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Make-Ahead Recipes to Serve Holiday Guests

November 13, 2022 by Laura Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

If you’re hosting guests for the holidays, I suggest making some of these Make-Ahead Recipes to make your time together more enjoyable!

Any time I’m hosting company for any occasion – but especially during holiday time – I like to have meals, snacks, and desserts prepared ahead of time if possible. This way I can enjoy visiting with our guests without spending much time in the kitchen. (I don’t do a great job of talking and cooking at the same time, oy!)

Here are some of my favorite recipes to make ahead and serve guests who are visiting:

Make-Ahead Recipes to Serve Holiday Guests

Main Dishes

  • 20-Minute Taco Soup
  • Cheesy Salsa Enchiladas (freezes well)
  • Chicken Salad (store in fridge and serve on rolls or croissants)
  • Chili (freezes well and can be served with fritos and cheese or with hotdogs for chili dogs)
  • Homemade Tomato Soup (a crowd favorite served with grilled cheese sandwiches)
  • Italian Pasta Bake (freezes well)
  • Potato Soup (doesn’t freeze well but can be made and stored for a few days in the fridge, then quickly rewarmed on the stove)
  • Simple Chicken Cheeseballs with a Kick (freezes well)
  • Simple Pizza Chicken Bake (freezes well and is one of the easiest recipes you’ll ever enjoy!)
  • Whole Wheat Pizza Crust (freezes well and are great to have on hand to make quick pizzas)
  • Ham and Hashbrown Casserole (freezes well)
  • Spicy Ham and Potato Soup (doesn’t freeze well but is great make ahead and stored in the fridge for a few days before warming and serving)
  • Lasagna (my all-time favorite make-ahead meal!)

Desserts

  • Banana Cake (cool, frost, and cut into pieces – then transfer to a plate and cover and freeze)
  • Butterscotch Bars (freezes well – a crowd favorite)
  • Caramel Apple Dip (does not freeze, but wonderful to have in the fridge to pull out and serve with sliced apples)
  • Chocolate Cake (cool, frost, and cut into pieces – then transfer to a plate and cover and freeze)
  • Chocolate Chip Brownies (freezes well)
  • Chocolate Chip Cookies (freezes well)
  • Christmas Spice Cookies (freezes well)
  • Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies (freezes well)
  • Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies (freezes well)
  • Fruit Crisp (freezes well)
  • Hot Chocolate Mix (fun to have on hand for guests!)
  • Lemon Pound Cake (freeze sliced cake)
  • Monster Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars (freezes well)
  • Oatmeal Butterscotch Chip Cookies (freezes well)
  • Pumpkin Pie (freezes well)

Snacks

  • Cranberry Nut Trail Mix (have a container on the counter for guests to enjoy)
  • Cream Cheese Salsa Dip (this is a perfect snack with tortilla chips if you’re playing games)
  • Easy Veggie Dip (in case you’re eating veggies with your chips and dip)
  • Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip
  • Mudballs (great to have on hand for kids)
  • No-Bake Chocolate Fudge Bites (great to have on hand for kids)
  • No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookie Bites (great to have on hand for kids)
  • No-Bake Snickerdoodle Bites (great to have on hand for kids)
  • Spicy Avocado Dip (otherwise known as guacamole)
  • Whole Wheat Graham Crackers (cut them out with holiday shaped cookie cutters)

Breakfast Foods

  • Raspberry Oatmeal Bars (these are delicious to enjoy with guests along with a morning cup of coffee or tea)
  • Easy Breakfast Casserole (freezes well)
  • Poptarts (freeze well)
  • Quick Mix Pancakes (make the mix, then make pancakes quickly for guests)
  • Giant Breakfast Cookies (freeze well)
  • Chocolate Cheesecake Muffins (freeze well)
  • Banana Cheesecake Muffins (freeze well)
  • Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins (freeze well)
  • Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Muffins (freeze well)
  • Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Muffins (freeze well)
  • Blueberry Cheesecake Muffins (freeze well)

If you’re hosting Thanksgiving or Christmas this year, here are recipes to make your entire traditional Holiday Dinner ahead of time. I do it this way every year:

  • Make-Ahead Turkey
  • Stuffing Muffins
  • Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
  • Mashed Potatoes in the Instant Pot
  • Oh Good Gravy
  • Green Bean Casserole
  • How to Make Frozen Pies
  • Simple Whipped Sweet Potatoes
  • How to make Whipped Cream
  • Whole Wheat Stir-and-Pour Dinner Rolls
  • Cranberry Sauce
  • Simple Cranberry Apple Cider

What do you like to make-ahead to serve to guests?

