Growing up meal time was a "fend for yourself" time. Generally. We did have meals together. Sometimes. As a general rule if you were hungry, you found something to eat or went hungry. After getting were married, I remember my husband asking me what we were going to have for dinner. To me it seemed a funny question. I told him I was going to have cereal and asked him what he was planning to eat. It seemed a perfectly logical to me. (I should say here that my husband was one of six children and they ate nightly meals together). He asked in his very sweet way, “Don’t you think we should make something and eat together?” I was baffled. After all, it wasn’t a birthday, Christmas, Easter or Thanksgiving. It was a regular
day. It wasn’t even Sunday. “Seriously?” was my response. Probably not what the poor guy wanted to hear. The next night we had meatloaf. I was very proud of myself. It was a regular day, and I had cooked dinner. Again my sweet husband asked (so kindly as to not offend), “Do you think we should have
something with the meatloaf…like potatoes, rice or corn?” “SERIOUSLY???” I had just cooked a main course, which to me was a big deal. The idea that he thought there should perhaps be more on the table was totally foreign. We’ve come along way since then. I now usually cook a nightly meal, not to mention making breakfast & lunches. Cooking has become something I usually enjoy. We are busy with 3 children so meals have to either be very simple and fast, or planned ahead of time. And yes, we do still have cereal for dinner every now and again.

Showing posts with label Freezer Meal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Freezer Meal. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Meatloaf

Source: my sister-in-law.  She made this for me when I was pregnant and sick with my second daughter.  It was like manna from heaven.  (Makes a great freezer meal)

1 – 1 ½ lbs ground beef or turkey
½ cup oatmeal
1 teaspoon mustard
½ cup milk
1 small onion
1 egg
¾ teaspoon salt
Dash pepper

Topping:
¾ cup Ketchup
2 TBSP brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350º.  Combine all ingredients and place in a 9X13 baking dish (it's going to be long and flat...not like a traditional meatloaf).  Spread topping evenly over the top of the meatloaf.  Cover with foil and bake 1 – 1 ½ hours.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Chicken Cordon Bleu

*I got this recipe my cousin Hila

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed and sliced in half lengthwise
4 slices deli ham
8 slices deli Swiss cheese
Salt, Pepper & Garlic powder to taste
¼ to ½ cup bread crumbs, seasoned or unseasoned

Preheat oven to 350°.  With a sharp knife slice each breast in half length way so you have two thinner breasts.  Pound each chicken breast to about ¼ inch thickness.  Sprinkle both sides of each breast with salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste.  Place one slice of ham on each breast, and then one slice of cheese on each slice of ham.  Roll chicken breast up and secure with a toothpick.  Transfer to greased backing pan.  Sprinkle with bread crumbs.  Cover with foil (or put on a cookie sheet and freeze, then store properly for the freezer).  Bake for 40 minutes or until juices fun clear.  Remove from oven and place another slice of cheese atop each breast.  Return to oven and bake 5 more minutes or until cheese is melted.  Serves 4.

*Lactose free tip: I leave the cheese off of my chicken piece and just make sure I mark it with an extra toothpick or something

 **My Notes:  I always double this recipe and freeze half of them for later use.  Prepare as directed except everything that comes after putting it in the oven.

I*** hate pounding the chicken out, but its much easier to do after slicing the chicken in half.  I like slicing it because there is also a better distribution of chicken to ham to cheese.