Freezer Meals

So I’m sure everyone has heard about freezer meals. In case you don’t know what a freezer meal is, it is basically where you prepare a crap load of meals all at once, and put them in gallon size bags and freeze them for later. Now I have read where others have gone thru and chopped up all of the vegies and placed them in bowls and then just take what they think is the correct amount and toss it in the bag. I can’t do that. I don’t know if it is an OCD thing, or if its just because I like the put a whole bell pepper in and not what I think is a whole bell pepper, (which is usually either way under or way over what it really is).

So anyways I made my monthly grocery list (yes I only go shopping once a month, because I hate grocery shopping, I do go and pick up milk and fresh vegies when needed, because then its an in and out thing), I added 6 freezer meals to make for this month.  Seems simple enough right?  Well it is, it is the getting up and actually doing it part that seems to take forever.  Let’s be honest you spend and hour or more at the store buying your groceries, then standing in line waiting to check out, then loading car, driving home, unloading car, and the funnest part of all putting it all away. If you are anything like me, you feel exhausted after all of that. So even thought you just went shopping and you have all of this food in your house you order pizza or you buy one so it can go in the oven while you are putting away the groceries.  Story of my life.

So I went shopping 6 days ago, at night, so of course I’m not preparing any freezer meals that night. Then the next day is Tuesday and those that know, it’s free paper day, so that is 700 papers to individually fold and throw to houses who do not order the daily paper. So needless to say Tuesday is out of the question.  So how about Wednesday?  Nope. I had cupcakes to bake and frost for the AJ’s class because her birthday always falls during spring break. So 48 cupcakes to bake and frost so that I can deliver them on Thursday. I actually only gave them 30 cupcakes and turned the other 18 into cake truffles for them.  I will post those pictures later.  Then time just escaped me the past two days.

So today even though I have only 4 hours of sleep and some how still going, I managed to make 6 different freezer meals. One reason was because I had the pork loin chops waiting for me in the fridge taking up spacious room.  So I threw together the Shredded Pork Tacos in the crockpot and another in a freezer bag. Then it started. I had to finish what I had started, again the OCD thing again I think.  I doubled this Chicken Broccoli and Rice recipe because what was I going to do with half a can of Cream of Celery soup?  Then I started preparing the Chicken Tortilla Stew  and even though it doesn’t say that it makes two bags, it really does.  At least for my family.  I kept everything the same except the salsa I did double that. Then I made the Chicken Taco Chili and BBQ Chicken and Veggies. And last but not least Slow Cooker Chicken Broccoli Alfredo. Now that is 10 meals in my freezer and I don’t have to do much except remember to pull them out the night before and place in fridge so that they thaw enough for my to force them into the crock pot. Besides prepping all of this one meal at a time only took me a little over two hours, but that is dealing with kids and a dog who was tangled up on his lead.  I will take a picture of the ones I have in the refrigerator freezer here shortly and add it to this post.

For the new mothers to be, this is a great way to have everything ready for when your bundle of joy comes.  Hubby can grab a bag the night before and put in the refrigerator and in the morning you can dump it in the crock pot and let it cook while you tend to your newest addition.  Each link posted above has several more recipes that you may like. I only made the ones I knew my family would really enjoy.  I hope that you enjoy them as well and that they make those hectic days that we all have a little easier, especially in the dinner department.

That is 6 out of the nine that are being frozen.

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Sorry I’ve Been Gone For So Long

So I am sure you can tell it has been several months since my last blog.  I am sorry, but I do hope that you understand that I have in my own way been morning my the loss of my mother and because of her medical history I have been having tests done on myself and having to get her records (and of course the one that I really need I get to jump through hoops for).

I will start blogging again and I will post some of the treats I have made (it isn’t a lot, just not in the mood to get back at it full time).  So please stay tuned for updates and such. I promise I will get there again.

An Apology of Sorts

I’m gonna keep this short for those that follow me. I haven’t done anything in the baking world because I have just experienced a loss in the family. My mother who was diagnosed with brain cancer back in July (2013), lost her battle on Nov. 29. She was 54. I love my mom and I do not wish this pain on anyone. Its a day by day process, some days are harder than others. I never thought she would leave, she was/is my hero and she was/is the strongest woman I know. So during this holiday season, no matter what the problem may be, always hug your loved ones just a little closer, you never know when you may lose them.

