No bake 5-ingredient granola bars
Nearly every meal I prepare consists of foods I have cooked or baked in bulk and frozen. I thaw items in a plastic shoe box to prevent condensation dripping onto my shelves (I’ve learned from experience). Then I shop my freezer from my freezer inventory, to see what goodies I can thaw and serve to my family and others. I write these items down on a seven-day menu plan and post it on my refrigerator as a reminder to thaw my food 24 hours ahead of time. Typically right after the dishes are done, I check my menu plan and put new items into my thawing box and slash them off my freezer inventory.
We rotate the same breakfast items each week:
- Freezer waffles with fresh/frozen seasonal fruit or homemade syrup
- Homemade Crock pot yogurt with homemade granola
- Oatmeal with cranberries, walnuts and raw sugar
- Cheerios with bananas and milk
- Scrambled eggs and quick bread like banana or zucchini
We rotate leftovers, wraps, sandwiches and salads for lunch.
As you can tell below, I’m stocking my freezer almost daily. Some times I double/triple a couple of items in a power cooking session. Most days I’d rather double what I’m already cooking for dinner and freeze extra. It’s the way I cook and freeze without having to spend six hours or an entire day freezer cooking for a month. This system works best for my busy lifestyle with four children and a husband at home during the summer.
Dinner:
- Shrimp fried rice, hibachi zucchini and onions, (I know it’s been on the menu for three weeks), fruit
- Hebrew National hot dogs, black bean burgers, chips, Greek pasta salad
- Crock pot baked potato bar, southwest grilled steaks
- Crock pot French dip sandwiches, spinach salad
- Grilled meatball pizza, strawberry spinach salad {grill chicken for salad}
- Chicken Chinese Cabbage Salad {new recipe}
- Crock pot BBQ, Alexia sweet potato fries, slaw
Snack/Dessert
No bake 5-ingredient granola bars, yogurt parfaits
Happy Monday! Our kids are finally well and my two-year-old is doing much better from her tonsillectomy. We should have had a fender bender Friday, but I said a prayer early in the morning and an angel kept our Suburban from denting another car with my kiddos in it. It was a true miracle from God and I’m so grateful he prompted me to say a mother’s prayer of protection for my family.
After a week of hardly any sun, it’s shining brightly again. I feel a camping post coming soon since we’ll be roasting smores this week. Are you enjoying your summer with less kitchen stress and plenty of family fun?
Come back on Tuesday, I have a gift for all of my readers!