Ah, Freezer Food…
I have a blast thinking through which meals will be helpful to have on hand to pull out with a moment’s notice. I spend hours preparing it. I experiment with new recipes that will keep nicely in the freezer. I store the healthy, prepared food carefully away for the “busy days”. I keep note of it in the back of my mind, thankful that it is there in the freezer if I need it.
And then I hoard it. I hesitate to use it, even on busy days, knowing that there just may be an upcoming day that’s even busier when I will need that particular frozen meal. So I quickly cook something else, even if I don’t have time, saving the frozen, prepared meals for a “busier day”.
Hello, Laura?!!? Every day right now is a busy day!!! You’ve found yourself coming and going every day for the past three weeks. You’ve barely had time to sit at the computer and you are getting more and more behind on your work. Apples are coming out your ears, waiting to be made into applesauce and canned for the winter. You desperately need to go check the garden to see what else is ready to preserve. God continues to put people in your life to serve, there is school work to be done, phone calls to return, and you haven’t been able to keep up with the nasty dishes crawling out of the kitchen sink since the end of July.
Exactly what kind of busy day are you waiting for that will qualify as a “good day to pull out some freezer food”?
Um…apparently I have been waiting for the days when we are chasing ourselves off to six soccer games, or well…I don’t know. There truly will be days that are busier than those which I am experiencing right now. But barely.
On a day when I feel overwhelmed with everything on my “must-do” list – that is the day for the Freezer Food to come out. That is what it is for, after all.
Here’s a picture of today’s BBQ Chicken Sandwich right before I threw it at my husband
when he came home for ten minutes between soccer practices.
Fresh tomatoes and sweet peppers from our garden made this a great meal,
all of which I put together very quickly since I utilized my frozen food stash of BBQ Chicken.
Today, I am incredibly thankful that I spent the time a few weeks ago to stock my freezer with ready-to-eat foods. And today, I hereby give myself full permission to USE THEM!
Oh, and if you were worried, I didn’t really throw the sandwich at Matt. I handed it to him carefully so as not to fling bbq sauce and tomatoes, and I even managed to slap a kiss on his cheek as he headed out the door again.
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Holly @ Whole Sweet Home says
What an excellent reminder! I, too, am guilty of hoarding freezer meals for the right busy moment. I need to give myself permission and freedom to enjoy the fruit of my labor!
FluffyRhino says
I have a similar problem, but mine is with using the last of something. We have had 2 chicken burritos and one serving of BBQ chicken sitting in the freezer for a month now, and no one wants to eat it, just in case it’s needed! Well, tomorrow I’m cooking up a new batch of chicken so those leftover frozen foods are going in somebody’s belly!
Melissa says
Oh my, this is me! THANK YOU, THANK YOU for posting this…..I am heading to the freezer now to get out something to thaw overnight. Sometimes we are our own worst enemies, aren’t we??
Alisha Sullivan says
oh my goodness! Thank you so much! I have the same problem of hoarding my freezer food! lol…I am so overwhelmed right now but keep thinking there may be a worse day that I need it for! lol..but that may just be my death and my hubby using it so I am going to use it starting tomorrow and give myself a break! Plus if I don’t use it soon it will be rather old! lol
Jamie says
I feel like I’m cheating when I pull muffins or pancakes out of the freezer, heat and serve. Breakfast is ready in 5 minutes and there is almost no clean up….so why do I stand there feeling like I’m supposed to be doing something? lol.
Julie H says
Guilty here too. I finally allowed myself to pull out sloppy joe meat I made in April. Tomorrow is busy and easy Sloppy Joes are what’s for dinner! Loved your post!
Jennifer says
Ha! I totally am guilty of this. Unless I have a newborn. Then, I can’t keep my freezer full.
It Feels Like Chaos says
Oh how I love freezer meals!! Except I have been a little too indulgent with using them lately and not re-stocking so I have some cooking to do this weekend! Going to check out some of your recipes, thanks for sharing!
Amy says
I do the same thing and so needed to hear this! Thanks for sharing!
Jacqueline @ deeprootsathome.com says
Thank you so much for hosting your link-up! May you be blessed this week :)
Anne Kimball says
Nothing feels better than to be caught up in a hectic schedule, and realize you have lots of food at the ready in the freezer!
amber says
Oh funny! This is our busiest month as well. I am famous for hoarding!! I don’t know how many times I have purchased beautiful fresh fruits and veggies and then tried to “make then lsat”, in the end throwing them out because they rot. And I buy store bought canned goods even though I have canned my own, because hey!! We can’t eat that stuff~! Do you know how much work that took? I like to see the shelf full! Somebody please help me.
Pary Moppins says
Hello, my name is Pary, and I am a Freezer Cooking Hoarder. Did you write this for me? I do exactly the same thing. So glad to know that I am not alone in thinking I might need the food another day. Thanks for this post. :)
Rachel @myheartsmission says
That sandwich looks yummy! It is good to have something prepared for crazy days. :)
Lana says
Same here! I too am glad to know that I am not alone!
Ashley Smith says
This is sooooo me too! I almost feel guilty sometimes about using them because I might REALLY need them next week. Silliness! Thanks for reminder Laura.
Also, I made your Butterscotch bars last night, and I think my husband almost passed out, but then revived himself so he could eat another one. Thanks for the great recipe!
stacy says
You know, I was having this same exact conversation with my hubby yesterday! LOL! I have so much hoarded in my freezer that I am not exactly sure what is in there. We decided on a freezer eating challenge to get that thing cleared out (it is an 8 foot chest freezer! eek!) and to restock it with the produce now ripening in our garden.
