Sloppy Joes

1 lb extra lean ground beef
1 small onion chopped (or 1 Tbsp dry onion)
1 can tomato soup
1 Tbsp vinegar
2 Tbsp ketchup
1 Tbsp mustard
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp chili powder

Brown hamburger with onion (drain grease).
Add other ingredients - Simmer 10 min.
Serve on Buns or freeze.
Freezing - let cool, put in Freezer bag, then defrost and simmer for 15-20 min. or until hot
*you could also put it in a crockpot for 3-5 hours on low, but crockpots retain moisture so the meat mixture will be more runny.

Crystal

Beef and Bean Burritos

1- 1 1/2 lbs ground beef - browned
1/4  cup onion - chopped
1 garlic clove - minced
1/2 Tbsp chili powder
1/2 Tbsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1  8oz can tomato sauce
8 large flour tortillas
1  16oz can refried beans
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 cup shredded cheese

Freezing: In a saucepan cook ground beef, onion and garlic. Add seasonings, Stir in tomato sauce and simmer for 10 min. Add refried beans; cook and stir until well blended. Cool completely.
Warm tortillas in microwave for 30 seconds, place 1/2-3/4 cup of meat mixture on each tortilla. Fold sides in and roll up tortilla. Flash Freeze the burritos and then wrap individually and freeze.
To Cook: You can just heat burritos in the microwave and eat separately with salsa and sour cream or put in a casserole dish with spaghetti sauce and cheese - bake 350 for 25 min covered, then uncovered for 5 min -or until bubbly.
*Do not freeze with the sauce on them because the tortillas will get mushy. Include spaghetti sauce and cheese on the side for this meal.

Suzie Roberts

Freezing Tips

Compiled by Crystal Howarth, Some ideas taken from Girlfriends on the Go Cookbook by Suzie Roberts.

What to freeze your meals in:

• Freezer Bags: when possible i.e. for Soups, Sauces, and non-layered casseroles. Squeeze as much air out, label it, then lay the bag flat in the freezer to provide quick freezing and take up less room.
• Disposable Pans: Make sure to cover dish tightly with foil (if there's tomato sauce, cover in plastic wrap and then foil). These can be bought for about 25 cents each at dollar stores or in bulk.

Cooking Meat in Bulk

• Ground Beef: Crumble 3-4 lbs on large cookie sheet with sides. Preheat oven to 425 and bake for 20 min or no longer pink. Put meat in colander under hot water to rinse of extra grease. Another way is to place ground beef in boiling water and boil until no longer pink, then rinse in a colander as well.
• Chicken: A large slow cooker will do 10-12 breasts at a time. Put them in with 1 cup of water and cook on medium for 2-3 hours.
• Roasts: Use a large slowcooker for 1-2 roasts. Cook on medium overnight.

Flash Freezing:

Sometimes you need to flash freeze items such as meatballs or chicken - anything where you don't want the individual items to stick together. To Flash freese - place items spread out on a cookie sheet, put in  freezer. As soon as they are no longer soft, they can be placed in a bag together to go into the freezer.

Foods that May Not Freeze Well:

• If making enchiladas, freeze them seperate from the top sauce or else they will get mushy. Put the sauce that tops the enchiladas in a small freezer bag and freeze along with the meal.
• Need cooked rice or pasta for your recipe? undercook it or else it will get mushy from freezing then thawing.
• Use frozen hashbrowns instead of fresh potatoes.
• Sauces with sour cream, cream cheese, and cream will freeze fine but you will need to whisk sauce when it is thawed because it might separate.