Preparing for Baby: Freezer Meals

During the first few months of pregnancy, I started trying out some freezer meals. I thought that it would be great to have some meals ready to go in the freezer for when the baby is born. So, I started doubling recipes that we already enjoyed and freezing half of it. However, I really didn't have the knowledge of how to freeze things correctly, so I wasn't really happy with the results when we defrosted the meals to test them out. Next, I found some simple recipes that could be frozen, but most were 3 ingredients or less (which isn't always bad), but a lot of the recipes ended up very bland.

My freezer stocked and full with freezer meals made from Once a Month Mom recipes!

So, I took a break from the whole freezer meal thing - until I found this website a couple of weeks ago. One a Month Mom is a website devoted to freezer meals. There are six menus to choose from, and each menu is designed to give you about a month's worth of meals. The idea is that you go shopping, spend one loooong day cooking (10-12 hours), freeze all your meals, and then pull them out daily as needed.

I did a lot of exploring on the website, and I was hooked and knew this is what I wanted to try. One a Month Mom had great information about how to freeze things properly and how to prepare for a day of cooking.

I chose to try the traditional menu for February. Not only do they give you all of the recipes, but they give you instructions on an order for cooking all of the meals that makes sense, a grocery list, printable labels for all of your freezer items, and the ability to choose how many people in your family are going to be eating the meals (which automatically adjusts the amount of items on your grocery list and the recipes). I am in love!

Taco Pasta, cooked, frozen, and labeled.

Here is a rundown of what I made (most items were split into 2 meals):

Chile Verde

Mini Ham and Egg Cups

Coffee Cake Muffins

Mini Shepherd's Pies

Pizzadillas

Bagel Pizzas

Stirfry Veggie and Rice Packets

Mexican Chicken

Chicken and Broccoli Bake

Easy Ranch Chicken

Chicken Parmesan Bake

Taco Pasta

Beef Enchiladas

Beef Vegetable Soup

All the veggies prepped and ready to go.

Instead of doing one day of cooking, I spread out the recipes over a week. I did all of the shopping on Monday. On Tuesday, I prepped the vegetables and meat. Wednesday-Friday were devoted to about 3-5 hours of cooking each day.


Coffee Cake Muffins

I now have a freezer stocked with 23 large meals (each will have at least a lunch or two worth of leftovers). I chose not to make one of the breakfast meals (instant oatmeal packages) because we make instant oatmeal all of the time, and I didn't think the packets would really save us that much time.


Easy Ranch Chicken - labeled with directions and the date (printable from the website).

Although at this time I can't give you a rundown on the taste of each of the meals (eating them all before the baby is born does kind of defeat the purpose), I plan on posting a follow-up with some of our favorite meals and what did/didn't work for me.

Have you tried freezing meals before?

Were you successful?

*I am in no way compensated by this post (Once a Month Mom doesn't know I exist :) ), just thought I would share a good find!

Blogs I link to: CraftOManiac, Brassy Apple, Sumo’s Sweet Stuff, Tip Junkie, Shwin and Shwin, Home Stories A to Z, Creative Itch, Sugar Bee Crafts, Coastal Charm, Not Just a Housewife, Hope Studios, Chef in Training, Mommy By Day Crafter By Night, Southern Lovely, Passionately Artistic, Sew Woodsy, Ginger Snaps, Someday Crafts, Creations by Kara, Rae Gun Ramblings, Delightful Order, House of Hepworths, The CSI Project, Kojo Designs, Tatertots & Jello, Shabby Nest, Chic on a Shoestring, Simple Home Life, 30 Handmade Days, Family Ever After, Craftionary, I Heart Nap Time, Positively Splendid, Nifty Thrifty Things

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Friday Night Dinner: Mom's Mac & Cheese

Comfort food...that's what this recipe is. After making it for dinner and eating all of the leftovers at lunch the next day, I made it a second time (only 2 days later...). I didn't grow up eating mac and cheese from a box; my mom made homemade white sauce on the stove, boiled pasta, crumbled crackers over top and baked it on the oven. It comes out cheesy, gooey and delicious. This is a perfect recipe for a cool spring evening or for a day when you want to enjoy the pleasures of when you were a kid.

