{"id":5674,"date":"2016-10-27T18:17:21","date_gmt":"2016-10-27T22:17:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thatorganicmom.com\/?p=5674"},"modified":"2021-03-08T13:30:30","modified_gmt":"2021-03-08T18:30:30","slug":"prep-planning-thm-freezer-meals-for-the-busy-mama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thatorganicmom.com\/prep-planning-thm-freezer-meals-for-the-busy-mama\/","title":{"rendered":"Freezer Meals for the Busy Mama PLUS menu plan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Prep Planning  Freezer Meals for the Busy Mama will help stock your freezer with minimal work. Not only are these meals easy to prep, they taste delicious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recently, I realized that I needed to stock my freezer with meals that I could just dump into my crockpot or instant pot on days when I was not energetic, motivated, or when I was too busy to think.  These meals are perfect for fall and winter because they are warm and cozy type recipes that make you feel good all over!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on the size of your family this plan could make twelve dinners (or more for smaller families) or you can also freeze in smaller portions for a couple. If you don't like repetition, you can pull out one of these meals and eat it several nights in a row or take it for lunches. Since you're already in the kitchen and the meals are not cooked before freezing you can always throw some of your favorite baked recipes in the oven while you prep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Download the printable<\/a> (no pictures) version here and my suggested menu plan for using the meals is here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Freezer<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Meals prepped in one day<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

3 Shortcut Minestrone Beef Soup with or without beans* (S or E depending on beans)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3 pounds Italian Chicken – about 6-8  chicken breasts* (S or E)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3 pounds Chicken with Bell Pepper and Onion – about 6-8 chicken breasts* (S or E)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"dsc03558\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1 – Tex-Mex Turkey Chili* (E)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2 – Vegetable Soup with Turkey Meatballs* <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

EXTRA recipes I made on the same day, but these are all optional<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2 -3 batches Bust a myth banana cake p. 298, optional (E)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3 batches Donuts, family serve (tripled the recipe), optional (S)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 muffin pan full of Swiss Bread (quadruple the single serve recipe), optional (S, E, or FP)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suggested Menu (the one I followed) is included here however you can always just save your freezer meals for days when you don\u2019t feel like cooking. I enjoyed having so many days off from cooking dinner!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why prep freezer meals?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Freezer meals save money and they save time spent in the kitchen.  Buying meat and vegetables in bulk is usually<\/em> less expensive.  Preparing 10-12 dinner meals at once means less clean up during the week! Just looking in my freezer when it's full of meals ready to go makes me feel so accomplished!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"THM<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Freezer meals can be cooked before or after storing in the freezer<\/strong>.  Some freezer meals are cooked from start to finish and the cooked product is frozen then thawed and heated at a later time. The meals I have included here are not<\/strong> cooked before frozen. This is the way I prefer doing my freezer meals, although I have done my freezer meals both ways. Here\u2019s a <\/span>start to finish cooked product freezer prep<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before we get started here are a few tips to make the process easier:<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n