Freezer Meals:Basic Lasagna

Another meal you can make with the basic beef recipe for Freezer meals is a basic lasagna.

Basic Beef recipe here http://thebeautifulbasics.blogspot.com/2009/02/freezer-meals-basic-beef.html

Ingredients:

Small container of low fat Ricotta cheese (feel free to use the full fat version or cottage cheese, either work just fine)
2-4 cups of shredded Mozzarella cheese or Italian blend (this just depends on how cheesy you want it and how much you love cheese)
lasagna noodles (I do not pre cook my lasagna noodles, whether I use regular or whole wheat, you just have to make sure you push them down into the sauce but they will cook and soften while you are baking it and you should have no problems.)
Jar of Spaghetti sauce or homemade
1/2 cup to 1 cup of Grated Parmesan or hard Italian Cheese

For this one I just took the portion (1/3 of the above recipe) and added some spaghetti sauce. (You can make your own if you want, I occasionally do but this time I just used the good old jarred stuff).

Then I took an aluminum pan and put down a layering of sauce with beef.

Then added the noodles and both kinds of cheese

And then I just repeat doing that until I am out of stuff.

Pop it in the freezer and you are done! When you want to cook, you can take it from the freezer and defrost it, then cook it for 45 minutes to an hour on 375 or if it is still frozen, you can just cook it longer, but I like it better when I remember to defrost it!

Freezer Meal: Saucy Beef Chili

This is another freezer meal made from the PC Basic Beef found here http://thebeautifulbasics.blogspot.com/2009/02/freezer-meals-basic-beef.html

After dividing up the beef into 3 freezer bags, take one bag and add:

1 can chili beans
1 can tomato paste
1 can petite diced tomatoes, undrained
1.5 cups water
1 pkt (1.48 oz) of chili seasoning mix


When you are ready to eat

Microwave the packet on DEFROST (30% power) for 8-10 minutes or until softened. Pour into skillet and simmer over medium heat.

Finish and Serve:

• Spoon bowls into chili
• top with shredded cheddar cheese, sliced green onions, or sour cream

(note from Heather)For an interesting variation, serve on top of chips and top with the above plus pecans and shredded coconut...it sound weird but its quite good!

Yields 6 servings.

Freezer Meal: Zesty Beef Tacos

This is another freezer meal made from the PC Basic Beef found here http://thebeautifulbasics.blogspot.com/2009/02/freezer-meals-basic-beef.html

After dividing up the beef into 3 freezer bags, take one bag and add:

1 cup chunky salsa
1 can tomato paste
3/4 cup water
1 pkt (1 oz) of taco seasoning


When you are ready to eat

Microwave the packet on DEFROST (30% power) for 8-10 minutes or until softened. Pour into skillet and simmer over medium heat.

Finish and Serve:

• Arrange 12 taco shells on a serving plate
• Fill with beef mixture, 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 1 cup shredded lettuce, and 2 seeded and diced tomatoes
• Garnish with snipped fresh cilantro and serve with lime wedges.

Yields 6 servings.

Freezer Meals: Basic Beef

This is the base for the Pampered chef Beef Freezer meals. You make up one batch of this and then you divide it into 3 freezer bags, then add the other ingredients for the recipe.

PC Basic Beef
3 pounds of ground beef
3 onions chopped
3 cloves of garlic minced or through a garlic press

Place chopped onions in a non stick pan and cook them until they start to get translucent and slightly brown around the edges. If you don't have a non stick pan, just spray the pan with Pam or use a little butter or oil. Then add the ground beef and garlic and cook until browned all the way through.

Divide the mixture into 3 different freezer bags and prepare as the other recipe directs.