I have another impromptu freezer cooking session for you today featuring ground turkey and ground beef, because we all know that being chic is being prepared!
To start the initial prep, I cooked 4lbs of ground turkey and 4lbs of ground beef. I cooked it in olive oil with sautéed onion and garlic. I added garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper for flavor. I added 4 handfuls of chopped spinach to the ground beef. (I would have added spinach to the turkey but I forgot to do so).
Please note that I am using similar ingredients in all of the recipes. They all use the same vegetables, for example. This is out of convenience. Spinach and mushrooms are not typically added to sloppy Joes, but I like to add vegetables where I can. You can omit them or substitute them for other vegetables that you have.
Turkey Sloppy Joe's Freezer Meal
(makes 2 meals)
Put the same amount in each gallon size freezer bag:
1 lb ground turkey mixture (cooked)
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
3 handfuls of chopped spinach
1/2 cup chopped mushrooms
1/2 can of tomato sauce
1/2 cup of ketchup
1 Tbs brown sugar
1 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
Combine everything in a gallon-size labeled freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to cook, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and cook in the slow cooker on low for 8 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours. If using the Instant Pot, cook on high pressure for 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with whole wheat hamburger buns and a vegetable side dish. Please note: if the sauce is too runny, just scoop the meat mixture with a slotted spoon, allowing excess liquid to drain before placing on the bun. My kids love this meal!
Ground Turkey Asian Lettuce Wrap Filling
(makes 1 freezer meal)
1 1/2 lbs ground turkey mixture (cooked)
1/2 bottle Teriyaki sauce (or oyster sauce)
3 handfulls chopped spinach
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped mushrooms
shredded cabbage and carrot mix (I like to use the pre-packaged asian salad bag for convenience)
Combine everything in a gallon size labeled freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to cook, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and cook in the slow cooker on low for 8 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours. If using the Instant Pot, cook on high pressure for 15 to 20 minutes. When ready to serve, spoon meat mixture into lettuce cups (bib lettuce or romaine hearts work well). Garnish with water chestnut or sliced apple.
Stuffed Peppers
(makes 2 freezer meals)
*Please note, I only had four bell peppers in this video, but this makes enough filling for 8. I placed the excess filling in a foil pan and will use it to stuff peppers when I am ready to use it.
8 bell peppers
1 1/2 to 2 lbs ground beef
2 cups cooked brown rice
1 can tomato sauce
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup chopped mushrooms
2 cups chopped spinach
salt and pepper to taste
After washing the bell peppers, cut off their stalk and de-seed them. In a large bowl, combine the cooked ground beef mixture, 2 cups of cooked brown rice, 1 can tomato sauce, 1 can stewed tomatoes, about 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese, 1 cup chopped mushrooms, 2 cups chopped spinach, salt and pepper to taste. Stuff the peppers with this mixture. Place in gallon size freezer bags and freeze for up to 3 months. You can either cook these in the slow cooker on low for 8 hours (be sure to spray the slow cooker with cooking spray and add a small amount of water to the bottom of the slow cooker) or bake them in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour (times may vary). Before serving, sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top.
Beef Bolognese
(makes 2 freezer meals)
Use two gallon size freezer bags. In each bag place:
1 lb of cooked ground beef mixture
1 Tbs minced garlic
1 cup chopped mushrooms
1 jar favorite marinara sauce
2 cups chopped spinach
Combine everything in the freezer bag. Freeze for up to three months. When ready to cook, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and cook in slow cooker on low for 8 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours, or in the Instant Pot for 15 to 20 minutes on high pressure. Serve over cooked pasta or over spiralized zucchini. Top with parmesan cheese.
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Comment of the Week
On my lasagna video, Heather N writes: Thank you so much! This was delicious. I made these and your 8 freezer meals this weekend and now feel more prepared for those days when there are multiple kid activities and no time to make a big dinner. You were my inspiration for the 10 item wardrobe years ago, and now the inspiration for freezer meals. I so appreciate seeing your beautiful authentic self in the intro too. Wishing you all the very very best.
Thank you, Heather! I'm so happy you have enjoyed the recipes! Thank you for your kind words.
I hope today's video gives you further inspiration to meal plan for your family. Have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you on Monday!
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7 comments:
Jennifer, I have recently found your blog and YouTube channel. And now I am reading your books - I found all three of them at the library!
I cannot tell you how blessed I am to have found your work! It speaks to me on so many different levels, and I feel hopeful and excited about making positive changes to my life.
I don't know what else to say but thank you! From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I look forward to this journey toward joie de vivre in my own life.
I'm a stay-at-home wife and mother to 2 little boys.
Blessings from NM
Sarah
Hi Sarah, Welcome! I love when new readers come to visit.
I loved this video. I love to have meals in my freezer and can always use inspiration for new ideas so I'm not stuck in my same rut. I'd love for you to do a video on how you use your Instant Pot. I think I may be the only person without one yet. I'm just still sitting on the fence. I have a crockpot, rice cooker, oven with time bake and I just wonder if I'd use it enough to warrant the space it will take to store in my kitchen.:)
Thanks for your videos!
Hello Jennifer,
Thank you for the cooking inspiration~ It's perfect timing because I have a trip to Costco on my agenda~ Next week's dinners should be a breeze. The stuffed peppers and the Asian lettuce wraps look very good. We are trying to avoid bread and pastas; so I think I will make chili and bun-less burgers instead of the Sloppy Joe's and Bolognese sauce. The possibilities are endless!
Warm best,
Alexandra
Jennifer, I'm probably not your target audience as I'm old enough to be your mom. However, I have found your sites to be absolutely delightful. I'll never get down to a 10 item wardrobe, but using your ideas, I have arranged my closet into color pallets and gotten rid of all the stuff that didn't make me feel great when I wore it. I just took 4 trash bags full of good items to our local women's shelter.
I've also applied the concept of "10 items" to a number of other aspects of my life. For instance, I've made a worksheet of my 10 - responsibilities. I use this to keep from over-committing myself to projects. When you are retired it is easy to get sucked into things you don't want to do. Limiting myself to 10 things for which I am accountable has made it easier to keep track, and to say no.
I'm at the point in my life where I am seriously downsizing. I ask myself things like, "Do I really need more than 10 houseplants? What are the 10 most important pieces of art in my house? . . .
I'm also trying to organize a group cooking session for a couple of other retired single women from my church. If we cook in bulk and put it in the freezer, we all eat more healthy, and enjoy the time preparing the meals. When you live alone it is easy to avoid cooking.
Thank you for your inspiration. I truly enjoy watching your videos and following your blog.
Cheers, Cindy DuBois, Santa Fe, New Mexico
I should have written, "We eat more healthy meals." Sorry for the incorrect grammar.
Cindy DuBois
Thank you so much for your comments, ladies. I'm so happy you enjoyed the freezer meals video. Cindy, thank you for your great testimonial! See you all tomorrow on the blog. Love, Jennifer
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