Preparing for Baby #3 with 2 Months of Freezer Meals - Rigatoni Pasta Bake

Rigatoni Pasta Bake - Makes 3 Meals

 What you need:

24 ounces Rigatoni Pasta

2 pounds ground beef

2 pounds italian sausage

4 (15 oz) cans tomato sauce

2 28 oz cans crushed tomatoes

3 Tbsp tomato paste

4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1 cup finely shredded parmesan cheese

2 Tbsp garlic powser

4 Tbsp Italian seasoning

2 tsp sugar

salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot of boiling water, cook pasta according to package directions, until al dente.

Meanwhile, brown the sausage and ground beef in a large pot until crumby and cooked through.

 Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and tomato paste. 

 Stir in garlic powder, italian seasoning, sugar, salt and pepper. Allow to simmer for 5 minutes. 

 Gently, stir pasta into sauce. 

 Grease 3 8x11 baking pans with cooking spray. Add a layer of pasta to each pan. 

 Then add a layer of mozzarella and parmesan.

 Repeat layers for each pan of pasta. 

To freeze: 

Cover with aluminum foil and place in freezer with Cooking Day Directions below.

Cooking Day Directions: 

Bake in preheated to 325 oven, covered with foil for 20-25 minutes. Uncover and bake 15-20 minutes more until hot and bubbly. Enjoy!

Preparing for Baby #3 with 2 Months of Freezer Meals - Ribs with Rice

Ribs with Rice - Makes 3 Meals

Last week I got a great deal on country style ribs at the grocery store and decided to make it into 3 crockpot meals. This is adapted from my Mom's ribs which are still one of my favorite meals. We serve them over rice, with broccoli on the side-so delicious! Enjoy!

Ingredients: 

10-12 country style pork ribs (bone-in)

3 T oil

3 cup Open Pit Original BBQ sauce

6 T brown sugar

6 cloves garlic, minced

1 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce

                                                       What to do:

 First, divide the ribs between the ones you are making today and place the rest in plastic bags.

 Then, brown the ribs in oil. 

 Meanwhile, mix all the other ingredients in a bowl. Place browned ribs in crockpot and pour 1/3 of all other ingredients over the ribs in the crockpot.

Divide the rest of the sauce mixture and pour into plastic bags. 

Cook ribs in crockpot for 6-8 hours on low. 

Day of cooking freezer meals:

Thaw overnight in refrigerator. Pour contents of plastic bag into crockpot and cook on low 6-8 hours or until falling off the bone.

Preparing for Baby #3 with 2 Months of Freezer Meals - Teriyaki Chicken with Rice

Teriyaki Chicken with Rice - Makes 2 Meals 

This was such an easy and yummy meal, I am looking forward to having it again! I've been really tired the last few days and it feels like so much work to even clean the house so I am really appreciating how easy these meals are. I can't even imagine once this baby is born how exhausted I'll be! ; ) 

 What You’ll Need: Recipe Makes 2 Meals

• 6-8 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
• 1/2 cup Soy Sauce
• 1 cup teryaki sauce
• 6 tbsp. packed Brown Sugar
• 2 tsp. Ground Ginger
• 2 Garlic Clove, Minced
• 1/2 tsp. Black Ground Pepper
• 1 can of Pineapple tidbits
• 1 tsp crushed red pepper

What You’ll Do:

Combine all ingredients and put half into crockpot and put half in the labeled freezer bag. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. Serve over rice.

On day of cooking 2nd meal: let thaw in refrigerator overnight, pour into crockpot and cook on low for 4-6 hours.

Preparing for Baby #3 with 2 Months of Freezer Meals - Divine Chicken

Divine Chicken - Makes 2 Meals

Divine Chicken (Recipe adapted from:  http://www.ringaroundtherosies.net/2012/04/more-freezer-cooking-meals-part-3.html )

4 lbs. chicken breasts

4 cups baby carrots

4 cups fresh broccoli (chopped)

2 onions

salt/pepper to taste

2 cans of cream of chicken soup (add 1 each at cook time)

2 cups milk (add 1 each at cook time)

Split everything into two containers. shake it up, seal, label and put in the freezer. Instructions for Container: Add 1 cream of chicken soup and 1 cup of milk, cook on low 6 hours or high 3 hours. Serve over rice or egg noodles.

Preparing for Baby #3 with 2 Months of Freezer Meals - Day 9 - Freezer Macaroni

 Freezer Macaroni - Makes 3-4 Meals

It's been 9 days since I started doing this and my freezer is already full! I'm having to use the freezer in the garage. There is something about a full freezer that just makes me feel comforted…lol. Today's meal was so yummy that my 2 year old had second helpings! 

What You'll Need:

• 4 cups uncooked elbow macaroni 
• 1 pound medium or sharp grated cheddar cheese. 
• 2 cups milk
• Salt to taste

What You'll Do:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grate the cheese and set it aside. 

