Stay at home Saturday: Savory Smackerel~Fix and Freeze Part 4

The past few Saturdays have been devoted to a special Savory Smackerel Series on the topic of Fix n' Freezes...what they are, our insight gained through trial and error and maybe a freezer friendly recipe or two. If any of you are experienced at FNFs we would love for you to throw in your 2 cents! Feel free to comment on this post, email us at roofwithaview (at) gmail (dot) com or join our Facebook group here.

So far, our FNF tips to ensure FNF success and harmony have been:

• Select friends that have roughly the same size family as yours.
• Be sure the people you do it with have similar "taste" as you and your family.
• Be honest with one another about preferences, likes, dislikes (ex.-no grizzle, dark meat, mayo, peppers, etc.).
• State expectations of portion size and # of servings from the onset to prevent assumption and the feeling of getting jipped. :)
• Select your recipes.
• Do not select a recipe that you've never made or perfected.
• Share your recipe that you've selected with your FNF partners to make sure they give an A-OK and aren't repulsed.
• Schedule your FNF exchange date far enough in advance (all the while collecting coupons)-- preferrably 3-4 weeks out so you can work the sales and coupons accordingly.
• Keep an eye on the sales, particularly meat. Meat will most likely be your most costly FNF item so Buy One Get One or significant cost reductions will be your time to stock up.
• Select your FNF friendly recipe based on the sales you have hit and the stockpile of groceries you already have.

Today's FNF tips are focused on how to freeze your freezer friendly recipes. What you use to wrap your items and how wrap them is key to preventing freezer burn, not so great smells and change in taste. Use only ziploc bags or tupperware containers that are labeled "freezer" b/c these will be moisture and vapor proof.

• Remove as much air as you can before sealing the items. Note: Leave just a tad of room for liquids because they will expand just a bit.
• Wrap solids such as casseroles, meat and baked goods in aluminum foil before bagging.
• If you use a container, make sure the lid is air tight.
• Write the dish and date on your items.
• Keep in mind you don't have to spend a ton on such containers and wrappings. You can find great freezer pans in packs of two at your local dollar store.
  
  Great freezing resources

• Freezing and Food Safety- The US Dept of Agricultures in depth guide to freezing and food safety.
• Freezing Foods: A Real Time-Saver- AllRecipes guide to before you freeze, freezing, thawing, freezer friendly recipes and storage times.
• Foods that don't freeze well- National Center for Home Food Preservations guide of things that don't freeze well and the effects freezing has on those foods plus the effects on spices and seasonings.

Our Ashlie (from Train Up Your Child Tuesday) has shared one of her fav tried and true recipes that just happens to be a freezer friendly recipe. It sounds like one you can't mess up and that you can adjust according to your family's taste preferences. Ashlie says:

It is my ABSOLUTE favorite chick cass. My m-i-l used to always make it for me. I didn't even wanna know how to make it b/c I thought no way it would turn out like hers. Turns out though, that I CAN rock it out, and do frequently ;-p

Here's the basics: (Oh, and I don't know what book this came from, but it is called "Company Chicken Casserole")

Company Chicken Casserole
1 cup chopped cooked chicken
¾ cup mayonnaise
1 cup chopped celery (or cream of celery)
1 cup (or can) of sliced or chopped water chestnuts
1 cup cooked rice
1 can cream of chicken soup
½ cup sliced almonds
2 Tbsp. grated onion
1 cup crushed bread crumbs, stuffing, or even crushed cornflakes (I've never done the latter, but that is the original recipe idea)
2 Tbsp. melted margarine

First, know that the celery, chestnuts, almonds, and onion are all pretty optional. I've made it with all of them or just some of them. Once you make it, you'll know what you like best.


Also, I've used whatever leftover chicken from a small roast chicken (the kind you pick up at Target or Food Lion and such).

Finally, I've tried all types of topping....stuffing, bread crumbs, and my new favorite - Panko bread crumbs. They all work!

Directions:
Combine chicken, celery (if used), rice, soup(s), onion, mayo, water chestnuts, and almonds. Mix well. Spoon into a 2 quart dish (or 9X13). Top with stuffing and margarine. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes.

