I really think the key to happiness is keeping life simple.
Often it is the simplest ideas turn out to be the best ideas. Like this particular time saving and fun idea that one of my friends came up with that is just awesome. I don’t know why moms haven’t been employing this trick for years. Or maybe they have, and I’ve just not been paying attention.
So I’m in a couple different moms groups. Personally, I think these types of groups are essential for stay at home moms. I have my Moms Club, then I have a couple of other groups through Meetup.com that I am also in. Keeps our social calendar full, and it’s almost always with inexpensive or free activities. I have also made some really great friends who are at the same place in life as me, staying at home and raising small children. If I have learned anything through this adventure, it’s the importance of support networks when little people are involved!
It was through one of the meetup groups that I found this so easy, simple, wonderful idea. One of the moms suggested a freezer meal swap. The concept is so simple. We limited it to 8 people. You show up at the designated meeting time with your favorite, freezer friendly meal. Times seven. So you bring seven of the same meal, enough to serve families of 4-6, and the cooking instructions. Each person leaves with 7 different meals, just like a cookie swap.
I mean, duh! Why haven’t we always been doing this?
So, I hit the store today, got all my materials, and set to work. I chose to do an Italian pasta bake. Sometimes I call it Rigatoni if I’m using Rigatoni noodles, but they aren’t mandatory. Finish reading this post, and you’ll get the recipe!
We actually only had 7 people, so I made six to freeze and one for dinner for us tonight. The recipe I use is so simple and easy, it really didn’t take much longer to do six extra ones. I put assembled them and wrapped them up, printed the recipe and taped one on each meal, and stuck them in the freezer. Then I put the seventh one in the oven, and dinner was done!
In addition to being simple, it was inexpensive. Total cost for one full family meal was about $5.00. I spent roughly $35.00, if that much. We had dinner tonight for our family of five, leftovers for my hubs to take for lunch, and I’ll get six more dinners tomorrow at the exchange. Not bad!
I can’t wait to get my meals tomorrow that I can pull out of the freezer on those days that I just don’t feel like cooking.
If you have a group of friends that you think would be willing to do this with you, I highly suggest a freezer meal swap. The other key element is to share what you are bringing so that not everyone will make the same thing. Our meals are pretty varied – chicken and rice casserole, baja chicken for burritos, baked spaghetti, and so forth.
So here is my simple, 6 item recipe.
Italian Pasta Bake
Ingredient List:
1 Box of Pasta
1 can of mushrooms
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 lb ground meat (any kind you like)
1 bag of pepperoni (full size or mini)
1-2 cups mozzarella cheese
Directions:
1. Cook pasta and drain.
2. Brown meat and drain.
3. Layer pasta, meat, pepperoni, mushrooms, sauce, and cheese. Repeat.
4. Bake at 350deg for 30 mins or until cheese is melted.
(from frozen, bake at 350 for one hour to 1.5 hours)
And of course, I forgot to take a picture of it after it was cooked, but it was YUMMY! Everyone enjoyed it.
Easy, delish, inexpensive.
What is your favorite go-to quick meal?
Janine Huldie says
August 26, 2013 at 7:18 amThis sounds delicious, easy and cheap. All the things that make for a great meal here, too. Thank you for sharing and totally pinned to try!! 🙂
katbiggie says
August 26, 2013 at 12:27 pmIt is one of my fave recipes ever! The first time I had it was after my daughter was born and a friend brought us a huge pan of it. Could not get enough!
another jennifer says
August 26, 2013 at 9:12 amYum! That sounds like a really good idea. Of course, I don’t really cook, so I’m pawn that off to my husband. 🙂 I belong to a Mastermind Group with other entrepreneurs who are moms. It’s great to have a group that is going through the same sort of challenges as you!
katbiggie says
August 26, 2013 at 12:28 pmMastermind Group? That’s funny! But yes, it is definitely good to have a group of peers to commiserate with! You are so lucky your husband is the cook.
The Dose of Reality says
August 26, 2013 at 10:32 amAm LOVING this idea…so nice to know you are getting good meals for your family and giving other people new recipes to try! 🙂 Am DEFINITELY making this! YUM!-Ashley
katbiggie says
August 26, 2013 at 12:30 pmOh my gosh I LOVE this meal. It’s so simple to make and is absolutely delicious! Use Rigatoni noodles, that’s my fave way!
Marie Oliveira says
August 26, 2013 at 11:29 amI’ve never heard of this before. What a great idea! It’ll be exciting to see what different kinds of meals you get.
katbiggie says
August 26, 2013 at 12:32 pmSo, scored really well! Baja chicken for burritos, turkey chili, white chicken chili, baked spaghetti and a green bean casserole, a chicken pot pie, and one other that I can’t remember! Nice variety.
Tamara says
August 26, 2013 at 11:55 amWe have a crock pot recipe we use for new babies and other scenarios in which a family needs a hot meal for a few days. My friends and I have done cookie swaps, and even soup swaps, but this amazingly awesome idea hadn’t occurred to us yet. So thank you!
katbiggie says
August 26, 2013 at 12:33 pmIt was great! Got a nice variety of meals, and we had a moms coffee and playdate when we got together to swap! Loved it!
Dana says
August 26, 2013 at 1:28 pmI’ve participated in a freezer swap – it’s great! Unfortunately, my kids are such picky eaters that they didn’t like most of the meals, so I dropped out. Just didn’t pay for me to do it for just two of us. I’m glad it’s been more successful for you, though!
katbiggie says
August 26, 2013 at 2:05 pmI may have to adjust them a little bit to get the kids to eat them, but it did work out well!
Rabia @TheLiebers says
August 26, 2013 at 1:30 pmOK, the other times I have seen an idea like this posted made it sound fun, but a lot of work to put together. This looks way less complicated! Do you bring the meals frozen? I really think I am going to have to make this work for me and some of my friends!
katbiggie says
August 26, 2013 at 2:04 pmYep! We just met up at one of the ladies’ houses today – we all brought our frozen meals, had coffee, chatted, swapped meals, and left!
Leah says
August 27, 2013 at 12:21 amThis is a fantastic idea!! I have done the cookie swap around Christmas and enjoyed that. I always like trying other people’s meals! Can’t wait to try this!
katbiggie says
August 27, 2013 at 6:30 amWe ate one of the meals last night. It was awesome!
Pary Moppins says
August 27, 2013 at 8:27 amI would love that! Your recipe looks great too!
Chris Carter says
August 27, 2013 at 10:06 pmOh how I would LOVE a group like this!! What a fantastic idea!! I am also going to try this recipe… YUM!!!
Christine at More Than Mommies says
August 29, 2013 at 8:07 amI took a little trip down the one month of freezer meals road with Janene. It was fun! But a ton of work! This seems more doable. A good idea!
katbiggie says
August 29, 2013 at 8:31 amYes I’m not sure I’d be committed enough to do a full month! But meeting up once a month and making the same meal 8 times is definitely do-able!