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Ground Beef Freezer Prep

December 5, 2011 By 1 Comment

Even though I usually put up my Menu Plan Monday post I thought I would share how I use my freezer and a good deal to make the planning easier.  Let me know if you like this sort of post occasionally and I will share more of them!

2411796681 f12883d8ce m Ground Beef Freezer PrepI recently purchased 40 pounds of ground beef at a really good price thanks to my friend Vivian.  We like the super lean 93% beef when we buy and we always buy in bulk.  This plan will show you why I can handle 40 pounds at once.

When I bring home the meat it comes in approximately 10 pound tubes.  This is how they come to the grocery store before they separate it out.  I am pretty sure if you talked to the meat department you could just buy a tube.

I have this glorious skillet made by Wearever that is very deep like maybe 6 inches.  This T-Fal Ground Beef Freezer Prep is a decent price and comparison even though mine is deeper.  I use this skillet to brown 5 pounds of beef at a time.  This speeds up the process over having to do multiple browning sessions with a standard skillet.

  1. I browned 15 pounds adding in some minced dehydrated onion (since I had it on hand in bulk) for flavor.
  2. I browned another 5 pounds with onions adding to it my homemade sauce for sloppy joes.
  3. I browned another 10 pounds with onions adding taco seasoning and garlic for various Mexican meals.
  4. The last 10 pounds isn’t browned and I will get to that later.
So in just six skillet loads I have already completed 30 meals.  I have browned and seasoned according to what my purpose is.  We do eat a lot of Mexican in my house and the sloppy joes are a great meal for when I am not home or we have to run out the door quick.  The plain browned hamburger is great for casseroles, soups and pizza just to name a few ideas.  I will put up a more detailed post later.
So I get to the last 10 pounds of ground beef.  I take out 4 pounds and set 6 pounds aside.  To the 4 pounds I add a cup of diced green pepper, more onions, a cup of shredded carrots, two cups of oatmeal and two eggs.  I also toss in some salt and pepper.  After I get this well mixed I dump half in a gallon freezer bag and half in another.  This is a great crockpot meatloaf base.  When it comes time to cooking I cut the bag open and dump in a crockpot.  You can top with your favorite sauce recipe.  I have used a tomato style sauce, creamy mushroom sauce or if I am gone a BBQ sauce.  You could even use salsa for a healthier flare.  It cooks on low all day and I just need to heat up some home canned taters or frozen rice.  Plus the leftovers (if there are any left) are great to add to various meals.
Onto the last 6 pounds.  I add to this 2 pounds of ground pork sausage.  You don’t need to do this but I like the extra flavor.  It is time for meatballs.  I first remove 3 pounds of this mixture for porcupine meatballs since I have to add rice to it.  I then take out another 2 pounds and add Italian seasonings for Italian style meatballs.  Lastly I have 3 pounds left and will make our Swedish meatball recipe.
Now it is time to clean up and I have 42 (minus 1 we already ate) freezer meals completely or partially done.  Bags are 1 pound each.
  • 13 bags of plain ground beef & onions
  • 5 bags of sloppy joes (but we ate one bag worth for lunch)
  • 10 bags of taco meat
  • 2 enchilada casseroles (I just prepped these because they are easier to do on the spot)
  • 2 bags (8 each) hamburger sandwiches
  • 2 veggie loaded meatloaves
  • 3 bags porcupine meatballs
  • 2 bags Italian meatballs
  • 3 bags of Swedish meatballs.
So there you have it 40 pounds of ground beef and 2 pounds of pork sausage it is pretty easy to get 42 freezer meals ready.  This took me about six hours but in all honestly I would have spent close to an hour each evening preparing supper if I had to do these meals individually.  If something like this intimidates you just try doing one section like 5 pounds of sloppy joe meat.
mealplanmonday v1 Ground Beef Freezer Prep

 

 

 

cc Ground Beef Freezer Prep photo credit: VirtualErn

Filed Under: food, freezer meals

Comfort with Barilla & Three Giveaways!

November 30, 2011 By

If you have been around My Red Apron much in the past you will realize that I love comfort food.  The things that remind you of childhood and what mom used to make.  Sometimes improving the healthy side of what mom used to make is easy.

It doesn’t take much to switch to a whole grain for instance you could try the Barilla Taste & Share Challenge.  For our family switching out the normal spaghetti noodles with Barilla’s whole grain thin spaghetti was a surprising treat.

barilla Comfort with Barilla & Three Giveaways!

For my family spaghetti is something we know we can afford on almost any budget.  Knowing it can be a bit healthier for my growing teenaged boys with Barilla whole grain pasta is satisfying as a mom.

Here are two Barilla Whole Grain recipes you may want to try with your family :

Whole Grain Spaghetti with Fresh Vegetables

You can also find more recipes using the Barilla Dinner Kit. Maybe you can even find a great idea for redoing one of your family’s comfort foods.