You could cook half of this and freeze the other, or better yet, make 2 or 3 of these recipes. Cook one, freeze smaller portions of the rest. Keep some or give away to the household with the new baby or the elderly widowed woman next door. :)

Happy Saturday, ya'll!

Marvelous Monday~Fix and Freeze: How To

Last month, I started a "Fix and Freeze" club. This is a get-together with friends where you cook meals to put in your freezer for nights when you don't have time to stand over the stove. It also saves the budget. We haven't gone out to eat nearly as much because there are meals ready to cook in the freezer! We had so much fun and were so productive. I wanted to pass along the idea to all of you! Most of the first steps can be done through email.

How To:
1. Pick your cooks/friends. Remember there is such a thing as "too many cooks in the kitchen", so try to keep it small.
2. Decide on a location. We picked my friend Jennifer's place because she has a huge kitchen.
3. Decide on a day. (we did ours on a Saturday so our hubby's could watch our kids, but if you have your kids around, put them to work and make it fun for them too!)
4. Decide on your meals. (I will list some of the best tried and true freezer recipes) Brainstorm together with your friends about what you want to cook. It's best to do "tried and true" recipes for this. And most importantly ones that freeze well.
5. Make a grocery list. (with your coupons in mind of course) Put EVERYTHING on the list. Don't forget you'll need plenty of freezer containers (foil ones work the best) and you also will need very sturdy ziploc bags or containers for sauces or soups.
6. Go grocery shopping. (divide the list evenly. We were each in charge of our own MAIN ingredients such as meat and spaghetti sauce). We each went shopping separately.
7. Plan your day's schedule. This is important. Some things take a while to cook for example; crockpot bbq chicken. So you would want to start that FIRST THING.
*Our schedule looked a little something like this:
8:00 - arrive and organize ingredients
8:30 - start the crockpot bbq chicken
9:00 - start chili - Tandy
9:30 - boil chicken for enchiladas - Jennifer
9:30 - make dough for wheat rolls - Angela
etc...

*We had a FULL day. We finished up around 5:00. But here's everything we accomplished:
Crockpot BBQ Chicken
Chicken Enchiladas
Mexican Casserole
Lasagna
Spaghetti Sauce
Chili
Vegetable Soup
Lemon Layer Cake
Wheat Rolls

Here's what turned out the best:

Crockpot BBQ Chicken -
4-5 Chicken Breasts
1/2 bottle KC Masterpiece original recipe BBQ sauce
1/2 can coke
2 TBS apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 T mustard
1 T worch. sauce
Little water
**Place all in crockpot and cook on high 4-5 hours. As it gets near the end, shred with fork. Serve on rolls or by itself. It's also really good in a quesadilla! For my family this recipe is enough for 2 meals for my family, so I divide it. This freezes so well!

We had so much fun cooking together. The kitchen was a MESS. Flour was flying and sauces were boiling over, but we laughed ALL day. My family had really enjoyed the fruit of our labor. I have more time to spend with them. And the meals are really good! So, get your friends, grab your aprons and "Fix and Freeze!"

TNT Tip

As the weather warms up, so may the amount of visitors and drink consumption in your home. In case your guests (or children) forget to use a coaster and you happen to obtain of those pesky rings from condensation...fear not! To remove white rings left on furniture by water, rub the spot with petroleum jelly, let it stand 24 hours, and rub into the wood. Wipe off excess and polish as usual.

Savory Smackerel

This was a recipe that I made for a recent "Fix and Freeze." It was gobbled up by adults and children alike. It is great for freezing purposes but would also be a wonderful Sunday lunch. The leftovers (if there are any) make great meatball sandwiches. I found the recipe here and it's a nice variation from typical spaghetti.

Meatballs and Tomato Gravy

Serves 4

For tomato gravy:

1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce

1/2 cup red wine (I used cooking wine)

1/2 cup reduced-sodium beef broth

2 teaspoons dried oregano

2 teaspoons crushed garlic

For meatballs:

1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs

1/3 cup evaporated milk

1 pound ground beef

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Hot cooked pasta Grated

Parmesan cheese (optional)

Preparation and freezing directions:

1. For tomato gravy, in a large straight-side skillet, combine marinara, wine, broth, oregano and garlic. Simmer, uncovered, on low to medium heat while you prepare meatballs.

