Freezer Cooking

Let's talk freezer cooking. Have you heard of this wonderful phenomenon? I think it's actually been going on for a very long time, but with the advent of social media, the internet, and blogs, it now has an official name. Google the term "freezer cooking" and see how much info is out there, go ahead, I'll wait..........

Did you see the number of blogs and websites and pins devoted to this new hobby? The wealth of information regarding freezer cooking is astronomical! And for good reason. It's a wonderful way to have stress free meals all the time. And it can be done in a variety of ways.

First thing you need of course, is a freezer! I have a wonderful stand up deep freeze that I adore. I will never be without a freezer again. My freezer has been another life saver, especially since our boys came to us.

Second thing you are going to need, recipes. Your favorite recipes can most likely be turned into freezer cooking selections!

Third thing you will need: bags, containers, and a seal a meal system. I use a combination of all 3 for my freezer cooking. The Dollar Tree is a great place to go. I use gallon and quart size zip lock freezer baggies, aluminum tins of all different shapes and sizes, with lids, and then my seal a meal system.

I'll post some of my favorite recipes as we go along but you will want to do your research and get recipes that of course your family will eat, I mean honestly, this is to help you save time and money, and if you have to throw out that casserole because no one likes it, you really aren't saving money!

You can add to your freezer meals in a few different ways. When you cook a meal, you can make a second exact meal and place one on the freezer. You can buy all the ingredients necessary to make a batch of meals and spend an entire weekend prepping these meals and add to the freezer. You can make a small batch of meals from meat you found on sale, such as chicken, just grab your fave chicken recipes and make a batch of meals. It's all up to you how you want to do it. I tried to do the freezer cooking in one weekend, honestly; it's not for me. I was exhausted and that entire weekend is a blur!

I love to do small batch freezer cooking though. Especially if I find a great deal on a certain meat, or I pick up a meat package from my local butcher. I choose my meals carefully, get all ingredients and containers and go to town. Then my freezer is filled somewhat with delicious meals that all I have to do is throw in my crock pot or thaw/bake in the oven and dinner is served.

Of course you'll want to keep track of what you have on hand in the freezer so you can make your monthly meal plan easily. Just use the freezer inventory sheet found here.

Do you have a special tip or recipe you love for freezer cooking? I would love to hear about it, please feel free to share in the comments below!

My families favorite recipes coming soon :)

Until next post, Have a Blessed day!

Shelly

Sleep number sheets

So we have a Sleep Number bed. Love love love my bed, but that's a different story. We purchased special sheets for this bed when we purchased the bed. The bed is a King, split as both side are manipulated on their own base.

It's been a few years now, almost 3 actually since we purchased the bed and sheets. Our great Dane, Roscoe, thinks this is his bed if no one is in it. Since the time of purchasing said sheets, he has managed to create holes which become large rips in the sheets. Of course this drove me nuts as I really do not have money in the budget for a new set of Sleep Number sheets for this bed. I just checked the pricing again and the sheet is $179.99! This includes 2 special twin sheets and a top sheet. Special financing is available. This is nuts, financing sheets??? There has to be a better way.

Yes these sheets are fitted to the mattresses of the Sleep Number system, and the only real difference I can see is the elastic bands that are on the corners of the sheets that hold the sheet on as you raise the head/foot of the bed. Hmmm.....this got me thinking...surely I can make this right?

Well I'm proud to say YES, YES I can! I went to Walmart, (I hate shopping Walmart most of the time, people are rude, there's never stock and why why why do they have 40 check out lanes and only 3 cashiers no matter what time you go in?) Anyway, I was able to find a basic twin fitted bottom sheet for only $4.97 each (x2). Then I went into the sewing department and picked up some elastic (I totally over estimated the amount of elastic I would need), for $1.77.

After getting home I took one of the original Sleep Number sheets and measured the elastic and used it as a guide as to where to place my elastic strips. I began to sew. Now, sewing is NOT my forte. I'm still learning what all this machine does, but I can do a basic straight stitch like a winner! The job is not beautiful by any means, I used white thread when I should have used dark blue, it's not completely straight, yada yada. If you come over to see the corners of my sheets, we've got other issues to talk about. In the grand scheme of things, the sheets work beautifully! Fit the bed really well and the sheets do not come off the bed when it is raised/lowered. So win win for me! $179.99 vs $11.71. Yeah I'll take the latter please!

Moral of this story, just because it's out there doesn't mean it's the only option! I was able to save myself $168.28 just by thinking I could make something work, and I did! If your goal is to save money, live as frugal as you can (as you want to be), then always think outside the box to see what you can do yourself before you make that really expensive purchase!

Do you have a DIY tip you would like to share? Something that would have cost your next born child but you were able to make at home for a fraction of the cost? Leave me a comment below, I would love to hear about it!

Until next post, Have a wonderfully Blessed day!

Shelly