Slow-Cooker Freezer Meals - Yay or Nay

At the start of February I decided to dig back in my hundreds of pins and find that one. The one that boasted about making a month's worth of slow-cooker meals to stock you freezer so you could kick back and do nothing for a month (or do more somethings that don't include making dinner). I'm a busy person and I dread 6pm when the littles and Nick are expecting to be fed...sheesh the demands.

Anyway I found this which was written by Jessica over at Loving My Nest. This is proof that I have very few original ideas, but why reinvent the wheel? Someone else has done all the dirty work. In this case, Jessica.

I wouldn't necessarily say that my children are picky eaters, but they are 2 & 5 and some things they just won't eat. So I perused through Jessica's recipes of round 1, round 2 & round 3 to find meals that I thought everyone might enjoy. Let's get something straight. When it says a month's worth of meals, this is not 30 different meals, this is 10 meals doubled or even tripled. We like variety. We do repeat homemade pizza every friday for family movie night and hamburgers, because Nick makes a killer burger and that is the way straight to my heart. So I decided to find 12 meals and then fill in with pizza, burgers and Tuesday night Blue Coast Burrito. ;)

The dinners I chose were:

1. Bean Stew
2. Sausage & Bean dinner
3. Meat Stew
4. Pork & Veggies
5. Chicken Taco Soup
6. Chicken & Sweet Potato Soup
7. Creamy Farmhouse Chicken Soup
8. Enchilada Wraps
9. Chunky Veggie Chili
10. Jambalaya (this doubles itself)
11. Chicken Curry with Cabbage
12. Healthy Mama BBQ Chicken

You can find all of the recipes HERE.

The first thing that I did was create a spreadsheet (naturally). I listed each meal in the first column, then put all common ingredients at the top ie carrots, potatoes, garlic, onions, red/green pepper, etc. I also listed spices and additional ingredients. Then I just went through each recipe and put in the numbers until I had this...

                                                   
On the next tab I made my shopping list. Here is where I messed up a little bit. I don't know if I was distracted (no way!) or what, but I ended up not having certain things, or not understanding what the recipe was calling for. I replaced a lot of the bone-in chicken for chicken tenderloins, since Nick doesn't like dark meat and since we like purchasing meat in bulk at Costco. Then I went to Walmart. WHY did I choose Walmart you ask? Logically speaking, I needed a lot of canned goods and figured walmart would have the most/cheapest generic options. I'm all about saving money y'all. With somethings you get what you pay for...on others like Rotel vs. Great Value Tomatoes with Green Chilis, I really don't give a hoot.

I learned some valuable lessons from this shopping trip:

1. Categorize the list. As in put all produce together, spices together, variations of canned tomatoes together, etc. I missed things because I had to scan through the list in each aisle. Plus it wasted precious time. 

2. Do not under any circumstances take your children. Leave them with daddy, get a sitter, let the dog watch them. Whatever. Do what you have to do but do NOT take them. My children were horrendous on this particular trip and I wanted to roll into a ball and cry. I actually called Nick to come get them. He did not. He thought I was overreacting, but he was wrong. True story. 

3. I would say don't go to Walmart. But I really think had I done #1 & #2, it wouldn't have been so bad. And I promise you I saved some green.

I then unloaded everything and started chopping. I also learned that apparently chopping onions never bothered my eyes due to a contact lense shield. On this particular day I was wearing glasses and was DYING! Honestly, I was getting nauseous from the constant eye burn. So much education. The first medium onion I chopped I measured so I would know approximately how much 1 onion was when I had a ziploc baggie full of onion. I did that with the other veggies as well. Here are my equivalents...

I completed all the veggies in about 3 hours...yeah it takes that long to chop up a billion onions, carrots, celery and peppers. I stuck everything in the fridge and chilled out for the night...that's hard work. 

