Crescent Rolls on Steroids

These rolls are absolutely delish!! I call them "crescent rolls on steroids" because they are huge! They make a great addition to go along with any gifting meals, too. They can be easily frozen, then taken out as needed!

Butterhorns (Also a freezer recipe)
Recipe from: Money-Saving Mom
(makes 32 rolls)

2T. dry yeast, heaping
1/3C. warm water
9C. flour, divided (you can use any mixture of white or whole-wheat flour you’d like)
2C. warm milk
1C. butter, melted
1C. sugar
6 eggs
2t. salt

In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Add 4 cups flour, milk, butter, sugar, eggs and salt. Beat 2 minutes or until smooth. (I do this in my KitchenAid)
Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto floured board and knead lightly. (Or, knead in mixer until sides of bowl are clean, then knead two more minutes.)

Place in a greased bowl, turning dough once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size(1-3 hours). (Quick tip: preheat oven to 200° for 5mins. Turn off oven. Let dough rise in warmed oven. Takes about 45mins.)

Punch dough down and divide into two equal parts. Roll each part into a circle. Cut each circle into 16 pie-shaped slices. (Like a pizza. I use a pizza cutter.)

Roll up each wedge wide edge to tip. (like you form canned crescent rolls).

Place on greased cooking sheet. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and allow to rise until doubled in size. (Remember my quick tip above)

Bake at 375° until lightly browned. (About 15 mins or so)

To freeze and use later:
After rolling, place on baking sheets and freeze (do not allow rolls to rise.) When frozen, place in freezer bags and keep frozen until needed.
To bake: Take out as many frozen rolls as you’ll need and place them on a greased baking sheet. Thaw for five hours or until doubled in size. Bake at 375° until lightly browned. Brush with melted butter as soon as they come out of the oven. Remove and serve immediately or cool on wire racks.

Some meal ideas:

Wrap hotdogs in these rolls for wonderful pigs in a blanket!
Idea from: Amy

Chocolate Butterhorns for Breakfast:
Idea from Life As Mom

After cutting each circle, drop some chocolate chips on each slice, and roll as usual. Then continue to prepare/freeze as above. After baking, remove them and brush with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar before serving. SOooooo good!!

Mickey Mouse Waffles

I made 1 dozen Mickey Mouse waffles (frozen in 2ct. individual bags for easy school mornings).



Ingredients:
Nonstick Spray
1 1/4 C. all-purpose flour (I mix 3/4 C. whole wheat pastry flour...so half is all-purpose and half is WW. pastry)
1 egg
1 1/4 C. buttermilk
1/4 C. sugar
1 heaping t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
3/4T. wheat germ
1/4 cup cooking oil
pinch of salt

Directions:
Preheat a skillet over medium heat. Use a pan with a nonstick surface or apply a little nonstick spray.
With a mixer, combine all of the remaining ingredients until smooth.
Pour the batter by spoonfuls into the hot pan (or waffle iron), forming 5-inch circles for pancakes
When the edges appear to harden, flip the pancakes...or waffles. They should be light brown. Cook on the other side for same amount of time, until light brown.

Makes 8 to 10 pancakes or about 5-6 waffles.

Individually wrap and freeze in freezer bags.

Creamy Italian Pasta with Chicken- OAMC (Meal in a Bag)

I love the convenience of those skillet meals-in-a-bag (think Skillet Sensations or Bertolli meals) but hate the sodium content...and the price!! Well, make your own! Easy, simple, and all set for a quick, homemade meal!


Ingredients:
1 box whole grain linguini
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, boiled and cubed.
red, green, yellow peppers (already sliced and frozen)
1C. tomato sauce
1/2 C. ricotta cheese
1/4 C. half and half


Directions:
Prepare pasta according to package directions. Toss with a little EVOO. Set aside to cool.
Mix tomato sauce, ricotta cheese and half and half in pot and bring to boil. Set aside to cool.
Place cooked, cubed chicken in freezer bag and freeze.
When Sauce mixture is cooled, pour into ice cube tray and freeze.

When pasta is cooled, gather a forkfull of noodles and twirl them into little "nests" on a cookie sheet lined with parchment or wax paper. Place in freezer. (these don't take too long to freeze).

When noodles and sauce are frozen, place all contents into freezer bag. (Pasta nests, sauce cubes, frozen cubed chicken, and frozen pepper slices.)