2. For meatballs, in a large bowl, combine bread crumbs and milk and soak for 5 minutes. Add ground beef, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper, mixing well. Wet your hands to keep mixture from sticking to them and roll into 1-1/2-inch meatballs (you should have about 30).

3. Raise heat under sauce to medium. When sauce is almost boiling, carefully drop meatballs into sauce. Cover and cook for 10 minutes. Remove lid. Simmer for 5 minutes more.

4. Serve over hot cooked pasta or prepare to freeze.

If freezing, cool for 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer to freezer container and cover loosely with aluminum foil. Cool completely in refrigerator. Once cool, remove foil and cover tightly with lid. Label and freeze.

Thawing and reheating instructions: Thaw meatballs completely in refrigerator. Transfer to a large skillet and bring to a boil. If necessary, thin sauce with beef broth. Serve with hot cooked pasta. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

Mommy Marketing Moment

I ran across this article, And the mompreneurs shall lead us, and wanted to pass it along to ya'll. It's an interesting glimpse at Christian Mommy businesses in light of our country's economic crisis. If I was a momprenuer, this article would really encourage me. Go Mompreneurs! We support you. :)

Happy Saturday!

Stay at Home Saturday: Fix and Freeze~Part 3

The past couple of Saturdays have been devoted to a special Savory Smackerel Series on the topic of Fix n' Freezes...what they are, our insight gained through trial and error and maybe a freezer friendly recipe or two. If any of you are experienced at FNFs we would love for you to throw in your 2 cents! Feel free to comment on this post, email us at roofwithaview (at) gmail (dot) com or join our Facebook group here.

So far, our FNF tips to ensure FNF success and harmony have been:

• Select friends that have roughly the same size family as yours.
• Be sure the people you do it with have similar "taste" as you and your family.
• Be honest with one another about preferences, likes, dislikes (ex.-no grizzle, dark meat, mayo, peppers, etc.).
• State expectations of portion size and # of servings from the onset to prevent assumption and the feeling of getting jipped. :)
• Select your recipes.
• Do not select a recipe that you've never made or perfected.
• Share your recipe that you've selected with your FNF partners to make sure they give an A-OK and aren't repulsed.

Today's FNF tips are focused on how to balance the cost so you can justify the convenience without it costing an arm and a leg.

• Schedule your FNF exchange date far enough in advance (all the while collecting coupons)-- preferrably 3-4 weeks out so you can work the sales and coupons accordingly.
• Even if you aren't a couponer, keep an eye on the sales, particularly meat (a department which doesn't usually have many coupons). Meat will most likely be your most costly FNF item so Buy One Get One or significant cost reductions will be your time to stock up.
• Select your FNF friendly recipe based on the sales you have hit and the stockpile of groceries you already have. It will be more costly if you buy your items based on need because you will most likely be paying full price.
• So far, my most favorite budget saving meat trick is in regards to chicken. I only dig white meat and white meat errs on the expensive side. Awhile ago, Amy A. posted a white meat chicken tip here that is KEY to keeping cost down for FNFs. Note: NOW is the time to take her up on it b/c the particular chicken needed (split chicken breast) for this savings is on sale NOW at Harris Teeter for .99/lb. I stocked up this week on 5 packs of those bad boys at $2-$3 something a pack (normally would've been $8-$9 a pack) and had two crockpots roasting it up in my kitchen yesterday. Half I'll use for a next FNF and the other half will go in the freezer to save bookoos of time. It's inexpensive, easy and saves time in the long run so it's a win win.

Here is an oh so fabulous recipe for which you can use your new batch of homemade roasted, flavorful, white meat chicken~ Chicken Divan and to quote a fan, "Chicken Divan is chicken divine!" The jury is out on how it will freeze but Passionate Homemaking freezes it (even though our recipes differ. can't speak for hers so use the one I just gave you but you should still be able to freeze it) and she also gives you a homemade Cream of Mushroom substitute if you have a prob using the canned version. Check it out here.

