamie Lynn {Cocktails and Carseats}https://www.blogger.com/profile/00350961724433712789noreply@blogger.com