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Showing posts with label budget friendly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label budget friendly. Show all posts

04 August 2021

Back to School Prep - Freezer Meals



This isn’t the first thing I work on because it’s not cool enough to be cooking so much. But I’m bringing it up now because I will be watching for ingredients to be on sale.  

I just want to share what a LIFESAVER having prepped breakfasts, lunches and dinners is.  We all have those times we oversleep and grabbing a lunch from the freezer, instead of making one, will save us from being late. Or those times we forgot some crucial ingredient  for breakfast, or nights when life is pulling your family in 5 different directions at dinner time. These are the times we take advantage of the freezer instead of takeout. 

There is no shortage of blogs, YouTube, and Instagram accounts that have big lists of freezer meals to prep ahead. 
Don’t skip on basic proteins though.  Shredded plain chicken breast can be used with so many other things, same with browned hamburger. I try to have multiple meals worth ready to go. 

These are some of my go to meals. 

Sliders (easy for lunches) we do ham and cheese, Turkey and cheese, burgers 

Breakfast sandwiches



Pulled pork roasts-I put a few on the smoker at once, then freeze them.  To reheat I just throw them in instant pot or slow cooker and with some liquid (water or stock) and BBQ sauce.

Grilled chicken breast-there is always a use for these.  Teriyaki chicken on rice, Alfredo, stir fry, tacos, chicken bacon ranch salad, Mac n cheese.  So many! We make 1-2 packages of chicken breast almost every week, the kids can fix them up easily too. 

I’ll be working on filling the freezer up with these this month. 



*May contain affiliated links* I participate in Amazon Associates Program occasionally. I won't recommend a product I wasn't myself interested in trying or have tried. I may receive monetary compensation for participating. This does not change the price for you.
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02 August 2021

Back To School Prep & Baked Oatmeal Bars



August is a little bittersweet. I’m torn between spending everyday soaking up summer and knowing that I really should carve a few minutes  here and there to make September less chaotic, assuming our ridiculous (Oregon) government let’s us live again. 

I’ve got a whole lot of random things to share to prep for Back to School. Some of them are my most popular posts, re-imagined and others are new as our kids are older and teens are a whole new adventure. I’m going to proceed as if we are actually going to have a real school year, because I need that for my sanity. 

Today I am sharing one of my Go-to, Budget Friendly, Make Ahead, Delicious breakfasts you can grab and go!  It’s also perfect for Sunday, heading to the ball field or church, these are easy! 

These Baked Oatmeal bars are easy to mix up and try some different add-ins to. I have a big list of combinations I want to try.  

I grabbed a few different baking chips that were on clearance at Target to make some variety.  Made a batch of just peanut butter and chocolate chips.  And a double batch of Apple, cranberry and walnut. 

For those I swapped the peanut butter for applesauce, added some dried cranberries and a few white chocolate chips and walnuts. I should have added some cinnamon but forgot. 


All you do is dump it all in a bowl and mix it up. Then pour into a greased 8x8 pan. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes. Alternatively you can fill about 15 cupcake liners 1/2-3/4 full and bake for the same time. I prefer the cupcake liner method. 
1 1/2 C Quick Oats 
3/4 C Milk (of your choice) 
1/2 C Brown Sugar 
1 Egg
1/4 C Butter Melted 
1/2 Cup Nut Butter melted ish. Enough that you can stir it in. 
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla 
1/2 tsp Salt 
1 tsp Baking Powder

That’s it! Let them cool a little bit and eat right away or completely cool and they are simple to cut, and easy to grab and go.  They also thaw from frozen pretty quick! 

*May contain affiliated links* I participate in Amazon Associates Program occasionally. I won't recommend a product I wasn't myself interested in trying or have tried. I may receive monetary compensation for participating. This does not change the price for you.
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20 September 2019

Friday Treat ~ Mini Hand Pies





The first two weeks went so fast and this one is flying too! I have some time today to work on treats for Friday treats. I grabbed this pie crust from my go to, Grocery Outlet, it was about to reach its pull date so it was .25! Just a quarter!  I just tossed it in the freezer. I pulled it out this morning.   I just mixed up some pumpkin and cinnamon and nutmeg and a little brown sugar and filled these then baked them! Just a few minutes of work, not overly sugary and pretty darn affordable!



Do you have a day of the week you make treats? Friday is our least busy day (but still busy) and I like to reward us all for surviving the week lol 

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