ONCE a MONTH COOKING.. a Hamburger Session

Once a Month Cooking ... Hamburger Session brought to you by www.apronmadness.com

All these recipes can be doubled or tripled & freeze in 1 meal size.

Meatloaf
2 lb gr. beef
1 c. crushed soda crackers
1 egg
1 envelope onion or beefy onion soup mix
1/2 c milk
1 med. size carrot

Blend carrot and milk to pulp. Mix together with all ingredients.
Make loaf & bake at 350 for an hour or so... till cooked thru
To Freeze.. package in zip bags. Label and freeze.
To Serve.. Thaw in fridge.... bake 350 * or slice & Nuke till heated

Basic Meatballs
1 lb. ground beef
1/4 cup fine, dry bread or cracker crumbs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 small onion, chopped
1 egg
1 tablespoon oil

In medium bowl, combine all ingredients except oil; mix well. Shape into 1 1/2 to 2 inch balls. In large skillet, brown meatballs in hot oil; drain. Add desired sauce to meatballs, cook as directed in recipe.
Tip: To brown in oven, arrange in un-greased shallow baking pan; bake at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes or until browned.

Cocktail Meatballs: Shape into 1 inch balls; continue as directed above. Makes 24 meatballs.

To Freeze.. Flash Freeze on a pan and then bag together. To Serve.. Just add to any sauce or recipe as needed. OR heat in gravy & serve over mashed potatoes.

*** if you use saltine crackers you don't need to use salt.. 1 sleeve of saltines is one cup of crumbs..

Pasties (meat & veggy pies)

Use premade pie dough (pillsbury type tubes)
Now this is all to taste so I don't have any exact measurements.
In a bowl mix 1 or 2 lbs raw hamburger...
Salt & pepper
About 1/2 -1 onion chopped
Appx 1 cup chopped carrots
appzx 1 cup small cubed potatoes
mix all together.

Roll out pie dough in about 8 inch circles. On half the circle put on about 1 cup mix ... use water on edge, fold over & seal with a fork. poke a couple little holes in dough. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet 350 degrees for about 50-60 minutes. Cool & flash freeze on a cookie sheet. Then put in zip bags. To Serve ... bake about 20 min... till heated thru.

Pre-Cooked Basic Ground Beef
Next make the recipes that call for cooked ground beef. Cook ground beef with garlic and onions. You can use the dehydrated onions and use the crushed garlic from a huge jar.

When the ground beef is cooked (about 5 lb. at a time) Start making the packages that call for cooked ground beef. First rinse the fat off in a big colander, then bag meat 2 cups at a time.

Ideas to use the Pre-Cooked Basic Ground beef... use this on pizza for pizza night, in spaghetti sauce, or for hamburger gravy , tacos and more. Very versatile to have in the freezer.

Noodle stroganoff

2c. cooked ground beef seasoned with onion and garlic
1 large can (8 oz) canned mushrooms
1 can beef broth
3 Tblsp Lemon Juice
3 Tblsp red wine
To Freeze.. bag together, label, date and freeze..
To Serve.. defrost.. add 3 cups noodles. Cook till noodles are tender.. then stir in 1c. sour cream warm slightly and serve...

ONCE a MONTH COOKING.. a Chicken Session

Once a Month Cooking... Chicken Recipes brought to you by www.apronmadness.com

For the next 5 recipes.... you will want apprx 4-5 whole chickens.
Wash & pat dry all chickens.
Season each with a mixture of butter (margarine) season salt, onion powder & garlic salt. Rub on outside & loosen skin & tuck butter mixture under skin over breasts, thighs & drumsticks.
Now roast on the grill... you can use the "beer can" style roasting or in a big roast pan in the oven... 450 degrees for 50-60 min. Till done. Let rest on cutting board to cool.
Now look at the following recipes (or your own) & see what parts you will need for each recipe.

