Frugal New England Kitchen

Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore | Easy Freezer Meal Recipes for Slow Cooker

2012-05-10T01:27:24Z

By using your crockpot or slow cooker more often, take advantage of sales on beef and chicken, and try making several cheap crock pot recipes such as this Freezer Crockpot Chicken Cacciatora.

Meal Planning Helps Lower The Grocery Bill

I’ve been trying to take advantage of B1G1 grocery sales on meat and chicken lately to make ahead using easy freezer meal recipes. Usually I cook dinner for two at night, but even though my family is grown, our grocery bill expenses haven’t gone down since when the kids lived at home. I still prepare most of my large meals on the weekends, and have everyone over for Sunday dinner, holidays and special occasions.

How many trips do you make to the grocery store each month? How many of those are planned? You could be spending extra money each month by taking those unplanned trips. Planning your meals ahead of time can take the impulse shopping out of your grocery budget.

Crockpot Easy Meals

Another kitchen tip is that I’ve been doing some OAMC and preparing some frozen meals starters ahead and put them in a freezer bag. Saves me time as most of the prep work is then done ahead.

Make Ahead Freezer Meals

I’ve been trying to become more organized at home and have actively started participating in some Fly Lady Facebook groups and also checking out Pinterest to pick up some organizing tips, and frugal freezer meal and recipes.

It only took me about one hour to chop all the veggies and chicken to put together two chicken slow cooker recipes that I could use throughout the month to save time and money. I bought some celery, zucchini, red peppers, green bell peppers, onions and chicken breasts. Once assembled and in the freezer, after I plan my menu for the week, I take the frozen meal out of the freezer, thaw it overnight in the fridg and the next morning dump it all into my slow cooker, set it on low, and I’m good to go for the day! All I have to do is prepare the pasta. A healthy home made dinner will be be on the table in less than 30 minutes when I get home after work! Now that’s organization!

Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore

Crockpot Chicken Cacciatora | Freezer Meals | Slow Cooker Recipe

Recipe type: Crockpot, Slow Cooker, Meals, Dinner, Chicken, Italian

Cook time: 6 hours

Total time: 6 hours

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

3 lbs chicken breasts, cut up in pieces
1 large onion, thinly sliced
2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
6 ounces (one can) sliced mushrooms
1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
1 green zucchini squash, chopped
1 red pepper, finely chopped
1 can Diced Tomatoes
2 -4 garlic cloves, minced
1 package Good Seasonings Italian Salad Dressing Mix
1 Tbl. Lawry’s Seasoned Salt
1 Tbl. Old Bay Seasoning for Poultry mix
2 Tbl. Kraft Minute Tapioca
Cooked, pasta, spaghetti, linguine or egg noodles (if desired)
2 one-gallon Zip-Lock Freezer bags

Instructions

Trim any fat off chicken. Cut chicken into 1 inch cubes.
Chop and dice veggies
Divide into two portions and add everything to freezer bags, shaking well.
Release air from freezer bags.
Mark freezer bags with date and type of meal.
Cook in slow cooker on low for 6-8 hours
Serve over pasta of choice

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Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore | Easy Freezer Meal Recipes for Slow Cooker is a post from: Frugal New England Kitchen | Grandparents And Grandkids | Connecticut Mom Blogger

Crockpot Freezer Meals | Beef Stew Slow Cooker Recipe | Home Organization

2012-04-22T21:20:02Z

Now that I’ve transferred to a new city for my full-time job, I don’t have the convenience of being able to stop by a grocery store during lunchtime to pick up a few things for that evening’s dinner. Since I like to use my crockpot, I’m taking advantage of cooking in a crockpot by planning ahead and putting together some crockpot freezer meals such as this recipe for Freezer Crockpot Beef Stew.

Crockpot Freezer Meals

Beef prices have risen recently because of the high cost of gas and transportation. Rather than buy sirloin tips for my stew, Shoulder London Broil was on sale this week, so I bought several steaks and cut them up and cubed them myself at home.

Whether you’re a stay at home mom, or work part-time or full-time outside the home, it’s hard to get your home organized. Even if you’re a grandmother, you might be thinking you have it all covered at home since your pantry is organized immaculately and everything in your kitchen has its place. It doesn’t change the fact that you’re still busy working all day and driving kids or grandchildren to practice, running errands or taking care of your household in the evenings. Another thing you can learn to do to simplify your life is to plan your meals and cook in advance.

