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:
- Grilled Italian Chicken (freezer marinade)Kabobs (freeze convenience chicken), brown rice (frozen), grilled vegetables
- Grilled Taco Pizza with sneaky taco meat (frozen), cheesy black beans, pico de gallo, tortilla chips
- Breakfast for dinner: turkey sausage with homefries using crock pot potatoes, peppers and onions, salad
- Grilled Asian Honey Salmon (freezer marinade), salad, brown rice (frozen), grilled vegetables
- Grilled Flatbread Pizza (using convenience chicken leftovers) or Crock pot pizza, salad
- Crockpot Artisan bread for lunch paninis, Naughty or nice brownies