Antoinette says
You crack me up. Way to give yourself permission to use the food as you originally intended. Now if I could just get some of those in the freezer, too. :-)
Amber W. says
I’m glad I’m not the only one who does this!!!! ;) Praying your life slows down very soon! :)
MaryEllen@ImperfectHomemaker says
Oh man! I’m not the only one who does that! I think my reason is that I dread using it up because then I know I’ll have to make more! Food – oh I so wish it would cook itself! Enjoy your full days – and your freezer food!
Kristy says
Guilty!!! I always hesitate to use any freezer food for 2 reasons. (1) I might need it later and wish I had it, or (2) that took a lot of work to put it there and if I eat it, I’ll have to find time to make more!!!! Isn’t that awful? You are not alone in being a freezer hoarder!
Kelly says
I tend to do that with canned food! When I get things like spaghetti sauce or chicken soup canned, I get irritated with my husband for wanting to use them a month or two after I can them because they took so much time to do. How silly is that??!!? I’m so thankful that he loves them so much and wouldn’t rather have store bought. I’m so very thankful that he rants and raves when he’s eating whatever I’ve worked so hard on and tells me that he loves that I’ll be resourseful and can so much. After all, I can it for him and the boys to eat, right? :)
mrs. p says
I have question it has do with. I was wondering about fruit prices. I was in another state of vocation. They had peaches for 15.00 a bushel ( I didnt get any because it was at the beginning of our vocation and not the end) Where I live they are 45.00 a bushel. Apples wondering about that prices too because we have 3 apple trees and not a single apple. (only good thing about that is late fall I don’ have to pick up the rotten one out of the ground). Sorry if this is off the topic. Thank you.
Laura says
I’m sorry I don’t quite understand your specific question? :)
DaNelle Wolford says
Okay, good. Glad to know I’m not the only freezer hoarder out there. Whew. It’s the same when I make homemade crackers, I don’t want my family to eat them! ACK!
DaNelle recently posted…Copycat PF Changs Lettuce Wraps Recipe
Sarah F says
Iknow what you mean DaNell. Crackers are supposed to be for my kids snacks but then I hoard them until they are no longer crisp. Sadness.
Rebecca says
I try and put one or two freezer meals in my meal plan every week, so that if a day comes up and we need one, I don’t feel so bad using it. I also try and have one meal a week where either the whole meal or a component of it can be made double so I can restock those freezer meals.
And twice a year we have a eat thru the pantry/ freezer month, to cut down on the grocery budget and get rid of some of the stragglers that have been hanging around way too long.
Kris Mays says
HILARIOUS! I do the same thing! I put it in there and then I don’t want to touch it.
Brooke says
Oh bummer, I was hoping you actually threw the sandwich out at ;) Would have made me feel better for the crazy stuff I’ve done :)
I do the same thing with my freezer meals sometimes too. Yeah, really helpful Brooke! NOT!!!
Today I’m grateful for discovery…. And I’m grateful that I can keep asking God for more wisdom and help :)
Patti King says
I have a question regarding the picture of the BBQ Chicken sandwich…are those homemade buns??? They look totally wonderful. If they are homemade, please let me know what recipe you used. Thanks so much.
Patti
Charlotte Moore says
I know Laura always makes her own breads. The recipe should be on her blog.
Go to the top and click on recipes. Hope this helps.
Patti King says
Thanks for the help.
Laura says
Here is my homemade hamburger bun recipe: https://www.heavenlyhomemakers.com/whole-wheat-hamburger-buns. However, the bun in the picture is one from our health food co-op that I try to keep on hand for “emergencies”. :) It’s Alvarado Sprouted Wheat burger bun.
Patti King says
Thanks much!
Molly Garza says
What a terrific website!
Linnea says
I’m the opposite! I use the meal before it makes it to the freezer… Guess I need to relearn the meaning of freezer cooking. =)
Rachel says
I’m the same way with freezer food. I love to make extra food and save it away for a rainy day, but what day is rainy enough to deplete my precious hoard?! Hopefully I’ll be able to take a page from your book and be a little more generous with my freezer stash.
Charlotte Moore says
I am grateful I was able to make freshly ground hard red wheat muffins this morning and take to a sister from church. Her husband is in the hospital. You know how hard it is to find any good healthy food around a place like that. She was very appreciative.
Heather K says
Charlotte, would you mind sharing the recipe (or link to the recipe?) I’ve been trying to find good recipes for fresh ground hard red wheat and so far they’ve flopped. :0( Thanks!
Heather
Charlotte Moore says
Heather did you get the info I sent? Just wondered if you found the recipe.
Adrienne says
I’ll be coming back often for freezer meal recipes. My Gratituesday post was about me officially becoming a soccer mom, so I know freezer meals and the crock pot will be my best friend in the months to come!
Beth @ Turn 2 the Simple says
My freezer is full too! Just waiting for Baby’s arrival to use it all!
Brianna D. says
Yes, I do the same thing! For some reason just having that easy meal there in the freezer is some kind of a comfort to my busy mind, so to use it up would mean that I wouldn’t have it there… oh well. Sometimes we have to give things up, don’t we? :)
Heather K says
How can you read my mind so often? I totally hoard stuff, especially if I’ve worked “extra hard” on preparing it. I did, however use something from the freezer tonight…call it a “nudge”. :0) Thanks for the post!