6 Hours...16 Meals...Day One

6 Hours...16 Meals...
Day One

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Link to Shopping List
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Step One=2 packs of shredded organic chicken
6 boneless skinless organic chicken breasts
This will vary depending on how much you think you will use, make more if you think you will use it. If the chicken is on sale, buy it all! I was able to get 2 baggies full of shredded chicken out of 6 boneless skinless breasts. I love to use this for my Egg Roll Wraps or for my Shredded Chicken Tacos.
Instructions:
Place chicken breasts in saucepan, cover with water. Boil for 15 minutes or until no longer pink inside. (while you are waiting for this to cook, do STEP 2) Drain. chicken. While still warm, shred with 2 forks. I always put the warm chicken breast in my kitchenaid mixer with the paddle on, turn it to low for about one minute and bingo....perfectly shredded chicken. Either way is fine! Divide equally into ziploc or foodsaver bag, remove as much air as you can and place in freezer.

 

Step Two=1 pack of 4 marinated organic chicken breasts (plus dinner that day)
8 boneless skinless organic chicken breasts
2 packs plus ingredients for marinade. I like to use italian dressing dry packet with oil and vinegar.
I put one for each family member in a pack, adjust this to your family size and purchase what you need. Again, if chicken is on sale, I would buy it up and freeze more. I made one pack for the freezer and kept the other pack in the refrigerator for dinner that night. I also added green beans and organic short grain brown rice to my grocery list for my meal and will grill the chicken.
Instructions:
Prepare marinade to instructions. Place marinade in a ziploc or foodsaver bag. Add chicken. Remove as much air as you can and seal. Place one in freezer and one in refrigerator.

Step Three=2 packs of meatballs
each pack had about 15 meatballs, you can smaller or larger packets if needed
2.5 lbs organic grass fed ground beef
1 cup bread crumbs
2 T Garlic Powder
2 T Italian Seasonings
¼ cup egg beaters or one egg
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions:
Place above ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix well. Shape into meatballs. Place on a large jelly roll sheet (cookie sheet with rims) that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Bake for 20-30 minutes until brown. (while you are waiting for this to cook, do STEP 4) Let cool. Divide evenly into ziplock or foodsaver bags and place in freezer. When you are ready for this meal, just place them in a saucepan with pasta sauce and heat through. Use for meatball sandwiches or spaghetti and meatballs!

Step Four=2 packs of 4 hamburgers each
again...you can make smaller or larger packets if needed
2.5 lbs organic grass fed ground beef
1 cup bread crumbs
¼ cup egg beaters
2 t Worcestershire Sauce
½ packet onion soup mix
Instructions:
Place above ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Mix well. Shape into hamburgers. Place the amount you will need for a meal into ziplock or plastic bags. Place in freezer. When you are ready for this meal, you can just put them on the grill frozen, or take them out an hour ahead of time. I like to pair these with a salad and or coleslaw and fries and previously posted.

OK..so that’s almost it for Day One. Pretty easy right! All that is left to do now is get that pork tenderloin marinated for tomorrow.

You MUST marinate it overnight. So place all of the ingredients below in a ziploc baggie (or a large roasting pan and cover) on day one and you will be ready for day 2.
4 large pork tenderloins
1 head of minced garlic
¼ t dried cumin
1 T dried oregano
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup OJ
¼ cup fresh lime juice (2 limes)
¼ cup fresh lemon juice (2 lemons)

Well, there you have it! Dinner is grilled chicken tonight and you won’t even have to fuss or worry! All the prep work is done. Throw it over a salad or make rice and green beans! See ya tomorrow!

Organization and Shopping Lists for...6 Hours....16 meal preps...plus smoothies and breakfast!

Organization and Shopping Lists for previous post....

6 Hours....16 meal preps...plus smoothies and breakfast!

As promised! Here are the detailed list and grocery list in printable format for the 6 hours to 16 meal preps!