Cook the macaroni in 4 quarts of salted water, following the package instructions for al dente. The noodles will continue to cook in the casserole and you don't want them to get overcooked. Drain. 

 Add 4 cups of the grated cheese.

 Add the milk and salt.

 Mix it all together.

 Spray your containers with Pam. I used smaller containers so that we don't have tons of leftovers and it made 5 meals. Label the lids with day of cooking instructions. Add the mac and cheese to the containers. 

 Sprinkle with the rest of the shredded cheese.

 Place in preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

 To freeze: remove from oven and cool to room temperature. Place in freezer. 

Reheating instructions: Remove casserole from the freezer and place it in the oven (do not preheat). Then turn the oven to 350 degrees and heat for 45-60 minutes until hot and bubbly. Enjoy!

Baby Book using a Smashbook

How to Make a Baby Book Using a Smashbook

Smashbooks are super cheap and can be found at any craft store. I think I paid about $10 for this one. The book comes with a black pen with a glue stick on the other end. You'll also want a good pair of scissors. I also love using different color fine point sharpies for journaling. 

I like using them as scrapbooks because you can keep all the extra keepsakes besides photos in them using pockets, paperclips, or just taping them in. I got the pink letters for Hana's name at Michaels on sale. 

I added my ultrasound pictures and a couple stickers. 

Then, I put the invitation that Heather made for our Sprinkle in it as a keepsake. I also put all the pictures from the Sprinkle in it like a normal scrapbook.

I think this is a really great keepsake for Hana because it is in my own handwriting. I am going to put the hospital bracelets in here. I will also put the hospital pictures from when she is born in here as well. This is way faster than actual scrapbooking because each page already has a cute background so all you have to do is glue or tape pictures and keepsakes in and write about them. 

Have you ever made a Smashbook? Let us know if have!

Preparing for Baby #3 with 2 Months of Freezer Meals - Day 7 - Crockpot Pot Roast with Veggies

Crockpot Pot Roast with Veggies - Makes 2 Meals

Ingredients:

1 6lb beef pot roast

2 carrots

2 celery stalks

1 large onion

4 lcoves garlic, cut into chunks

1 tsp italian seasoning

1 tsp coarse salt

1/4 tsp ground pepper

1 liter beef broth

Instructions:

Cut pot roast in half and put half into labeled plastic bag along with half of the rest of the ingredients. Put in freezer. 

 Put other half into crockpot, cover and let cook on low for 6-8 hours.

I served it with egg noodles but you could also serve with mashed potatoes. On day of cooking for other half of roast, just thaw overnight, put in crockpot and cook for 6-8 hours on low. Enjoy!

Preparing for Baby #3 with 2 months of Freezer Meals - Day 5 - Spaghetti Sauce

Spaghetti Sauce - Makes 6 Freezer Meals

Ingredients:

5 pounds Ground Beef 

3 Tablespoons Olive Oil

2 whole Large Yellow Onions, Diced

2 whole Green Bell Pepper, Seeded And Diced

6 cloves Garlic, Minced

1 cup beef broth

1 (28 ounce) can Diced Tomatoes

2 cans (28 Ounce) Crushed Tomatoes

1 can (small, 4-ounce) Tomato Paste

1 jar Good Storebought Marinara Sauce 

1 teaspoon Ground Oregano

1 teaspoon Ground Thyme

4 whole Bay Leaves

2 Tablespoons Sugar

2 teaspoons Kosher Salt

1/2 teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper (optional)

1/4 cup Finely Minced Fresh Parsley (or 3 Tablespoons Parsley Flakes), More To Taste

2 pounds Spaghetti, Cooked Al Dente And Tossed With Olive Oil

What to do:

 In a large pot over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef until totally browned. Remove meat from pot with a slotted spoon and put into a bowl. Set aside.

 Discard any grease in pot, but do not clean the pot. Drizzle in olive oil. When it is heated, throw in the diced onion and diced bell pepper. Stir it around for 1 1/2 minutes, then add the garlic. Stir and cook for an additional minute.

 Pour in the beef broth and allow it to bubble up and reduce for about 1 1/2 minutes. 

 Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and marinara sauce. 

 Stir to combine, then add oregano, thyme, sugar, salt, bay leaves, and crushed red pepper (if using). 

 Stir, then add cooked ground beef and stir to combine. Place the lid on the pot and allow to simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Add a little water or some broth if it needs more liquid.

 Using a large ladle spoon the spaghetti sauce into plastic bags. 

 Let as much air out as possible and then stack flat in freezer.

 Serve over spaghetti noodles with a little parmesan on top. SO DELICIOUS!!

To use frozen sauce: thaw overnight and pour into a pot to warm.