Baked Potato Soup by Jackie

Ingredients:
1-(2lb.) bag hash brown potatoes, or 6 left over baked potatoes (remove skin and chop)
1/2 c. celery, chopped
1/2 c. chopped onions or green onions with tops thinly sliced
1 1/2 (14 1/2 oz.) cans chicken broth (21 3/4oz. total)
2 c. milk
1 garlic clove, pressed
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1 c. light sour cream
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1-8 oz. package diced ham or 6 slices of cooked and crumbled bacon

Assembly:
Place celery, chicken broth, milk, garlic, salt and pepper in a gallon size Ziploc freezer bag.  Add  potatoes and mix. Remove all air from bag, seal and lay flat on a cookie sheet to freeze. Place cheddar cheese into pint size freezer bag and freeze. Freeze ham or bacon in pint size freezer bag. Place all 3 bags into 2 gallon freezer bag to keep it all together.  Have container of sour cream in fridge to go with this recipe.

Serving Day:
Place thawed mixture from gallon freezer bag into 6 qt. pan. Add ham and sour cream and heat until boiling. Simmer for 15 minutes.  If using bacon, sprinkle on top of each serving, along with the cheese. 



* This recipe is adapted from Pampered Chef "Main Dishes" Cookbook and was a rerun of earlier recipe made by Wendy.

Italian Steak Sandwiches by Jackie

*Adapted from http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/italian-steak-sandwiches/print#

Ingredients: 

2 Tbsp. olive oil

3 garlic cloves, minced
1/8 + 1/16 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1 lb. sliced deli roast beef
3/4 c. beef broth
3 Tbsp. red wine or additional beef broth
1 Tbsp. dried parsley flakes
1 Tbsp. dried basil
1/4 + 1/8 tsp. salt
1/4 + 1/8 tsp. dried oregano
1/8 + 1/16 tsp. pepper
6 sandwich rolls, split
6 slices provolone cheese

Assembly: 

Heat oil in large skillet. Add garlic and pepper flakes; cook and stir 1 minute. Add roast beef, broth, wine and seasonings; heat through.  Cool.  Place meat and juices into quart size Ziploc freezer bag.  Place cheese slices into Ziploc sandwich bag.  Place package of rolls, meat bag and cheese bag into 2 gallon freezer bag.  Label.  Lay flat to freeze.

Serving Day:
Thaw.  Heat meat in small pan.  Bake rolls until lightly browned.  Place beef slices on rolls; drizzle with broth mixture. Top with cheese.

Chicken, Broccoli & Bacon Pasta by Jackie

*Adapted from http://juliasalbum.com/2015/07/creamy-broccoli-chicken-and-bacon-pasta-recipe/

Ingredients: 
3 c. chicken, cooked and shredded
4 cloves fresh garlic, minced or 4 tsp. store bought, minced garlic in jar
1 c. heavy cream
1 c. milk
1 1/2 c. Kraft Italian 5 Cheese shredded cheese
12 oz fettuccine
2 cups frozen broccoli florets
1 c. cooked, bacon crumbles
1/2 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

Assembly:
Mix heavy cream, milk, and minced garlic in a small saucepan.  Bring to a boil. Add cheese and stir until completely melted. Stir in salt and pepper. Add chicken. Mix until chicken is coated.  Cool. Pour into a quart size Ziploc freezer bag.  Add bacon to a snack size Ziploc bag.  Add broccoli to a sandwich size Ziploc bag. Place all three bags into a gallon size Ziploc freezer bag and label. Freeze flat.

Serving Day:
Thaw chicken and bacon bags only.  Cook pasta according to instructions. Add broccoli during the last 4 minutes of cooking time.  Drain.  Heat up chicken bag.  Add chicken and bacon to cooked pasta. Mix gently.

Re-Run Meatball Subs by Jen

http://freezerfriendz.blogspot.com/2015/10/italian-meatball-subs-by-jen.html

Breaded Pork Chops by Beth

Adapted for freezer from http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/flavorful-breaded-pork-chops

Ingredients:
2 T. flour
4 egg whites
1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. balsamic vinegar
1/8 tsp. hot pepper sauce
3/4 c. bread crumbs
3 T. Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. ground thyme
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. paprika
6 boneless pork loin chops (1/2 in. thick)

Assembly:
Place flour in shallow dish.  In another shallow dish, beat egg whites, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, and hot sauce.  In a third dish, combine bread crumbs, cheese, and seasonings.  Coat pork chops with flour.  Dip into egg mixture, then coat with bread crumb mixture.  Place on wax paper lined cookie sheet in a single layer.  Place in freezer until frozen solid.  Once completely frozen, place in gallon size freezer bag and return to freezer.

Serving Day:
Thaw in fridge.  Place chops in greased baking dish.  Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 25-28 min. or until juices run clear.  If you bake these from freezer (which I'm sure you can do), please comment how long they took.

BBQ Chicken Pizza by Jackie

Ingredients: 
1 frozen pizza crust (I buy mine in bulk from Sam's Club at the cafe counter.)
2 c. cooked, shredded chicken
2 c. shredded cheddar and Monterrey jack cheese
14 oz. your favorite barbecue sauce (I use Montgomery Inn.)  

Assembly: 
Place pizza crust on cardboard pizza round. Cover with plastic wrap.  Cover with heavy duty aluminum foil.  Label and freeze.  Place chicken in quart size Ziploc bag.  Place cheese in sandwich size Ziploc bag.  Place both bags into gallon size Ziploc freezer bag. Label.  Freeze.