Mom's Mac & Cheese

from the kitchen of...my mom!

Ingredients:

2 cups of macaroni noodles, uncooked

8 T margarine/butter (1 stick)

6 T flour

3 cups cold milk

2 cups shredded cheese (I usually use cheddar.)

1/2 a sleeve of saltine crackers

salt

Directions:

1. Cook macaroni until done.

2. For the sauce: Melt 6 T margarine/butter in skillet. Add 6 T flour and 3/4 t salt and stir in.

3. When it's all bubbly, add 3 C cold milk. I usually put a little in and stir it smooth and then add the rest to keep it from being lumpy. Cook, stirring constantly until it's thicker. Remove from heat. Then add 2 C shredded cheese to the sauce. Mix this in.

4. Add your drained macaroni to the sauce mixture and stir together. Pour into casserole dish (2 or 2-1/2 qt.).

5. Topping: Use the other 2 T margarine/butter and melt it. Crumble up about 1/2 a sleeve of saltines and stir it into the margarine. Sprinkle on top of the macaroni mixture.

6. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes to heat through and blend flavors.

Mmm...enjoy! The perfect combination of cheesy noodles with salty, crunchy saltines.

Do you have a favorite recipe that just reminds you of home?

Other dinner ideas:

Perfect Pizza Crust

Blogs I link to: CraftOManiac, Brassy Apple, Sumo’s Sweet Stuff, Tip Junkie, Shwin and Shwin, Home Stories A to Z, Creative Itch, Sugar Bee Crafts, Coastal Charm, Not Just a Housewife, Hope Studios, Chef in Training, Mommy By Day Crafter By Night, Southern Lovely, Passionately Artistic, Sew Woodsy, Ginger Snaps, Someday Crafts, Creations by Kara, Rae Gun Ramblings, Delightful Order, House of Hepworths, The CSI Project, Kojo Designs, Tatertots & Jello, Shabby Nest, Chic on a Shoestring, Simple Home Life, 30 Handmade Days, Family Ever After, Craftionary, I Heart Nap Time, Positively Splendid, Nifty Thrifty Things

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Tutorial and Free Pattern: Shannon's Apron

I always loved spending time with my mom in the kitchen growing up (you can read about how we made sugar cookies here). She had a knack for throwing together a good meal, and I loved to help out! I would help mix or taste - and let's be honest, there is always enough clean up for everyone to help out with! When I think of growing up and spending time with my mom, I can imagine her kneading out bread dough and opening up her orange Betty Crocker cookbook (you know the one I'm talking about?). She is still the one I call if I have a question about a quick substitution or for a favorite recipe.

Anyway, when I was planning out Christmas gifts for this year, I knew that I wanted to do a cooking theme for my sister-in-law's family (since I, at least, associate family and food). Shannon has a toddler who loves to help out, so I found a good cookbook for toddlers and some smaller-sized kitchen utensils (like little spatulas, a whisk, and tongs). I also wanted to make an apron for the mother-daughter pair, but I really didn't want them to be too matchy-matchy. I was all ready to design the patterns myself, when I realized that I have no idea how big a toddler actually is. Luckily, Kelly at Sewing in No Man's Land (can I just say that she is one talented lady!) put out a free pattern for a toddler apron earlier this year. This is how that turned out. I couldn't be more in love with how cute it is.

For Shannon (my sister-in-law), I decided I wanted her apron to have some similar features. I wanted the same round pocket and the ruffle at the bottom. However, I decided I wanted her apron to be just from the waist down. I bought the same print in a different color (more oranges, yellows, and greens) and accented it with an orange coordinating fabric. This time, I made the pattern myself (I know about how big an adult is!). And, I am going to share the full tutorial and pattern with you today! Are you as excited as I am?

