A Week in a Day

Not trying to copy Rachael Ray's show but I did just that- I made a weeks worth of dinners in a day, actually two hours, which included prepping, cooking, and clean up!  I have never tried this approach or even made two meals in one day but I am trying to find a way to not feel so run down and rushed in the evenings and this sounded like a great plan!  We are a cooking family... of course we would love to go out and this momma would love to not have to cook all the time but this is one way we budget and one way we save a lot of money (plus I really like cooking!).  I made my menu early Saturday morning, you know since I wake up at 5:15 for no good reason and nobody else is awake, and from my menu I make the grocery list (this is not anything different, I am almost OCD with a menu and my grocery list--HAVE TO HAVE A GROCERY LIST)!  I had researched some good freezer recipes last week so I knew which ones I could make and freeze and still have them turn out to be tastey!  My plan was to make four recipes, two to put in the fridge and two to freeze, so I did just that.   We usually shop on Sundays as a family but I was ready to go when hubby got up so I went alone and actually was in and out in 30 minutes!!!

Anyways.... I got home and mapped out a plan.  I had two recipes that called for ground beef//turkey and two that called for shredded chicken so I did the two beef recipes first and had them cooling then started the two chicken recipes with a couple of pan washes in betwen.  (At some points I had all four burners going on the stove!) In between I also made individual frozen bean, rice, and cheese burritos (SO EASY!).  I made the spanish rice that we like and let it cool.  I then set out the tortillas and smeared refried beans on each one, added the cooled spanish rice, sprinkled with cheese, rolled, and wrapped in foil.  When you are ready to eat/snack on these you wrap in a damp paper towel and microwave them!  Again, so easy! 

What I made:
A huge pot of chili- I split this in two- putting one in the fridge for this week and froze one.  We ate the unfrozen portion last night and had enough left to both have lunch today (this pot of chili was huge!)

Home made Sloppy Joes- This is a weight watchers recipe that we love!  I froze this recipe!

Chicken Spaghetti- I made it all but did not bake it.  I put this one in the fridge and will sprinkle with cheese and bake tonight!  This makes a large amount also so we will have enough for lunch and maybe one more dinner!

King Ranch Chicken- I prepared the casserole but did not bake then froze.  I will dethaw, sprinkle with cheese, and bake when we are ready to eat it! 

I will continue to look for easy/good recipes to make and serve at a later date.  I am pretty iffy on what I freeze so unless I hear/see/read that it is ok to freeze then I will not freeze that particular recipe.

I know I am a nerd but this truly does excite me!  haha.  Anything to make life less hectic and allow me more time with my precious family!