Posted in - Meatless, Budget Friendly

Frugal Fridays: Baked Ravioli

Baked Ravioli

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Serves 5

1 bag (25 Oz. Bag) Frozen Ravioli – $4.39
1 jar (26 Oz. Jar) Marinara Sauce – $1.59
2 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese – $3.29
Parmesan Cheese, For Sprinkling – $.88

Total Cost – $10.15
Cost Per Serving – $2.03

Prep Day: Spray bottom and sides of a 9×13 rectangular baking dish with cooking spray. Spread 3/4 cup of the pasta sauce in baking dish. Arrange half of the frozen ravioli in a single layer over the sauce; top with half of the remaining pasta sauce and half of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers once, starting with ravioli. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Serve Day: Cover with aluminum foil and freeze. Thaw. Heat oven to 400°F and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil; bake uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes longer or until bubbly and hot in the center. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Posted in - 2013 Swap Recipes, - Meatless, - Pork, - Poultry, - Red Meat, - Seafood/Fish, Meal Swap Recipes

Meal Swap: Friday’s February 2013 Menu and Recipes

Friday’s February 2013 Menu

Seafood/Fish:

Lindsay L. – Jambalaya

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1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cubed
1 pound andouille sausage, sliced
1 pound frozen cooked shrimp, without tails
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
1 large onion, chopped
1 large green bell pepper, chopped
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chicken broth
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons dried parsley
1-2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Salt and pepper, to taste

Prep Day: dump everything but shrimp together and freeze.

Serve Day: In a slow cooker, stir together everything but the shrimp. Cover and cook 7 to 8 hours on low, or 3 to 4 hours on high. Stir in the shrimp during the last 30 minutes of cook time. Serve over hot cooked rice.

Poultry:

Heather G. – Chicken Pot

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Cooked chicken shredded, 2 cups
2 good size Carrots medium, chopped
1 small onion, diced
1-2 stalks of celery, diced
10 ounce bag mixed frozen veggies or Chopped green beans or frozen peas
Chicken or veggie broth
Flour, 1/4-1/2 cup
2-3 tablespoons butter
2 cups milk or 1/2 & 1/2, or cup of each
Sage, thyme, rosemary,parsley, salt and pepper to taste
2 Pie shells

Prep Day Directions: Defrost the filling pour into pie crust, and top with pie crust. Bake per crust instructions. Cook onions, carrots and celery. Deglaze with stock. Make a roux with flour and butter once golden and smooth add to stock stirring. Add shredded chicken,milk, frozen veggies stir together.

Serve Day Directions: Place filling in pie. cover with the second crust, and cook in preheated oven 400 degrees.

Megan – Maple Dijon Glazed Chicken

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3 pounds chicken breasts
1 cup Dijon mustard
1/2 cup maple syrup
2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
fresh rosemary
couscous

Prep Day Directions: Place all ingredients in a resealable gallon-sized freezer bag. Mix together and zip bag closed.

Serve Day Directions: When ready to eat, remove from freezer and thaw in fridge for 24 hours. Cook on LOW for 8 hours (or HIGH for 4 hours). Sprinkle with fresh or dried rosemary for serving. Top over prepared couscous and take drippings from crockpot and drizzle over.

Beef:

Heather T. – Crockpot Italian Beef

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3 lbs rump roast, trimmed of visible fat
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup water
1 (11 1/2 ounce) jar pepperoncini peppers, sliced (reserve 1/2 cup juice)
1 (2/3 ounce) package Italian salad dressing mix
2 teaspoons garlic, minced
6 hoagie rolls or 6 hoagie rolls, split
Shredded mozzarella
arugula, for serving (optional)
1 tomato, sliced, for serving (optional)

Prep Day Directions: Combine beef, sliced onions and garlic in ziplock,
Freeze along with the cheese, hoagie rolls and Italian dressing packet. (Do not freeze peppers. 🙂

Serve Day Directions: Place beef and onion and garlic mixture in a 3 1/2-quart or larger slow-cooker. Add 1/2 cup water and Italian dressing mix. Add 1/2 cup of pepper juice. (You can add the whole jar of peppers if you would like as well, a lot of the reviews said it was really good with them). Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours or until beef is very tender. Season with salt/pepper to your liking. Thaw bread and mozzarella cheese. Brush cut sides of rolls with some of the cooking liquid. Transfer beef to cutting board; slice thinly or shred. You can sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top and either broil them or microwave to melt the cheese. Serve on rolls with arugula, sliced tomatoes and peppers.

