Pumpkin Roll

Ingredients (Roll):

3 eggs
2/3 cup pumpkin
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 cup flour
1 cup chopped pecans

Ingredients (Filling):

1 (8oz) cream cheese
2 tablespoons butter
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar

Directions:

Mix all roll ingredients together and spread onto a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. When done flip onto damp towel and roll up. Leave rolled up for 4 minutes. Unroll and spread filling over it and roll up again. Wrap in plastic or foil and freeze (helps it stay together easier). Lay out a few hours before wanting to eat.

Peppermint Balls

Ingredients (peppermint centers):

2 1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 1/2 tablespoons water
1/2 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
1 tablespoon crisco
Pinch of salt

Ingredients (coating):

1 bag Hershey Special Dark Chocolate Chips
1-2 tablespoons crisco

Directions:

Blend powdered sugar, corn syrup, water, peppermint extract, crisco, and a pinch of salt together.

Roll into balls as big or little as you like. Lay out on parchment/wax paper and stick in freezer. You can freeze for as little as 15 minutes or overnight.

When done freezing pull off wax paper so you can use it for the chocolate dipped ones.

Melt 1 bag Hershey's chocolate and crisco (makes it thinner for dipping) in a bowl of a pot of boiling water (double boiler).

Toss 1 ball at a time in the chocolate making sure to coat really good, fish out with a fork and set on wax paper covered cookie sheet. Freeze for 30 minutes.

These are good kept in the fridge.

Breakfast Burritos (Basic)

Ingredients:

Eggs
Milk
Sausage
Shredded Cheese
Flour Tortillas

Directions:

Cook your sausage according to package directions and chop up.

Mix eggs with milk and then scramble the eggs.

Mix in sausage and cheese and heat until cheese is melted.

Roll in flour tortillas.

Freezer ready once wrapped in plastic wrap or foil.

Freezer-Friendly Breakfast Burritos

These are supposed to be close. To McDonald's breakfast burritos.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/3 cup chopped green bell pepper
18 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 cup chopped ham
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
20 flour tortillas

Directions:

Saute onions and bell peppers in butter. Beat eggs and milk together and pour into skillet with the onions and peppers.

Add the ham, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until eggs are set. Mix in cheese and let melt.

Scoop 1/2 cup egg mixture onto tortillas. Fold ends under and roll up. Freeze (see instructions below) or put all burritos in a baking dish, top with cheese (if you'd like) and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until heated through. Serve with salsa.

Freezer Instructions:

Wrap burrito in a paper towel then in a sheet of foil. Seal tightly and place in freezer bags. When bag is full, remove air and seal. Freeze.

Serve:

Remove foil and put paper towel wrapped burrito in microwave. Reheat for around one minute. Serve with salsa.

Easy Cheeseburger Casserole

Ingredients:

2 cups (6 oz) Penne Pasta
2 teaspoons of olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1 lb lean ground beef (95% lean) - or you can use ground turkey
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
28 oz diced tomatoes
2 Tablespoons Dijon Mustard
2 cups reduced fat grated cheddar cheese

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. In a large pot of boiling water, cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain Well.

In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-low heat. Add the onions and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Stir in the beef and cook until browned; season with salt and pepper. Add the diced tomatoes and mustard. Let the mixture bubble until it is slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Season with your salt and pepper.

Put your noodles in the greased pan and pour your meat sauce on top. Slightly mix together your noodles and sauce. Cover with foil and cook for 20 minutes. Take it out of the oven and remove your foil. Add your cheese on top and stick back in the oven until the cheese is melted.  (5 to 10 minutes). Serve while it is warm.

If you decide to freeze do NOT add cheese just leave that off for now and add at time of baking.
 

Bean & Cheese Burritos

Ingredients:

43oz refried beans (one BIG can & one regular can)
1 cup salsa
1 packet taco seasoning
Shredded cheese
Flour tortillas (I used fajita size)

Directions:

Mix refried beans, salsa, and taco seasoning in a bowl and mix.

Spread bean mixture down middle of tortilla and top with shredded cheese, then roll up on all 4 sides.

Wrap individually in plastic wrap and then store in gallon bag for freezing.

Tip:

I used fajita size tortillas and I ended up with 21 burritos.

You can also add hamburger, chicken, or any other ingredients that you prefer.