Serving Day:
Thaw all ingredients, except crust.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Unwrap crust.  Top pizza crust with sauce.  Spread evenly over crust.  Sprinkle chicken in an even layer over sauce. Sprinkle cheese evenly over pizza.  Slide off of cardboard and onto oven rack.  Bake 10 minutes or until the underside of the crust is cooked to your liking. Enjoy!

Homemade Sloppy Joes by Jackie

Adapted from Best Loved Slow Cooker Recipes

*As of May 2009, this recipe can be made gluten free by using the products in parenthesis.

One recipe makes 16 servings.

Ingredients:
3 lb. ground beef
1 c. chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced or ¼ tsp. garlic powder
1 1/2 c. ketchup (*Heinz)
1 c. chopped green pepper (I used orange peppers too.)
1/2 c. water
4T. brown sugar (*organic)
4 T. prepared mustard (*French’s)
4 T. vinegar (*red wine vinegar)
4 T. Worcestershire sauce (*French’s or Lee & Perrins)
3 tsp. chili powder

Assembly:
In large skillet, brown ground beef, onion and garlic. Cook until meat is brown and onion is tender. Drain fat. In any size crock pot, combine remaining ingredients. Stir in meat mixture. Cover and cook on Low 6-8 hrs. or on High 3-4 hrs. Allow mixture to cool.  Divide meat between two gallon-size Ziploc freezer bags.

Serving Day:Place in microwave-safe bowl. Microwave until heated through. Serve on toasted buns
.

Chicken Pot Pie by Jackie

 Ingredients:

1 pkg. refrigerated pie crust
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of potato soup
1 (16 oz.) bag frozen, mixed vegetables
2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 cup chicken broth

Assembly: 

Place one pie crust in the bottom of a half size steam table pan or glass pie plate.  Mix remaining ingredients in large mixing bowl.  Top with other pie crust.  Use sharp knife to make slits or a design on top of crust.  This is important for venting the pie. Cover with lid.  Label and freeze.

Serving Day:
Option 1 - Cook from frozen:  Preheat oven to 425.  Bake covered for 1 hour.  Uncover.  Bake another hour or until crust is golden brown and inside is bubbly.

Option 2 - Thaw first. Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes at 425. 

**Both methods: If edges start to brown early, cover them until inside is cooked through. 

Chicago Style Italian Shredded Beef Sandwiches by Jackie

*This is my variation of CHICAGO STYLE ITALIAN BEEF SANDWICHES from COOKS.COM
Servings: 12
Ingredients:
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper
1 (4 lb.) beef bottom round roast
1 tbsp. instant beef bouillon granules
1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp. dried oregano leaves
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
1/4 c. water
green pepper slices, cooked (optional)
12 (6" each) crusty Italian or French hoagie buns, split
12 slices provolone cheese

Assembly:
Combine garlic, salt and pepper; rub evenly over roast. Place roast in slow cooker. Combine bouillon granules, Italian seasoning, oregano and red pepper & water in bowl. Pour over meat. Cook on low 10-12 hours until meat is easily shredded with fork. Cool meat. Place half of the meat and juice in each of 2 Ziploc freezer bags. Place 6 buns in each of 2 gallon Ziploc freezer bags. Place 6 slices of cheese in each of 2 pint size Ziploc freezer bags. If desired, place a meat, bun and cheese bag in a 2 gallon Ziploc bag to keep the meal organized.

Serving Day:
Thaw meat, buns & cheese. Heat meat just until warm in microwave. Spread melted butter on rolls. Toast them in oven on broil. Put meat on roll. Add cooked green peppers if desired. Place cheese on top. Place in oven until cheese is melted.

Smoked Beef Sausage Primavera by Jackie

Jackie's Homemade Taco Seasoning

My kids LOVE taco Tuesday!  Since today is Cinco de Mayo and it happens to fall on a Tuesday, how could I not make tacos?!!  Over the last year, I have been trying to perfect a homemade taco seasoning for my family and we have settled on this recipe.  We like our tacos not too spicy and not too mild.  This is a good middle of the road recipe. 

You may be asking why anyone would take the time and effort to make their own seasoning.  Sure, the packets are quick and inexpensive, but they are also chock full of preservatives that I'd rather not put in the food I serve to my family.  Once you try this mix, you won't want to go back.  Packaged mix now tastes like chemicals to me, since we have been eating homemade for so long.

One batch will last you quite a while.  Cook and freezer your ground beef ahead of time and you can have a great meal in about 5 minutes.


Jackie's Homemade Taco Seasoning
This recipe yields about 2 cups of mix.

Ingredients:
1 cup + 1 Tbsp. chili powder
1 Tbsp. + 2 tsp. garlic powder
1 Tbsp. + 2 tsp. onion powder
1 Tbsp. + 2 tsp. dried oregano
3 Tbsp. + 1 tsp. paprika
1/2 c. + 2 Tbsp. cumin
1 Tbsp. + 2 tsp. black pepper
1/3 c. salt

Assembly:
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.  Store in an airtight container.

Serving Day:
Season one pound of cooked ground beef with 3 tablespoons of taco seasoning.  Add 1/2c. water and mix well.  Cook until meat is heated through.

Variations: 
Want to spice it up?  Increase the amount of chili powder and black pepper and add some crushed red pepper. 

Want it more mild?  Decrease the amount of pepper.

Want it more healthy?  Decrease the amount of salt.