Freezer meal: Pork Tenderloin

I have a new love with pork tenderloins. Baked correctly, these pieces of pork are tender and juicy. I purchase mine from a warehouse store for optimal pricing.

Pork Tenderloin

In a gallon freezer bag place:
1 pork tenderloin
2/3 c soy sauce
2 tsp garlic
1 tbsp ginger
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 black pepper
1 c ketchup
1/4 c sugar
1/4 c white cooking wine (very inexpensive  about $1 at walmart)
1 oz honey

In a quart bag place:

1 tbsp vegetable oil
1/2 tbsp sesame oil
1/3 c vidalia onion, chopped
1/3 c celery, chopped
1/3 c carrot, chopped
1/3 c red pepper, chopped
1/3 c green bell pepper, chopped
1 c pineapple chunks

Seal bags. Place together inside a gallon size freezer bag. Label and freeze. Thaw in fridge when ready to use. Can be cooked in crock pot for 4-6 hours on low or placed in oven at 350' for 30 minutes.

Freezer meal: Polynesian Pork Chops

This recipe is courtesy of Macey's grocery store. They offer weekly crock pot dinner solutions. This is their recipe. I suggest serving it with rice and a yummy salad.

Polynesian Pork Chops:

In a gallon size freezer bag place:
4 3/4 inch think boneless pork chops
1 can of golden mushroom soup
20 oz can of pineapple chunks
1 tsp garlic powder or minced garlic
1/4 c water
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp honey

Label. Freeze. Thaw in fridge when ready to use.

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Freezer meal: Denison's Lasagna

Here is my hubby's favorite lasagna. The recipe is a family tradition and favorite of my best friend (and partner in crime) Mallory Denison Miller. Thank you Denison family for sharing!

Denison Lasagna
1lb hamburger
3 1/2 c diced tomatoes (fresh or canned)
8 oz seasoned tomato sauce
envelope of Spaghetti sauce mix
6 oz mozzarella cheese
2 c cottage cheese
1  box lasagna noodles

Brown hamburger with diced tomatoes, tomato sauce and envelope of seasoning. Cook noodles al dente. In a disposable aluminum baking dish, layer meat mixture, cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese and lasagna noodles. Cover. Label and freeze.

Bake frozen for 2 hrs or thawed for 1 hour at 375'

Freezer meal: Candied Carrots

Don't forget that side dishes and breakfast items can become freezer meals also. Below is a yummy recipe for Candied Baby Carrots. A favorite in our house. It is the only way my kids will eat cooked carrots. With the butter and sugars, can you tell why?

Candied Carrots
2lb bag of baby carrots
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1/2 c butter
1/2 c brown sugar

Place carrots, salt and sugar in a bag together. Place the remaining ingredients together in a quart size ziploc. Place both bags together in a gallon size bag. Label and freeze.

When ready to use, place carrots, salt and sugar in a saucepan. Cover with water. Boil; reduce heat to medium and cook for 20 minutes. Drain. Add butter and brown sugar. Cook 5 mins. Serve!

Freezer meals: Honey Lime Chicken

In my searches for recipes, the term 'Freezer Meal' seems to have many definitions. I think of a freezer meal as a dish of unbaked food tossed in a bag and placed in the freezer for later cooking and consumption. But, I find many cookbooks full of recipes of cooked meal, frozen and re-cooked. Isn't that a left over??? Below is one of those "questionable" recipes. It is delicious. To make it a Tabatha-approved recipe, I would follow the suggestions under the original recipe. This recipe was found online at http://www.30mealsinoneday.com


 Honey Lime Chicken

2lbs chicken tenders
1/2 Tbsp garlic salt
1 Tbsp peanut oil
20 oz can of pineapple rings
1/4 c honey
3 Tbsp lime juice
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp cornstarch


Original directions:
Sprinkle chicken with garlic salt. Brown in oil. Add 1/4 of pineapple juice to skillet. Cover. Simmer 6-8 mins until chicken is golden brown. Remove chicken. Add honey, lime, soy, cornstarch and remaining pineapple juice to existing juices in pan. Bring to boil, cook until clear-about 1 minutes. Remove. Cool. Place chicken, pineapple rings and sauce in bag together. Freeze.
Thaw in fridge when ready to use. Heat in 9x13 dish in oven for 30 mins at 350'

Tab directions:
Place frozen chicken tenders in a ziploc bag with garlic salt and 1/4 c pineapple juice and pineapple rings. Seal. Set aside.
In a quart size ziploc, place remaining pineapple juice, lime juice, soy sauce, honey and cornstarch. Seal. Set aside.  Place both bags into a large gallon size bag with instructions.

Instructions: Thaw in fridge. Place chicken mixture in a 9x13 dish. Boil sauce for 1 min or until clear and thick. Pour over chicken. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until chicken reaches 165'

Freezer meals: Stuffed Shells

I love pasta! And, I love cheese!! Enter in Stuffed Shells....I am in love! The secret to freezing pasta...under cook it before freezing otherwise it will turn to mush. Yuck! This recipe is from Kraft foods. I use to receive a free quarterly magazine from Kraft Foods and tore out this favorite. I now receive weekly emails. You can sign up at http://www.kraftfoods.com/. When preparing this, I suggest doubling it. Not only do the cheeses come from the grocer in the doubled size containers but with little work you will have 2 meals prepared.

Stuffed Shells (single tray measurements)

12 jumbo shells, cooked al dente (under cooked)
4 oz mozzarella cheese, divided. use 3/4 c in shells. remaining on top
8 oz ricotta cheese
2 oz parmesan cheese
1 egg
1/4 tsp pepper
1 jar spaghetti sauce

Combine cheeses, egg and pepper in a bowl. Spoon into shell unto full. Place filled shells into a disposable tin (can be a pie tin or cake pan. these are inexpensive and can be found a grocery stores and $1 stores). Pour spaghetti sauce over the top. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese.
Cover and freeze.
Thaw in fridge when ready to use.
Preheat oven to 350'
Bake for 30 mins.