Preparation:
When you are ready to cook, pour the contents of bag into a skillet over medium heat. Cover and cook for 3 minutes. Stir and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until sauce is melted and everything is heated through. About 5-10mins.

These also make wonderful gifts for giving to a new mom, homebound seniors, or anyone just needing a break from cooking!!

Rigatoni with Sausage and Peppers- OAMC (Meal in a Bag)

I love the convenience of those skillet meals-in-a-bag (think Skillet Sensations or Bertolli meals) but hate the sodium content...and the price!! Well, make your own! Easy, simple, and all set for a quick, homemade meal!

Ingredients:

1/2 box Rigatoni Pasta (or shape of your choice)

2 Sweet (or spicy) Italian Sausage links

1/2C. Ricotta Cheese

1C. tomato sauce

Red, green, yellow pepper slices (amount to your liking)

Directions:

Prepare the pasta shapes according to box directions. Drain, cool. When cool, scatter over a large cookie sheet covered in wax paper; freeze. (I coat mine with a little EVOO before freezing to help with sticking.)

Slice sausage into bite sized chunks. (Helps if the sausage is a little frozen...keeps it firm while slicing!) Brown in skillet. Allow to cool, then freeze.

Mix ricotta cheese and tomato sauce together. Pour into ice cube trays and freeze. (may take a while!)


Slice peppers thinly and place on cookie sheet lined with parchment or wax paper. Freeze.

When everything is frozen, place together in freezer bag.

Preparation:
When you are ready to cook, dump the contents of bag into a skillet over medium heat. Cover for 1-2 minutes, then stir. Continue to cook, stirring, until sauce cubes are completely melted and everything is heated through.

These also make wonderful gifts for giving to a new mom, homebound seniors, or anyone just needing a break from cooking!!

Cheeseburger Pasta- OAMC (Skillet Meal in a Bag)

I love the convenience of those skillet meals-in-a-bag (think Skillet Sensations or Bertolli meals) but hate the sodium content...and the price!! Well, make your own! Easy, simple, and all set for a quick, homemade meal!

Ingredients:

1/2 box pasta of choice (Chunkier works best: rotini, penne, rigatoni...I used rigatoni)

1/2 lb ground beef

14.5 oz can diced tomatoes, lightly drained

1T. butter

1 T. flour

1 C. milk

1 C. shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

In a skillet, brown the ground beef. Drain and cool. When cool, scatter all over a large plate covered in wax paper and set in the freezer.

Pour tomatoes into ice cube trays and freeze (I added a little bit of sauce to mine, too!)

Prepare the pasta shapes according to box directions. Drain, cool. When cool, scatter over a large cookie sheet covered in wax paper; freeze. (I coat mine with a little EVOO before freezing to help with sticking)

In a skillet, melt the butter. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring, until thickened and bubbly. Gradually whisk in the milk. Cook, stirring, until thick and bubbly. Remove from heat and stir in the cheese; add salt and pepper to taste.

Spoon one or two tablespoonfuls of sauce into ice cube trays (you want the ice cubes to be about half full at most). Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for several hours, until completely firm.When everything is well-frozen (the cheese sauce will take the longest to completely freeze), place contents together into freezer bags.

Preparation:

When you are ready to cook, dump the contents of bag into a skillet over medium heat. Cover for 1-2 minutes, then stir. Cover again, and continue to cook, stirring, until sauce cubes are completely melted and everything is heated through.

These also make wonderful gifts for giving to a new mom, homebound seniors, or anyone just needing a break from cooking!!

Chicken, Rice, and Gravy

Ingredients:

2C. white rice, cooked

1lb. chicken breast, cooked and cubed

chicken gravy, prepared (amount to your liking)

Directions:

Line bottom of pan with small amount of chicken gravy (if desired.)

Top with rice.

Top with cubed chicken, then top with gravy.

Prepare for freezer.

Defrost overnight in refrigerator. Cover with foil and bake at 375° for about 45mins-1hr. Mix dish well. Top with more gravy if desired (we definitely do!)

Note: you can top with canned biscuits for the last 20mins of baking to make this into a biscuit- topped casserole dish.

Beef, Rice, and Gravy

Ingredients:

2lbs. ground beef, seasoned and browned

2C. white rice

2C. brown rice

beef or brown gravy...enough for two trays (amount to your liking)

Directions:

Prepare rice to package ingredients. (I like to mix brown and white together to give it a little different flavor, and brown rice is so much better for you!) Allow to cool. Line bottom of trays with rice.

