Monday, February 11, 2013

6 Meals in 2 Hours {The Joy of Slow Cooker Freezer Cooking}

I love my slow cooker. It is the most used appliance next to the microwave in the Rivas household. I also love dumping food from my freezer into the slow cooker, turning it on and then going about my day until dinnertime. I never knew this was possible until I stumbled upon Mama and Baby Love while I was pregnant. I was looking for easy freezer meals to make so that we would have food ready to go during the first few weeks after Liam was born. (It ended up working out beautifully! )

When I found the Freezer Cooking with Slow Cookers Recipes post I knew immediately that this was for me. As I said, I love my slow cooker and the idea of having everything ready to go was perfect. I like the idea of freezer cooking, but I just do not have the time (or the dishes) to spend an entire weekend cooking. Yes, it's all done, but then I have to put it in the oven a second time. ha!

Slow cooker freezer cooking is basically prepping everything, throwing it in a bag, labeling it and then throwing it in the freezer until you need it! My method of freezer cooking goes a little something like this :
  1. Write the name of the recipe, cooking time and the date on a gallon size freezer bag.
  2. Chop any vegetables needed for the recipe, put them in the bag.
  3. Throw in the meat
  4. Toss in anything extra. Seasonings, spices, tomato paste, etc.
  5. Zip it up, give it a good shake and squeeze to mix everything together. 
  6. Move on to the next recipe! 
The day before you want to enjoy your meal just place it in the refrigerator overnight and pop it in the slow cooker the next morning. You could also leave it on the counter a few hours before placing it in the slow cooker. It's okay if it's still frozen in places. Easy peasy!

A couple weeks ago I did 6 meals in 2 hours and that was with stopping to give Liam lunch. That is what I love about this! As requested on my Facebook page, here are the recipes I used that day.

  • Beef Tips and Gravy from The Country Cook. I served this over mashed potatoes with a side of peas and mushrooms. 


  • Stephanie's Goulash from Mama and Baby Love. This is served over egg noodles that you cook that day before serving dinner. I also recommend the Chicken Curry at this link. It's delicious and gets made pretty frequently around here.

  • Greek Chicken from Tone it Up! Blog. I used chicken breasts for this recipe instead of a small whole chicken and I served it over couscous, because that's what I had!


That same day I also made 2 dozen egg cups for breakfast. I did a dozen spinach, mushroom and a dozen sausage and mozzarella. They are basically little crustless quiches. These are great for popping into the microwave for a quick breakfast. Those recipes can be found below.

 and


To freeze these, I just wrapped each one in tinfoil and then placed them in a gallon size bag labeled either Spinach or Sausage.  Place them in the refrigerator the night before to defrost them. The next morning wrap in a paper towel and microwave for 30 seconds without the tinfoil, of course. ;)




There you go.  A few breakfasts and dinners that are easy and delicious!

I think most slow cooker recipes can be adapted to freeze. So, if you'd like some more recipes, check out my Slow Cooker board on Pinterest!

Let me know if you have any questions! <3





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Thursday, February 7, 2013

Surprise, Surprise.


  I seriously got the biggest surprise ever this week and it wasn't my husband getting to come home for a few days before deployment. Well, I guess that was the first surprise. The second one will have to be revealed after I tell this little tale.

My husbands ship pulled in this past Sunday for a few days before leaving again on deployment on Friday (tomorrow)! He had Monday and Tuesday off and then duty Wednesday before liberty ended Thursday, so our little family made the best of them. Dinners out, lots of Daddy/Son playtime and just enjoying every minute together!

On our way to get Daddy Monday morning!
Home after 3 weeks.



Then Wednesday rolls around. A friend posted a news article on Facebook saying, "Breaking: Deployment Delayed." Then more news stations started posting the same information. No one believed it. It was 2 days away! There was no way it was delayed.

My husband was on duty, so I couldn't ask him if it was true until he called me. He called about 30 minutes after the articles had been released and said that there was no change to the schedule. As he sat in the hanger bay talking to me there were cranes moving extra pallets of food onto the ship in preparation for deployment.  Then the Captain came over the 1MC to make an announcement. The hubby said he'd call me right back when the Captain finished.  Those 4 minutes seemed to drag on forever. 

When he called back the second time I could hear the happiness in his voice before he even got out the good news. It was true! Deployment had been delayed! There was no word on how long until they'd leave again, but at that moment it did not matter. All I knew is that I'd been given more time with my husband...more time as a family.

Our future is uncertain. As a Navy family we're always on call. I'm learning that more and more now. All we can do is cherish every moment together and live like he deploys tomorrow.


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Friday, February 1, 2013

Sólo Sentimientos.



 Sólo Sentimientos.

Para ti, mi niñito extraordinario, no hay palabras.
Sólo sentimientos.
Nada puede describir el amor que tengo para tí.
Sólo tu lo puedes sentir y tu eres el único que lo puede sentir.
Tu eres el sentimiento.
Tu eres el amor.
Tu eres mía y yo soy tuyo.
Te amo con todo que es dentro de mí y más.
Con el poder del sol y la fuerza del mar, Te amo.
Cada brillante, hermosa mañana y los grises también,
Te amaré con este amor que no tiene palabras.
Sólo sentimientos.
Para siempre.



Only Feelings.

For you, my amazing baby boy, there are no words.
Only feelings.
Nothing can describe the love I have for you.
Only you can feel it, you are the only one who feels it.
You are the feeling.
You are the love.
You are mine and I am yours.
I love you with all that is within me and more.
With the power of the sun and the force of the sea, I love you.
Each bright, beautiful morning and the grey ones too, 
I will love you with this love that has no words.
Only feelings.
Forever. 


 

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