Shannon's Apron

*all seam allowances are 1/4" unless otherwise noted*

Now, for fair warning before we begin. This is the first pattern I have ever created. I don't have pattern making software; I used a pen, paper, my scanner, and Word. I tried my best to get every line to match up and to get everything the right dimension. If you need to shift a piece of paper to the right or the left a little bit to get all of the edges matched up as you piece together the pattern - then do that! Let me know if there are any major problems, so that way I can adjust them for you and future readers. Just know I tried my best, and I realize I am not perfect :).

You can download the pattern here.

Print your pattern pieces. There are 11 pages, making a total of 5 pattern pieces for this project. Tape together the edges with cooresponding shapes and cut around each of the pieces. On each pattern piece, it says which fabric and how many of that fabric you need to cut out. Make sure your fabric is folded on the Fold lines. If you have a directional print, note the top and bottom of the main apron piece.

1. Cut out a total of 8 pieces of fabric. (unpictured is the white, lining piece)

2. Place your two pocket pieces right-sides together. I put two pins close to each other for my starting and ending point, to make sure I leave a gap in order to turn the piece right-side out.

Sew around the pocket leaving an opening at the top. Clip the corners and the rounded edges (careful not to cut the seams).

Turn your pocket right-side out and press. Sew the opening closed using a small seam allowance (I also topstitched an 1/8" from the top edge of the pocket).

3. Choose where you want your pocket to be on the main apron piece, and pin in place.

Sew an 1/8" from the edge around three sides of the pocket
(leaving the top of the pocket open).

4. Prepare the ruffle. Hem the bottom, left, and right sides of the ruffle under
(I ironed first and then sewed).

5. Prepare the waist band. Iron each short end in about 1/4".
Iron the waist band in half the long way.

6. Place your ruffle (on the bottom) and the waist band (on the top) on the main apron piece.

With right sides together, place the ruffle on top of the main apron piece, lining up the two corners. Pin back the rest of the ruffle so it is not touching the outer edge of the main apron piece (we don't want it to get sewn in!).

Line up the raw edge of the waist band with the top of the apron piece. Center the waist band horizontally (there should be a 1/4" gap between the edge of the waist and the edge of the apron). Pin back the rest of the waist band so it is not touching the outer edge of the main apron piece (we don't want that to get sewn in either!).

7. Lay the main apron piece lining on top of the main apron piece fabric, right sides together. Pin all the way around.

8. Sew around the apron, using a 1/4" seam allowance.
Leave an opening on one of the sides of the apron (enough to turn the apron right side out).

9. Turn the apron right side out and press. Sew the opening shut on the side of the apron. Sew around just the main apron piece (DO NOT sew over top of the waist band) using less than 1/4" seam allowance (I used an 1/8").

10. Prepare the waist ties. With right-sides together, sew each of the waist ties in half down one long side and one short end. Snip the corner and turn each waist tie right side out (you should have two waist ties). Press flat.

11. Insert the raw edge of the waist tie inside of the waist band. Pin in place.

Sew close to the edge (closing the hole and attaching the waist tie) - making sure to backstitch at the beginning and end of your seam. Repeat on the other side.

12. Now you have your completed apron!

I would love to see what your completed apron looks like!

Write a comment linking it to your blog or email me a picture!

Have a great sewing day!

Blogs I link to: CraftOManiac, Brassy Apple, Sumo’s Sweet Stuff, Tip Junkie, Shwin and Shwin, Home Stories A to Z, Creative Itch, Sugar Bee Crafts, Coastal Charm, Not Just a Housewife, Hope Studios, Chef in Training, Mommy By Day Crafter By Night, Southern Lovely, Passionately Artistic, Sew Woodsy, Savvy Southern Style, Ginger Snaps, Someday Crafts, Creations by Kara, Rae Gun Ramblings, Delightful Order, House of Hepworths, The CSI Project, Remodelaholic, Tatertots & Jello, Shabby Nest, Chic on a Shoestring, Simple Home Life, 30 Handmade Days, Family Ever After, Craftionary, I Heart Nap Time, Positively Splendid, Nifty Thrifty Things

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