Once a Month Cooking

So .... I finally did it. I cooked 20 meals over a 3.5 hr period and it was VERY labor intensive. I have to say, next time I will break it up into 2 days. So far, so good though - the food I have cooked and frozen has tasted VERY good and it is so unbelievably delightful to know dinner is already made!! The kids enjoy picking out what's for dinner in the morning, we let it thaw in the fridge and then pop it in the oven when I get home from work! Here is what I cooked:

Chicken Tettrazini
1 box thin spaghetti
3 cans of cream of chicken soup (can sub low-fat)
1 cup sliced mushrooms
16oz container of sour cream
a stick of butter (melted)
Cooked chicken - cubed (approximately 1 lb)

Serve with steamed broccoli or green beans with a salad!

Cook spaghetti per instructions on box and spoon into pan. Mix all other ingredients together and spoon over spaghetti. Cook at 350 for 30 minutes.

Bowtie Fiesta (from Blue Eyed Bride's Blog)
8 oz bow tie pasta
1 lb ground beef (I used venison!!)
1 can tomato sauce
1 cup sour cream
1 cup salsa
1/2 cup black olives
1 tomato sliced
1 cup shredded cheese

Cook the pasta using package directions and cook for 7 minutes. Drain. Brown the beef in a skillet, stirring until crumbly. Drain. Stir in tomato sauce. Combine pasta, ground beef mixture, sour cream, salsa, black olives, and tomato in a bowl and mix well. Spoon into 9x11 baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese and bake at 350 degrees until brown and bubbly.


Stuffed Shells
http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/main-courses/three-cheese-stuffed-shells/



Chicken Katherine
block of cream cheese (I used fat free)
a little bit of cooking wine
1 packet Italian dressing mix (DRY)
I can cream of chicken soup
1 lb chicken breasts

Melt cream cheese and mix in rest of ingredients -- pour over chicken breasts and bake in over 350 for 45 minutes. I serve with rice or egg noodles and peas.

Poppy seed Chicken
1 cup butter - melted
Ritz Crackers
2 tablespoons Poppy seeds
2 cans cream of chicken soup
4 cups chicken, cooked and cubed
3 cups sour cream

Mix together: butter, crackers and poppy seeds. In a separate bowl, mix soup, chicken and sour cream. Put half the crumb mixture in a 9x13pan and pour soup mixture over the crumbs. Put the rest of the crumb mixture on top. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Serve over rice. **I put the remaining crumb mixture in a ziploc and froze separately to top chicken mixture once I'm ready to cook.

Chicken Rollups (from Jenna's Journey blog)
1pkg cream cheese
1 pkg crescent rolls
2 shredded cooked chicken breasts
1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
1 cup grated Monterey Jack
1/4 t salt
1/4 t pepper
bread crumbs
1/4 stick melted butter

Combine chicken, cheeses, salt and butter. Spoon onto crescents. Roll them up making sure they are sealed around the mixture. Brush tops with butter and sprinkle with bread crumbs. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

King Ranch Chicken
http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/main-courses/king-ranch-chicken-2/

I doubled all recipes (EXCEPT CHICKEN TETTRAZINI - that makes some serious meals). I also made a lasagna, a big pot of chili and a big pot of potato cheese soup.

I prepared all meals up until the point where you would cook them (except for soup and chili). I purchased my disposable pans from Dollar Tree. Also, a friend in my neighborhood makes homemade spaghetti sauce, so my sister and I have asked her to show us how to make it. This will save a substantial amount since spaghetti sauce can get pricey!

The best part?? My sister made 20 meals also and we swapped 10/10. I'll post tomorrow the recipes she used!

I only made 20 meals because Friday night is pizza night and Thursdays are very busy, so we grab something quick and easy! Hope this encourages you!