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73 Freezer Meal Ideas

August 30, 2020 by Laura Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

As we settle into a new school year, we thought it would be helpful to compile as many freezer meal ideas as we could!

No matter what your school year looks like this fall, having prepared food in our freezer for busy days never hurts!

Freezer Meal Ideas

49 Favorite Breakfast Freezer Foods

We’ll start by sharing great breakfast and snack food ideas that can be made ahead of time. Here are our favorites:

  • Applesauce Bread
  • Bacon Cheese Muffins
  • Baked Oatmeal Cups
  • Banana Bread and Muffins
  • Blueberry Streusel Muffins
  • Breakfast Burritos
  • Breakfast Cake Muffins
  • Chocolate Chocolate Chip Muffins
  • Chocolate Swirl Bread
  • Chocolate Swirl Muffins
  • Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
  • Cinnamon Swirl Bread
  • Cracklin’ Oat Bran Cereal (Not as much a freezer food as a food that can be made ahead of time for ease. But you can freeze this if you like!)
  • Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Breakfast Cookies
  • Crustless Breakfast Quiches
  • Easy Breakfast Casserole (I usually put this together and freeze it un-baked.)
  • Eggnog Muffins
  • Giant Breakfast Cookies
  • Ham and Egg Breakfast Bowls
  • Hashbrowns
  • Honey Cinnamon Muffins
  • Honey Whole Wheat Bagels
  • Lemon Bread
  • Mini Apple Pies
  • Mini Breakfast Pizza
  • Multi-Grain Pumpkin Waffles and Pancakes
  • Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
  • Orange Muffins
  • Pancake Muffins
  • Pancake and Sausage Muffins
  • Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins
  • Peanut Butter Pancakes
  • Poptarts
  • Pumpkin Breakfast Cake
  • Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread
  • Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
  • Simple Whole Wheat Pancakes
  • Snickerdoodle Muffins
  • Strawberry Bread
  • Strawberry Cream Muffins
  • Sweet Potato Streusel Muffins
  • Turkey Sausage (I like to make 10-12 pounds at once and freeze it in 1 pound packages.)
  • Vanilla Muffins with Cinnamon Crumb Topping
  • Whole Wheat and Honey Zucchini Bread and Muffins
  • Whole Wheat Cinnamon Rolls
  • Whole Wheat Waffles
  • Zucchini Carrot Bread

24 Main Dish Freezer Foods

My favorite freezer foods include meals that can be pulled out and baked without any additional prep. Here’s our big list:

  • Barbecue Beef and Cheese Hot Pockets
  • Bean and Cheese Burritos
  • Beefy Enchilada Bake
  • Calzones
  • Cheesy Beef and Rice
  • Cheesy Salsa Enchiladas
  • Chicken Burritos
  • Chicken Fried Steak Strips
  • Chili
  • Corn Dogs and Corn Dog Muffins
  • Italian Pasta Bake
  • Lasagna Casserole
  • Lazy Dogs
  • Meat and Cheese Burritos
  • Pigs in a Blanket
  • Pizza Pockets
  • Popcorn Chicken
  • Sloppy Cornbread Muffins
  • Sloppy Joes
  • Taco Corn Fritters
  • Three Cheese Garlic Chicken Pasta
  • Turkey Sausage
  • Whole Wheat Pizza Crust
  • Frozen Pizza

What ways are you getting ready to stay ahead during the school year?

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How to Have a Successful Freezer Cooking Day

March 22, 2020 by Laura Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

Hoping to get ahead by having a successful freezer cooking day? Here’s how!

Why have a freezer cooking day?

I love to have food pre-made and in the freezer to pull out and use as convenience foods on extra busy days! It’s beyond great to have a casserole in the freezer that I can slide into the oven for dinner without any prep (because I’ve already done the prep!).