What are your fav Freezer recipes? Do tell!

Happy Saturday, ya'll!
HPS

Mommy Marketing Moment

I am SOOOO excited about today's MMM, I can hardly stand it. Remember Donna's fav cleaning cloth from her post yesterday? Search no further because you, too, can have such a cloth!I've always been a believer that when you "doll up" your chores, they become a little more pleasant. For example: wearing an apron. I even used to make aprons for my brooms, (to make them feel pretty too, of course:).

Soooo...welcome, RWAVers, to my store's GRAND OPENING! I've been crocheting these cute dishcloths for years. They are tried and true! I've had some for 3-5 years and I'm still using them. They are simple and sweet, and BOY, do they get the JOB DONE! Their "knobbiness" helps cut through the caked on spots on your counters and tables. They are made out of 100% cotton, so they soak up water in a jiffy!

The cloths come in RWAV pink...a symbol of your fellow women "up on the roof" cleaning away (with a joyful heart, of course) reminding you that you are in good company and definitely not alone. :)

Click here to go to my new store and place your order!

Sidenote: I LOVE the story behind today's MMM. It started with something as simple as a dishcloth.

Donna's MIL got her a special kind of dishcloth thinking she "might" use it. Donna thought, "Hmmm. Interesting gift. I'll give it a try," and ended up finding it a cleaning staple-a tried and true (TNT) fav in her home maintenance. Who would think to bring that up in everyday, ordinary convo?

Donna ended up doing a post on her personal blog about that little cloth because she wanted another and couldn't find them anywhere. Turns out, our very own Angela has been making those exact same clothes for years (to everyone's surprise) but didn't necessarily have a reason to mention this hidden talent in everyday, ordinary convo.

As you consider today's MMM, I hope you will be encouraged at how this story IS Matthew 10:27 in action. Yes, because of something as simple as a dishcloth. THIS, my dear ladies, is precisely the heart of this blog and a prime example of WHY the Lord calls us to SHOUT FROM OUR HOUSETOPS--to build up one another (and maybe even make each others jobs a little easier while we are at it)!

TNT Tip

Tired of spending money on the moneymaker (aka your face)? One way you can save some nickels and dimes is this...instead of buying eye make up removers such as these:



Try a little of this on a cotton swab to remove your eye makeup. This trick will leave you some extra money to spend on your favorite, all important facial cleanser and moisturizing regimen from those same name brands above!
Disclaimer: I'm sure we have many readers that may sell particularly the #2 remover shown above. This tip is not to discourage your business. Perhaps it will even boost your business on cleansing and moisturizing areas of your skin care line. :)

Savory Smackerel

I think I mentioned in a previous post that a couple of us did a mini Fix and Freeze. This recipe was easy, perfect for freezing and a HIT at my house. I served it w/ some good ole Sister Schubert rolls and salad. Every last morsel was eaten. It would be perfect for a Sunday lunch after church.

Chicken Divan (Paula Deen recipe)

Ingredients
2 (10-ounce) packages frozen broccoli, chopped
6 cups shredded chicken, cooked
2 (10 3/4-ounce) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream
1 cup grated sharp Cheddar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon curry powder
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1/2 cup soft bread crumbs
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Remove the outer wrappers from the boxes of broccoli. Open 1 end of each box. Microwave on full power for 2 minutes, until thawed. Drain the broccoli and put into a casserole dish. Add the shredded chicken.

In a medium bowl, combine the soup, mayonnaise, sour cream, Cheddar, lemon juice, curry powder, salt and pepper, to taste, and wine. Whisk together to make a sauce. Pour the sauce over the broccoli and chicken. Mix well with a spatula.

Place the mixture into an 11 by 7-inch casserole dish or 2 (9-inch) square disposable aluminum foil pans that have been sprayed with vegetable oil cooking spray. Pat down evenly and smooth with a spatula. Combine the Parmesan, bread crumbs and butter and sprinkle over the top.

Bake for about 30 to 45 minutes.

Cook's Note: Try topping with Cheddar or Gruyere cheese.

