Batch Cooking and Cold Weather Recipes

[Iggy aka IG]

It's that time of year when nesting and winter prep begins.  What are your favorite batch cooking and fall recipes?

Yesterday:
Boiled eggs which serve as breakfasts for me, and healthy protein snacks for DH.

DH has been making unsweetened sun tea all summer, and continues to do so. He loves that stuff!

Speaking of DH, I washed and trimmed rashes for his lunches.

I also assembled a 7 layer salad for my lunches today and tomorrow, a pan of chile enchiladas for tonight, and made crock pot pizza (all low carb, just as most of my cooking is) yesterday for last night's supper. Delish!  I also made two bags of chicken: Two chicken breasts per bag, one seasoned with a homemade honey sesame glaze combo, one with tangy something something. Label, freeze, thaw the night before use, bake for 30 minutes. Tender and delish.

Oh, and I made 7+ dozen chocolate chip pumpkin cookies and will give some to neighbors, DH's co-workers and to bring as a Halloween party hostess gift this Saturday. And they freeze well. And I also made a few caramel apples to split with DH.

[kadee79]

Speaking of DH, I washed and trimmed rashes for his lunches.insert quote here

Uuummmm, I don't want any of those "rashes"!  

It is Monday, it is laundry day!  I'll be lucky if I get it all done today and folded & put away...DH kept interrupting me today!

I do batches of things like spaghetti sauce, chili, baked ziti, lasagna, enchiladas, and a couple other things that have slipped my mind.  I need to use up what is in the freezer before I start more.

[Blonde Granny]

About all I do in quantity is marina sauce and chili. We've reached an age where we split a lot of meals, so many times  semi homemade items are a better deal for us, i.e. Stouffers mid size lasagna split and a salad is plenty.   I don't bake very often either.  DH is a diabetic who takes 5 insulin injections per day, so we really watch the sweets that are kept in the house.

[Malarky]

I have shepherd's pie, quiche, pasta sauce, and vegetable soup already made in the freezer.
I have ground beef and ground turkey already cooked and frozen in single meal portions.
I have meatloaf and marinated roast porks frozen, ready to thaw and cook.
I made cream of broccoli soup and beef stew today.  
Tomorrow or Wednesday I'm going to try to get a batch of tomato soup made.  I also have a pumpkin I need to bake-probably also destined to become soup.
I also have lasagna fixings in the fridge that I need to use.

DD has 5 cheer competitions next month, all of which I will attend which will eat up 4 of my days off.

And once November hits, I'll be so busy at the bakery I'll have lots of nights when I won't feel like cooking.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

MMMMm..... THIS thread is making me hungry!!!!

[Deleted]

Crock pot pizza? Low carb? Can I have that one please, thanks.

[Iggy aka IG]

Oct 20, 2014 19:37:05 GMT -5 kadee79 said:

Speaking of DH, I washed and trimmed rashes for his lunches.insert quote here

Uuummmm, I don't want any of those "rashes"!  

It is Monday, it is laundry day!  I'll be lucky if I get it all done today and folded & put away...DH kept interrupting me today!

I do batches of things like spaghetti sauce, chili, baked ziti, lasagna, enchiladas, and a couple other things that have slipped my mind.  I need to use up what is in the freezer before I start more.

  Good catch! 

[The Captain]

Stew.  Big thick chuncks of chuck roast, carrots, celery, potatos, thyme, onions, in a rich beef/wine gravy thickened with corn starch.  Oh, and frozen peas thrown in at the last moment.

This ladeled over hot crusty french bread or warm biscuts.  Get 3 dinners, 4 lunches, and still freeze half for a few weeks later.

Now I know what's for dinner next sunday .

[Iggy aka IG]

Oct 20, 2014 23:53:34 GMT -5 oped said:

Crock pot pizza? Low carb? Can I have that one please, thanks.

You bet!  Thanks for asking!  It's at home so I'll post it tonight or tomorrow. 

[Malarky]

While wandering around the interwebz, I just saw a recipe for crockpot mashed potatoes.  
I'll be testing this out.
They could be so awesome with my meatloaf burgers.

 

[Iggy aka IG]

Oct 20, 2014 23:53:34 GMT -5 oped said:

Crock pot pizza? Low carb? Can I have that one please, thanks.

Sooo, based on your post, wasn't sure if you wanted the actual recipe or not.  But, just in case here is the recipe posted verbatim.     My comments are after:

.75 lb ground beef, cooked
.75 lb bulk Italian sausage, cooked
1 15 oz jar pizza sauce
3 cups mozz cheese, shredded
3 cups fresh spinach
16 slices pepperoni
Toppings (optional-add your faves)
I used:
1 cups olives, sliced
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1/2 cup sweet onion, chopped
1/4 cup marinated artichoke hearts, chopped
1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced

In a 6 quart crock pot, combine sausage and hamburger with sauce and onions.  Place half the sauce mixture in crock pot.  Place half of fresh spinach on top of sauce mixture.  Place pepperoni and 1/2 desired toppings on top.  Place half of the mozz cheese on top of pepperoni.  Repeat layers ending with Mozz.  Cook on low 4-6 hours.  Let cool slightly and cut into 8 slices.  Refrigerate remaining.  Makes 8 ginormous slices.