In addition, it’s great to have muffins or cookies ready to pull out to bake or serve with just a few minutes’ notice.

If you have extra freezer space, it is worth your time to spend a few hours getting head so you can save time and energy later!

How to Have a Successful Freezer Cooking Day

Here are my top bullet points, with details to follow:

  1. Make a plan
  2. But don’t over plan
  3. Consider how you can multitask
  4. Get out everything possible the night before
  5. Be prepared for a mess, and save energy to clean it up!
  6. Have your evening meal already prepared and ready to serve.

1. Make a plan.

It’s a great idea to jot down a list of food you want to make ahead of time for your freezer so that you can prepare for your freezer cooking hours. Buy the groceries you’ll need, block out the time necessary for your freezer cooking extravaganza, and consider how you can make your time most efficient.

2. But don’t over plan.

But wait! Take it from me, the one who used to almost pass out during her freezer cooking days by trying to execute too much then becoming exhausted and grouchy at the kids (sorry, boys).

Be reasonable when you make your freezer cooking plan. If you only have two hours, your to-do list needs to be able to be fulfilled within just an hour and a half so you still have the energy to clean up afterward (see #5).

It’s easy to become overexcited, thinking of ALL THE THINGS you want to put into the freezer. Yay, you! But make your lofty list, then consider paring down to what is actually doable and reasonable. Perhaps break your lofty list into two or three different freezer cooking time slots.

3. Consider how you can multitask.

When making your list, look at what will help you be the most efficient with your time and energy. For instance:

Perhaps your freezer cooking day can focus on chicken dishes so that you can get out fewer ingredients, cut up several meals worth of chicken at once, and knock out more work in less time.

Or maybe your freezer cooking day is all about baked goods this time. Again, you can get out fewer ingredients so instead of working with meat and vegetables and flour and sugar – you are instead only focused on putting together sides, snacks, and desserts this time.

4. Get out everything possible the night before.

Say you’ve decided to make three batches of muffins, a double batch of cookies, and a pan of oatmeal bars during your freezer cooking session. The night before you are ready to take on the task set out all possible ingredients like baking powder, salt, sugar, flour, etc. Thaw your butter, lay out your recipes (or pull them up on your computer), get out bowls and measuring cups.

Whatever you can do to make the job easier tomorrow, do it today. Thaw meat, grate cheese, prep veggies, get out freezer bags. If you grind flour for baked goods, get that flour ready so you’ll save time tomorrow.

5. Be prepared for a mess, and save energy to clean it up!

In my experience, freezer cooking makes a pretty big mess. It’s worth it though, because of how easy it is to use and serve these prepared foods later! So remember that the mess you’re making now saves many messes later!

But also keep in mind that after you’ve spent an hour or four prepping food for the freezer, you’ll be a bit tired from your work. Plan ahead to save some of your energy and time to wash dishes, wipe down messy countertops, and sweep the floor.

6. Have your evening meal already prepared and ready to serve.

Is it just me, or do you ever not feel like cooking after you’ve spent the day cooking?

It is a good idea to plan ahead for this because, for some reason, everyone will still want to eat the night of your freezer cooking day. Crazy.

My suggestion is to have something in the crockpot already cooking, or better yet, if you’re making some casseroles for the freezer, save one to bake for dinner tonight.

7. It is worth noting that…

If you have big kids, they should be put to work with you on this endeavor! My big kids are my cheese graters, my floor sweepers, and my general go-to taskers. I have gotten very good at handing out small jobs left and right, which makes every big job (including freezer cooking!) so much easier!

Want some freezer cooking ideas?

Here are some great ideas to get you started!

  • 49 Favorite Freezer Breakfast Foods
  • 24 Favorite Lunch and Dinner Freezer Foods

Eat Right Away!

You can buy this awesome eBook that includes all the details, recipes, and grocery lists 20 meals you can make ahead for your freezer. Or become a club member and access it any time!

Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!

Back to School Freezer Cooking Plan 2019

August 4, 2019 by Laura 2 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

It’s this year’s Back to School Freezer Cooking Plan!

