Mexican Chicken Casserole

April 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Casserole, Mexican Chicken Casserole, Mexican food

INGREDIENTS

(Serves 6-8)

1 package corn tortillas
2 cups chicken -- cooked and cubed
12 ounces cheddar cheese -- grated
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cheddar cheese soup
1 can tomatoes with green chilies -- (Ro-Tel)
1 1/4 cups milk
1 onion -- chopped
1 freezer bag -- jumbo

PREPARATION
Chop cooled, cooked chicken meat into largish chunks. Tear tortillas into 1-inch wide strips.

In a large baking dish, alternate layers of tortillas, chicken meat and cheese (reserve 1/2 cup of cheese for topping) until all the chicken is used. Combine the remaining ingredients and pour over the layered mixture. Top with reserved cheese.

Cover with plastic wrap, then seal with aluminum foil.

To freeze: flash freeze casserole, then place frozen, covered dish into jumbo freezer bag.

To prepare: thaw casserole before baking. Remove plastic wrap, then replace foil. Bake covered casserole at 350-degrees until hot and bubbly. You may remove aluminum foil 10 minutes before taking the casserole out of the oven to melt cheese.

Allow to stand 5 to 10 minutes, then cut with spatula and serve.

Filed Under: Freezer Cooking: Poultry

Bulk Baked Ziti

March 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Alright pasta lovers.  Here is another fantastic recipe that you can make in bulk and freeze for further use.  This is a trick I love to do with Lasagna.  I triple the recipe, assemble and freeze the portions I am not using.

This recipe is easier to make ahead and freeze. This recipe is for one family-sized portion so double it, triple it...quadruple as you wish.

Baked ziti, bulk baked ziti

Ingredients:

  • 1 egg
  • 2 cups (12 oz) ricotta cheese
  • 16 oz pasta
  • 3 cups spaghetti sauce
  • 1 lb ground beef, browned and drained
  • 3 oz pepperoni, diced
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella

Instructions:

  1. Combine egg and ricotta cheese in a bowl.
  2. Mix all ingredients together(except mozzarella).
  3. Place in a greased 3 quart casserole dish.
  4. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
  5. Cover with foil.
  6. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Enjoy.

Filed Under: Freezer Cooking: Beef, Make Ahead Meals

Easy Freezer Hash Browns…and a Quick Panini Press Tip

March 6, 2012 By 1 Comment

I always buy potatoes in bulk at Sam's Club because it's far more cost-effective to buy a huge bag there than a smaller one at the local grocery store.  However, I always seem to have too many and they start to sprout before I have the chance to use them.

Last night, I decided to use up the rest of my massive bag of potatoes with a quick and easy freezer trick.

Simply shred the potatoes using a grater or food processor.  Place the ones you aren't using on a parchment lined baking sheet.  Place the potatoes in the freezer and "flash-freeze" them for a few hours.

Freezer Hash Browns

Then, break apart the frozen potatoes into meal (or individual size) portions, label them and freeze them for future use.

Family Portions

...and another quick trick...

If you have a panini press you can cook your hash browns with little effort.  Simply grease your press (well) and place the "bricks" on the on it.  Within 10-15 minutes you'll have crispy hash-browns without flipping them.  Mine turned out AMAZING this way..although my photo didn't.  ;)

Panini Hash Browns

 

 

Filed Under: Freezer Cooking / OAMC, Freezer Cooking: Breakfast, Make Ahead Meals, Meal Planning Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Handheld & Healthy: 5 Breakfasts You Can Send Your Child Scurrying Out the Door With

February 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Do you find it difficult to roll out of bed some mornings?  Me too.  Even worse is rolling out of bed..(usually late) - wiping my eyes, fumbling for coffee while trying to come up with a quick and healthy breakfast for my kindergarten & 1st grader.  Let's just say that if I haven't cooked a healthy breakfast ahead of time...they dine on cereal.

That's why I like to make breakfast in the afternoons when I am somewhat alert and when I actually enjoy cooking.  Here is a collection of great "handheld" recipes that you can serve your child quickly (or send them out the door with).

All of the following recipes are freezable and microwaveable.  I like to make 10 or so "handhelds" at a time.  I package them by twos or fours (depending upon the portion size)  in freezer ziplock bags and then again in a larger freezer bag with a label on it.

With a little afternoon / evening effort - this will streamline your morning routine and allow you to feed your child a protein-rich, healthy breakfast that you can be proud of.

Handheld Breakfast Pies

Bacon Egg and Cheese Cups

Bacon Egg & Cheese Sandwich

French Toast Sticks

Breakfast Burritos

Filed Under: Featured Content, Freezer Cooking: Breakfast, Kid Friendly Meals, Make Ahead Meals, Meal Planning

Freezer Cooking Guide

July 24, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Learn how to cook once a month the quick and easy way. Download our Ultimate Guide to OAMC today and start preparing a months' worth of meals tomorrow.

Our "OAMC for Dummies" manual is written for people who do not have the time (or desire) to read a typical, lengthy "how-to" book. It includes 17 pages of charts, calendars, checklists, tips and label templates. You can order download the Ebook for $1.99 FREE! by clicking the link below

* Free (at least for now) Freezer Cooking Guide* Enjoy - and share..asap! ;)

What OAMC'ers are Saying

When I started to OAMC my intention was to simply try to serve healthier meals for my children.

As an added bonus, my husband and I both lost weight!

Our foods tasted better and because they were home cooked, we didn't have all of the added fat. I am thinner...and hooked on OAMC!

Erin, OH

***

I've always loved OAMC for my family but I realized another wonderful use for it when a close friend (and mother of three) was hospitalized. The moment I learned about her situation, I remembered all of the meals I had prepared for my own family and immediately delivered four days worth of meals to her husband. You should have seen the look on his face! She said it was the most thoughtful gift she'd been given! Now I am saving some of my freezer favorites for my pregnant and elderly friends.

Tanya, MN

Filed Under: Featured Content, Freezer Cooking / OAMC
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