The next afternoon I pulled out 12 ziploc bags and labeled them with the meal and additional ingredients needed before slow-cooking like chicken broth or water, and when it needed to be served with. I started with meat and went through my spreadsheet adding the appropriate meat to the appropriate bags. The only meal that needed the meat to be cooked was the Sausage & Veggies. Then I added all the veggies, then canned goods and last spices. This all sounds easy now. It wasn't that it was hard, just very time consuming. This all took about 4 hours. I then stacked everything carefully in the freezer and was super pleased with a hard two days labor. 

Now for the reviews. I'm going to use a scale of 5; with 1 being terrible, never to make again, and 5 being super yummy, fulfilling our family's dinner desires. 

1. Bean Stew - 5/5: I was actually really pleasantly surprised with this one. The baggie looked so pitiful. I couldn't figure out how it the world it would feed a family of 4. It made plenty and was really tasty!! The kids liked it, and Nick had leftovers for lunch. Score. WIll make again.

2. Sausage & Bean Dinner - 1/5: Honestly, I didn't understand this one. The flavor profiles did not really mesh and it was supposed to be served with tortilla chips, which would suggest that it was Southwestern-y. But it wasn't. It was really sweet. Just strange all in all. It did make leftovers, that no one ate. Won't make again.

3. Meat Stew - 4/5: This was really good. It made a ton of leftovers and was perfect on those 5 degree days. The kids did not eat it, but did enjoy the cornbread muffins. ;) Will make again.

4. Pork & Veggies - 3/5: This one I didn't personally try. Nick made it while I was out of town and claimed it was good. It made leftovers for his lunch and another one for my lunch, I just never got around to it. He rated it. :) 

5. Chicken Taco Soup - 5/5: This was very very yummy! You actually use a bottle of beer for broth which I found interesting. Kids loved it! Made tons of leftovers! Will make again.

6. Chicken & Sweet Potato Soup - 4/5: This was another surprise. I'm not normally a fan of sweet potatoes outside the french fry variety and the cinnamon weirded me out, but it was yummy. Made lots of leftovers. Adelaide ate a lot, Holden didn't (that's usual for us). It's definitely a more autumn dish. Would make again.

7. Creamy Farmhouse Chicken Soup - 5/5: This one had pasta in it, so naturally the kids gobbled it up! It wasn't as creamy as I would have imagined, but the taste was delicious and it made a lot of leftovers. Would make again.

8. Enchilada Wraps - 6/5: These were REALLY good! We make slow-cooker fajitas all the time, so this was a really welcome change up in the taco dept. Just wrap in a tortilla and serve with fixins. These did not make very much in leftovers. The kids loved them! Will definitely make again.

9. Chunky Veggie Chili - 4/5: The flavor here was very very good. All the family liked it and it made tons of leftovers. I gave it a 4 because it was quite greasy. Would make again.

10. Jambalaya - 3/5: This one threw me for a loop. The directions said to serve over rice, but at the end of the cooking time it was really soupy, so I through the rice in there to cook and soak up the liquid, and then it was more like a traditional jambalaya anyway. It made leftovers and the kids enjoyed it. I had just made a black-eyed pea jambalaya for New Years that was excellent and this one just didn't really stand up to it. Although for not having to cook all day it was totally worth it. Would make again.

11. Chicken Curry with Cabbage - 2/5: I was really excited to try this one. I love cabbage and curry and Nick doesn't so I hoped it was my chance to change his mind. This just wasn't it. There wasn't nearly enough curry and way too much cabbage. Holden loved it bc he loved cabbage. We ate there were leftovers that we didn't eat. Would not make again.

12. Healthy Mama BBQ Chicken - 4/5: I was confused, I thought this would be a shredded BBQ chicken. Think sandwiches. This was definitely more of a soup. The flavor was really good though and the fact that there was no actual BBQ in it was neat. Made leftover and the kids generally liked it. 

disclaimer: These reviews in no way reflect Jessica, or her cooking abilities. Everyone has different tastes.

So would I do it all again. You know, after learning my lessons I will give this another go. I would really like to throw in some panned freezer meals like shepherd's pie, lasagna, baked ziti, etc. So it isn't all slow-cooker and there aren't so many soups. There are a lot of Parker staples that I would like to try to freeze as well. April is going to be crazy so I'm considering doing it again, just don't know if I have the time or energy to actually spend 2 days on it. 

