Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Works-for-me-Wed. - favorite freezer friendly recipes

I am becoming a freezer cooking fanatic - it works for me! My favorite recipes are dump recipes (as in take a zip-loc, label it and dump in the meat (preferably raw or with minimal prep) and then something else. Seal it up and freeze.

Here are several of our favorite chicken recipes.

Chinese Chicken Morsels
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (2 cups)
1 cup long-grain, uncooked rice *

marinade:
1/2 cup lemon juice
¼ cup soy sauce
¼ cup Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (opt.)

Cut chicken breasts into 1 inch cubes. Mix marinade. Put chicken cubes and marinade in 1 gallon freezer bag. Freeze.

To serve, thaw and remove chicken from marinade. Bring marinade to boil in a small saucepan. Place chicken cubes about an inch apart on broiler pan treated with nonstick spray. Broil 4 to 5 inches from heat for 7 minutes, brushing with marinade once. Turn chicken cubes and broil another 4 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare rice according to package directions.

Lemon Chicken

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon crushed garlic
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 cup white rice, cooked (store uncooked) *

Mix all the spices and juice in a 1-gallon freezer bag, add chicken and freeze.

To serve, thaw chicken mixture. Preheat oven to 450. Place chicken in a 8x8x2-inch baking dish, treated with nonstick spray. Pour liquid over chicken. Bake 20 minutes. Turn chicken over and baster it. Bake 15 to 20 minutes longer or until chicken is tender and no longer pink. Serve over rice, if desired.

You don't freezer cook? Try it - you'll like it!

Have no idea where to start? You could try my method here. My last post was also freezer cooking tips.

Head on back over to ROCKS IN MY DRYER for oodles of ideas!

Note - if you'd accessed this post previously and came back for my wonderful recipes. Somehow, with my wonderful computer skills, I deleted the recipes - I guessed at which ones I used - we like these.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Works-for-me-Wed. - freezer cooking tips

I love to freezer cook because I can't handle cooking dinner during the dinner hour without it. Things are just too crazy around here at that time of day. If you're just trying it out or trying to perfect your method, here are some tips.

1. If you're short on space, try doing all things that will go in a zip-loc or buy the shallow disposable pans. It makes a big difference in how many entrees you can get in a small space.
2. NEVER skimp on zip-loc bags! NEVER try a generic or store brand or non-freezer bag! You might be okay, but why risk a huge mess and lost money and time?
3. Use a straw to suck out extra air in the bag (poor chick's vaccum sealer) - just be careful that you don't make yourself sick.
4. Use a bag of frozen onions instead of chopping onions (it's time, money and tear effecient).
5. Cut the amount of chopped onions in a recipe by at least half if you're going to freeze it.
6. You don't freezer cook - try it you'll like it!
Have no idea where to start? You could try my method here.

Head on back over to ROCKS IN MY DRYER for oodles of ideas!