Nutritional information per serving:  Calories 487, carbs 7.6g, Fiber 2g, Net Carbs 5.6g, Protein 30g, Fat 37g

Iggy's notes:  I omitted the spinach and green pepper because we didn't have any.  I also omitted the onions and mushrooms b/c DH abhors them.  I used 1 lb Italian sausage, and no ground beef.  I served this with grated Parmesan cheese.

[kadee79]

I put 4 meals worth of meat loaf in the freezer tonight...left from 2 nights ago.

I'm going to be doing some of my Thanksgiving prep and putting it in the freezer too! I'll make my pumpkin pies and bake them about half way. I've already got my bread cubed and drying and since I also make cornbread dressing (for DH), I'll bake the corn bread and freeze it too. AND, I'll do my homemade noodles and freeze them...I bought my brown eggs for those today!

I need to get my 30/31 day (Amish Friendship) cakes started too. Those will go into the freezer until I hand them out to several families for Christmas!

And I've been thinking about chocolate chip cookies....and I've got at least 8-10 measured bags of chips in the freezer just waiting for some cookie dough!

[Blonde Granny]

I finally have my kitchen back together and DH is whining that he hasn't had chili in quite awhile, so I'm taking ground beef from the freezer and doing a double batch of it tomorrow. We will have it for lunch during half-time Saturday and with luck the rest will go into the freezer for a later cold and snowy/icy day.

[The Captain]

Oct 23, 2014 8:25:04 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

I finally have my kitchen back together and DH is whining that he hasn't had chili in quite awhile, so I'm taking ground beef from the freezer and doing a double batch of it tomorrow. We will have it for lunch during half-time Saturday and with luck the rest will go into the freezer for a later cold and snowy/icy day.

Do we get to see pictures?

[Blonde Granny]

Oct 23, 2014 13:52:09 GMT -5 The Captain said:

Oct 23, 2014 8:25:04 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

I finally have my kitchen back together and DH is whining that he hasn't had chili in quite awhile, so I'm taking ground beef from the freezer and doing a double batch of it tomorrow. We will have it for lunch during half-time Saturday and with luck the rest will go into the freezer for a later cold and snowy/icy day.

Do we get to see pictures?

Since it's not black like the other, it's difficult to see. I don't think it would do much good, but I'll try it.

[Apple]

I made a tangy bbq chicken, and since I had enough ingredients, I went ahead and made up a couple bags for the freezer.  It's supposed to be done in the crockpot, but I like how it comes out better when I cook it in the dutch oven (the juices are a little thicker, etc).  Then I serve it over rice.  I still have a bag left in the freezer to use.

www.mommysavers.com/c/t/217182/my-freezer-meal-club (last recipe on the page)

I'll make a bunch of chili and freeze some in single-meal-sized containers.

I made some cornbread the other night, and while I had all the dry ingredients and measuring cups/spoons out, I decided to make my own muffin mix.  I put all the dry ingredients together and put in a baggie.  Then I just wrote out the required wet ingredients that would be needed later (eggs, butter, etc) right onto the bag with a sharpie.  Will save at least a few minutes (and dishes) next time I go to make it, and every little bit helps.

I'll also fix a big batch of hot cereal (oatmeal, chia seeds, quinoa, sometimes I sprinkle a few pecans or walnuts on top) and put it in little mason jars.  Then I just take the jar to work and heat it up in the morning at break time.

[Iggy aka IG]

Made African peanut soup yesterday.  (The recipe is in the What's for Dinner thread.)

Tomorrow night we'll have the honey sesame chicken I put together and froze earlier this month.

I need to poke around the freezer for more batch cooking ideas...

[marvholly]

Some things I batch cook year around:

browned ground beef or turkey or combo
burritos (breakfast & lunch)
chicken: whole, thighs, and/or breasts
roasted veggies
stuffed peppers,cabbage or mushrooms
black beans for tacos, salads or soup
salsbury steak
meatloaf

Cool weather only foods:

lasagne
stews (beef or chicken)
swiss steak
sweet & sour meatballs
soups
chili
lentil stew

[skubikky]

Oct 22, 2014 10:06:05 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

Oct 20, 2014 23:53:34 GMT -5 oped said:

Crock pot pizza? Low carb? Can I have that one please, thanks.