If you've made it allllll the way down to this point I commend you. Promise my posts won't usually be this long!

Absolute Insanity & 50 in 50

So I promised during the last post to let you all in on why I've lost my mind. I'm extremely Type A, and pride myself in excellent time management. With that being said, the past couple months (okay last year) have just been absolutely insane. Everytime I feel like I have a break coming up, it doesn't happen and things snowball easily when you are a working from home mama of two with your house on the market...oy. So, I've been a bit scatter-brained recently. Forgetting things, losing things that aren't mine (don't get me started), in general over-extending myself completely. So instead of completely shutting down and burying my head in the sand - which sounds so enticing, especially if that means I get to go to the beach - I decided to throw something else huge in for good measure...why not?

After running for Ordinary Hero's Run 4 One team in Nashville 2012, Charlotte 2012 & Nashville 2013, I wasn't sure I was up for another Nashville race. Last year it poured for the entire 2 hours and frankly, I was tired. Training was rough. My head just wasn't in it. I do love to fundraise for OH though and had raised almost $1,500 just by running...so how could I say no? I decided to up the ante a little. Instead of setting my fundraising goal at $500, I wanted to try to get 50 $15/month supporters for one year (or $180 one time donations). This raises $9,000 for Ordinary Hero AND gives me the opportunity to go back to Ethiopia!! I absolutely see that as a win-win and I cannot wait to go back!! 

This was Nashville Country Music Half Marathon 2012 (my first) 2:06

I had made sure to smile and proudly show my bib number at every photographer I saw. These two are from the last mile of the race...when I was dying. Don't let the smile fool you.

Charlotte Thunder Road Marathon - November 2012 - PR 1:54

I was THRILLED to PR this race, but it was hilly and I was HURTING!! Once again, don't let the smile fool you.

Definitely don't let the smile fool you with this one either. Country Music Half Marathon 2013 - 1:57 I was soaking wet and freezing...

Why up the ante for my fundraising goal and just stay at the same ol' half marathon anyway? That's when I decided to train for the full 26.2 miles. Yes, I have officially lost my mind. For whatever reason, my brain figured it would be more motivating to train for something I have never done before, than to do something I know I can do. That doesn't make sense. I know. I'm still trying to figure it out. 

So mid-December I start Hal Higdon's full marathon training program. I had used his training program for all of my halves, but I modified it. Let's be real, I don't like running back-to-back days. That takes the fun out of it entirely (fun?). Anyway, I get going and on one random Sunday morning I fall into the Runners World trap. I call these traps because every single email they send is the BEST program, the BEST diet, the BEST shoes...and I fell for this one. It was the Hanson's Marathon Method. I downloaded the book figuring even if I don't do it, I will learn something from it. The book went into all the scientific reasons why their method works better than traditional programs. Very little of this I actually understood, but they did the research, who am I to argue? Basically you run your arse off 6 days a week and train your muscles to run tired. The longest run your have is 16 miles because when you do run those 16s you are so tired from the week leading up to that, it strengthens your legs. Their whole goal is to train you for the last 16 miles of the marathon not the first. I decided to go for it...I've already lost my mind, what can it hurt? Coming from the girl who hates running more than 3 days per week...

This was my training schedule...

No biggie...

So...if you want to help my efforts not be in vain, please consider donating toward my 50 in 50 campaign!! Go to Colleen's 50 by April 23rd to donate!

So far I have raised $2,890!! THANK YOU to all who have donated to far! Keep it coming!!

I hope to update everyone on my training. Truthfully, I'm stupid tired. If you see me and I look like I'm about to fall on my face, chances are I am. ;)

Coming up: Slow-cooker freezer dinner review

The Parker Organization Update

I realize it's been FOREVER since I have posted, but I assure you, I have really good post ideas. That counts. Right?