Ann – Mini Meat Loaves

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Makes 12 mini-loaves, 2 in a serving

1 teaspoon olive oil
1 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup finely chopped carrot
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup ketchup, divided — you will supply your own
1 1/2 pounds ground beef, extra lean (raw)
1 cup bread crumbs
2 tablespoons prepared mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 large eggs
Cooking spray

Prep Day Directions: Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion, chopped carrot, dried oregano, and minced garlic; sauté 2 minutes. Cool. Combine onion mixture, 1/2 cup ketchup, and the remaining ingredients except cooking spray in a large bowl. Spoon the meat mixture into 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray. Cover with foil and freeze in pan.

Serve Day Directions: Thaw in fridge. Top each with 2 teaspoons ketchup. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until a thermometer registers 160°. Let stand for 5 minutes.

Serve as is or “frost” with mashed potatoes and chives

Your Choice or Meatless:

Lindsey M. – Sausage and Egg McMuffins

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6 English Muffins
6 Eggs Sausage
6 precooked patties
6 slices Cheddar Cheese

Prep Day Directions: Scramble eggs and bake in greased muffin tins at 350 for 10-15 minutes. Cool, flash freeze, and place in freezer zip lock bag. Place sausage patties and cheese in seperate bags and place in freezer bag. Freezer English muffins.

Serve Day Directions: Thaw. Toast english muffins in toaster or in oven on a cookie sheet. Reheat Sausage patties and eggs in microwave or oven. (I usually do the sausages in the oven and eggs in the microwave.) Layer cheese, sausage and egg on english muffin. Enjoy!

Gretchen – Black Bean and Rice Cakes

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2 cans (15 ounces each) black beans, rinsed and drained
2 large scallions, coarsely chopped
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
3/4 cup cooked brown rice
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh cilantro, plus leaves for serving
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Prep Day Directions: In a food processor, pulse half the beans with scallions, jalapeno, and cumin until a chunky paste forms. In a large bowl, combine bean puree with rice and remaining beans; season with salt and pepper. Divide mixture into eight 3-inch-wide patties. (To freeze, wrap individually in plastic and freeze up to 2 weeks; thaw before cooking.)

Serve Day Directions: Thaw patties. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Brush a rimmed baking sheet with oil; place in oven to heat, 5 minutes. Carefully place patties on hot sheet; bake until bottoms are golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through. Let rest on sheet 5 minutes before removing. Serve patties topped with yogurt and cilantro if available.

Pork:

Sarah – Teriyaki Pork Chops

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6 pork chops
16 oz bag of frozen stir fry veggies
1/2 cup teriyaki sauce
3 Tablespoons orange marmalade

Prep Day: Place pork chops in freezer bag. Mix teriyaki sauce and marmalade in small bowl and pour into small freezer bag. Have one bag of frozen stir fry vegetables on hand.

Serve Day: Thaw all ingredients. Place pork chops in a 9×13 greased baking dish. Pour frozen veggies on top of chops, and then pour the teriyaki mixture over the veggies. Bake covered in 450 degree oven for 30-35 minutes or until pork is cooked through. It took about 45 minutes in my oven, so check the meat at 35 mins. to not overcook. This recipe is great for leftovers.

Vanessa – Sassy Hot Ham and Cheese sliders

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Serves 6 – 2 sandwich serving

1 (12 ct.) pkg. Hawaiian bread rolls
1/2 pound sliced deli Honey baked ham
8 slices Muenster Cheese
4oz. Chive & Onion Cream Cheese
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tablespoon dried minced onion
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar

Prep Day: Cut all rolls in half. Place roll bottoms in 9×13-inch pan. Place equal amounts of ham on each roll bottom. Top with Muenster cheese. spread cream cheese over cheese. Return the tops to the bottoms making sandwiches. Top with plastic wrap. Put the butter, Worcestershire sauce, onion, brown sugar and Parmesan cheese in sauce pan. stir constantly till melted and thick. Once cooled place in a quart size freezer bag. Put sauce bag on top of sandwiches. Put on foil cover on and freeze.