Meal planning and bulk cooking are both wonderful techniques you can utilize and modify to fit your families needs. The idea behind this is simple. The principle is that you cook and or prepare your meals ahead of time and then preserve them by either freezing refrigerating them. It can also help stretch your food budget dollar further, since you can cook one large meal and get two or three other meals from it with the proper planning.

Start by writing down a list of your favorite meals and plan on preparing a grocery list that will coincide with your menu. Since you’re learning to cook in bulk, your shopping list will have to change accordingly so you’re sure to have enough ingredients on hand when the time comes to do the cooking.

The most important tool in meal planning and bulk cooking is your freezer. Freezer bags are a great space saver if you have a small freezer. You can fit many in the same space of a few storage containers. Be sure to incorporate lots of quick and easy meals that your family can warm up and serve themselves in the event you’re not able to be at home for dinner or you just need to grab something that’s quick.

You’ll also learn to love your slow cooker. Experiment with different recipes and variations on your favorites. They also make easy work of cooking whole chickens or roasts which can be frozen or refrigerated for later use very easily.

You’re only limited by your own imagination when cooking in bulk for the week ahead. Factor in the time you save by not having to do a lot of after dinner cleanup or dishes, Whether you’re cooking for one, or cooking for a family, you’ll be glad you took the time to simplify your life and master this important organizational skill.

Freezer Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Crockpot Beef Stew

Recipe type: dinner, supper, crockpot, slow cooker, beef, stew

Cook time: 6 hours

Total time: 6 hours

Serves: 4-6

Freezer Crockpot Beef Stew

Ingredients

3 c. chopped onions,
2-1/2 c. coarsely chopped green bell peppers (about 2 peppers)
2 c. fresh green beans, diced
2 cups of baby carrots or diced carrots
4 cloves garlic, minced
2-3 lbs. beef stew meat, cut into one inch cubes, or whole and you can cut it after it’s cooked
4 (6-oz.) cans tomato paste
2 Tbl. of Hungarian paprika or regular paprika
1 tsp. ground black pepper
4 c. hot cooked wide egg noodles, do not add in freezer bag, cook separately, day of cooking
1/2 c. dairy sour cream, do not add in freezer bag, use as garnish on the day of cooking

Instructions

Transfer everything into two gallon freezer bags, shake it up, seal, label and put in the freezer. DO NOT add the sour cream and noodles as the sour cream is for garnishing after the meal is cooked. Cook the noodles separately according to package directions on the day of cooking.
On the day of cooking, dump bag contents into your crock pot and cook on high for 4 to 6 hours, or low 6-8 hours, depending upon your specific slow cooker.

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Crockpot Freezer Meals | Beef Stew Slow Cooker Recipe | Home Organization is a post from: Frugal New England Kitchen | Grandparents And Grandkids | Connecticut Mom Blogger

Layered Spinach Salad | Get Together Goodies | Party Food

2012-04-07T17:20:45Z

Here’s an easy and simple Layered Spinach Salad recipe that sits overnight in the refrigerator and will have your guests asking you where you got the recipe!

Whether you’re planning a Holiday breakfast brunch, birthday, anniversary or graduation party, sports banquet, PTA meeting, or backyard BBQ,

What’s a party without food? Back by popular demand, as promised, I said I’d have some ideas for a brunch buffet, wine and libations set out and waiting for you!

Layered Spinach Salad

This is one of my favorites from when I belonged to the Junior Woman’s Club, where I was a board member Recording Secretary. As a fundraiser, we put together a cookbook, and this recipe was very popular.

It’s a great healthy salad that’s quick and easy to prepare. Make it ahead of time, and let set-up in the refrigerator overnight. Present it in a pretty crystal glass trifle bowl so that you can show off the layers of your delicious creation!

The flavors just meld together and it’s always a big hit at all those summer picnics, pool parties, family gatherings and holiday buffets.