Sooo, based on your post, wasn't sure if you wanted the actual recipe or not.  But, just in case here is the recipe posted verbatim.     My comments are after:

.75 lb ground beef, cooked
.75 lb bulk Italian sausage, cooked
1 15 oz jar pizza sauce
3 cups mozz cheese, shredded
3 cups fresh spinach
16 slices pepperoni
Toppings (optional-add your faves)
I used:
1 cups olives, sliced
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1/2 cup sweet onion, chopped
1/4 cup marinated artichoke hearts, chopped
1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced

In a 6 quart crock pot, combine sausage and hamburger with sauce and onions.  Place half the sauce mixuture in crock pot.  Place half of fresh spinach on top of sauce mixture.  Place pepperoni and 1/2 desired toppings on top.  Place half of the mozz cheese on top of pepperoni.  Repeat layers ending with Mozz.  Cook on low 4-6 hours.  Let cool slightly and cut into 8 slices.  Refrigerate remaining.  Makes 8 ginormous slices.

Nutritional information per serving:  Calories 487, carbs 7.6g, Fiber 2g, Net Carbs 5.6g, Protein 30g, Fat 37g

Iggy's notes:  I omitted the spinach and green pepper because we didn't have any.  I also omitted the onions and mushrooms b/c DH abhors them.  I used 1 lb Italian sausage, and no ground beef.  I served this with grated Parmesan cheese.

Sounds really good but it's 68% fat....ouch!
If I left out the meat could probably get it down a good amount.
Would still be very good I'd think.

[Iggy aka IG]

Oct 31, 2014 10:07:29 GMT -5 skubikky said:

Oct 22, 2014 10:06:05 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

Sooo, based on your post, wasn't sure if you wanted the actual recipe or not.  But, just in case here is the recipe posted verbatim.     My comments are after:

.75 lb ground beef, cooked
.75 lb bulk Italian sausage, cooked
1 15 oz jar pizza sauce
3 cups mozz cheese, shredded
3 cups fresh spinach
16 slices pepperoni
Toppings (optional-add your faves)
I used:
1 cups olives, sliced
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1/2 cup sweet onion, chopped
1/4 cup marinated artichoke hearts, chopped
1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced

In a 6 quart crock pot, combine sausage and hamburger with sauce and onions.  Place half the sauce mixture in crock pot.  Place half of fresh spinach on top of sauce mixture.  Place pepperoni and 1/2 desired toppings on top.  Place half of the mozz cheese on top of pepperoni.  Repeat layers ending with Mozz.  Cook on low 4-6 hours.  Let cool slightly and cut into 8 slices.  Refrigerate remaining.  Makes 8 ginormous slices.

Nutritional information per serving:  Calories 487, carbs 7.6g, Fiber 2g, Net Carbs 5.6g, Protein 30g, Fat 37g

Iggy's notes:  I omitted the spinach and green pepper because we didn't have any.  I also omitted the onions and mushrooms b/c DH abhors them.  I used 1 lb Italian sausage, and no ground beef.  I served this with grated Parmesan cheese.

Sounds really good but it's 68% fat....ouch!
If I left out the meat could probably get it down a good amount.
Would still be very good I'd think.

Yup.  Fat is a low carbers friend.  My doc's happy, I'm happy.  Life is good. 

[Deleted]

Oct 20, 2014 19:46:15 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

About all I do in quantity is marina sauce and chili. We've reached an age where we split a lot of meals, so many times  semi homemade items are a better deal for us, i.e. Stouffers mid size lasagna split and a salad is plenty.   I don't bake very often either.  DH is a diabetic who takes 5 insulin injections per day, so we really watch the sweets that are kept in the house.

You know that stauffers is 43% carbs with a glycemic index of 37... It isn't just 'sweets' that are at issue with diabetics...

[snapdragon]

I am doing Split Pea and Ham soup this week. The weather has been crummy. Cold, damp and chilly with sporadic downpours thrown in.  I'm hoping that it will warm me up. 

[Wisconsin Beth]

I did split pea soup (no ham in ours, sadly) in the crock pot for dinner yesterday.  Not up to my usual standard but still yummy.  Kids didn't like it but did each eat a spoonful without arguing.

[snapdragon]

I never had split pea when I was a child. I never tasted it until I was in my 20's. Mom had a bad experience in grade school with someone being sick and split pea soup. I'm glad because the way my boss taught me how to make it is great.   " I don't soak the peas. I just rinse them and add them to the pot right before I add the water and cook everything together." It comes out great every time. The peas still break down but you don't have to deal with another bowl. 
I'll admit that I don't believe I could do canned pea soup. I have to make it or know that it's been homemade. 

[Iggy aka IG]

I've never tried split pea soup.... 

Tonight I'm making turkey and cabbage chili style (price and recipe breakdown in the What's for Dinner tonight thread).

This weekend I'm making Toscana Soup for the first time, which includes Italian sausage, bacon, broth, cauliflower, etc.

I love this time of year.  I warned DH earlier this week I'm nesting in preparation for winter.  Cleaning, cooking, baking, etc.