Serve Day: Thaw all ingredients. Remove all plastic in pan. Pour sauce in small sauce pot and heat until melted. Stir along the way. When done pour over your sandwiches to your liking and let sit for at least 20 minutes. Place sandwiches, covered in foil, in a preheated 350 degrees F oven. Bake for 20 minutes or until warmed through. Enjoy!

Note: please don’t forget to give each other feedback in the comments area about this months menu.

Next swap is: Friday March 15th, 2013 @ 11:30am in the First Free Church Gym after MOPS.

Please submit your meal swap finished recipes to the blog and email me your 2 recipes that need to be voted on. I need those the Monday before swap! Thank you for your cooperation.

Posted in - 2013 Swap Recipes, - Meatless, - Pork, - Poultry, - Red Meat, - Seafood/Fish, Meal Swap Recipes

Meal Swap: Friday’s January 2013 Menu and Recipes

January 2013 Menu:

Note: All recipes serve 6 adults unless otherwise noted.

Seafood/Fish –

Heather G. (New England Clam Chowder)

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A serving size is 2 cups

5 baking potatoes cut 1/2 inch cubes
3 stalks celery finely chopped
1 smalled onion finely chopped
1/2 piece of bacon(optional)
1/2 stick of butter
3 tablespoons flour
pint-quart of milk
handful of chopped parsley
5 cans of chopped clams juice separated and saved
salt and pepper to taste

Prep Day: Put potatoes in pot and fill up with water till the potatoes are covered Parboil potatoes, add celery and onions and reserved clam juice bring back to a boil. Cook for a minute or two. Whisk the flour and a bit of the milk together in a bowl, then add to soup. Bring to a boil and let cook for 5 minutes. Salt and Pepper to taste. Add the rest of the milk. cook for 5 more minutes Add Clams and Parsely. Simmer and Stir for 30 minutes.

Serve Day: Defrost RE-Heat Slowly. Serve Enjoy!

Megan (Coconut Crusted Tilapia with Apricot Dipping Sauce)

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1 cup flaked coconut
2 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon creole seasoning
6 (4 ounce) fillets tilapia
1/2 cup cornstarch
3 eggs

Apricot Dipping Sauce:

1/2 cup apricot jam
2 teaspoons brown mustard
1 teaspoon prepared horseradish

Prep Day: Toss together the coconut, flour and Creole seasoning in a bowl. In a separate bowl, toss the tilapia with the cornstarch and shake off the excess. Crack the three eggs in a bowl and dip the fillets in the egg. Press fillets in the coconut mixture coating all sides. Freeze in a single layer. Prepare apricot dipping sauce by stirring together the jam, mustard and horseradish in a small bowl, transfer to an ice cube tray (fills about four cubes) and freeze.

Serve Day: Thaw, Bake at 450 for 11 – 15 minutes. (Turn Once) Then broil for 2 minutes (to crisp) Serve the Tilapia accompanied by the dipping sauce. (thaw dipping sauce and serve at room temperature).

Poultry –

Heather T. (Cilantro Lime Chicken with Corn and Black Beans)

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1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts
Juice from 2 limes
1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
1 (16 oz) bag frozen corn
2 minced garlic cloves
1/2 red onion, chopped
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 tsp cumin
salt and pepper to taste

Prep Day: Place all ingredients in a resealable gallon-sized freezer bag. Mix together and zip bag closed.

Serve Day: When ready to eat, remove from freezer and thaw in fridge for 24 hours. Cook on LOW in crockpot for 8 hours (or HIGH for 4 hours).

Serve with tortillas and toppings such as with sour cream, guacamole, salsa, and cheese.

Beef –

Lindsey M. (Steak Stroganoff)

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2 T. flour
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. paprika
1 T. parsley
1 3/4 lb. boneless beef round steak cut into strips
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup water
1/2 evelope dried onion soup mix
Jar of mushroom pieces drained
1/2 cup of sour cream
egg noodles

Prep Day Directions: Combine spices, meat, soup, water and soup mix. Place in freezer bag and freeze. Place mushrooms, sour cream and noodles in seperate bag.