Layered Spinach Salad

Recipe type: salad, spinach, layered salad, health food, brunch, appetizer, party food

Prep time: 30 mins

Total time: 30 mins

Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

1 lb spinach, stemmed and torn
1/2 lb bacon, crumbled
6 hard cooked eggs, crumbled
1 iceburg lettuce head, torn
1 box frozen peas, thawed but uncooked
dash salt, pepper and sugar
1 Bermuda onion (medium), sliced thin
Dressing Mix:
2 c. mayonnaise
1 c. Hood sour cream
1 Good Seasons Italian Dressing envelope or Green Goddess dressing

Instructions

Preparation:
Layer in this order: spinach salt pepper bacon eggs iceburg lettuce peas sugar salt pepper onion
Frosting:
mayonnaise sour cream dressing mix. Garnish with
strips of swiss cheese. (optional)
Cover and refrigerate OVERNIGHT. This is a must. This looks so pretty served in a glass trifle bowl.

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Photo Credit: MorgueFile

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Layered Spinach Salad | Get Together Goodies | Party Food is a post from: Frugal New England Kitchen | Grandparents And Grandkids | Connecticut Mom Blogger

Sweet Raspberry Tea Cakes | Hood Sour Cream | Bundt Cake

2012-04-03T13:04:44Z

Who doesn’t love cake? They’re one of the most popular desserts for birthdays, weddings, and the holidays. We eat cake for all types of parties. Easter is just around the corner, and Spring is a busy month for my family as we celebrate 3 special occasions, so I’ll be busy in the kitchen baking several birthday cakes!

Tea Cakes

Hood is celebrating the upcoming holidays with their Sweet Raspberry Tea Cakes recipe using Hood Sour Cream and Hood Half & Half and raspberry jam that you can save and bookmark to your collection.

Sweet Raspberry Tea Cakes

Recipe type: Cake, Dessert, Bundt Cake, Raspberry Jam, Sour Cream

Cook time: 60 mins

Total time: 1 hour

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

(Cake)
1 cup Hood Sour Cream
1 cup Hood Half & Half
2 sticks unsalted butter, plus 2 tbsp to coat the pan
2 cups granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 cup seedless raspberry jam
3½ cups all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
(Icing)
2 cups confectioners sugar, sifted
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp Hood Half & Half
½ pint fresh raspberries

Instructions

Cake:
Before starting, make sure all ingredients are at room temperature.
Generously coat a large 6 cup bundt pan with 2 tbsp of unsalted butter and set aside.
Preheat oven to 325°. In a large mixing bowl, sift dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt) together and set aside.
Thin out the raspberry jam with the vanilla extract in a small bowl and set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, cream the remaining unsalted butter until smooth. Add in the sugar and beat on high until light and fluffy.
Beat the eggs in one at time, scraping down the bowl after each addition.
Mix in the Hood Sour Cream.
Add the dry ingredients in thirds, alternating with the Hood Half & Half, being careful to not over mix.
Carefully fold in ½ of the raspberry jam mixture, but do not incorporate completely.
Pour half of the batter into the prepared bundt pan.
Take the remaining raspberry jam mixture and spread it over the batter in the pan, being careful to stay away from the edges.
Pour the remaining cake batter into the pan.
Bake for one hour, or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center of the cake. Cool completely and remove from the pan.

Notes

Test with toothpick for doneness, as oven temperatures vary, and cooking times may differ.

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From the creators of the Hood New England Dairy Cook-Off, Hood is always proud to present amateur cooks the opportunity to cook up their own unique recipes.

Try out this delicious teacake recipe yourself, for a chance to win a brand new high-end Stand Mixer from Hood on their Facebook Page.

Bundt cakes and coffee cakes are easy to make, and with a simple confectioner sugar glaze, are easy to put together. Use your favorite seedless jam. Gather the grandchildren or kids in the kitchen and get them involved in learning to cook. They can help Grandmom or mom drizzle the glaze all over the cake!

There’s also an Easter Coupon to help you get started with your baking, available at hood.com/eastercoupon!

You can check out Hood or the Hood New England Dairy Cook-Off at www.hood.com

Visit on Facebook and show off your own cake creations!

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Sweet Raspberry Tea Cakes | Hood Sour Cream | Bundt Cake is a post from: Frugal New England Kitchen | Grandparents And Grandkids | Connecticut Mom Blogger