Back to School Freezer Cooking Plan, 2019

I have to do it every year. I can’t not do it. I make all the food and I stock up on everything under the sun. My brain somehow cannot handle thinking that we might have to go to the store for toilet paper on the third day of school, so I make sure we have three…cases. Every year. Apparently, we need toilet paper to get us through until Christmas, as if I won’t go to the store for other things before then?

Even though I do think that in some ways my brain is crazy, there is much to be said for my desire to get ahead a little and stock-pile food and essentials before a new school year begins. With a new school year comes fall soccer season, which for our family is intense as we have players, referees, and a collegiate coach under our roof. We live, eat, breathe soccer from August until November. This year we added a brand new 5-year old soccer player to the ranks.

When we found his first pair of soccer cleats on clearance this summer, he was beyond excited. Finally, he can be a soccer player like his big brothers!

And let it be noted that this year we are also toting a Boy Babe to all the games with us while trying to keep him from eating electrical cords and climbing into the fireplace during a homeschool history lesson. So now who’s making fun of my three-case stash of Northern?

I’ve been working since mid-July to fill the freezer and stock-pile essential ingredients and household goods. I’ve taken wonderful advantage of Amazon Prime Pantry and Subscribe and Save. Amazon brings me joy…and groceries. And yeah, lots of toilet paper.

Here’s what I’ve been working on so far to get ahead:

Chicken Cheeseballs with a Kick

I got three pounds of ground chicken on mark-down, so I quickly added this recipe to my freezer-cooking list. These mix up quickly, and having them in the freezer ready to bake for a quick lunch or dinner will be perfect during this busy time of year.

Meat and Cheese Burritos

Burritos. Always burritos. I cannot tell you how good it is for me to have burritos in my freezer for my boys to warm up when they need one (or two).

Pancake and Waffle Mix

This isn’t actually in my freezer, but I did make a huge batch so we can pull it out for quick breakfasts or easy dinners. Man, I love this mix.

Simple Muffin Mix

I also mixed up a huge batch of Muffin Mix so that all we have to do is add liquids and whatever add-ins we want before baking up a batch of muffins. It’s so easy!

Bacon

One of my favorite tricks for saving time is baking several pounds of bacon, then freezing it to pull out and rewarm on the stove. When I do this, we can have hot sizzling bacon with our eggs or pancakes in just 30 seconds.

I also love cutting up bacon and making several pounds of bacon bits to use in salads and in scrambled eggs.

Lasagna

It’s our family’s favorite meal, so having a couple in the freezer will be great!

Hamburger Meat

I cooked 7 pounds of hamburger meat in my Instant Pot. So now I have meat to use quickly as needed. You can see a list here of 33 meals that can be made quickly once there’s meat already cooked and ready.


Cheesy Beef and Rice 

This is one of our favorites. If I have it in the freezer, I can slide it into a 250-degree oven before a game and it will be baked and ready to eat a few hours later when we get home!

Cheesy Salsa Enchiladas

This is also a favorite, and I can do as I mentioned above – bake it while we’re at a game and have dinner ready immediately when we get home!

In addition to all these prepared foods, I have worked to stock up on a supply of most of our essential ingredients so I can “shop from the pantry, fridge, or freezer” as much as possible instead of going to the store.

Want a cheat sheet full of Simple Ingredients to help you have all the real food basics on hand too? It’s free – grab it here!

Also in the freezer:

  • Strawberries, bananas, mango, pineapple, and peaches for smoothies
  • Green beans and peas for quick sides
  • Chicken nuggets and hotdogs #noshame
  • Homemade Ice Cream

Why the Homemade Ice Cream? Because it is as essential as toilet paper. Obviously.

What’s in your freezer these days?

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How to Make Real Food Easy

June 5, 2019 by Laura Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

Are you ready to eat real food, but you’re overwhelmed by all the work that seems to be involved? Allow me to introduce you to my friend…the Chicken. And to my other friends: Apples, Butter, and Cream. Don’t forget the infamous Green Bean. Gather ’round. I want to show you how to make real food EASY!

Sure, there’s no such thing as a free {real food} lunch. What I mean is, real food doesn’t just appear on the table by magic – so I certainly can’t claim that making real food for your family doesn’t take any work at all.

But I can tell you how to make the work much, much easier!!