Pineapple Chicken Freezer Recipe
1/4 cup butter/margarine
1 green pepper, sliced
1/3 cup flour
1 cup milk
1 cup chicken broth
1 1/2 lbs cooked chicken, diced
1 12oz can pineapple chunks, drained

Heat butter in skillet and stirfry peppers for 5 minutes. Remove peppers but leave remaining melted butter in skillet. Add flour to skillet, stirring until mixed. In a bowl combine milk and chicken broth, then slowly add to skillet, stirring well so the sauce lump free. Heat over medium heat until thick but smooth. Add cooked green peppers, then add chicken and pineapple. Add salt and pepper as desired. Cool then freeze.
On cooking day: Thaw then heat in saucepan or skillet until heated through. Serve with rice or noodles.





Chicken Divan Freezer Recipe
4 pkgs frozen broccoli (cooked according to pkg instructions)
4 cups cooked chicken, sliced
3/4 cup butter/margarine
3/4 cup flour
6 cups milk
1 cup cream
2 cups grated Parmesan
3 tbsp mustard
4 tbsp minced onion
2 oz sherry (optional)
1 tsp Worcester saucesalt & pepper (to taste)

In one large or two smaller casseroles, place cooked broccoli and top with chicken. In a saucepan melt butter then gradually add flour. Once thickened, add milk, stirring until combined. Once smooth, add remaining ingredients, stirring until heated through and cheese is melted. Pour over chicken and broccoli, cool then freeze.
On serving day:Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then bake in a preheated 400F oven for 45 minutes. Serve, sprinkling sherry over top if desired.



Chicken & Corn Tortellini Soup Freezer Recipe
1 8oz package fresh cheese tortellini
1 cup Chicken, cooked and diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cans low sodium chicken broth
1 cup frozen corn
1/4 tsp black ground pepper
2 tbsp green onion

In a large saucepan, bring 3 cups of water to a boil (you need to measure the water, since it forms part of the broth!) along with garlic. Add tortellini and cook according to package instructions (usually about 10 minutes). Lower temperature to medium-high. Add chicken or turkey broth, stir. Add corn and stir. Bring up to a boil again, and boil for 2-3 minutes. Add chicken and cook for 1 more minute, stirring well. Add green onions and pepper, stir well. Allow to cool to room temperature, then divide into equal portions in containers. Freeze.
On serving day, thaw overnight in refrigerator or you can defrost in microwave. Pour contents of container into saucepan and heat over medium high until heated through. Serve. Can sprinkle with more fresh ground pepper or Parmesan cheese when serving.



Caribbean Jerk Chicken Freezer Recipe
2 1/2 lbs chicken pieces
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp ground red pepper flakes1 envelope Italian salad dressing mix
Combine ingredients except chicken in a small bowl. Add chicken to a freezer bag, then add Caribbean Jerk mixture. Carefully move the chicken around so it is thoroughly coated, then freeze.
On cooking day, thaw in refrigerator and remove chicken pieces. Barbeque on a grill or bake in a 375 oven till heated through.



Chicken Quesadillas Freezer Recipe
These freeze well for quick snacks or even for appys for unexpected guests.

4 chicken breasts, diced
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 green pepper, diced
1 medium onion, chopped
1 15-oz can diced tomatoes
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 flour tortillas
2 cups Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese, grated

In large skillet, saute chicken with garlic powder and pepper. Remove from skillet and set aside. Next, simmer tomatoes, green peppers, onion and garlic, continuing to simmer until liquid is evaporated. Remove from skillet and set aside.
Using a small amount of olive oil, fry each side of tortillas in skillet, then place on a cookie sheet. Top four tortillas with 1/4 cup cheese, 1/4 of the chicken mixture, 1/4 of the tomato mixture, topping with 1/4 cup of cheese and second tortilla. Press gently and place in ziploc freezer bag or wrap for the freezer.
On cooking day: Preheat oven to 375F. Do not thaw! Simply place the quesadillas on the cookie sheet straight from the freezer, and bake for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is fully melted. Cut into wedges (pizza cutter works best) and serve with salsa, guacamole and/or sour cream.

ONCE a MONTH COOKING.. a Pork Session

Once a month cooking brought to you by www.apronmadness.com

PORK Session


The amounts of everything depend on the size of your family.

Roast all your Pork roasts…. All based on appx 3 lb roasts
Rub each with olive oil, minced garlic, salt, pepper & cumin
Seer ALL sides… don’t forget the ends. Hold up the roasts with tongs.
Put roasts in big roaster & fill to top of roasts with water & SLOW cook at 250 till they
Fall apart with a fork (appx 4-5 hrs) Save the water for green chili.

