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. 

Preparing for Baby #3 with 2 Months of Freezer Meals - Day 4 - Chicken Noodle Casserole

Chicken Noodle Casserole - Makes 3 Freezer Meals

Today's meal was the perfect comfort food for a cold day like today. It reminds me of pot pie but instead of a pie crust, you use egg noodles. This made 2 freezer meals and another meal for tonight.

Ingredients:

4 cups uncooked egg noodles

4 cups cubed cooked chicken

1 32 oz package frozen peas, carrots, beans and corn

2 cups milk

2 cans Cream of Chicken Soup

2 cans of Cream of Mushroom Soup

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1 cup chopped onion

4 tbsp melted butter

1 tsp garlic salt

1 tsp Italian Seasoning

Instructions:

Cook noodles according to package directions.

 Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients.

 Drain noodles, add to chicken mixture.

 Transfer to greased 8 inch pie pans.

 On baking day: cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 10-15 minutes longer until heated through.

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

Crockpot Cranberry Pork Roast - Makes 2 Meals

Today's meals were SUPER easy and only took about 10 mins to prep tonight's dinner and 1 freezer meal. 

Ingredients:

3 1/2 lb boneless pork roast 

2 cans whole berry cranberry sauce

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup dried minced onion

cooking spray 

Directions:

1. Spray your slow cooker with cooking spray. 

2. Cut the pork roast in half and put half in the crockpot.

 3. Label freezer bag and put the other half of the roast in the ziploc bag. 

 4. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the cranberry sauce, honey, and minced onion. 

 5. Pour half over pork roast in the crockpot. 

 5. Pour the other half over the roast in the freezer bag and place in the freezer.

 6. Cook on low for 8-10 hours.

7. Shred and serve!

8. I served the pork over mashed potatoes with green beans.

On the day of cooking second freezer meal: thaw in refrigerator over night, pour into crockpot and cook on low for 8-10 hours.