Dinner Resolution

This is my life: Simplifying a stressful time of day

Well, my oldest is in school ALL day now and my middle starting tomorrow.  You would think that would make my life easier, nope!  Between the pick up and drop offs and the watching the other children, the preparing dinner for my family was getting slim if lucky to none.  

Picking up fast food is not how I envisioned my family gathering around the dinner table to eat.  Not that it's horrible, there are moments where you just have to get it!  But, when 5 o'clock rolled around each day, my husband would call asking if he needed to pick anything up, and sure enough, Yes, everything!!  There is a great importance to gathering around the dinner to a healthy meal and I needed to grasp this back.

I was definitely in over my head with preparing dinner for my family.  So, the other day I was preparing dinner for a friend that just had a baby and for my family...and I thought, wow, making more than one dinner at once isn't hard and would be so much easier!!! 

So, what shall a Mama too do?

 Take one day over the weekend and prepare dinners for the upcoming week!!! 

This took me an hour to prepare five meals and I had one mess to clean up.  Rather than a bunch of pot and pans every night to clean, we have one crock pot!  You freeze the meals and thaw when you want to eat.  It's perfect.  

Last night we had....Pot Roast over potatoes and carrots.

Tonight we are having:BBQ Cranberry chicken already cooking in the pot with green beans!

I'm very excited about this new revelation, both for my stress level and for my family.  

A little side note, after the death of Robin Williams,  when I told the boys that Jumanji had passed away, I used his death as a shining light in our home. :)  I told the boys it was because he didn't eat that healthy.  They more than agreeingly helped me throw out any unhealthy food in our pantry, no colored cereals, no boxed mac n cheese, etc.   They were even grocery shopping with my husband this weekend, and Connor told me that Dad almost put Easy Mac in the cart and Connor told him we were not allowed to buy that and it was unhealthy.  Love it!  We are in a nice transition, not to say we don't eat junk food here or enjoy a good ol' hot dog but definitely changing our ways together !  

So, now I have my meals frozen for the week and a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders!  I have vegetables for the sides. If you are a Mom who stresses about getting a meal on the table for her family, I encourage you to try this task this weekend!  Also, saves money!!! 

Here are the recipes I used for this week a long with a few others I will be using!! Be sure to label the front of the freezer bags with cooking times.

Cranberry Chicken

Another easy chicken recipe, you'll love the sweet and sour tang of this dish.
You'll need:

• 3 lbs chicken thighs or legs, skinned (chicken breasts can also be used)
• 1 can whole cranberry sauce
• 1 envelope onion soup mix

In a bowl mix together the cranberry sauce and the onion soup mix. Place chicken in the freezer bag and pour cranberry mixture on top. When ready to use, thaw and place contents of freezer bag into crock pot and cook on low heat for 5 - 6 hours.


Teriyaki Chicken (I did two bags of this one)

• Bag of Baby Carrots
• 1/2 Red Onion in Large Chunks
• (1) 20oz can pineapple (undrained)
• 1/2 or 1 Garlic Cloves Chopped
• 2- 3 Chicken Breasts
• 1/2 cup Teriyaki Sauce

Chicken and Dumplings

• 4 Chicken Breasts Halved
• 2 Tablespoons Butter
• 2 Cans Cream of Chicken Soup
• 1 Onion Diced Finely
• 2 Packages of Refrigerated Biscuit Dough torn into pieces (this is added after cooking- place in a separate baggie.)

Place everything in slow cooker (except the biscuit dough) and fill with enough water to cover. Cook HIGH 5-6 Hours.  30 Minutes before serving, place torn biscuit dough in slow cooker.  Cook until dough is no longer raw in center.


Salsa Chicken

• 4 Chicken Breasts
• 1 Cup Salsa
• 1 Package Taco Seasoning
• 1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup
• 1/2 Cup Reduced Fat Sour Cream

Add everything to Crock Pot (except Sour Cream).  Cook on LOW for 6-8 Hours.  Stir in Sour Cream at the end and serve over rice.


Pot Roast

• 1 Eye of Round Roast
• 1 Packet Pot Roast Seasoning
• 1 Bag Mini Carrots or Sliced Carrots
• 6-7 Chopped Potatoes
• 1 Onion in Big Chunks for Flavor
• 1/4 cup of Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbs of dijon musturd

Add water just before cooking- 1/4 to 1/2 way full. Cook on HIGH 4-6 Hours.

 

Meatball Stroganoff
16 oz meatballs
1 cup onions (diced)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup mushrooms (sliced)
1/2 pack cream cheese*
4 oz sour cream*
Garlic

*You can add these ingredients in the last hour or two, but I see no harm in freezing them

Cook time: 5-6 hours. I like to serve this over egg noodles.

 

 

Hawaiian Chicken

2-3 Lbs. Chicken Drumsticks (legs)

1 (15 Oz. Can Crushed Pineapple

1/4 Cup Low-Sodium Soy Sauce

1/2 Teaspoon Ground Ginger

1 Tablespoon Minced Garlic

2 Tablespoons Cornstarch (optional)