Savory Smackerel

This easy crockpot recipe has been a HIT at my house and w/ everyone I've share it. I received from one of my blog peeps, Kristi, on What's for Din Din. It is perfect for a yummy Sunday meal!

Crock pot Cream Cheese Chicken
This is so simple and uses very few ingredients but it is very good and makes very tender chicken in a wonderful sauce. I always like anything gloppy and rich.

4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 can cream of mushroom

1 c. water

1 pkg. dry chicken gravy mix (Make sure it is chicken and not country)

oz. cream cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

Mix everything in crock pot and cook on low for 8 hours except for the cream cheese. During the last 30 min, add softened cream cheese and continue cooking. (You don't have to but I ususally take out the chicken and place it on a plate and then whisk in the cream cheese so it is lump-free. I then replace the chicken for the last 30 minutes) I serve this with rice, a veggie or salad and warm bread.

****************************

Here is a bonus Savory Smackerel that is light and fresh for the warmer Spring weather. It is great w/ the Tostitos that have a hint of lime.

The Salsa that Lasts All Week: A 3 in 1!

Spice up your weekly menu with this salsa. It can start off as a great Sunday appetizer while you're waiting for lunch and turn into a staple for 2 meals in your week!

Sassy Salsa
2 Cans of Black Beans
2 Cans of Mexican Corn
2 Tablespoons of Cilantro (fresh if you can)
1/2 Jar of regular Salsa
2 Tablespoons of Chili Powder
2 Tablespoons of Veggie Oil
1 Onion (chopped)
Juice from one lemon

~add more chili powder if you can handle it:)

I usually make this for a salsa for an appetizer when we are going to someone's home for dinner or are having people over. It makes a lot so you can keep 1/2 in the fridge or it even freezes well. Then, one night of that week, I usually make a salad with cut steak seasoned w/ taco seasoning and add this salsa, cheese and ranch. This meal works great!

Then, another night, I make chicken burritos with this salsa, chicken, tortillas and any toppings. Voila! There is your third meal out of this one recipe.

I hope you enjoy as we all have!

TNT Tip

This week a couple of us did a miniature Fix and Freeze. Of course, we could not have "called it a day" without burning at least one pot. Our friend, Mindi, taught me a trick that I did not know. I was fascinated b/c it is easy peasy! Without further ado, today's TNT Tip for burnt pots is...

Fill the burnt pot w/ hot water and a little bit of dishwashing liquid. Throw in a dryer sheet (Bounce, Downy, etc.) and let soak for a few hours or over night. Then, scrub pot accordingly and the black scum should come right off. Who would have thought? Learn something new everyday!

Mommy Marketing Moment

We are having MMM block (you know...similar to "writer's block") this week. We know there are a ton of Christian mommy businesses out there that would love a shameless plug and have some business sent their way. Will you help your sistahs out? Send us an email. Tell us about your own personal mommy business or tell us about one of your friend's businesses. The Lord has given fellow women, just like you and me, talents that he wants to use for His glory. It's time we share them from our housetops! Email us. roofwithaview@gmail.com. Look forward to hearing from YOU.

Stay at Home Saturday: New Savory Smackerel Series!

Angela has previously shared about the art of Fix and Freezes here on the Roof. I recently participated in one with a couple of RWAV ladies that just so happen to be domestic divas~particularly in the kitchen. I've done FNFs before where we went over to a friend's house (like Angela), took our ingredients and all cooked together. It is fun to fellowship but that poor person's kitchen gets TRASHED.

For this FNF, we opted to make our dishes in our own kitchens on our schedule and meet at a date far enough in advance that we had time to coupon shop and stockpile for our selected recipes. When we met, we chatted, enjoyed a bagel and pulled the ole swaparoo. I went home w/ SIX whoppin' (eight counting my own), DELICIOUS dishes to fill my freezer. They have been a lifesaver come the hectic five o'clock hour! I'm a big fan.

Sooooo....today is the first of a special RWAV FNF series. The next few Saturday's are going to be devoted tips we've learned through trial and error and definitely some Savory Smackerels that double as tried n true freezer dishes.

