In an attempt to please all, eat a bit healthier and save some sanity this week, my daughters and I prepped meals today. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, as pre-prepped as possible, for 2 weeks.
Scroll down for recipes.
We made:
Breakfast
-dairy-free banana nut muffins for me (muffins go in freezer and I remove a couple the night before to defrost for morning)
-blueberry muffins (from a box) for everyone else
-dairy-free waffles w/ wheat flour from scratch, bagged and frozen -- simply toast just like Eggos
-breakfast burritos for freezer (see below)
-hard boiled eggs (save 4 for tuna sandwiches)
-sliced cantaloupe
-Grape-Nuts
-Oatmeal (I make a double batch and eat 2 days in a row)
Lunches
-bagel pizzas (they beg for this daily, so I have ingredients for about 3 times in 2 weeks)
-turkey - bacon wraps or sandwiches - I slather on guacamole instead of mayo but the kids will have none of that!
-freezer chicken burritos (see below)
-leftovers
-Homemade Alphabetties (Spaghettios type pasta)
-tuna sandwiches (not your plain jane average tuna sandwich! - see below)
-english muffins with peanut butter
-grilled cheese and tomato soup (Sunday after church)
Snacks
-slice apples, shake in baggie of lemon juice - these last several days - dip in peanut butter for added protein!
-baby carrots and hummus (or pita chips, my daughter will actually eat those)
-homemade pico de gallo, apple salsa, and tortilla chips
-cucumbers, peeled and sliced in tupperware and sprinkled w/ salt
-string cheese (for kids)
-bananas and oranges, I cut up the oranges and put in snack baggies to grab on the go
-cooked zuchinni and summer squash, sliced and put in single serve containers
-popcorn, air popped, in ziploc bags
-yogurt and homemade applesauce pouches
Dinners (recipes below)
[I cook all the chicken in a crockpot while we're at church, and brown all the meat, season, and freeze right after purchasing it in bulk from Costco. We have a family of six so I brown beef, season (plain,garlic, taco), and freeze in sections just over a pound, so there is a bit more meat. I often double recipes but I'm using 1 and 1/3 lbs beef instead of 2, so it ends up saving us money. ]
-Chicken Croissants w/ mashed potatoes and veggies
-Porcupine Meatballs w/ leftover mashed potatoes
-Chicken Cream Cheese Casserole
-Tator Tot Crockpot Casserole
-Hot Tuna Sandwiches and fruit
-Tortilla soup in crockpot with chips and cornbread (make the cornbread on Sunday)
-Mini Meatloaves with cornbread muffins, potatoes, veggies
-Spaghetti sauce w/ garlic-seasoned beef and rotini noodles
-Hot dogs and baked beans
-Lasagna Casserole
-Chicken Enchiladas, corn, guacamole (you can make this from avocados used in Tortilla Soup and freeze), and Spanish rice
-French Toast, hashbrowns, bacon, and fried eggs (Sunday night splurge)
-Beef Stroganoff over egg noodles and jello, of course
-Of course, a leftover night - we waste not in this house!
I will add pictures eventually - the kids usually eat the food before I can ever get a good photo.
10 eggs
1 cup milk
1/3 cup chunky salsa (we use Pace)
1/2 cup diced ham
1/2 cup crumbled cooked bacon
1 cup cooked italian sausage
shredded cheddar or colby jack cheese
large burrito-size flour tortillas
Scramble the eggs and milk, add salsa. Divide in half and stir ham and bacon into one half of the eggs and sausage into the other. Now you have TWO flavors! :) Microwave tortillas for 30 seconds to make it easier to work with/fold.
Add egg/meat mixture to tortilla, top with cheese, roll up. Put in freezer ziploc bags and freeze. Microwave times vary but for ours it takes about 60-90 seconds to heat up a frozen burrito, 2 1/2 mns for 2. This made 12 burritos for us.
Freezer Chicken Burritos
Very similar to the recipe for my chicken enchiladas, but no sauce and we wrap and freeze.
3 cups cooked, shredded chicken
taco seasoning
chunky salsa (Pace is perfect)
2 cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
large flour tortillas
Microwave tortillas for 30 seconds so they fold/wrap better. Season the chicken with taco seasoning and salsa - I can't tell you how much I used, I always just taste it to check. Fill each tortilla with chicken, beans, and cheese. Fold up tight and place in ziploc freezer bags. Microwave times vary but for our microwave, it is 90 seconds. SO much better than store bought frozen burritos.
Not-Your-Average-Tuna Sandwiches:
Drain 2 cans of tuna
Stir in Miracle Whip to preferred consistency
I add about a Tablespoon of sweet relish
Finely dice a crisp (I like red) apple - I use Gala, Honeycrisp, Cortland, Baja, or Haralson
Stir together, slather on toasted wheat bread, top with a slice or 2 of bacon.
Chicken Croissants:3 packages Pillsbury crescent rolls (do NOT use store brand for this recipe!)
