Freezer Crock Pot Meals- Prep Day

One of my New Year Resolutions...

was to figure out a better system for cooking/cleaning.

Now that I have a crowd...

(a husband, a 4 yr old, 2 yr old and 7 week old)

I knew that I needed a plan to tackle feeding this crew that made it easier and saved us money.

There were far too many nights it would be 5 and

I would have no clue what I was going to make for dinner.

This new system of Freezer Crock Pot Meals has helped TREMENDOUSLY!!!

It saves you time..because the meals are prepped and ready to go....

And it saves you money! Each of my 17 meals only cost us $4.00!

Each recipe gives our family 2 meals...one even 3 meals!

So one day of cooking and I have 17 meals taken care of!

Below I've listed the recipes (sourcing the original recipe)

You can download the RECIPES and FREEZER BAG DIRECTIONS here to print...

along with the GROCERY LIST sorted by sections for easy shopping.

Be sure to check over the list because you most likely already have many of the items!

*I added crock pot liners to the list...because they are AMAZING.*

Now I think that some people might do the Prep Work at night..when hubby is home.

But lately my 7 week old is super fussy at that time..and If I'm not holding/nursing him..

I just want to relax by the end of the day! So my plan is to do most of the prep

(even if it's divided up) during one day. I'm realistic in that it will take me a while...

and probably will be interrupted by melt downs..nap time.. and tea parties..

but It is do able and will be worth it. (Be sure not to leave meat out.

I saved that part to when I knew I could cut/bag/refrigerate without interruptions.)

Here's how your first attempt at

Freezer Crock Pot Meals should go:

First...start the morning off with a dance party to t swift.

mom hair..wet hair on top of head..is not required. but c'mon... I look good.

Then.. let the kids destroy the house while you chop everything up!

(You can clean the family room up later while they make a mess in their room.)

Hopefully at least one of the bambinos will co-operate and sleep..

occasionally push the battery dead swing with your foot to keep baby asleep...

Take a break to make "lunch" for kids..... be hilarious.

"Girl Faces" will probably be requested. Now that your kids know you are funny you

will never be able to serve a boring lunch again without a revolt.

you have no one to blame but yourself for that.

Label your Gallon sized ziplock bags with each Recipe...

Including the cook time/heat level..and any directions for when you are cooking.

(My husband "made" dinner..and was able to read the bag and make it happen

while I nursed baby. perfecto. mission accomplished.)

These are the recipes that I chose to make for my

first try at Freezer Crock Pot Meals.

I did 3 tried and true favorites..and 4 new ones.
If you are wanting to pick just a few of these recipes...
go with the Chicken and Dumplings..Pulled Pork..and Lasagna. they are our favorites!
Our Picky eater, Sienna, LOVES the cheesy chicken and rice.. and we all LOVE the chicken and dumplings. I just pulled that out to make up tomorrow night. :)

I suggest purchasing most of your items at a store like Aldi's or Bottom Dollar.

However, When I decided to try this out..it was new years day...
so Aldi's was closed and I did my shopping at Giant Eagle.
I think I could have spent a lot less shopping at Aldi's or with coupons.
This time though.....I spent $68.00 for 17 meals...
equaling out to $4.00 per meal for my family.
(The lasagna bag gives 2 meals of lasagna with extra meat sauce for a pasta meal!)
My new routine is to pull out a frozen bag and put in fridge the
night before (at bed or when I'm finishing up dinner) so that it is thawed and ready to go the next day. You could put plenty of these in frozen...it would just take longer to cook obviously.
As far as leftovers with these meals... I love that you can use the pulled pork another day for tacos.. and change up the extra lasagna meat sauce with a different type of pasta. You could divide up even more the soup or the cheesy chicken potatoes if you add more potatoes.

Here are the original recipes I used this time around.

Be sure to download the grocery

and recipe list above for how I made them up!

Chicken & Dumplings

Beef Barley Stew

Curry Chicken

Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli & Potatoes

Lasagna/Pasta Sauce

Cheesy Chicken and Rice

PULLED PORK

This was my first try and I'm
happy to share what we did!
If I can do it, a mama with babies at her feet and in her arms, so can you!
I'm excited to put this new system into work at our house.
Sophie kept asking me what I was doing...
I told her I was cooking all day so that later in
the week I could play instead of cook!
She was all about that idea. I think she cheered. ;)


ADDED FEBRUARY 18TH:

MY NOTES ON MY FIRST TRY AT FREEZER CROCK POT MEALS.

** LOVE the Chicken and Dumplings..always have.

that's why I'm doubling it this next time.

**not a fan of the chicken and rice. too..thick.

**red potatoes turned brown only in ONE of the recipes.. wierd.

So this next time I put the potatoes in a seperate freezer bag to do a little trial..

and see if they turn brown or not. if they do..I'll just throw in some fresh when it's time.

**Pulled Pork last time was yummy to use for tacos.. but we really like it with barbecue the most. So I went ahead and poured in the Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue sauce right away this time. :) LOVEEE eating the barbecue pulled pork on tacos with cheese.

it's delicious. trust me.