And if you’re afraid of switching over from processed, boxed, pre-made foods or take-out because you don’t even know where to start – I would be so very happy to guide you along in this transition! I PROMISE it is much easier than you think!!! And it tastes delicious and normal. Who knew?

How to Make Real Food Easy!

I want to walk you through taking some very simple, inexpensive first steps toward transitioning your kitchen away from processed foods and settling into enjoying more real food.

The good news with this? You can start with whatever step you’re ready for! Struggling to give up soda? Don’t despair. Just start with something else. Can’t stand veggies? How about learning some new ways to eat them, or just start with fruit instead. If nothing else, start your journey to a real food kitchen by switching from margarine to real butter. There are so many places to start – and you can begin with whatever is right for you!

You Can Do This!

You may remember this eCourse from many years ago. I’m happy to share that we’ve spent the past few months re-working it so that it is brand new and improved!

It includes 49 pages, 5 lessons, printables, worksheets, videos, tutorials, instruction, tips, and recipes. You can use this to baby step or giant step your way toward a real food kitchen – go at your own pace!

You can read all the specifics of this awesome eCourse here.

Let’s Do This!

Oh look! We updated our Let’s Do This eCourse too! It includes 32 pages, 5 lessons, printables, worksheets, videos, tutorials, instruction, tips, and recipes. This eCourse walks you through managing your real food kitchen so that you can simplify and actually get ahead! Fill the freezer, make tonight’s dinner in the morning, get some healthy snacks stashed away for the week.

It actually is possible to get ahead and simplify your life, and this eCourse shows you how!

You can read the specifics about this eCourse here.

Afraid to take an eCourse?

Don’t worry. The teacher is very nice. ;) Upon completion, everyone gets an A. The only homework involved is yours and yours alone, to be done on your own time and for your family’s benefit. Once you purchase, you can keep the course information forever and reference them as needed. Read them on your computer or print the pages you need in your hands. What else?

Oh, these eCourses only cost $10 each. (“Where else can you take an entire class at such a low cost?!” exclaims the mother of many college students.)

It’s kind of too good to be true, except that we love all that these offer and we want to make them accessible to everyone! So it’s good AND it’s true. And there’s something else:

We put them together into a Real Food Kitchen Package!

We packaged up both of the new-and-improved eCourses, and we threw in our Make-Ahead Meals and Snacks recipe eBook because you really need those incredible recipes along with these eCourses!

Total cost for all three of these would normally be $25. But for one week, you can get this entire package of 3 resources for just $12! Total!

Ready to start working your way toward a healthy, real food, easy kitchen life? This time couldn’t be more perfect!

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How to Prepare Your Holiday Meal BEFORE the Holiday

November 6, 2018 by Laura 2 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

I’ve been talking about this for years, and with good reason. It truly is possible to prepare your holiday meal BEFORE the holiday. I love using these methods so that I can enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas just as much as everyone else!

For several years, I’ve been sharing how to easily make most of our Thanksgiving or Christmas dishes ahead of time. Truly! You can get ahead, then when the big day comes, you don’t have to spend hours cooking and cleaning. Imagine actually savoring the turkey and side dishes you slaved over. (Except that you don’t have to actually slave over them because I’ll show you how to make them the easy way!)

Enjoy the following recipes and preparation guide to help you get ahead this holiday season!

How to Prepare Your Holiday Meal BEFORE the Holiday

One Week Before Thanksgiving

  • Pies made and frozen
  • Cheesy Mashed Potatoes made and frozen (OR wait and make this amazing Instant Pot Mashed Potato Recipe the day of!)
  • Stuffing Muffins made and frozen
  • Green Bean Casseroles made and frozen
  • Sweet Potatoes baked, mashed, and frozen
  • All remaining groceries purchased

Two Days Before Thanksgiving

  • Turkey baked and de-boned (yes, you CAN make your turkey ahead of time!)
  • Turkey Broth made
  • Cranberry Sauce made 
  • Prepared frozen food moved from freezer to fridge

One Day Before Thanksgiving

  • Tea brewed and chilled
  • Sparkling cider chilled
  • Pineapple Fluff Salad made and chilled
  • Cream whipped
  • Tables and chairs set up

Thanksgiving Day

  • Enjoy a large cup of steamy coffee in my recliner for a very long time (because I can)
  • Everyone on their own for breakfast (probably cereal)
  • Mix dry ingredients together for Stir-and-Pour Rolls (for easy, no-brainer mixing about an hour before meal time)
  • Put Cranberry Apple Cider into a crockpot to heat (this is a huge hit with guests!)
  • Set out butter to soften for rolls
  • Plates, silverware, cups, and napkins set out

About 1 1/2 hours before serving time, I will bake or re-heat prepared foods. Then I will make gravy and bake the rolls. Easy peasy!