Now what to do with all that meat….. Here are 5 meals
Green chili with 1 roast
Enchiladas with 1 roast
BBQ pulled pork with 1 roast
Quick burritos…. 1 roast (or ½)
Pork & wild rice (or white) (other ½)

Green Chili:
1 pork roast… pulled apart
4 or more cloves minced garlic
2/3 c Olive oil (or vegetable is fine too)
1/3 c. flour
4 c Water from pork roast
2 t salt
2 cans chopped tomatoes (I squeeze canned whole thru my hands)
1 or 2 small cans of diced green chili’s
Optional: chopped jalapenos…. I start with a tsp or 2… depending on how hot you like it.

In a big pot… add oil & lightly sauté garlic & add salt. Add flour & cook till light brown… Stir Constantly.
Add water & wisk as you pour. Add tomatoes & let simmer. Add chilis & simmer more.
NOW taste…. May need more salt…garlic…peppers…
Cool & ziplock & freeze ½.

Enchiladas…..
Flour or corn tortillas… whichever you like
Salsa, Colby jack or plain Monterey jack cheese… cheddar will work ok too.
Chopped black olives… if you like.
In a 9x13 pan…. Pour a little green chili in the bottom of pan….
Warm tortillas & assemble with meat, cheese, salsa & olives
Fold ends in & roll up. Place in pan & top with green chili & cheese.
Cover with tin foil & bake at 350 for about 30 min.
Let cool….. you may flash freeze in entire pan or separate enchiladas onto cookie sheet. Flash freeze for several hours. The if separated… put in ziplocks.

To serve…. For full pan… thaw & heat in oven… thaw green chili & nuke to heat & add to top
Or serve on the side to dunk tortillas or French bread.
For separate servings…. Just that in micro. & heat.

PULLED PORK
Just shred pork… add bottle of favorite BBQ sauce… put in ziplocks & freeze.
To serve: thaw & nuke….
Make your favorite Coleslaw (I just used bagged & dressing with Miracle whip, tish of milk, tsp or so sugar & a splash of redwine vinegar or Balsamic.)
Assemble meat & coleslaw on Hamburger bun. YUM!!!!!

Burritoes….. shred meat. Warm flour tortillas…. Assemble with meat & cheese & salsa
Fold in sides & roll. Roll each in Saran wrap & put all individual burritos in ziplock.
To serve…. Take one out & thaw in microwave & nuke to heat.

Pork & Rice
I use wild rice…. But you can use white too….
Cook rice …. But instead of plain water…. Add an envelope of onion soup mix.
Shred or slice pork….. put all in a casserole dish & heat.
Cool & freeze like enchiladas.
Serve the same way. You can add soy sauce or cooked broccoli if you like.

ONCE a MONTH COOKING.. a Breakfast Session

Once a Month Cooking brought to you by www.apronmadness.com

Today I am starting with Breakfast meals. Kids or Hubby can grab... nuke & have a fast healthy breakfast.

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Sandwiches... pocket sandwiches... burittos & more. All are great for a fast breakfast.

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Ingred: (all amounts will totally depend on your family size & how many of each item you want) breakfast sausage, eggs, potatoes, onions, cresent dough, biscuit dough (pillsbury type works great) , bacon, tortillas, cheese (both slices & shredded... your choice of flavor). ... leftover ham & green peppers (optional)

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In 1 fry pan... cook up most of the sausage .... with the rest, cook some patties for sandwiches.

Wash & quarter potatoes.... start them boiling. When fork tender... drain, cool & shred. Add salt & pepper.

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In another fry pan... saute chopped onions, ham & green peppers (all optional to your taste)

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One more fry pan & cook bacon

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In a bowl... scramble a couple dozen or so eggs. Salt & pepper (don't cook yet)

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Bake biscuits according to directions.

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NOW... assembly time. First in a baking dish... grease the bottom & spread shredded potatoes. Layer with some cooked sausage, pour in a layer of raw eggs, sprinkle with onion mix if you want & top with shredded cheese. over with foil & bake at about 375 till eggs are cooked.

