With the due date of baby #2 just weeks away, I’m consumed with getting ready for our little bundle of joy. A big part of that is trying to figure out what the heck we are going to eat while I’m taking care of a newborn and toddler!
I’m usually a meal planner and love to cook for my family. But meals have been few and far between this summer, so I’ve had to force myself to buckle down and make some super easy freezer meals. And while I like a good casserole like the next gal, I get tired of the leftovers. So here are some simple freezer meals that I’ll be defrosting very soon.
These are my husband’s favorite. I loosely follow this recipe and always make two pounds of meat – one ground pork and the other either ground turkey or chicken. This time, I didn’t have water chestnuts, so I added shredded carrots. I also serve them with frozen pot stickers, my favorites are from Aldi.
Pork Carnitas
Put pork roast in the crockpot and sprinkle it with cumin, salt, pepper and garlic. Then pour a jar of of salsa (I use mango salsa) on top and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Let the roast cool and then shred. I freeze tortillas, shredded cheese and store bought guacamole to make sure this meal is ready to go. Side note: Do you ever buy locally made tortillas? If not, they are so worth it. We always buy from Tortilleria Los III but there are several great places in Wichita to get them.
Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Put pork roast in the crockpot and sprinkle with BBQ seasoning. Pour a can of Dr. Pepper or other pop on top and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Let cool, shred and mix with BBQ sauce. I like to serve these with pretzel rolls that you can keep frozen and pickles. If I end up shopping, I’ll grab a bag of cole slaw to mix with olive oil and vinegar and top the sandwich with it. Heat up a can of baked beans and you are good to go.
I know this is kind of a casserole, but one I do not get tired of! I love using the noodles you don’t have to cook, but this is the first time I’m freezing them. The instructions say it should work, so I’m crossing my fingers. I also loosely follow the recipe on the box. I used hot and mild Italian sausage along with spinach. I’ll likely pick up a bagged salad to serve with this, I’ve been loving chopped kale salads these days.
Snacks
A good friend pointed out the fact that I may not always have time to sit down for a meal. So snacks are good to have on hand. Trail mix, cheese and crackers, and peanut butter sandwiches are my go to. I make my own trail mix, mixing raw almonds, raw peanuts, salted cashews and dried berries.