make ahead meals

Chicken Fried Rice

Dear Sis,

Today we made homemade Chicken Fried Rice. It was better than Chinese take-out. More chicken and move veggies:) If you have any leftovers they can be frozen for later, and then thawed and reheated.

 

Chicken Fried Rice
Serves 6
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Ingredients
  1. 2-3 T avocado oil
  2. 1/2 lb. chicken breast, diced
  3. 3 eggs, beaten
  4. 3/4 c broccoli florets, chopped
  5. 3/4 c carrot, peeled and chopped
  6. 2 t minced garlic
  7. 1/2 c frozen peas
  8. 1/4 c green onion, chopped
  9. 4 c cooked rice of choice
  10. 1/4 c low sodium soy sauce
  11. 3 T maple syrup
  12. 2 T butter, melted
  13. 1 T dried onion flakes
Instructions
  1. Panfry chicken in 1 T oil until cooked through. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.
  2. Add an additional T oil if needed and fry eggs. Set aside.
  3. Add an additional T oil if needed and sauté broccoli, carrots, and garlic until tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add peas and scallions and heat through.
  4. Add rice to pan and stir until heated through. Add chicken and eggs.
  5. Combine soy sauce, syrup, butter, and onion flakes. Pour over fried rice mixture and stir until well combined.
Adapted from Freezer to Table
Adapted from Freezer to Table
Tag Sis, You're It! http://www.tagsisyoureit.com/
Love,

b

 

Sausage Spinach Pasta Bake to Freeze

Dear Sis,

Tried another freezer meal today. Super yummy!

Sausage Spinach Pasta Bake
Serves 4
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Ingredients
  1. 2 (8x8 inch) foil pans
  2. 1 T avocado oil
  3. 1 (12 oz) pkg. chicken sausage, sliced
  4. 2 c fresh spinach
  5. 1 lb. pasta of choice
  6. 1 (25 oz) jar pasta sauce
  7. 1 c fresh basil, chopped
  8. 1/2 c Parmesan, grated
  9. 4 c shredded mozzarella
Instructions
  1. Sauté sliced sausage in 1 T oil until browned. Add spinach and cook until wilted.
  2. Prepare pasta according to package instructions.
  3. Combine sausage, spinach, pasta, sauce, basil, Parmesan, and 2 c mozzarella. Pour half into each foil pan. Top each pan with 1 c mozzarella.
  4. Cover each pan in plastic and foil. Label, date, and write cooking instructions on each foil cover.
Cooking Instructions
  1. Thaw completely in refrigerator.
  2. Preheat oven to 425.
  3. Bake 20 minutes.
  4. Serve with garlic toast and side salads.
Adapted from The Ultimate New Mom's Cookbook
Adapted from The Ultimate New Mom's Cookbook
Tag Sis, You're It! http://www.tagsisyoureit.com/

The fresh spinach and basil make the dish!

Love,

b

 

Homemade Sauce

Dear Sis,

At the start of the month, our backyard neighbors gave us a second batch of garden tomatoes. Then, you brought more when you came to visit. Of course, we were much too busy during your visit for sauce making, so I froze the tomatoes for later. 

Later finally came on Sunday. We spent the morning getting the sauce ingredients in a large pot, so they could cook away for hours, whist we made Chocolate Whoopie Pies. We used most of the sauce later that day to prepare a large pan of lasagna for us and a half pan for our backyard neighbors.

Josh got to try some while he was home on Wednesday and gave it his best compliment. “It tastes like Prego.” 

Today we used the last of the sauce for a William favorite… spaghetti.

Homemade Tomato Sauce
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Ingredients
  1. 16 large fresh garden tomatoes or 4 (28 oz) canned tomatoes
  2. 3 carrots; peeled and shredded
  3. 3 ribs celery; minced
  4. 1 onion, chopped
  5. 3 T minced garlic
  6. 2 T Italian seasoning
  7. 2 T olive oil
  8. 2 - 3 T dark brown sugar
  9. 1 c grated Parmesan
  10. opt. 2 lbs. ground beef browned.
Instructions
  1. If using fresh tomatoes, score with a sharpe knife, boil one minute, place in cool water, and peel. If using frozen garden tomatoes, defrost in pot while making sauce, then peel.
  2. Heat oil in a stock pot over medium heat. Sauté onion, garlic, and Italian seasoning.
  3. Add tomatoes, carrots, and celery. Simmer 2-3 hours.
  4. Smooth sauce texture with an emersion blender if desired. Stir in cheese. Add 1 T brown sugar at a time until acidity is to your liking.
  5. Add beef if desired. Sauce is ready to use in your favorite recipes or can be frozen for later use.
Adapted from Space Ships and Laser Beams
Adapted from Space Ships and Laser Beams
Tag Sis, You're It! http://www.tagsisyoureit.com/

I only had 6 large tomatoes and 2 small tomatoes, so I also used 2 (28 oz) cans diced tomato. 

If you want to can your sauce, instead of freeze it. Leave out the beef and limit sugar to 1 T so that acid leave is high enough for preservation. Process in a canning bath 40 minutes.

Love,

b