Oct. Freezer Meals

Ok a few of these are left from last month that we didn't get to yet. But most of them are ones we cooked this time. It was a long day and half to make all the meals, but know that it's so helpful the rest of the month. If you want recipes for something specific let me know and I'll see if I can get them to you. Some recipes are my mom's or sister's.


BEEF

Chicken Fried Steak
Sloppy Joes
Roast Beef Aujou Sandwich
3 Min. Steak Sandwich
Roast Beef
Chili
Beef Stew
Stuffed Shells
Lasagna Roll-ups
Meatloaf
Slumgullion
Green Chili Flautas
taco meat
Mozzerella beef rolls
Steak Fajitas


CHICKEN
Chicken Chili
Chicken Spaghetti
Chicken Chimichangas
Pear Chicken
Angel Chicken
Hawaiian Chicken
Applesauce BBQ chicken
cranberry chicken
Chicken Bacon Sub
Orange Chicken
Honey Sesame Chicken


OTHER
Mustard ham
Minestrone soup
Alfredo Sauce
Mushroom Corn Chowder
Brocolli Cheese Soup
Pepperoni Pizza Roll-ups
Spinach and Sausage rolls
Ham and Pineapple rolls
Twice Baked potatoe casserole
Mac and Cheese and Ham


BREAKFAST
Choc Chip pancakes
Breakfast burritos
Peach Muffins
Sausage Egg Cheese Biscuits
French Toast Sticks

Aug Freezer Meals

My mom, sister and I started trying to cook freezer meals for easier weeknight cooking. We haven't worked up to Once a Month Cooking yet but we are close. We have each picked out some meals and we triple them to portion out between the three households. It has worked well and takes a good 8-9 hours of work. We feel the long cooking day pays off during the week when dinner time isn't such a headache anymore.

Here is a list of the items I cooked for August.

Beef-
Stuffed bell peppers
Lasagna
Lawnmower tacos

Chicken-
Orange chicken
Chicken chimichangas
Chicken bacon subs
Southwest Chicken Soup
Angel Chicken Pasta

Other-
Hash brown Potatoes casserole
Sausage egg cheese biscuits
Spaghetti sauce
Peach muffins
Cranberry Pork Chops

Wedding Cakes

I was asked to help with the cakes and cupcakes for a friends wedding recently and decorated about 100 cupcakes and two large square cakes. Thank goodness my little man was patient while I was working, although I had to stop and hold him or feed him plenty. Mostly he just wanted to watch what I was doing. So again one handed I made the frosting while letting him watch.

I also made the cupcake stand to display the cupcakes and since they weren't having a traditional wedding cake I made the stand take the place of it. I covered some boxes with fabric and wrapped a ribbon around them, and tiered them using the dollar store candlesticks. It looked lovely and the bride, groom, and guests were very well pleased.

I made chocolate monograms which were incredible simple. I printed out a sheet with the letter "N" on it with the font I wanted, about 12 on a sheet. Layed a sheet of wax paper on top of it and piped the melted white chocolate on top. Basic tracing.  Once hardened, gently peel them off the wax paper and place on the cupcakes.

I wasn't too thrilled with the roses for the square cakes, but they were OK enough to use. My frosting was a little too stiff and I messed the color up, but thankfully they still liked it and were able to extend grace.

Success!!!

Grad party

I have been busy planning and making cakes for the last several weeks and have some time to post about it. I got to help my sister-n-law plan an out of town surprise graduation party for my nephew. It turned out very elegant and nice, which fits my nephews personality. He's one of a kind, he always dresses to the nines, I mean what kid wants to wear a suit and tie everyday to school...him!  And even while he is being causal he's at least in a button up and tie.

Anyways, after throwing a few ideas around it was decided to go with a black and gold damask theme. Here are some pics including the carrot cake I decorated.

I used the stenciling technique for the cake and it was so simple and turned out really great. I was a little worried about doing it on the cream cheese frosting because it didn't get a crusty layer like a buttercream does, but still worked out. Once the cream cheese frosting set up, I very carefully laid a stencil on the cake and using black buttercream, I spread it on using the little scraper tool that comes with the pampered chef stoneware. Once it is covered lift up your stencil, rinse and dry it and place it where you want it next. It is important to clean it after each time, otherwise it leaves marks on the cake.

I also have my first experience with Mod Podge, I made the card box and it turned out pretty good too. I let my SIL take it home to decorate with or put to good use at church fundraisers.

Enjoy.

Chocolate Surprise Cookies

I came across these wonderful looking cookies the other day on picky-palate. So I thought it would be wonderful to surprise my Hubby with them, since his two favorite things are chocolate chip cookies and brownies. What could be better than to combine the two?

To start I whipped together a quick batch of brownies from a box.

While the brownies cooked, I made a batch of Chocolate Chip Cookies. However I didn't have chocolate chips, but I had some mini M&Ms and mini rainbow chips. I had a little helper also, my Little Man wanted to watch and help measure, with one hand the batter was made. And it looks so pretty with all the colors.

Then after the cookie dough was made and the brownies were cooked, I stuck the cookie dough in the fridge to set up a bit while the brownies cooled, maybe about an hour.  When the brownies were ready to cut I used my pampered chef mini spatula to cut about 1" squares. I then took my pampered chef large cookie scoop and put a scoop on the bottom and scoop of dough on the top to sandwich the brownie.

Very gently I smashed the sides together so the brownie wasn't showing. These babies are huge, I barely got 6 of them on a large cookie sheet. I lined the cookie sheet with parchment paper, which made them very easy to remove for cooling.

After baking them at 350* for about 18 mins, I let them cool on the cookie sheet for a couple of minutes and then transferred to a cooling rack. Aren't they just beautiful.

My Hubby loved them and like the surprise in the middle.

I hope you enjoy them if you make some for your family. They were a big hit here. Only thing though, one batch doesn't make a lot of cookies, only about 10. But you'll have half a pan of brownies left over.

New Life

A few weeks ago I had noticed a birds nest on our playground. I didn't think too much of it. It was nice out the other day and I took Little Man to go down the slide. When I looked up there was a momma Robin sitting on the nest, I didn't want to disturb her so just put Little Man on the slide, then she flew off. So I got up there and there were four perfect little blue eggs in the nest. I took pictures however they were deleted.

I went out last night to take another picture, I was too late. They were already hatching. Three were completely hatched, and one was just coming out of it's egg.

I am just amazed by these precious little birds. How amazingly intricate the nest is that the robin forms from scraps and weaves it together and then how she can lay 4 eggs that are probably the same size as her, then these little birds arrive. God will take care of the birds, I know he loves us so much more!!! Matthew 6:26
"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

It was so beautiful to see this new life being born. It was very encouraged and excited.

Blessings

Listening to the radio this morning, Laura Story's song Blessings came on and it truely spoke to me.

"What if my greatest disappointments, Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy".

Nothing on this earth will satisfy me or sustain me except for my relationship with HIM. I try so hard to fill voids with different relationships and by doing things, but in the end am left disappointed. Disappointed that I've put so much work and effort into something to not have it work out. Some of my greatest disappointments are things I have done or that I've allowed others to make me feel.

When Christ took the pain and punishment for us he bled for sins. That day I recieved forgiveness, hope, and love.  If I allow myself to know in my heart the love that Christ has given then I can share that with others. Only a love that someone as great as our God can provide. Nothing we have done or will do will change His love for us.  This is so apparent this Easter weekend. His love for me was so great that he died for me. No one can love me as much as Lord Jesus Christ. That is the God I serve and praise.