Homemade Marinara

Ingredients:

8-10 tomatoes (mixed Roma & on-the-vine)
1/2 yellow or white onion
Garlic, 4-5 cloves, peeled
Olive oil
Basil
Thyme
Salt
Pepper
Tomato sauce, 8oz

Directions:

Chop all the ingredients up and put it into a 9x13 pan. Toss it with olive oil and seasonings. Stick it in the oven at 200 degrees for 3 hours. You want everything to be nice and mushy. Put it in a blender or food processor and puree. Add your can of tomato sauce and puree some more. The sauce should be pretty smooth. Taste it and add extra seasonings as needed.

You could probably even add parmesan or Romano and give it a cheesy flavor at this point.

This makes 2 pint size jars. If you will be using this quickly, ok, if not consider canning or freezing.

Chicken Tetrazzini

Ingredients:

1 (7oz) package spaghetti (I broke into 2 inch before boiling to help out with less cutting for the kids)
3 cups cooked chicken (I used 3 large cans)
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 can cream of chicken
1 (16oz) jar Alfredo sauce
1 cup frozen peas
3/4 cup chicken broth
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions immediately:

Preheat oven to 350. Cook pasta according to directions. Meanwhile, stir together chicken, 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, and rest of the ingredients; stir in pasta. Spoon mixture in 9x13 pan or 2 - 8x8 pans. Sprinkle with remaining parmesan cheese. Bake for 35 minutes or until bubbly.

Freezer:

I split mine into 2 - 8x8 pans and covered with foil and then added the lid (throw away aluminum pans). Freeze.

Defrost in fridge overnight and bake according to above directions.

BBQ Chicken

Makes 2 bagged meals

Ingredients:

Divide between 2 bags:

3 sweet potatoes, cubed
1 zucchini, chopped
1 onion, sliced
2 green bell peppers, sliced
1 red bell pepper, sliced
4-5 chicken breasts, diced

In each bag, place:

8oz tomato paste
1 tablespoon worchestershire sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon mustard powder
1 garlic clove
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Close up bag, mix a bit and freeze

To cook:

Add 3/4 cup water and mixture to crockpot and cook on low 8 hours

Pre-made Breakfast Burritos

Ingredients:

Scrambled eggs
Shredded Cheese
Sausage
Onions
Bell Peppers
Jalapenos
Tortillas
*list is endless on what you want inside*

Directions:

There are no real directions. You do these as you or your family desires. This is just a quick fix for a fast breakfast before school, work, etc.

I made several batches of these burritos...

Egg & Cheese
Egg, Cheese, Onions, & Bell Peppers
Egg, Sausage, and Cheese

You just want to tuck in the 2 ends and then roll them. Individually wrap them in saran wrap and place in freezer bag.

Microwave time is 45 seconds to 1 minute to have them ready.

Homemade Hot Pockets

Ingredients:

3 cups flour
1/4 cup dry milk
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 tablespoons yeast
1 cup warm water (not hot)
Diced meat (your choice)
Cheese (shredded)
Parmesan Cheese
Garlic Powder

Directions:

1. Combine the flour, dry milk, sugar, salt, yeast, and water in a stand mixer and knead well.
2. Divide dough into 10 equal portions.
3. Take each portion, roll it into a rectangle and top with cheese and meat.
4. Fold sides and ends up to create a pocket.
5. Place seam side down on a sprayed cookie sheet. Top liberally with parmesan cheese and garlic powder.
6. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 20 minutes or until lightly brown.
7. Serve while warm, or cook completely, wrap individually in saran wrap and store in a freezer bag in freezer.

** You can use your choice of meats, cheese, or ingredients **

** Common Ingredients For Variety of Hot Pockets **

Ham & Cheese
Chicken & Cheese (we added onions & bell peppers)
Pepperoni & Cheese
Sausage & Cheese
Egg & Cheese
Turkey & Pepper Jack
Baked Chicken, Broccoli, & a small amount of alfredo sauce

Few Freezables

There are a few things you can freeze for cooking...

I always have jalapeños, celery, and mushrooms in my deep freeze already cut.

If you have a store locally that puts out clearance produce keep an eye out. Our local store puts produce bags of jalapeños for 99 cents so, sliced I can get a gallon and same with celery.