This organizing and shopping list is meant as a guideline. If you have your favorite recipes for these items, use them! If not, use mine! You know how much you normally need for your family so adjust quantities for that. You will need gallon size plastic baggies (ugh) or foodsaver bags for most of these recipes, so don’t forget to pick those up! Also, you can go as crazy as you would like with this. Please use all or none of the organic stuff, substitute sour cream for yogurt in the tacos...make what you know and like. This is just what we eat and I had to draw the line of options somewhere.

The first time you do something like this it will likely take you longer than 2 hours a day. Once you get used to it, it may take you less time. I have noted on the organizing list what I did on each day in case you don’t want to buy all of this at once!

I have used these meal items for a week now and LOVE it! I have added new items this week, like mac n cheese and pizza dough. I will post next week!

Printable Organization List

Organization List

2 packs of shredded organic chicken Day 1

6 boneless skinless organic chicken breasts
This will vary depending on how much you think you will use.
1 pack of 4 marinated organic chicken breasts (plus dinner that day) Day 1
8 boneless skinless organic chicken breasts
2 packs plus ingredients for marinade. I like to use italian dressing dry packet with oil and vinegar.
I put one for each family member in a pack. I made one pack for the freezer and kept the other pack in the refrigerator for dinner that night. I also added green beans and organic short grain brown rice to my grocery list for my meal.
2 packs of meatballs Day 1
each pack had about 15 meatballs, you can smaller or larger packets if needed
2.5 lbs organic grass fed ground beef
1 cup bread crumbs
2 T Garlic Powder
2 T Italian Seasonings
¼ cup egg beaters or one egg
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
2 packs of 4 hamburgers each Day 1
again...you can make smaller or larger packets if needed
2.5 lbs organic grass fed ground beef
1 cup bread crumbs
¼ cup egg beaters
2 t Worcestershire Sauce
½ packet onion soup mix
2 packs pulled pork (plus dinner for that day) Day 2
I went to Costco and got a four pack of pork tenderloin. It was about 6 pounds. This cut of meat has a lot less fat and mess than a traditional shoulder or picnic roast. Use what you would like, the recipe is the same. I am a huge Carolina pulled pork girl, but a patient of mine once gave me the recipe I am using here and it is very versatile! You will love it. You MUST marinate it overnight.so place that in a baggie on day one and you will be ready for the morning.
4 large pork tenderloins
1 head of minced garlic
¼ t dried cumin
1 T dried oregano
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup OJ
¼ cup fresh lime juice (2 limes)
¼ cup fresh lemon juice (2 lemons)
I added soft taco shells, organic non-fat plain greek yogurt, lettuce, tomato, shredded cheddar cheese and salsa to my grocery list for my meal.
3 packs ground turkey breast sausage (homemade) Day 2
5 lb boneless skinless turkey breast was used for sausage and burgers if you want to grind your own. If not, just get
3 lbs ground turkey BREAST
1.5 Tablespoons chopped ORGANIC fresh sage
1.5 Tablespoons chopped fresh ORGANIC thyme
1 Tablespoon Salt
1 Tablespoons Garlic Powder
½ Tablespoon Nutmeg
½ Tablespoon Cayenne Pepper (optional, i did not use this but some people like their sausage spicy)
1 pack of 4 ground turkey breast burgers plus dinner for day 3 (homemade) Day 2
If you are grinding your own, the 5 lb breast from above is enough for the sausage and the burgers. If not, just get
2 lbs ground turkey BREAST
1 packet hidden valley ranch salad dry dressing mix
¼ cup egg beaters or one egg
1 cup bread crumbs
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (I use weight watchers)
I added burger buns, lettuce, tomato and burger fixings along with organic potatoes to my grocery list for my meal.
Pineapple Coconut Popsicles Day 3
1 can pineapple chunks, in juice
1 banana
1 can coconut milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 packets Stevia sweetener
Popsicle Mold
8 family smoothie packs & 3 single smoothie packs Day 3
You can use whatever fruit you like, but these were yummy! I made the single packets because I did not have enough fruit left over for a big one!
2 large bags of organic baby Spinach
9 large ripe Bananas
4 one quart packs of Strawberries
10 cups of Blueberries, fresh or frozen
2 pineapples (yes, you will have to cut these into cubes!)
2 cups quick oats
16 ounce non-fat vanilla organic greek yogurt
½ gallon OJ
I added 1 T toasted wheat germ and ground flax seed to each packet (optional)
Gallon and sandwich size plastic baggies or foodsaver bags
Blueberry Muffins Day 3
Just get a mix! The muffins that I made weren’t very good!
Oil
Eggs
Raspberry Muffins Day 3
Just get a mix! The muffins that I made weren’t very good!
Oil
Eggs
Pumpkin Pancakes (breakfast that day!) Day 3
2 cups of your favorite buttermilk pancake mix
2/3 cup canned organic pumpkin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground ginger
Nonstick vegetable spray
Buttermilk Pancakes Day 3
Simply follow the recipe on your favorite box of pancake mix!
French Toast Day 3
One loaf of healthy bread! Syrup too of course!
6 eggs
cinnamon
vanilla extract