Family picture day August 3rd

Well I don’t know about you but I think pictures taken in a natural setting come out a lot better than those at a photo studio. Take these pictures for example of us just having fun, don’t you think they look great?

Ivy Nickole

AnnJewelina James

Cheyenne Lee

Kayleigh Alexandrea

The whole family minus one child

Missing Juliette Lynn in the family pics, maybe one day she will come for a visit.

The girls in the pool

Miss Kayleigh

The three older girls

Daddy and Kayleigh

Oldest and youngest

Had to do the feet shot

Third child and fifth child

Second oldest and youngest….

Well that is just a few of the pictures we had taken (there are over 150).  Memories for our little/big family.

I do realize that some of these pictures are on a previous post, but what can I say, I love these pictures.

P.S. Thank you Jenn for taking such wonderful pictures of my family.

Just catching up

I do realize it has been some time since I have written. Let’s see school started a month ago YAY! I couldn’t have been more excited for August 5th to come. Out of the five children only one started school that day.  She started fourth grade this year. Let’s just say its going to be a struggle to get her to pass.  Went to parent/teacher conference already on Thursday and the is failing every class.  Funny thing is she brought home A’s and B’s last year, so I’m thinking it’s just a focus thing.

AnnJewelina on the first day of school.

Then on August 7th we put both teenagers on planes to send them back to their homes. It was great having them here. I had fun dying my child’s hair and had fun in the kitchen making bread and cookies. As for the oldest she was doing her summer reading for her junior year and her ROTC schedule.  Miss having the older kids around, we were able to do more things with them. Next summer right?

Cheyenne and her dad at the airport.

Ivy and myself at airport.

As for Kayleigh she is her usual self. She has started talking more which is great because she is almost three and doing things at her pace. Seriously the didn’t start walking till she was 18 months old. She does what she wants when she is ready. Love that baby.

Her little evil grin.

Will post more from our family picture day.  I do think everyone had fun that day.

Sad day

Well the older girls left today at noon…they return back to their home and now again hobby and I are heavy hearted. I had a great time with Ivy, we baked a couple of times and she helped with dinner once. I think she will like being in the kitchen like me. Cheyenne, I believe had a good time…hung out with her dad and went to his softball game. (Me, Ivy and the other two went the week before, but were eaten alive by mosquitoes so we didn’t go the same time as Cheyenne.)

I can’t wait till be get them together again. Family pictures was a blast and we need to do it more often. I miss them already. Wish they could have stayed much longer. Maybe next year.

Movie Time

So it’s been a couple of days since I last wrote…will That’s because I drove to California on Monday to see my mom and happy to say she is in good spirits (that’s a long story), and to pick up my step daughter. It was a long 5 hour drive there, I had a 2 year old screaming (because that is what she has learned from my 9 year old) in the back seat. Then another 5 hour drive home which wasn’t too bad.

Glad to have 4 out of 5 girls here, but AJ is completely out of control…now I understand that she has A.D.H.D. borderline A.D.D. but she is good for everyone else but where it matters the most. I now have older children who don’t want to visit because of her lack of respect and the constant yelling. I sound like a mean mother but one day i wish the cops would just come and pick her up so she would learn yelling is not the way. Neither is stomping and running off, after someone asks a question. My house is becoming unbearable. I love my daughter but I can’t take her anywhere because of the attitude and disrespect.

On a good note we took the teenagers to see

”

The Conjuring

”

…scary movie to me…but i love based on a true story movies. But, and I won’t ruin it for anyone, after seeing this I can say I know why they waited 30 years before telling their story.

Enjoying a late lunch

Kayleigh and Ivy and mom…a peaceful and well deserved lunch with 2 of my daughters.

I love my kids.

my 5 girls

Our 5 girls

This is why I am wonder mom, all of these beautiful girls.  From the top left, Ivy, Cheyenne, middle, Kayleigh, bottom left Juliette and AnnJewelina