Here are the quick links to all the recipes you’ll need:

  • Make-Ahead Turkey
  • Stuffing Muffins
  • Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
  • Mashed Potatoes in the Instant Pot
  • Oh Good Gravy
  • Green Bean Casserole
  • How to Make Frozen Pies
  • Simple Whipped Sweet Potatoes
  • How to make Whipped Cream
  • Whole Wheat Stir-and-Pour Dinner Rolls
  • Cranberry Sauce
  • Simple Cranberry Apple Cider

Get our FREE Holiday Prep Guide!

We’ve got a fabulous freebie for you today!

Grab our Holiday Prep Guide Packet filled with 9 fun printables to help you get ahead for the holidays! Sign up here to receive it for free!

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Simple Creamy Layered Enchiladas (For Oven or Crock Pot)

October 9, 2018 by Laura 1 Comment

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

How simple are these Creamy Layered Enchiladas? Well, I was able to throw them together in just five minutes before running out to church on a recent Sunday morning. So I’d say they’re pretty simple!

This recipe is simple in and of itself, but if you happen to have hamburger already cooked and waiting to be used, then you really can throw the rest of this together in just five minutes. (Or use pre-cooked chicken if you prefer!)

There are two great options for cooking this casserole: Crock Pot or Oven.

I use the Crock Pot on days I don’t want to heat up the house with the oven or on Sundays when I want to have our meal ready and waiting when we get home from church. I use the oven when I have these enchiladas made up ahead of time in a casserole dish. Then all I have to do is slide it into the oven and let it bake while I get other work done!

Simple Creamy Layered Enchiladas

Simple Creamy Layered Enchiladas (For Oven or Crock Pot)
 
Save Print
Author: Laura
Serves: 4-6
Ingredients
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • sea salt to taste
  • 2 cups salsa
  • 1½ cups sour cream
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
  • 8 whole wheat flour tortillas (or corn tortillas)
Instructions
  1. Brown meat. Stir in salt, salsa, sour cream, and ½ cup of cheese.
  2. Lay 4 tortillas in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  3. Spread half of meat mixture over tortillas.
  4. Layer again with the 4 remaining tortillas.
  5. Spread remaining meat mixture over tortillas.
  6. Top with 1½ cups cheese.
  7. Bake uncovered at 350° for 20-25 minutes.
  8. OR Layer ingredients into a crock pot. Cook on Low for 6-7 hours or on Hi for 4 hours.
3.5.3229

 

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Make-Ahead Mac-n-Cheese For a Crowd

June 26, 2018 by Laura 5 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

I’d never tried Make-Ahead Mac-n-Cheese before, but figured it was worth a shot! I wondered: Could I make my easy Mac-n-Cheese for a crowd, then put it in the crock pot to stay warm? After all, I didn’t want to be a slave to the stove just as my guests were arriving.

Obviously it worked marvelously, otherwise I wouldn’t be here telling you about it. I definitely feel that this dish is best fresh, right off the stove. But the day I was feeding 25 teens, I needed a side I could make ahead and keep warm. As it turns out, we can make Creamy Mac and Cheese en mass, then put it in a crock pot to stay warm until serving time.

A few small details about making Mac-n-Cheese for a Crowd: Plan to use lots of sea salt. It can be rather bland otherwise. I even go the extra mile and stir in some garlic powder for a little extra pazazz.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: When making this Creamy Mac and Cheese, always remove it from the heat BEFORE you add the cheese. It’s not difficult, but breaking this creamy mac-n-cheese rule will give you weirdly textured pasta. So cook your pasta in the milk, slide it off the heat, then add cheese. See how simple?

