Feeding the Freezer - Project two

Today our little man went for his first hair cut, and we enjoyed some winter snow (our first winter snow! this season!) So we had a really fun morning. Before Carson's hair appointment we swung by the grocery store. I wanted to get some things for freezer meals. I originally only had the plan of making Cowboy Casserole, and Rigatoni with Meat Sauce. That was it for today. Instead I ended up making the Cowboy Casserole, Rigatoni with Meat Sauce, Bacon Mac and Cheese, and Mini Meat Loaves.

I feel fairly confident now, that if I do nothing else until Ollie is born. I won't be stressed out about what to cook, or going to the grocery store. Mr.C is really good about helping around the house and going shopping. But I just want us to really be able to enjoy as much as we can of Ollie being small and still eat healthy (some of these are not super healthy FYI)

• Cowboy Casserole 
• What You need: 1.5 lbs hamberger, 1/2 onion, 1/2 cup milk, 4T Sour Cream, 12 oz Corn, 1.5 cups cheese, Tater Tots
• Fry up half and onion chopped up finely
• Add hamburger (80/20) and brown it
• While the hamburger onion mixture cooks, mix in a bowl 1/2 cup milk, 4 table spoons Sour Cream, the corn and 1C shredded Cheddar Cheese. 
• Layer tater tots on the bottom of casserole dish
• Mix the meat/onions with the mixture you made while it was cooking. Combine thoroughly.
• Layer mixture on top of tater tots
• Add more tater tots and remaining cheese
• Either cook now at 350 for 15 minutes
• Or freeze and cook later at 350 for 35 minutes 

This next one is SO simple and only takes 3 ingredients! Pasta, Sauce and Hamburger

• Rigatoni with Meat Sauce
• What you'll need: 1 box of whole wheat Rigatoni (or other favorite shape) about 16 oz, 1/2 lb of ground beef, and half a jar of pasta sauce (pick your favorite) 
• Cook pasta till tender
• Cook meat until brown and mix in pasta sauce 
• Combine pasta and meat sauce and place in casserole dish 

This might be my favorite meal to make, especially when I have company. Its bacon wrapped meat loaf. But this time I made it mini for quicker heating

• Meat Loaf with Bacon
• What you'll need: 3/4 lb hamburger, 10 half strips of bacon, 1 egg, 4T ketchup (more if needed) and 1/2 C bread crumbs, Salt and Pepper to taste
• Mix Hamburger, egg, ketchup, bread crumbs and salt and pepper. Squish it all around in a bowl, really make sure it is combined really well. 
• Place mixture in pans and lay 2 strips of bacon on top. 
• Cook for 35 minutes at 350* and then broil for crispy bacon for 5 minutes

Last but not least, and definitely the one I am most looking forward to chowing down on after Ollie is here. Bacon mac and cheese. It sounds SO unhealthy but I made it fairly low calorie and healthy with whole wheat pasta, low calorie cheese and well, you can't make bacon healthy. 

• Bacon Mac and Cheese
• What you will need: 1 cup Shredded Mozzarella, 1 cup shredded cheddar or colby, and one 16 oz box of whole wheat pasta, and 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 package of bacon
• Cook pasta till al dente 
• Mix Cheese and milk together while chopped up bacon cooks and pasta cooks
• Mix cheese and bacon together 
• Mix Cheese/Bacon and pasta together
• Cook for 30 minutes at 350* 

When all was said and done, I spent maybe 3 hours cooking and cleaning up and yeah, I'm exhausted. But I feel SO much better at least knowing that if he comes early, I won't have to worry about any food for the first month + . 

I figured out the portion sizes + making a quick side dish for each meal. Each of these boxes will be enough food for 6 meals. So 3 meals for each of us.  Making these cheap and easy meals for us. Carson is still fairly picky so I'm guessing he'll be getting a lot of mac and cheese (normal) and grilled cheeses. 

I think I spent MAYBE 30$ on everything listed for all these meals. Including the throw away casserole pans. I went to the Dollar Store for those, 3 pack for a 1$ is not bad especially when you can MAYBE find them for 2 for 3$ at walmart or freddies. 

If you have any specific questions in regards to the feed the freezer project just let me know. 

This is what my indoor freezer looks like. The chest freezer has tons of veggies and berries, cheeses and potatoes. Also I have a bunch of "Stew packs" which are just carrots, celery, and onions pre-cut and frozen to toss in the crock pot with meat and potatoes.