A few weeks ago (spring break time?) I had the brilliant idea to stock my freezer. I thought with baby on the way it would be a good idea to have some food stored away. I worked for several mornings putting away some homemade freezer food. Seriously-home cooked will always kick Stoffers behind. No matter how good their French bread pizza. :) I looked for some good recipes. I gathered most of mine from family members and from my favorite...Southern Living. After a quick Google search I quickly discovered that this is a popular topic. A lot of people are into what is called "once a month cooking or OAMC. I am not the only one who wants to have dinners ready and on hand. I found some great links from a blog "Money Saving Mom" Where she had a post (posts?) on this very topic! So check the links out and also enjoy some recipes from my lovely family members!
Ingredients:
6oz Spaghetti
2 Tb. butter or margarine
1/3 cup grated Parmesan
2 well-beaten eggs
1 lb. ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1 8 oz. can tomatoes
1 6 oz. can tomato paste
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
1 cup ricotta or cottage cheese
1/2 cup grated mozzarella
Cook spaghetti, stir in butter and Parmesan cheese. Let it cool for a few minutes before stirring in the eggs. Put spaghetti into pie plate making it the "crust". Cook ground beef, onion and peppers. Stir in tomatoes, paste, sugar, oregano and garlic salt. Spread ricotta cheese over the spaghetti and fill with the sauce. Bake in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes, sprinkle top with mozzarella cheese and bake for 5 more minutes.
Notes: Pie can be frozen. (Bake longer, make sure middle is hot)
The ground beef can be left out for a vegetarian dish.
You could also use your own sauce recipe instead of the one in the dish.
Mom's Manicotti
Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic finely chopped
4 cups tomato juice
1 6oz. can tomato paste
2 teaspoons oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon pepper
16 oz. mozzarella
15 oz. ricotta
10 oz. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
2 eggs
1/2 cup Parmesan
Manicotti shells
Brown meat with onion and garlic. Pour off fat. Stir in two cups tomato juice, tomato paste, oregano, sugar, salt and pepper. Simmer. To prepare filling combine: 8 oz. mozzarella, ricotta, spinach, eggs and parmesan. Mix well. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stuff uncooked manicotti shells, arrange in 9x13 pan. Spoon meat sauce evenly over shells. Pour remaining tomato juice evenly on top. Cover with foil. Bake 1 hour (maybe even longer, especially if frozen). Remove from oven and top with remaining mozzarella. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.
Susan's Chocolate Cool Bars
(Try these--so good!)
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups chocolate waffer crumbs (I use Oreos)
1/4 cup melted butter or magarine
2 packages (4 oz. each) Baker's German Sweet Chocolate
1/3 cup milk
1 package (3 oz.) cream cheese, softened
13 oz. cool whip
Combine crumbs and butter. Put in bottom of 9x13 or 9 inch square pan.
Can save part of Baker's chocolate to shave on top. In saucepan melt chocolate in milk. Whisk in cream cheese until melted. Cool 5 minutes. Fold in 3 1/2 cups of Cool Whip. Put over crumbs. Put remaining Cool Whip on top and grated chocolate on top. Freeze until firm--about 2 hours.
* I would love it if you would post your favorite freezer meal! *