Sprinkle each tray with 1lb. of ground beef each.

Top with gravy. (We like quite a bit, so I make one big batch of low sodium beef gravy...if needed after thawing and baking, you can always add more.)

Label and prepare to freeze.

Thaw and bake at 375° for about 20-30mins, until cooked through.

Note: after thawing you can top with canned biscuits to make this into a biscuit topped casserole .

Baked Ziti

The essentials:


1box ziti macaroni

1 lg. container ricotta

1lb. mozz., shredded (I shred my own)

4C. tomato sauce

1 egg

Directions:

Prepare ziti to package directions. Drain and let cool.

Mix remaining ingredients together in bowl. (save some mozzarella for top>)

Pour into cooled macaroni. Mix well.

Pour into pan coated with a small amount of tomato sauce.

Top with mozzarella cheese.

Prepare to freeze: I wrap my tin pan with foil, then apply tin top. Label and freeze.

Thaw, top with foil, and bake at 400° for 1hr and until bubbly. (I usually take the foil off the last 15mins. to allow top to brown)

ISO...Freezer Biscuit Recipe!

Help a sistah out...
I'm "In Search Of" a great biscuit that can be frozen to add to my Freezer Cooking Plan. Kind of like a Grands biscuit. One that can be popped out and warmed in the microwave to go along with the Tomato Chili in my husband's lunchbag. And for cold school mornings with butter and honey...
Thanks!!

I know with all y'all out there, someone's gotta have one!!??
And if you're on the search for some freezer ideas, I'm sure you'll find them at Money Saving Mom!!

Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients:
1lb boiled chicken breasts, cubed: $1.79
1 pkg. ready pie crust, like Pillsbury (top & bottom): .90cents (on sale 2/$4, coupon doubled to $1.20)
2 cans cream of chicken soup (reduced fat): $1.96 (coupon used)
1/2 bag frozen peas: free with coupon
1 lg. organic potato peeled and cut into small cubes : .35cents

Instructions:

1. Place one pie crust in pie plate and bake in 350 oven for 15 mins just until beginning to crisp.

2. Peel and cut potatoes into small cubes.

3. Mix soup, potatoes, chicken, and peas together and pour into prepared pie shell.

4. Place remaining pie crust over top (you may cut and lattice it if you like)

5. Bake at 350° for 45mins, until brown on top and filling is bubbly.

Under $5, hearty, and delicious!!

If freezing: Place refrigerated pie crust in bottom of pie plate, but do not bake. Prepare filling as instructed, put on top of crust in dish, and place remaining pie crust over top. Wrap and freeze. Defrost in fridge, then bake at 350° for 45mins to 1hr. until bubbly.

OAMC- Giving it a Try...

Well, I'm going to do it. I've been thinking about it for months, and I'm finally going to take the plunge and try OAMC (Once A Month Cooking). I do freeze several meals a month when I double certain recipes, but haven't ever dedicated a day or two to preparing them. I'll only be participating on Monday though, since I have doctors appointments the three days after that. (optomistic about my hearing!!)
I received my flyers for our supermarkets sales starting today, so I'll stock up on several inexpensive items, and our local market where we get our organic beef and all-natural, free-range chicken has ground beef on sale and chicken breasts at a discounted price when you make a $50 order. I don't have a $50 order for there, so I'll go in with my mother and sister to bring the total up to $50, and we'll all benefit! Combining orders when making purchases for freezer cooking or bulk purchases really works well...everyone comes out with a little more in their pockets...usually!!
The following looks quite vigorous, and I may not get to all of it! But having the past two days housebound with help (husband home!!) I have gotten a lot done around the house, and am therefore able to prepare for my cooking endeavor! We will see what I really get done!

