So, Evan surprised us by coming early - at our garage sale, as you know. We were throwing baby clothes in the washing machine while I was in labor - they came out of the dryer just-in-the-nick-of-time and Michael made a run to Walgreens for the home birth supplies when I was finally convinced it was really labor. We were definitely unprepared.
This time is different. I'm more prepared, so I'll probably be pregnant until September 20. Ha ha.
Freezer cooking is well underway! Here are some meals I am making:
Marinated Chicken - so easy! I just trimmed up the chicken and threw it in the bag with the marinade mix. We can either grill it or bake it later. Flavors: Cilantro-Lime (olive oil, lime juice, cilantro, salt, pepper), Savory Marinade (it's a new and different combo I've never tried before),
Italian (with homemade italian dressing, yum)
Chicken and Rosemary Roasted Vegetables (er, minus the rosemary, which is not my favorite flavor. The veggie blend has potatoes, sweet potatoes, zucchini, carrots, and onions in there with chunks of chicken, olive oil, and some seasonings)
Chicken Leg Quarters - these were 59cents/lb this week so I bought the ten pound bag to divide up with salt, pepper, olive oil - or some italian seasonings - and they'll be set to thaw and throw in a pan. yay.
Pre-seasoned burger patties (to grill!)
And the stuff that actually requires me to cook it before freezing:
Chicken taco filling (cooks in the crock pot - tomorrow's job for crock pot #1)
Shredded pork for BBQ pork sandwiches (in the crock pot #1 now!)
Shredded Qdoba-style pork (in the crock pot #2!)
Pre-cooked meatballs (yay, shortcut!)
Pre-cooked taco meat
Filling for stuffed bell peppers that we are sure to keep getting via our CSA
Minestrone soup - lots of veggies!
Possibly some chicken/rice soup - we shall see!
And some sides:
Brown rice
White rice
Cheesy potatoes
Cilantro-lime rice
Possibly some pre-made mashed potatoes - we shall see on this one, too.
I also bought some zip n steam bags for veggies we'll get in our CSA boxes - have you tried zip n steam bags? They are so, so cool. I almost always pack fresh veggies in them when I take a meal to someone - they go in the microwave and presto! Plus, I don't have to worry about keeping veggies hot for whomever is infirmed.
I'm about halfway done with today's work. I have been taking lots of breaks. That, and the beef isn't quite thawed yet. (here it is, thawing in our utility sink with my shortcut potatoes) Hopefully I can finish up tomorrow and we'll be set for a month- if I can keep out of the freezer until the baby actually comes, that is. I'm excited to report that I spent under $150 on the stuff I needed to make all those meals - yay! That includes two jumbo packs of paper plates and some extra foil pans and freezer bags, along with some extra pantry/ staple items (bread for the freezer, etc) but if you divide it out, it is a little over $3 for each main course for 40 days. Better than paying takeout prices for sure. Of course, the beef (and some ground pork) was all in my freezer, so it probably does come out to more than that per meal, although I do have extras of certain things I bought. Most of the veggies are from the CSA, which I also get for free from the farmer for making the trip and bringing in business for him.
In other news, I finally renewed my driver's license today. And, I've been having more Braxton Hicks contractions than usual, along with increased discomfort. I'm not totally disappointed with that. But like I said, I'm more prepared, so...
I might get those 3 varieties of jam made yet!
7 comments:
MAN, wish I had some of those extra hormones flowing so I could be as productive as you! Great plan -- hope you last until tomorrow to finish all the cooking. Did you have some help with the kids so you could focus on all this wonderful freezer cooking? What a blessing about the free csa veggies!!!
Keep us posted on the progress of baby #3!
Oh, and feel free to share about your jam making (HINT HINT).
Wow, girl, sounds like you are in full blown nesting mode! :) Way to go on the freezer cooking--I felt like I was doing well if I had maybe 3-5 meals in my freezer before each baby, but it would have been so much nicer having lots and lots! Praying that all goes smoothly and that you're able to have another great homebirth. :) You're almost 37 weeks, right? In the home stretch!!
You are truly my hero! My new line for 'your kind' is....and to think, she bares her own children!! Adoption does have it's perks ;) Love you lady, and I can't wait to hear this birth story! I'm guessing girl!
Good job, Jenny! Your family will be eatin' good for a while. You are a good mom! I like those 'once-a-month' menu plans, but no one has the energy to do them, except mommies who are 8 1/2 months pregnant. HA HA The very LAST time in my life that I got that much done was just before my 3rd child was born. My mom-in-law says that a sure sign that you will be having a baby soon is when you start cleaning the whole house - or other such ambitious tasks.
BTW, thank you for the adorable picture that you sent over with your mom. It's on my frig. :)
Looks like your ready to go.
My good ness. You are amazing! I really need to get into this freezer cooking thing because we actually have an extra freezer. It has one package of chicken & two bags of veggies in it right now - haha!
I used my PC deep covered baker the other day & it made me think of you. I cooked & prayed for you & Baby #3 :-)
Wow! You're awesome! And you make me really wish (even more than I already do) that I had a deep freezer!
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