Make-Ahead Mac-n-Cheese for a Crowd

Make-Ahead Mac-n-Cheese For a Crowd
 
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Author: Laura
Serves: 25-30
Ingredients
  • 32 ounces dry pasta (I use whole wheat noodles)
  • 6½ cups whole milk
  • Sea salt to taste (1-2 teaspoons)
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 3-4 cups shredded cheese (I use Colby jack; cheddar is also great)
Instructions
  1. Mix pasta, milk, sea salt, and garlic powder in a large sauce pan. (I've found it best to divide ingredients into two large pots for faster and more even cooking.)
  2. Cook over medium-high heat stirring almost constantly until the pasta is tender (10-15 minutes).
  3. Remove from heat. (IMPORTANT!)
  4. Add cheese and stir until melted.
  5. Transfer Mac-n-Cheese to a large (6-8 quart) crock pot.
  6. Keep warm at "lo" setting for up to three hours.
  7. Stir in a bit more milk at serving time as needed.
3.5.3229

 

When making a large amount of Mac-n-Cheese like this, I usually use this variety of whole wheat elbow noodles.

Need more ideas for cooking for a crowd? Check out this link:

44 Meals to Feed a Large Crowd

Did you download a free Simple Ingredients list yet? Keep all the basic ingredients on hand that you need to put together delicious, Simple Meals!

Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!

Getting Ahead for the Holidays – New and Improved FREEBIE for Simple Meals Members!

November 5, 2017 by Laura 1 Comment

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

You might remember that a couple of years ago I spent the entire month of November detailing how we get ahead for the holidays so that we can (wait for it…) actually enjoy the holidays.

Call me selfish, but I like to actually enjoy eating my turkey instead of sweating over it while guests are walking through my door. And you and I both know I can’t talk and cook at the same time. It’s perfectly ridiculous how bad I am at doing both tasks simultaneously.

Here’s more proof (as if you need any): A few weeks ago a college girl stood in my kitchen with me while I finished preparing the meal I was about to feed a crowd of students. Dreamily, she asked, “So tell me how you and Matt met!” And I was like, “Matt who?”

matt and laura3

Oh, that Matt. I remember now.

I try to be a delightful hostess, I do. And it’s ridiculous how much I love feeding people in my home. But why do people ask such difficult questions like “Where’s your bathroom?” and “Is that your youngest son?” when I am trying to remember if I salted the green beans? I don’t have a PhD. You know who has the answers to your difficult and practically impossible questions? Google. Or better yet, Jesus. Jesus is THE answer. Ask and it shall be given to you. Read your Bibles, people.

So once again, as we head into a Merry Thanksgiving and a Happy Christmas season, I encourage us all to alleviate holiday stress and to give ourselves the best chance at enjoying our wonderful guests by doing everything we can ahead of time. Maybe you are better than I am at synchronized talking and cooking. Even so, we’ll all be blessed to have our creamed whipped and our potatoes mashed and our stuffing stuffed ahead of time.

Getting Ahead for the Holidays

Getting Ahead for the Holidays Cover2

This is an absolutely free resource we’ve created to be new and improved – made available once again for all Simple Meals members! Here are a few of the sample pages in this downloadable packet:

Make Ahead Holiday Sample

And rest assured, we included links so you can access all the recipes and instructions for how to make all of these wonderful holiday dishes ahead of time!

I can think of no better time of year to join Simple Meals. You know why? Because you have turkeys to bake and presents to wrap and carols to sing. This is no time for you to have to figure out what to feed your family on a regular Tuesday or to calculate how much chicken to buy.

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Simple Meals does all your meal planning, grocery listing, and recipe finding for you. The meal ideas are all perfectly simple and fast, and of course, they are family friendly.

Read more details here, and sign up today. You’ll get a complete weekly planning packet every Thursday morning in your inbox. The hard work is done. Simple Meals saves the day, every day of the week, for only $1 a week. Score!

It comes with oodles of freebies, and for this week and next, it will include this one, the Getting Ahead for the Holidays resource packet! (Current members: watch for yours to come in your regular Thursday Planning Packet email!)