Life have been insane. At work we have hit missions/audit/spring fundraiser season, which is always fun (minus the audit part). I love love watching mission trip members receive donations and chipping away at their balance. I kind of throw a little party for them in my head when they hit their goal...I understand that sounds insane. I'm a nerd. I think I mentioned that in my intro somewhere? 

Change the World for One is coming up!! April 24th, 2014 at The Factory in Franklin. Go here to buy tickets! If you have anything to go in our silent auction you can email me at colleen@ordinaryhero.org. To find out more about Ordinary Hero go to www.ordinaryhero.org. 

I've been running more than I have ever run in my life (or ever hoped to, if I'm going to be real honest here). I'm a 28 year old with 80 year old joints. Apparently that's okay since I choose to run. Or something like that. I'm planning to retire my running career in April. We will have to see if that actually happens. I think too much of my sanity depends on it. 

This mothering thing. Yeah, that takes a lot of time. Yelling disciplining, teaching, finding some alone time encouraging independent play, etc. A little update on the littles...

Holden: has increased his energy level (are you surprised?) and is learning to READ!! I love LOVE to read and I can only hope that my kids grow to love it too. We have been working on sight words for a couple of months and he just recently "graduated" from kindergarten sight words. Watching him learn to read is really really fun. He loves the independence that comes with that. We register him for kindergarten at the end of this month! What?! Where has my baby boy gone? I try to remind him as much as possible that he will be my baby even if he towers over me. That will be next month probably. We finally cut his hair and then he cut a little bit of it himself as well...oy vey. Don't worry, it will grow out again. 

Non-biased opinion: He's gorgeous.

Adelaide aka Miss Sassy Pants: We are officially in the two's. They aren't too terrible...yet. Although I haven't forgotten three's and the insanity fun that they hold.  She throws her fair share of fits and dramatics, but for the most part she loves to snuggle, eat snacks non-stop, and play with her big brother. Before she asks a questions she says "Can you tell me sompfing?", and when I ask her pretty much anything she says "There's no reason." regardless of the question. Such a fun age. She recently got the opportunity to model for Ordinary Hero's new spring line. Coming to the Ordinary Hero store soon!

She's not ornery. Promise.

All in all the kids are getting easier. Both are potty trained - I can leave the house without a diaper bag, both are in big kid beds, both are in school. They can play without a ton of supervision - until they eat some toothpaste. That didn't happen. Yes it did. I'm really looking forward to this summer. I think galavanting around town with a 3 and a 5 year old will be really fun. We plan to hit the splash pad, science center, beach, library, and an assortment of parks & pools. 

Nick? Nick who? No I'm totally kidding. Nick works lots and lots six days per week. He tends to get home around 7pm, the kids go to bed at 8:30 and with my early (too freakin' early) wake up call, I go to bed about 8:35. We seriously need a date night. Ask my for my paypal if you want to donate to the fund. ;) Luckily we have my good friend & first roomie Jen Weber's wedding in Chicago this weekend! SO excited to get some time with Nicholas. We plan to eat some good food, celebrate some good friends, and sleep in! 

Nick planned something special for Valentine's Day this year. Last year we were flying across the continent of Australia from Melbourne to Perth on vday and it's impossible really hard to beat that! BUT Nick decided to bring Australia home with Aussie burgers, Aussie beer, and Tim Tam Slams!
Aussie burgers consist of grass-fed beef patties, over-medium egg, beets, greens, & bbq sauce. Aussie beer is Coopers, compliments of World Market. Coopers was the first beer we enjoyed on our first day in Sydney. 
I'd so love to keep Tim Tam Slams a secret, but really it's too good not to share. In the states these chocolate covered sandwich cookies are called Arnotts and can also be found at World Market. All you have to do is bite a bit off opposite corners of the cookie, then suck freshly brewed coffee through it like a straw and eat before it melts. You are welcome. 

Nick Tim Tam Slamming

Thanks for stopping by!! Coming soon...why I have lost my mind (like you need more reasons) and freezer slow-cooker meals review!