After looking for months over various sites, I came down to using these recipes. We have 2 in our family, and If my husband leaves to go for 2 months for his training ( which we are hoping for!) then this will feed me a lot longer then planned.
This will be the first part of several parts. Trying to make it easier :) I make my own stuff sometimes, but you can of course buy yours!
Advice- clean your kitchen from top to bottom first. Make sure everything is clean, washed, dried and at your disposal. Nothing worse then starting, realizing something is dirty, having to wash it, and adding more time to this. Alot say to do your prep work first. For the chicken I DID do it all at once, and saved the broth for the recipes. I also DID do all the Hamburger at once. And the sauces (spaghetti, creams etc). You can of course do it however you want.
Shopping List for non food items: Throw away pans ( I got mine from the Dollar Tree. They sell them 3 for 1.00 for the round ones and you can also get the square ones. They come with lids so perfect for these)
Zip lock bags ( gallon ones ) or Food Saver bags
Sharpie
Foil
Saran Wrap
Recipe 1- Veggie Soup
Pretty simple of the bunch.
1 can V8 Juice or Vegetable Juice either one is fine
Water- I add water ( usually 2 cans from the v8 can)
Beef Bouillon Cubes- I use 2
1 bag of mixed veggies frozen
Celery cut up
Carrots cut up
Potatoes- i use a few and cut them up into cubes
Salt
Pepper
Seasonings- totally up to you!
You can also add hamburger to it as well. I personally do not.
This makes 3-4 meals for us. We always pair it with grilled cheese :)
Recipe 2: Spaghetti
The 2nd super easy recipe of the bunch!
Figure out how much you need to make ( noodles/sauce) and then go from there depending on how many meals and how many you need to feed.
For us, I use one box of spaghetti noodles ( or whatever kind of noodles you want to use) and I make the sauce homemade and divide it up between the two.
Sauce- tomato paste
can of tomatoes
celery
onion
bell peppers
garlic powder
water
salt
sugar
I use grapeseed oil to saute the celery, onion and bell peppers. I add a pinch of salt and a pinch of sugar. I also use garlic powder to give it some flavor. Once they are nice and done, I add in the tomatoes ( do not drain) and the tomato paste. I then start to cook and add water to thin it out to what I like. I dont use any set amount, just whatever looks good to me. I let it simmer for about 30 min to meld the flavors.
While you are doing that, cook the noodles. I cook them about 5 min less then the package states. So they are not fully "cooked" so when i boil them later they dont get too mushy.
Divide them and the sauce into two packages and seal. I use a food saver. You can use a gallon zip lock freezer bag or whatever you want to freeze.
Makes 2 meals for us and pair it with bread and salad
Recipe 3: Potato Soup
Potatoes- I used about 6 peeled and chopped up into small pieces
1 bag of mixed frozen veggies
1 onion chopped
2 stalks celery chopped
4 cups of chicken broth ( i used what I had from when I boil chicken)
Garlic- i use garlic powder you can use regular garlic minced or whatever type you want i just use enough to taste so totally your preference
Sautee your celery and onion ( you dont have to it just gives it a bit more flavor to me) Or just chop it up and add it in with your soup mix below.
Base- this is the base of your soup- 3 tablespoons butter, 1/4 cup flour and 1 cup heavy cream.
Melt butter and then whisk in the flour to create your base. You have to stir constantly to make sure it doesnt clup or over heat ( med heat is what i use) then add in your cream. Bring to a boil and keep whisking, stirring. You now have your base.
In a larger stock pot while you are making your base, I boil my potatoes till tender. Then remove from water and drain. Put back in the pot, add in your stock and everything else, and let cook ( i put it on low heat while making the base and let it cook and heat up. Then I add in my base to my soup mix and simmer and stir it, till thick.
Its not science you can add more potatoes more veggies whatever, just make sure your base is good.
This is bagged in two freezer bags ( or food saver bags). I just boil it in the bag. I know some put it in their crockpot on low and monitor it for a few and then just let it sit on low to heat up.
For the above use your sharpie to mark on the bags the date and any instructions you might think you need for it. Pretty simple soup recipes I use over and over again.