Here's what's on my menu for Cooking Day:

Ground Beef:
Beef Porcupine Balls
Cheeseburger Pop-Ems or Bacon Cheeseburger Buns
Pizza-Pasta Casserole
Cheeseburger Pasta (Skillet Meal in a Bag)
Beef, Rice, and gravy

Pasta:
Creamy Tomato Pasta (Skillet Meal in a Bag)
Stuffed Shells (will post recipe soon)
Ziti
Rigatoni, Sweet Italian Sausage, Peppers, Sauce (Skillet Meal in a Bag)

Chicken:
Chicken Marsala
Maple Glazed Chicken
Chicken and Wild Rice Cakes
Chicken-Potato Cakes
Chicken Pot Pie
Chicken, Rice, and gravy

LunchBox Lunches:
PB Jammerz (GREAT for school...and can be made with our HFCS-free bread, and organic ingredients!!)
Low Fat Tomato Chili (I have left over skirt steak I will use)

Sides:
Corn Flake Potato Casserole


Some great resources when Freezer Cooking:
Mom'sBudget / Recipes
30 Meals in 1 Day

Linked to: Money Saving Mom and Life As Mom Freezer Cooking Days

Chicken and Wild Rice "Pancakes" Freezer Meal

Today being Thursday, I am once again participating in LifeasMom's Recipe Swap. This weeks theme is "freezer meals". And one of our favorite freezer dishes is Chicken and Wild Rice Pancakes. They can be an appetizer with applesauce or sour cream or add green beans and you have a meal. They are quick to prepare and can be frozen for last minute preparation. This is a wonderful dish to prepare with a leftover chicken breast or leftover rotisserie chicken (before you make your stock, of course!!)


Chicken and Wild Rice Pancakes:

Ingredients:
1 pkg. long grain & wild rice (I buy the Uncle Ben's microwaveable pouch.)
2C. poached chicken, cubed (boiled)
1/2C. bisquick mix (I buy the Heart Smart mix)
3 eggs

Directions:
Cook rice according to pkg. then cool. Combine rice, chicken, and remaining ingredients. Drop a lg. spoonful of mixture onto a hot, non-stick skillet coated w/ cooking spray. Cook 3-4mins. on each side or until lightly browned.
Serve with applesauce or sour cream for dipping.
Store in containers in refrigerator or wrap and freeze in ziplocs. Defrost in fridge and reheat on cookie sheet in oven until warmed through and crispy or in microwave until warmed through.

If using these as an appetizer, make the pancakes smaller...instead of a lg. spoonful, make it a small one!! We're always having "drop-in" guests, especially during the holidays, so I always have a bag of these minis in the freezer to serve along with some crackers, cheese, and some other easy foods if it's around meal time, that way I don't have to prepare a whole meal. I just pop them in the microwave for about 90secs, then in the oven for another 10mins or so until they get a little "crispy".

Supper Time...Feb. 1-7, 2009

*Meals are subj. to change w/o notice due to unforeseen circumstances, change of plans, migraines or meltdowns!!
Note: try to use free-range organic or all-natural chicken and beef, and organic fruits and vegetables when possible...and always try to use organic dairy!!

Sunday:
Super Bowl!

Monday: Chicken Pot Pie
(use chicken I prepared and froze last week)

Tuesday: Leftovers or homemade chicken soup and sandwiches
(we're forecasted for a snowstorm that day, so I may be in the mood to make some soup!)

Wednesday: Pot Roast
eye round, potatoes, carrots

Thursday: (practice tonight...have this meal prepared ahead of time!)
Stuffed Shells
Italian bread
Salad

Friday: Cheeseburger Pie (this makes a great freezer meal!)
(I omit the onion or use a small amount of onion powder instead)
green beans

Saturday: Family Fun Night
"Pizza Planet" (I will have the kids create decorations for their own pizza "restaurant".)
Make your own: mini pizzas, stromboli, calzones

For more meal planning inspiration: orgjunkie.com

Chicken and Wild Rice Pancakes (Freezer Meal)

Lindsey is hosting a Nutritious Freezer Meal Carnival today. Check it out for some great healthy meals to heat and eat!!

Here's my contribution:

Chicken & Wild Rice Pancakes:
1 pkg. long grain & wild rice (I buy the Uncle Ben's microwaveable pouch...you can usually get these for free or close to free w/coupon)
2C. chicken (boiled and cubed)
1/2C. bisquick mix (I buy the Heart Smart mix)
3 eggs


Cook rice according to pkg. then cool. Combine rice, chicken, and remaining ingredients. Drop a lg. spoonful of mixture onto a hot, non-stick skillet coated w/ cooking spray. Cook 3-4mins. on each side or until lightlty browned. Serve with applesauce or sour cream for dipping.

Store in containers in refrigerator or wrap and freeze in ziplocs. Defrost in fridge and reheat on cookie sheet in oven until warmed through and crispy or in microwave until warmed through.