If you are interested in doing a Fix n Freeze, here is some advice before you begin:

• Select friends that have roughly the same size family as yours.
• Be sure the people you do it with have similar "taste" as you and your family.
• Be honest with one another about preferences, likes, dislikes (ex.-no grizzle, dark meat, mayo, peppers, etc.).
• State expectations of portion size and # of servings from the onset to prevent assumption and the feeling of getting jipped. :)

Our first FNF Savory Smackerel is a two thumbs up crowd pleaser all the way! It's none other than Musing Foodie (aka CC)'s Chicken Enchiladas. They are a parrrrrtaaaaaay in your mouth! For a step by step pictoral how-to, simply click here. Let us know what you think. I'm willing to bet you won't be disappointed.

Happy Saturday!
HPS

Stay at Home Saturday: Savory Smackerel~Fix n Freeze Part 2

Last week we began a special Savory Smackerel Series here on the topic of Fix n' Freezes...what they are, our insight gained through trial and error and maybe a freezer friendly recipe or two. If any of you are experienced at FNFs we would love for you to throw in your 2 cents! Feel free to comment on this post, email us at roofwithaview (at) gmail (dot) com or join our Facebook group here.

Without further ado, today's FNF tips will be helpful on the topic of recipes. Some things we've learned are:

• Once you have formed a FNF group with friends of similar sized families that have similar tastebuds as you AND shared your dislikes/preferences, select your recipes.
• Do not select a recipe that you've never made or perfected. Trust me on this. A recipe may look easy and seem foolproof but if something is going to go wrong, it WILL go wrong when you are making it for 15 other people and you don't want to be the FNF flop. I fear I may have been the flop on our last FNF go round with a Sloppy Joe recipe I deviated to at the last moment. I thought it may be better than my usual. I should've stuck w/ my usual! Also, two nights ago, I made something I thought was a surefire FNF hit for the next go round. I was sadly mistaken and glad I tested it on my family first before disappointing three other families, too. Pheweeee. Close call. 
• Share your recipe that you've selected with your FNF partners to make sure they give an A-OK and aren't repulsed. Hopefully, they'll be honest with you. :)

One hit from our last FNF round was this Taco Pie. Even my babies liked it~especially the crust! Try it out first, add your own little touches and I assure you it can be a hit for your next FNF, too (or even just for your own freezer).

Next week, we'll share some tips on how to keep down the costs if you are planning your own FNF.

Happy Saturday, ya'll!
-HPS

Thrifty Thursday: Deal and Giveaway

VistaPrint has a current special where you can get 140 address labels free right now. Think out of the box on this! Examples: At one of my recent Fix and Freeze exchanges, my girl Donna had them made to read "Made with love by Donna Graham" and stuck to her dishes. Now, that's creative! Also, our girl Karen posted an idea from this blog to have them made to pre-address envelopes for your Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes so the children that receive your boxes can write you. Sweetness! There are all sorts of creative possibilities.

Update:
I received word from a trustee reader that she was having a hard time getting to the VistaPrint deal. If you have already signed up for VistaPrint, it should take you straight to the offer. You will just need to log in. If you are not a current VistaPrint customer, all you need to do is click on the below link, sign up and you should be taken to the offer OR you may receive it ASAP in your email. Thanks for the heads up, Ellen U.! Ya'll let us know if you still have trouble.
Save up to 80% on custom printed products at Vistaprint. Order today!

BabyElan{Daily} is hosting a timely end of summer giveaway for four tickets to Wet n' Wild Emerald Pointe in Greensboro, NC! You have until tomorrow (Friday) to enter. Get in it to win it!

Happy Thursday! Make it a thrifty one. :)

Thrifty Thursday: Free Freezer Friendly eBook!

It's no secret on the Roof that we are BIG advocates of cooking for the freezer. Perhaps you recall our Fix and Freeze series not too long ago? Well, I am excited to let you in on a lil tidbit that Money Saving Mom has recently created a Guide to Freezer Cooking with some of her own helpful hints.

This ebook can be yours FREE if you show some love for her new book, The Money Saving Mom's Budget

Go on and pay a visit here to find out exactly how to show the love so you can indeed receive your free ebook! Happy Freezer cookin', ya'll!