Bonus: Now through November 15, get $10 off your first year’s subscription! No coupon code needed. Simply click through to order and the $10 discount will be automatically applied! Offer expires Wednesday, November 15.

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49 Favorite Breakfast Freezer Foods

September 11, 2016 by Laura Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

Bunches and bunches of our favorite breakfast freezer foods…coming up!

49 Breakfast Freezer Foods

First, some of my favorite breakfast tips (that my family supports 100%):

Biscuits and Gravy Made EasyYum

You know how Biscuits and Gravy is one of those breakfasts you save for special occasions because it takes quite a bit of effort to prepare? What if you could follow these Freezer Biscuit instructions and have Turkey Sausage made ahead of time so you can quickly put together Sausage Gravy while your effortless biscuits are in the oven? Then you can have Biscuits and Gravy on the table within just a few minutes without breaking a sweat. My family loves it when I do this! (More details here.)

Biscuits and Gravy

Breakfast Casserole Made Easy

And Breakfast Casserole. That sounds intense right? Except that it’s not intense when you use this recipe and make it ahead of time.

cinnamon_muffins_with_casserole

Cinnamon Rolls Made Easy

How about Cinnamon Rolls? Well now those are for special occasions. Yes, because of the sugar. But not because of the work. Try these No-Knead Cinnamon Rolls that you can make ahead of time and freeze!

cinnamon_rolls

Muffins Made Easy

We’re all in love with the fact that we can mix up muffin batter and freeze it in muffin cups for easy fresh muffin baking! If you haven’t tried this yet, get all the details here. You will LOVE IT!

Freeze Your Muffin Batter 3

And now, from oatmeal cups to muffins to burritos, here are 49 great, real food recipes that can be made ahead of time and frozen.

49 Favorite Breakfast Freezer Foods

  • Applesauce Bread
  • Bacon Cheese Muffins
  • Baked Oatmeal Cups
  • Banana Bread and Muffins
  • Blueberry Streusel Muffins
  • Breakfast Burritos
  • Breakfast Cake Muffins
  • Chocolate Chocolate Chip Muffins
  • Chocolate Swirl Bread
  • Chocolate Swirl Muffins
  • Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
  • Cinnamon Swirl Bread
  • Cracklin’ Oat Bran Cereal (Not as much a freezer food as a food that can be made ahead of time for ease. But you can freeze this if you like!)
  • Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Breakfast Cookies
  • Crustless Breakfast Quiches
  • Easy Breakfast Casserole (I usually put this together and freeze it un-baked.)
  • Eggnog Muffins
  • Giant Breakfast Cookies
  • Ham and Egg Breakfast Bowls
  • Hashbrowns
  • Honey Cinnamon Muffins
  • Honey Whole Wheat Bagels
  • Lemon Bread
  • Mini Apple Pies
  • Mini Breakfast Pizza
  • Multi-Grain Pumpkin Waffles and Pancakes
  • Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
  • Orange Muffins
  • Pancake Muffins
  • Pancake and Sausage Muffins
  • Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins
  • Peanut Butter Pancakes
  • Poptarts
  • Pumpkin Breakfast Cake
  • Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread
  • Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
  • Simple Whole Wheat Pancakes
  • Snickerdoodle Muffins
  • Strawberry Bread
  • Strawberry Cream Muffins
  • Sweet Potato Streusel Muffins
  • Turkey Sausage (I like to make 10-12 pounds at once and freeze it in 1 pound packages.)
  • Vanilla Muffins with Cinnamon Crumb Topping
  • Whole Wheat and Honey Zucchini Bread and Muffins
  • Whole Wheat Cinnamon Rolls
  • Whole Wheat Waffles
  • Zucchini Carrot Bread

Time Saving Tip: These Ham and Egg Breakfast Bowls are tasty and wonderful, but they only save time if you make a bunch ahead and freeze them to warm up later. If you haven’t made them ahead and want ham and eggs for breakfast, I’d skip the cute bowl making step and just quickly scramble ham, eggs, and cheese together. :)

Easy Ham and Egg Breakfast Bowls

Did you see the 24 Favorite Main Dish Freezer Meals I shared last week?

Coming up during the next few days, I’ve got some great new freezer breakfast food tips!

Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!
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