Now once its done... let cool & then cut in about 3x3 inch squares. Flash freeze (leave in pan... put in freezer for a few hrs... till frozen) then pop out & put 1 or 2 squares in each ziploc & put back in freezer.

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While that is baking....

Make some scrambled egg "patties". In a small fry pan, pour a little egg in & as it's cooking, lift the edges & sorta pour the egg to the edge. Once you have it almost fully cooked... flip in half & in half again. If you don't want them that thick... fold in half, flip on plate & cut in half.

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Assemble the cut baked biscuit, egg, slice of cheese & either sausage patty or bacon. Wrap each in wax paper & put a few in ziplocks... label with sharpie.

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Now you can scramble the rest of eggs... add onion mixture, rest of sausage, any bacon & cheese.

For Breakfast Burritos ... Warm tortilla & add mixture & some shedded potatoes if you like. Fold up a sides, roll & wrap in wax paper. Put a few in each ziplock, label & freeze.

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For Breakfast Pockets ... open cresent dough. seal 2 triangles to make a square. Put egg mixture on 1/2 & fold dough over & seal. Bake according to package dough directions. Let cool... put on a plate of cool cookie sheet & flash freeze. (put plate or sheet of cooled pockets in the freezer for a few hours. When frozen, put them in a ziplock... label & freeze.

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*** You can also make a batch of pancakes or waffles & freeze with a piece of wax paper between each. Then just nuke for 20 seconds or so.

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Now you have enough breakfast items for a month. All you have to do it take out what you want & either defrost & heat in microwave or put on a sheet & bake till hot.

ONCE a MONTH COOKING

Welcome to Time & Cost Saving tips with “Once a month cooking” Brought to you by www.apronmadness.com

For the next few days... I will be posting recipes for different OAMC sessions.

Getting Started…

Healthy Meals & FAST is the name of this game. Forget the yukky fast food & Pizza delivery just because you don’t have time to cook a healthy meal for your family!

OAMC.. Mega Cooking.. Bulk Cooking.. Freezer Meals.. What does all this mean? This is about preparing food ahead... especially for the freezer but also canning, drying, shopping in bulk and lots of money saving ideas. Special occasions & different times of the year are ALWAYS the best times to plan ahead & stock up on those HUGE specials!!!

Even though this is called “Once a Month” …. You can plan your own schedule. I mostly do 2 weeks worth of meals in a weekend. OR you can do a few meals from that Turkey that is ALWAYS a great deal at Thanksgiving…. Then when you do other meals, just double the recipies & put half in the freezer for another time. But at this time I will give “lessons” on full sessions.

OAMC is also a terrific time to spend with kids…. Family or friends! Plan an entire session for as many families as you want. The kids LOVE to help assemble…. Stir… or make Meatballs! Be prepared for a tiring weekend… have good tennis cuz your feet WILL get tired… BUT it will be worth it for the next 2 weeks or a month!

♦ Helpful things to have on hand before you get started…..
Lots of Ziplocks… both quart and gallon size
Plenty of Aluminum pans (I get a bunch at the dollar stores)
Plastic “rubbermaid” type freezer containers with covers… assorted sizes. Also found at dollar store.
& IF you want…. I have a Foodsaver Vacuum Sealer & plenty of bag rolls. I use rolls so I can cut to size.
Sharpie pens & freezer tape

One last thing…. PLENTY OF FREEZER SPACE!



Planning:
You will find some sample forms in our files… feel free to print out & use.
A week or 2 before your “Cooking weekend”

#1: Fill out the weekly menu as a “preview”…. Start with Dinner first since these are the main meals. You can always change it but this will assure that you will not be eating chicken 4 night in a row…. Just Keep in mind the specials at the store. If sales are on different pork… you may want to add extra pork meals… etc.

#2: Look up recipes for each meat type. Re: if you have 3 hamburger dinners listed…. Find 3 different hamburger recipes.

#3: Looking at your recipes… Start your shopping list. Be sure to count how many chickens… lbs of beef … pork etc.

#4: Go thru the Newspaper! Look for what & where the sales are for your items. Also don’t forget to clip the weekly coupons for additional savings!!!

Tomorrow we will start with a Breakfast Session