Do you Facebook?  If so you won’t want to miss the Barilla Taste and Share Challenge on Facebook!  You can even earn coupons for sharing with your friends.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

 If selected, you will receive a Barilla Taste & Share Challenge Kit (which includes six boxes of Barilla Whole Grain pasta, Academia Barilla olive oil, balsamic vinegar, pesto, Sicilian cherry tomatoes, sea salt with black olives, and a Barilla apron).

I know that is a great package and you are dying to toss some pasta on the cupboard door just to test it’s doneness.  Well here is what you need to do to enter.  One entry each…

  1. Leave a comment about your favorite pasta dish
  2. Like My Red Apron on Facebook
  3. Follow me on Twitter
Contest ends 12/4/2011 @ 11:59 PM!  Good Luck icon wink Comfort with Barilla & Three Giveaways!
“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Barilla and received a Taste & Share Challenge Kit to facilitate my review, kits to giveaway, and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

 

Filed Under: food

Homemade Frappuccinos

November 16, 2011 By 2 Comments

I quit drinking soda over the summer but I can’t seem to pass up a frappuccino.  A four pack of Starbucks Frappuccinos will set you back at least $6.00 and that is way beyond my budget but not if you make them homemade.

frappuccino Homemade Frappuccinos

 They are incredibly easy to make and you can choose your favorite flavor combination.  I have to say in the past I have gone crazy waiting for the Christmas season when the Mint Mocha Frappuccinos come out.  But I think I have topped that on my own now.  Let me introduce you to the Mint Brownie Frappuccino!

Mint Brownie Frappuccino

frap ingred 300x167 Homemade Frappuccinos

Ingredients

  • 1 quart of double strength brewed & cooled Fudge Brownie Coffee (I used Archer Farms aka Target brand)
  • 1 cup Peppermint Mocha coffee creamer
  • 4 cups skim milk

Equipment

  • large batter bowl or pitcher
  • funnel
  • glass jars for individual drinks

Directions

This is almost too easy to tell you that there are directions but here goes… Mix everything in your batter bowl or pitcher.  If you are storing in individual servings use some old frappuccino jars and fill using a funnel.  Store in the fridge if they make it that far.

 This is a great grab and go item for the car.  Just remember to save your jars again.  To make your life easier you may want to pick up a good Bottle Brush Homemade Frappuccinos for getting the jars clean for the next round as I am sure these won’t last long.  Be creative and choose your favorite flavors of coffee and creamer.

Budget Tips!

  1. Coffee creamer can be frozen.  Make sure you look for coupons and pick up the holiday flavors just after the holiday on clearance or get them when a great sale strikes.
  2. Save a cup of coffee at a time by putting a quart jar in the fridge and adding to it as you have a bit left in the pot.
  3. I only buy special flavored coffee when I can get it on sale or with a great coupon deal.  Target puts Archer Farms coupons up on their website from time to time and it usually comes on sale while the coupon is valid.  They also have small $1 (or just over) sized sample bags of many flavors if you want to try something new.
  4. If you don’t have jars you can buy a pack of Starbucks or ask on Freecycle for someone to save some for you instead of sending them to the landfill!

Filed Under: Beverages

Menu Plan Monday: February 28

February 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

My family has been having some challenging times as of late and I have lost track of order in my home.  This week I am going to work on a menu plan just to try to get control of an area.  Having a menu plan makes for a stress free meal time.  It also forces me to look ahead at what evening activities we have planned for the week.

mealplanmonday v1 Menu Plan Monday: February 28

Monday: Enchiladas with Spanish Rice

Tuesday: Spaghetti with Garlic Parm & Herb Bread

Wednesday: Crockpot Chili

Thursday: Stirfry & Crab Rangoons

Friday: Grilled Chicken Breast & Gnocchi with Tomato Sauce

Saturday & Sunday: Road Trip food!

Filed Under: food, menu plan monday, Uncategorized

How to Make Russian Tea Mix

February 22, 2011 By 1 Comment

One of my favorite things to have when I am chilly is a cup of Russian Tea.  I suppose it comes from my mother when I was little she would occassionally spoil me with a sweet and spicy cup of this delightful mix.  While I remember her jar being much smaller than mine we seem to have to keep a 1/2 gallon jar of mix around because the boys love to make a cup here and there as well.  If you need a new warm beverage this is really one you should give a try!

Russian Tea How to Make Russian Tea Mix

Russian Tea Mix

Ingredients for Russian Tea Mix

  • 2 cups Tang
  • 1 cup sweetened Lemonade Mix
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup Instant Tea
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon cloves

Place all ingredients into a bowl or 1/2 gallon mason jar.  Mix ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight container. 

To Use Russian Tea Mix

Place 2 tablespoons mix into a cup of boiling water and enjoy!

Filed Under: food, how-to, Uncategorized
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