Party # 15

We just completed our 15th freezer meal cooking party! This past theme was to "include a vegetable". We made lots of yummy meals that are also nutritional! Gotta love that!
Our next party is coming up in January!


**Freezing Tip:  Pillsbury Crescent Rolls do NOT freeze well!

**Freezing Tip:

**Freezing Tip: Although they may be easier to dispose of, tinfoil pans don’t cook the quickest. If a tin foil dish is used, extra time may be needed when cooking; even if the meal is completely thawed.

**Freezing Tip:

When dishes are frozen in a deep freezer, they can take even longer to thaw. To save time when cooking, take your freezer meal out the day before you plan to eat it. Take it out the morning before and place it in the fridge to thaw.

**Freezing Tip:

When it comes to saving time in the kitchen and making meals, spend a few hours frying up a couple pounds of hamburger or cooking chicken. Divide into ½ or 1 pound portions and place them in individual freezer containers or bags. When a meal calls for cooked chicken or hamburger, just take out what you need!

**Freezing Tip:

For meals that have cheese on top and have to be baked covered, spray the cover before cooking. This way you’ll be able to enjoy all the cheese and won’t have to worry about it sticking.

**Freezing Tip:

For meals that require you to add cheese or other ingredients for the last few minutes of baking or after the meal is done, place those items in a small ziplock freezer bag along with your dish. You can also place it in-between the layers of aluminum foil if you are worried it might get lost in the freezer. This is an easy way to remember what you need for a meal and guarantees that you won’t use it for something else.

**Freezing Tip:

Most of the meals we prepare are divided in half and good for 2-3 people. If you are cooking for just yourself or a smaller family, make the full recipe and divide it into two. Both meals can be frozen and enjoyed later!

**Freezing Tip:

Although some of our meals do contain rice, we found, through trial and error, that uncooked rice does not freeze the best. You may have several “crunchy” bites of rice, even after the meal has been thawed and baked. If you freeze a meal with rice, try eating it sooner than later.

**Freezing Tip:

Meals can be cooked while slightly frozen, but will take longer in the oven. Up to an additional hour may be needed. Most meals will thaw out good if placed in the refrigerator the day before cooking. To avoid a “guessing” game while cooking, make sure meals are thawed out ahead of time.

**General Tips and Guidelines:

unless otherwise noted, soup cans used are the basic small can size, approx 10.5oz each. Foil pans can be used instead of cooking dishes for easy disposal – and are also easier to stack in the freezer this way; less heavy. Freezer bags work better than regular ziplock bags, as does heavy duty aluminum foil rather than regular foil. Both are slightly more expensive but prevent freezer burn when meals are stored for longer periods of time.