Freezer Meals

I was definitely in a cooking mood the other day and decided to make lots of meals for days when I don't feel like cooking.  I got all of the ingredients plus other grocery items for $120!!  These meals took me about 4 hours all together and were very simple.  These are wonderful for days on the go and easy to hand out to families in need.

Baked Ziti

Ingredients:

• 1 pound dry ziti pasta or penne
• 1 small onion chopped
• 1 pound ground meat of choice ( I used Italian sausage)
• 2 jars favorite spaghetti sauce
• 8-10 slices provolone cheese
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions: Bring large pot of water to boil. Add pasta and cook for 7-8 minutes until aldente. Drain and add back to pot with olive oil. In a large skillet brown onion and sausage over medium heat. Stir in spaghetti sauce, tomatoes, seasonings, and add sauce to noodles. Spray casserole dish or freezer tins with cooking spray. Layer as directed: 1/4 Pasta mixture, 4 slices provolone cheese, 1/2 sour cream, Italian cheese, 1/4 noodle mixture, and top with Italian cheese. (These instructions are for 2 8x8 pans) If cooking the same day bake covered for 20 minutes and uncovered for 5-10 minutes.

To freeze: Cover with tin foil, label and freeze. Defrost completely before baking and bake as directed above.

Chicken Enchiladas

Ingredients:

• 3 cooked chicken breasts shredded or chopped
• 2 cans enchilada sauce
• 4 cups mexican shredded cheese
• 1 can green chilies
• tortillas
• 4 8by8 freezer foil pans or two cake pans

Directions:  In a medium bowl add chicken 2 cups cheese, 1 can enchilada sauce, and green chilies.  Place mixture evenly in tortillas then roll up.  I place 4 enchiladas in each greased 8 by 8 and I placed 8  in the cake pan.  Evenly use the remaining enchilada sauce and top each enchilada with sauce then remaining cheese.  Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 20 -25 minutes. 

To freeze cover with tin foil, label and freeze.  Defrost completely before baking and bake as directed above.

Lasagna Alfredo Roll Ups

Ingredients:

• 10 lasagna noodles
• 3 chicken breasts chopped
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 10 ounces frozen chopped spinach
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese
• 2 cans alfredo pasta sauce
• 2 8 by 8 freezer tin pans and one cake pan

Directions:  Bring a large pot of water to a boil.  Add lasagna noodles and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente.  Rinse in cold water.  Meanwhile, in a large sauce pan add oil and cook spinach stirring frequently.  Remove pan from heat and stir in cottage cheese, Parmesan cheese, and chicken.  Transfer to medium bowl.  Place noodles on wax paper.  Evenly spread mixture onto each noodle then roll up each noodle.  In each pan cover the bottom with alfredo sauce then add roll ups.  Cover each roll with extra sauce and mozzarella cheese.  Bake covered at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.

To freeze cover with tin foil, label and freeze.  Defrost completely before baking and bake as directed above.

Cookers Note on roll ups:  Most recipes said to add 1 egg to the spinach mixture but I totally forgot.  Feel free to add after you remove spinach from heat.

*I also used my previous post for Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup and froze the whole batch in two seperate gallon freezer bags.*