I love cooking for my freezer! There is just something comforting about knowing I have something homemade and delicious to eat even if I don't feel like cooking. I also love the fact that It saves me money. I have already spoken in a previous post on how much cheaper it is to cook at home, not to mention the health benefits. Now, there is a bit of thinking ahead with freezer meals because you need to defrost. But I do have a couple tricks up my sleeve that help with that too.

One of our favorite wintertime foods is split pea soup with ham. Now, I do not have a recipe, but this is what you do.

Ingredients:

Ham hocks or leftover ham on the bone from locally grown, antibiotic and chemical free pork. (I know there are many of you out there that do not eat pork...some other meat could probably be substituded, perhaps beef hocks?)

Dry split peas. ( I buy the 50lb bag from azure standard )

Onions, garlic, celery and carrots. (or what ever is on hand)

Water.

Right after breakfast in the a.m.:

1. Place your ham hocks (or leftover ham on the bone) in a big stock pot (mine is 16quart). 

2. Fill about a third full with dry split peas.

3. Cut up one onion, press five cloves garlic and add any other veggies that sound good (carrots, celery etc........) I just use what I have on hand.

4. Fill 3/4 full with water.

5. Place on Med low heat for at least 5-6 hours.

6. When peas are soft and mushy, pull hocks or bone out and remove and shred the meat. Place the meat back in the pot and discard the bones. (The meat and bones really give the soup an amazing flavor)

7. This makes a huge batch, so enjoy a bowl for dinner and when it cools either place in gallon size zip locks or canning jars (with about an inch of head space).

8. To defrost....If in a bag: tear off the bag and place soup in appropriate size pot...leave on low heat for 3-4 hours stirring occasionally to break up chunks. If in a jar: place the jar in Hot water...changing water out till soup is pourable..pour into pot and heat.

We like this soup with sea salt and pepper. A side of biscuits is also a nice treat. Biscuit dough can be frozen as well. Just mix up a batch of your favorite biscuits place the dough in a gallon size bag and freeze. The morning of your meal take it out and place it on the counter to defrost. by the evening they should be ready to roll out and bake. If the dough has gotten a little sticky...just add a bit of flour as you roll.

Oh...and one more tip for defrosting frozen meals. For casseroles I like to get out my big electric roaster. In the morning I put in my frozen casserole set the temp low (like 200-250) and at dinner time I whip up a salad and we eat!  This is a good one to do on baking day so you can keep your oven free. Which reminds me, I have successfully frozen many bread doughs and pizza doughs. I just mix em, let them rise once and them place in a freezer bag. It does usually swell and fill up the bag...but I have never had a mess. Then, when I want fresh baked bread. I take it out of the freezer bag and place it in a bowl or bread pan (If it fits) to rise. Then bake as usual.

Hope you try this and enjoy it! It is a family favorite of ours and economical as well.

Now I am off to get more freezer ideas!

And to check out Kitchen tip Tuesday

And to get  some Help for growing families.   Maybe I should pull out a freezer meal!?

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Posted by sahmto4orMore

MMmmmm, yum!
I love freezer meals, too. It is the way to go.

I adore your children's names. I was voting for Caedence with our last baby, but dh didn't go for it. :(

I like your blog!

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