2 8-oz packages cream cheese, softened
Pinch Lemon pepper seasoning (I can't tell you how much I use, just a taste/estimate game)
2lbs chicken, cooked and shredded
Half Stick (1/4 cup) butter, melted1 cups seasoned croutons, crushed
2 cans cream of chicken soup
2 cups water
2 chicken bullion cubes (I actually use a large scoop of Better Than Bullion base)
(I triple this recipe since I feed about 11 people for most dinners)
Mix warm chicken with lemon pepper and then add cream cheese. The warmth of the meat will help the cheese soften and mix evenly. The 3 ingredients may also be warmed on the stovetop on low. Wrap a large spoonful in each crescent roll, place on baking sheet, as shown above.
Spread some melted butter on each roll with a pastry brush and sprinkle on crushed croutons. Bake at 350 for about 16-20 minutes until browned.
Make a chicken gravy using the Cream of Chicken soup, bullion base, and water. Whisk together over medium heat.
Serve with mashed potatoes and steamed mixed veggies. Make sure to make extra potatoes for the meatballs tomorrow!
[The kids devoured the food before I could take a photo of the cooked food/end results]
Porcupine Meatballs
2 lbs beef
1 cup instant rice (must be instant/minute rice - either brown or white is fine)
3 cans tomato soup
3 cans water
2 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
1 cup brown sugar (we like it sweet, not tomatoey tasting, use less sugar if you like)
dash of pepper
mashed potatoes (leftover from yesterday's chicken)
Mix beef and rice together and form small meatballs - it cooks faster if you make them smaller. Stir together remaining ingredients (except potatoes) and pour sauce over meatballs. Bake at 400 for 40-60 minutes. Cut open a meatball to determine doneness. Serve with mashed potatoes.
This recipe comes from my grandparents and is hands down our family favorite!! Just trust me and give it a try! Also - I tripled the recipe and put half in ziploc bags and freeze flat. There is just enough leftover for a lunch for me, as this is a DAIRY FREE recipe, yay! Gluten free as well.
Chicken Cream Cheese Casserole
This entire meal was prepped on Sunday night, covered, and stuck in the spare fridge to bake later. It made 2 pans - we cooked them both and my husband brought leftovers to work, but this freezes really well so you have another meal for next month!
1 box pasta, cooked (we used penne)
8 oz cream cheese, softened
2 fresh garlic cloves (or powder if you prefer)
1/2 tsp lemon pepper seasoning
3 cups cooked chicken (from the stuff I cooked and shredded earlier)
1 cup frozen peas (or a whole can)
1 cup Mozzarella & Parmesan mix shredded cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella
Stir together warm chicken with the cream cheese, so it softens and mixes well. Add the seasoning and the cup of moz/parm cheese mix. Stir in cooked pasta (you'll need a big bowl or an ice cream bucket -- or use less pasta for one dish). Stir in peas (totally optional, I've omitted them and served veggies on the side too). Spread into baking pans (we needed 2 but a bit less noodles and chicken would make just one 9x13 pan). Top with remaining mozzarella cheese.
Bake 350 for 30 minutes - longer if frozen first. Serve with garlic bread or rolls (b/c we all need more carbs).
Tator Tot Crockpot Casserole
Bag frozen tator tots
4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Can cream of chicken soup
Can of milk
Pinch of pepper to taste
1 lb browned ground beef (here's where I use the meat I prepped on Sunday, and it's over a pound)
16 oz bag frozen mixed veggies
Stir soup, pepper, and milk in crockpot, add veggies and meat, stir. Top with tator tots and cheese. Cook on low for 3-4 hours. It's that simple. My kids are happy. So am I, because my 12 year old tossed all the ingredients in this morning and all I did was wash the crockpot after!
Dairy free version - trust me they taste SOOO much better than they look!!
One with cheese
Hot Tuna Sandwiches
Not only are these staples from my childhood cheap, easy, and delicious, they are a great use for hamburger buns with freezer burn. No need to toss out! I've used hot dog buns too.
8 hamburger buns (we used 10, since that is how many we had in the freezer)
3 5-oz cans of tuna, drained
Mayo (we use Miracle Whip) to whatever consistency you prefer
4 hard boiled eggs, diced (I made a bunch for breakfasts on Sunday, remember?)
Sliced Velveeta cheese (for each person who wants cheese)
Sliced green olives (I'm the only one who mixes these in, the kids don't like it)
Stir together tuna, mayo, and eggs. Add green olives if you like them (I think it is the cherry on top, personally - the best part!). Slather on buns. Top with Velveeta cheese, if desired. Wrap sandwiches in aluminum foil and label (if made differently than another).
350 for 15 minutes. These make great leftovers/bring to work lunches. Just be smart and remove the foil before microwaving! Can be dairy-free (check your mayo label).