Serve Day Directions: Thaw ingredients and place in slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-7 hours. (Check meat at 6 hour mark.) Stir in mushrooms and sour cream. Cover and cook on high 10-15 minutes or until heated through. Serve with noodles.

Meatless or Your Choice –

Vanessa (Crockpot Beer Chicken)

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1 Whole Chicken, bones in
1 bottle of Guinness Stout Beer
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp Basil
1/2 tsp Paprika
1/2 tsp Black Pepper
1/2 tsp Kosher Salt

You Provide: 1 T. Melted Butter

Prep Day: Place chicken in gallon freezer bag. Freeze chicken. Place spices in a small baggie and place in the pantry. Also place stout in pantry.

Serve Day: Thaw chicken. Rinse chicken and pat dry. Pour beer into pot. Rub butter top of chicken and then the spices. Put chicken into crockpot. Cook on high 3-4 hrs or low 7-8 hours.

Sarah (Vegetable and Chickpea Curry)

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1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
1 cup (1/4-inch-thick) slices carrot
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon grated peeled fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 jalapeno chili, seeded and minced
3 cups cooked chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
1 1/2 cups cubed peeled baking potato
1 cup diced green bell pepper
1 cup (1-inch) cut green beans
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (14-ounce) can vegetable broth
3 cups fresh baby spinach
1 cup light coconut milk
1 lemon (cut into 6 wedges)

Prep Day: Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion and carrot; cover and cook 5 minutes or until tender. Add curry powder, sugar, ginger, garlic, and chile; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Let cool, then put all ingredients in freezer bag.

Combine all other ingredients (except spinach, coconut milk and lemon) and put in gallon freezer bag. Put spinach in a separate small freezer bag.

Serve Day: Thaw All Ingredients. Place all ingredients in a 5-quart electric slow cooker (except the spinach). Stir well. Cover and cook on HIGH 6 hours or until vegetables are tender. Add spinach and coconut milk; stir until spinach wilts. Serve with lemon wedges.

Pork –

Lindsay L. (Pork Tenderloins with Gorgonzola Sauce)

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1/4 cup Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon dried thyme
2 3/4-pound pork tenderloins

Gorgonzola sauce –
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon all purpose flour
1 cup whipping cream
1/4 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup canned low-salt chicken broth
1 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese (about 4 oz.)

Prep Day Directions: Whisk Dijon mustard, olive oil and thyme in small bowl to blend. Cool and place in freezer bag. Now make the Gorgonzola sauce. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in heavy small saucepan over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon flour and whisk 1 minute. Gradually whisk in whipping cream, white wine and chicken broth. Boil until mixture is thick enough to coat spoon, whisking frequently, about 1 minute. Add crumbled Gorgonzola and whisk until cheese is melted and smooth and sauce is reduced to desired consistency, about 5 minutes. Cool and place in freezer bag. Wrap tenderloins. Place everything in a gallon freezer bag and freeze flat.

Serve Day Directions: thaw everything. When ready to prepare. Preheat oven to 425°F and Oil large rimmed baking sheet.

Sprinkle pork tenderloins with salt and pepper. Heat heavy large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add pork and sear until brown all over, turning occasionally, about 10 minutes. Transfer seared pork to prepared baking sheet. Spread room temp Dijon mustard mixture over all sides of pork.

Roast pork until thermometer inserted into thickest part of meat registers 150°F, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes.

Reheat gorgonzola sauce in a sauce pan till hot.

Slice pork and transfer to plates. Ladle some sauce over pork. Serve, passing additional sauce separately.

Next Meal Swap: 11:30am Friday Feb. 15th. There are only 9 of us swapping.

February 2013 Menu Assignments:

Seafood/Fish – Lindsay L.
Poultry – Heather G. and Megan
Beef – Ann and Heather T.
Meatless or Your Choice – Lindsey M. and Gretchen
Pork – Vanessa and Sarah

Please send me your two recipes to be voted on Sunday jan. 27th, 2013.