Printable Shopping List

Shopping List

PRODUCE
Green Beans
¼ cup fresh lime juice (2 limes)
¼ cup fresh lemon juice (2 lemons)
1 head minced garlic (i get the jar stuff!)
lettuce (for tacos and burgers)
2 tomatoes (for tacos nd burgers)
1.5 Tablespoons chopped ORGANIC fresh sage
1.5 Tablespoons chopped fresh ORGANIC thyme
1 bag ORGANIC potatoes
2 large bags of organic baby Spinach
10 large ripe Bananas
4 one quart packs of Strawberries
10 cups of Blueberries, fresh or frozen (put them on your frozen list if needed)
2 pineapples (yes, you will have to cut these into cubes!)
DAIRY
4 cups egg beaters or 16 eggs
½ gallon OJ (for marinade and smoothies)
8 oz organic non-fat plain greek yogurt (for tacos)
16 oz organic non-fat vanilla greek yogurt for smoothies
4 cups shredded cheddar cheese (i use weight watchers)
MEATS
14 (at least) boneless skinless organic chicken breasts
5 lbs (at least) organic grass fed ground beef
4 large pork tenderloins (6 lbs total at least) could use shoulder or picnic
5 lb boneless skinless turkey breast OR 5 lbs ground turkey BREAST
Popsicle Mold
Plastic Baggies (quart and gallon size zipper)
DRY ITEMS
2 packs plus ingredients for marinade. I use italian dressing dry packet with oil and vinegar.
Organic Short Grain Brown Rice
3 cups bread crumbs
2 T Garlic Powder
2 T Italian Seasonings
¼ t dried cumin
1 T dried oregano
1 Tablespoon Salt
1 Tablespoons Garlic Powder
½ Tablespoon Nutmeg
½ Tablespoon Cayenne Pepper (optional, i did not use this but some people like their sausage spicy)
2/3 cup canned organic pumpkin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground ginger
Vanilla Extract
2 cups brown sugar
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
2 t Worcestershire Sauce
½ packet onion soup mix
soft taco shells
salsa
1 packet hidden valley ranch salad dry dressing mix
burger fixings (ketchup, pickles, mustard, etc)
1 can pineapple chunks, in juice
1 can coconut milk
3 packets Stevia sweetener
2 cups quick oats
I added 1 T toasted wheat germ and ground flax seed (optional)
4 cups of your favorite buttermilk pancake mix
Nonstick vegetable spray
Vegetable Oil
Syrup
2 Boxes Blueberry Muffin Mix
2 Boxes Raspberry Muffin Mix (or other flavor you like)
1 Loaf French Toast Bread
burger buns

6 Hours....16 meal preps...plus smoothies and breakfast!

6 Hours....16 meal preps...plus smoothies and breakfast!

I did it! I spent 2 hours each morning for 3 days last week making meal preps for the freezer. I am not a big fan of spending the whole day in the kitchen, nor do I have the time. My family is not big on crock pot casseroles, so I need frozen items that are ready to go for fresh, healthy meals. This totally worked for me! I found it to be easy and completely do-able!

I went to Costco and bought large amounts of meat and fruit! I did not make actual meals, but I prepared things that i can turn into easy meals!