Chicken Tortilla Soup
I know this soup doesn't look that appetizing, compared to those fabulous photos on Pinterest, but go with me on this one. It is SO darn good!! Dairy-free, Gluten-free!2 frozen boneless-skinless chicken breasts (you can use chicken cooked on Sunday, but I prefer to cook the chicken IN the soup, as it adds flavor)
4 cups water
4 chicken bullion cubes/Better Than Bullion base
1 can of corn, drained (or half a bag of frozen corn)
1 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 limeCilantro as desired (I often have fresh cilantro frozen into ice cubes to toss in, this time I used dried instead and it was still great)
1 diced avocado for topping
Add all ingredients to crockpot. Cook on high 3-4 hours or low 5-6. Basically, until chicken is done and can be shredded. Shred chicken right in pot and stir. Cut lime in half and squeeze juice from both halves into soup.
Serve with tortilla chips, shredded cheese, or sour cream, if desired (no longer dairy free of course). I like to add half a diced avocado.
Spaghetti Sauce with meat
I can't give you a sauce recipe better than the many out there. I defrost the ground beef I made last Sunday, the one with fresh garlic added to it. Italian sausage is ever better but it costs more, so I went with hamburger meat. Add to sauce. I make enough to have leftovers, since I cannot eat most of the meals I make for my family. (Dairy free)
We use veggie rotini a lot because it is more filling. The rest of the family enjoyed french bread sliced and topped with butter, garlic powder, and mozzarella cheese. I was jealous.
Chicken EnchiladasThe recipe below makes about 6 enchiladas - we triple this for our family.
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
Taco seasoning
Lime juice
Pace Picante Salsa
1 lb shredded cheddar (or Mexican blend) cheese (more or less depending on your preference)
1 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 can mild red enchilada sauce (when making meals for others it is safest to go mild and let them spice it up)
6 flour tortillas - fajita size (taco size are too small to stuff it all in and corn ones will break apart - however if the meal is for a gluten free family, go ahead and use corn - and check the seasoning for gluten too)
I prefer to cook up my chicken in the crockpot - high for 3 hours - because it shreds nicely and I can attend to other tasks. Stir in seasoning, lime juice, and salsa. I buy a large taco seasoning from Costco so I can't really tell you the measurement, usually I taste test. Just a hint of lime! Add a small amount of water if it is too dry and the seasoning isn't fully mixed in.
Add a spoonful of pinto beans to tortilla, spread some chicken on and top with cheese. Roll up. Repeat.
Top with enchilada sauce and more cheese. Cover with foil and label - Cook 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
To complete the meal I make Spanish Rice (the tupperware container on the right) and toss in a small guacamole and sour cream, a bag of frozen corn (we make our corn with butter and pepper - delish!), and cookies. I was lazy/busy today so I included store-bought cookies in this meal.
Lasagna Casserole
This is SO yummy! And so simple!
1 lb ground sausage - seasoned with garlic
Box rotini noodles (or any other pasta you fancy)
16 oz cottage cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
16 oz spaghetti sauce (I've used both homemade and Prego - depending on how busy I am- both work well)
Make a sauce - or open a can - and add seasoned cooked sausage. Combine the cheeses and pasta, spoon into baking dish. Cover with sauce. Bake 350 for 20 minutes.
Best-ever Crockpot Beef Stroganoff
[No part of this meal was pre-prepped, but it takes just a few minutes to toss in the slow-cooker in the morning.]
2 lbs stew steak, already cut up
can cream of chicken soup
1 packet beefy onion soup mix (I use a store brand)
1 cup water
1 beef bullion cube
1 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
4 oz cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sour cream
egg noodles, cooked
Add soup, water, soup mix, Worc sauce, and bullion cube to slow-cooker, stir. Add meat and cook on low 6-7 hours for nice, tender meat. 10 minutes before serving turn crockpot to low. Add cream cheese and sour cream. After 10 minutes, stir. Serve over egg noodles. My kids love this dish with steamed broccoli (they dip it in the sauce)!
Best-Ever Mini Meatloaf
This is one of my proudest concoctions because even meatloaf haters have told me they love it! We are big on saving money here, so a meal made with 3 lbs of (93% lean) beef is a splurge. If we're gonna eat it, it better be good!
3 lbs lean ground beef (it's up to you how lean but since I can't brown it and drain the grease, I like to go as lean as I can afford)
1 box Stove Top Stuffing - chicken flavor
2 eggs
3 cups ketchup
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
3 Tbs chia seeds (optional - I am really into chia seeds at the moment)
To make the sauce, stir together the ketchup, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce until fully blended. Top each meatloaf generously.
Bake at 400 for 30 minutes. We serve ours with mashed potatoes and steamed mixed veggies.
Did I mention the best part? I can actually EAT this. Although I am dairy-free I can have small amounts of egg, so this is one of the few meals I can eat WITH the family! :)
Uncooked with sauce on top prior to baking.
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