HOMEMADE MEATBALLS -LARGE FAMILY FREEZER MEAL And Meatballs, Gravy and Mashed Potatoes Meal Kit

10 pounds ground beef
7 eggs
9 cups oats (you can pulse this in a blender)
2 TBSP Italian seasoning
2 TBSP garlic powder
4 TBSP onion powder
4 TBSP minced garlic
4 TBSP dried parsley
4 TBSP dried oregano
Mix all ingredients together thoroughly. This is going to take you a little while so take your time and do it right. You don’t want all the spices in one place.

Form into meatballs of whatever size you prefer. Flash freeze on parchment-lined cookie sheets or pans. Divide into freezer storage bags into the amounts that you will need for a meal. This should make at least 17 dozen (204) meatballs

To cook meatballs, remove from freezer the day before needed and thaw in refrigerator overnight. Use them in whatever recipe you’d like the next day.

Bake 350F 20-30 minutes.

Source: Large Family Table

Meatballs, Gravy and Mashed Potatoes Meal Kit –Prepare a bulk batch of meatballs, gravy, and mashed potatoes. Store the three components separately in meal-sized portions and freeze.

🌮 Taco Meat in the Slow Cooker -Large Family Style

5 lbs. ground beef
2 (15 oz) cans beans (pinto or black or a mix), drained
4 (15 oz) cans corn with liquid
1 1/4 cups Taco Seasoning Mix*
Optional: Green Chilies, Salsa

Put ground beef in slow cooker.
Cook for 4 hours on high.
(If necessary, drain fat off meat. Return meat to slow cooker.)
Add beans, corn and seasoning.
Turn slow cooker to warm.

To serve:
Serve with hard or soft shells, chips, or on salad.
Top with cheese, lettuce, tomato, sour cream, hot sauce, or any other toppings you like.

Freeze in freezer bags. Don't forget to mark the bags.

*You can add the following to substitute for the taco seasoning:
3 TBSP chili powder
1 TBSP Cumin
2 TBSP Oregano
3 TBSP garlic powder
3 TBSP onion powder
2 TBSP Paprika
Salt and pepper to taste

Source: Modified from the recipe at The Family Table

Taco Meal Kit – Individually package cooked taco meat, shredded cheese, and tortillas. Combine in a larger zip-top freezer bag in the freezer.

🍕 Homemade Pizza Meal Kit

This recipe comes from Lauren's Latest, and you should really go to her blog first as she has a step-by-step photo tutorial. 

Makes 2-12 inch pizzas or approximately 1 lb. of dough.
1 cup warm water
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 tablespoon honey {or sugar}
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons olive or canola oil
2 1/2-3 1/2 cups bread flour {depending on the heat & humidity}

In a large mixing bowl, preferably that of a stand mixer, stir yeast and honey into warm water. Sit for 5-10 minutes or until bubbles form and mixture starts to foam. This tells you that the yeast is alive and kicking. Pour in salt, oil and half the flour and mix. Once that flour is incorporated, start adding flour in bit by bit until you get the pizza dough to the consistency you want: slightly tacky, but when you touch it it doesn’t stick to your hands. Once you reach this stage, turn the mixer on high to knead for 6 minutes. Turn a timer on and walk away! Resist the temptation to stop earlier than 6 minutes! The dough should be smooth and easy to work with. And the bowl should be clean.

To Freeze: This is the point when you could freeze your dough. Divide into portions, place into freezer bags, seal removing all air and freeze. I usually divide the dough ball two-1 pizza portions and put each in a quart plastic bag, then place  into a gallon freezer bag along with baggies of shredded cheese, and sauce along with other favorite toppings individually. Place all individual packages into larger zip-top freezer bags in the freezer.

From Freezer: To use, remove from freezer the morning you want to use it, let sit out to get to room temperature and double in size; 6-8 hours. Then use as you'd like.

For Pizza, preheat oven to 450 degrees. Then unwrap the pizza dough balls, roll out the dough, top with pizza sauce, cheese, and selected toppings and bake 12 to 14 minutes.

Chicken and Mushroom Fijitas, Large Family Style

6-8 multicolored bell peppers, seeds removed, ¼-inch thick slices
1-2 large red or yellow onions, thinly sliced
16 oz. sliced mushrooms
2 – 4 lb chicken breasts*, ¼-inch thick slices
4 tsp. chili powder
2 tsp. paprika
2 tsp. cumin
2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. kosher sea salt
½ tsp. ground black pepper
1 tsp. coriander
1/4 tsp. chili flakes or cayenne pepper (optional)
Juice of 2 limes
3 tbsp. Canola oil

For Serving:
12-16 tortillas
Sour Cream
Avocados or Guacamole

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line two rimmed baking sheets with foil or parchment paper.

Spread the peppers and onions evenly across two sheetpans. Place chicken on half of one of the sheet pans, and mushrooms on half of the other sheetpan.

Sprinkle spices over both pans. Sprinkle lime juice and canola oil over both pans. Mix the liquids with the spices with your hands.

Bake for 20 minutes, check to see if the vegetables have seared. If not, switch the oven to the broiler and cook for an additional 3-6 minutes until seared as desired. Meanwhile heat tortillas in microwave or in oven.

*beef strips or 2 lbs shelled shrimp can substitute for the chicken

Source

Fajitas Meal Kits– Package spiced chicken or beef strips, sliced fajita vegetables, and small flour tortillas in individual bags. Place all bags into a larger zip-top freezer bag and stash in the freezer.

Total Cost:
6-8 multicolored bell peppers, $6.98
1-2 large red or yellow onions, $1.00
16 oz. sliced mushrooms, $5.00
2 – 4 lb chicken breasts, $3.76,
or beef strips, $8.34 or 2 lbs shelled shrimp, $14.98
4 tsp. chili powder, .30¢
2 tsp. paprika .30¢
2 tsp. cumin, .30¢
2 tsp. garlic powder, .30¢
1 tsp. kosher sea salt, .30¢
½ tsp. ground black pepper, .30¢
1 tsp. coriander, .30¢
1/4 tsp. chili flakes or cayenne pepper (optional), .30¢
Juice of 2 limes, $1.00
3 tbsp. Canola oil, .30¢

Total Cost: chicken $20.74, beef $25.32, $31.96