Day 2: Freezer Meals

Chicken Broccoli Rice

total time ~3 hours

Total cost = $18.67/8 meals ($2.34 an 8*8 pan)

makes 8 8*8 pans worth

10c cooked white rice - this is about 3 1/3 cups dry rice ($5.97/10lbs bag at Aldi, ~$1.50 used)
4c cooked chicken, cubed  ($1.89/lb and used one $9.54 package)
4c lightly steamed broccoli ($1.89/pk and used 2 packs)
2 cans Cream of Mushroom ($.49/can at Aldi)
2 cans Cream of Chicken   ($.49/can at Aldi)
4c Shredded Cheddar ($1.89 a 4c bag at Aldi)

Combine in a large bowl and mix well.  (I tried to mix by hand but it was too much.  My Kitchenaid worked well and it also shredded the chicken and broccoli into fine bits which I like)

Divide into 4 ziptop freezer bags and freeze flat.  (I always freeze flat to save freezer space and make storage easier)


To Serve:
Thaw in fridge ~8 hours
Put into a greased casserole dish.  (The way I portioned it out with 4 huge scoops per bag, 1 bag will fill an 8*8 pan so 2 bags would work well in a 9*13 dish.)  Sprinkle with extra cheese on top if you would like too as you can never go wrong with more cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes and enjoy!


***This recipe is approved by my toddler.

Here is the "mixture" after being blended with my Kitchenaid.

Here is 1 bag's worth in a 8*8 pan

 If you use the glass from a blender without the top or bottom it will hold your bag up nicely without getting anything in the seal area.

Day 1: Freezer Meals

Chili and Shepherd's Pie

Chili 

total time ~30 minutes

total cost = $4.28 

($6.73 if I had to buy all the items)

My chili recipe I already have posted on here even though I never follow a recipe.  This time I tossed in the below ingredients.  I sprinkle cumin and chili powder across the top in a light layer and stir in.  A few hours later if it is not as "chili" tasting I add more cumin and chili powder.  Do not be fooled.  It is the cumin that give chili the taste you are used too and not the chili powder.

3 cans kidney beans - 15.5oz (WIC from many months ago)
cumin (had on hand)
chili powder  ($1.79 for the entire container at Publix.  used prob $.01 worth)
1lb ground beef ($11.59 for 5.06lbs = $2.29 from Aldi)
2 cans crushed tomatoes - 28oz ($.99/each at Aldi)
2 cans sweet corn - 15.25oz (WIC from many months ago)

This made 3 freezer bags full ranging from 3.5 cups to 5 cups each.  Being made in the slow cooker I was able to make other freezer meals while this was cooking so I did not spend a lot of time on this meal.  I would say total time for prep, mixing, and bagging was less than 30 minutes.

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Shepherd's Pie

total time ~1 hour

total cost = $3.21 for the entire 8*8 pie

1 lb ground beef ($2.29 total, from Aldi)
1 can corn ($.49 from Aldi)
4 tbs butter ($1.89 for 45oz at Aldi so less than $.05 used in this recipe)
4 Russet Potatoes ($1.89 for 10lbs at Aldi)

Peel, cut up, and boil potatoes.  Brown the meat in a pan.  Drain potatoes once they are fork tender.

Add butter, milk, salt, and pepper to potatoes.  Beat them until smooth.  (I used my Kitchenaid mixer for this part and it made them super smooth.  Do not over cook them.  I got caught up in the chili and they got a little too soft.)

Line an 8*8 pan with foil to be able to freeze and still have the pan to use again. Place the meat on the bottom, then the corn, and then top with the potatoes.   Once frozen you can remove the pie from the pan and just leave it in the freezer.

To cook it:
Thaw in the fridge and then bake at 350 degrees F for 20-30 minutes until the top is brown.


***side note***
I have never had Shepherd's pie but from what I was told it was just beef, corn, and potatoes.  I am going to make a few more to freeze but will add carrots and peas to beef it up a little.

Here is what it looks like before I completely spread the potatoes over the meat and corn.

Freezer meals for under $300

I am working on making freezer meals over the course of this week to have meals for my daughter and myself for the next 3-4 months.  My total budget is $300. I will be mainly shopping at Aldi but have gone to Publix for a few things. I would love to use coupons but I do not have a printer currently.
I made two meals today in around 2 hours but that includes time to get juice for my toddler or helping her with a messy situation.
I will be listing the recipes as well as what I paid for the items so you can get an idea of what can be done.
A few of the planned meals:
Chili (recipe on this blog already)
Sheperd's Pie
Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
Sweet Potato Casserole (side dish)
Chicken Pot Pie
Stuffed Shells
Mini-meatloafs
Lasagna
Cinnimon Rolls for breakfast (a maybe)

Here is some of the ingredients I bought for these meals.  

I will update it again with photos of the meals after they are made and frozen. 

(with a toddler running around the table this is the best I could do.  The big package in the upper left is the 5lbs of ground beef.)