Here's what's in my freezer.....

2 packs of shredded organic chicken

1 pack of 4 marinated organic chicken breasts (plus dinner that day)

2 packs of meatballs

4 burgers (plus dinner for that day)

2 packs pulled pork (plus dinner for that day)

3 packs ground turkey breast sausage (homemade)

2 packs ground turkey breast burgers (homemade)

Pineapple Coconut Popsicles

8 family smoothie packs

3 single smoothie packs

Blueberry Muffins

Raspberry Muffins

Pumpkin Pancakes

Buttermilk Pancakes

French Toast

So, as you can see, I did not limit myself to dinner. The possibilities for dinner are endless! I can make tacos, pulled pork sandwiches, meatball subs or spaghetti, turkey burgers or regular burgers, i can use the sausage for breakfast or pizza. It was so nice to have dinner ready for the day I was in the kitchen too! The smoothies are working out great paired with the muffins for a super quick meal or snack in between soccer and swimming....or tball and football. It has been crazy around here for the past few weeks with spring sports and getting the garden planted. Having part of a meal ready to go has been awesome!

I am hoping this will last me a month. I don't need a meal for every night of the week. Sometimes I will have leftovers, and sometimes we go out, or sometimes I am at work and the family has oatmeal for dinner! I will share the shopping list, recipes and how to's throughout the week. I will try to be as thorough as possible. You don't have to use organic like I did, and you certainly don't have to grind your own meat like I did! You could use boxed muffins and frozen fruit if you need to! Whatever you do, don't make this overwhelming! Have fun, make it as simple or complex as you are comfortable with.

I have a foodsaver which i could not live without. I REUSE my bags unless they have raw meat in them. If you don't have a foodsaver, make sure you have plenty of plastic baggies that you can reuse also.

Sorry it's been so long.

Sorry it's been so long.....
Trying to come up with ideas for these busy after school sporting event nights has been a challenge for me. I have been neglecting to write new posts because I have been busy coming up with new ideas for super quick meals we can all eat at different times of the evening. Crock Pot meals you say? I cannot be so lucky! My kids are picky and don't like their food all mashed together! I would still end up a short order cook because I would have to make something separate for the kids. I have been trying a lot of new egg roll wraps and paninis. I will post as i get them done!

I have also been busy getting my garden ready for planting! My favorite time of year! I planted my seeds, the ones I saved from the heirloom organic veggies I grew and harvested myself last year! I am super excited to see what I can grow this year. The seedlings are emerging and I am eager to set them in the garden.

I hope you had a nice Holiday. I celebrated Easter with my beautiful family at my mom and dad's house this year. Needless to say, I fell off the healthy wagon for about 3 days! You know, you cook....you taste.....you eat....you have leftovers.....you eat....for 2 more days! The nice part is, the exercise I do was enough so I did not gain an ounce! Woohoo! Down 15 lbs since this whole adventure began and I feel great! 10 more to go!

Here are some Easter pics I want to share...because some of you asked, and because I just want to!

We colored eggs with Kool-Aid this year, thanks to Pinterest!

They smelled so good! 

We ate pancakes on Saturday morning at the firehouse with The Bunny....a tradition for 10 years now! 

My 5 year old planted and watered jelly beans that grew into lollipops on Easter morning. That bunny is magical. 

My brother, his wife and I hid about 200 filled plastic eggs while my husband, mom and dad supervised a flag football game! 

It took 20 minutes to hide them, and 2 to find them! 

She still loves the hunt! My beautiful 12 year old with a huge smile! 

Fresh and Smoked Polish Kielbasa....smoked is my favorite. 

My beautiful, busy mama....cooking up fresh polish pierogi...LOVE!

No, that is not her champagne!

I made these adorable bunny cupcakes. Some were key lime and some were vanilla. NOT from a box this time and they were really amazing. 

These amazing little morsels made by my brother and his wife! Angel food cake skewered with strawberries and drizzled with chocolate! Yummy. 

Of course....a fire after dinner. 

Not even sure what to say......but they look like they are having a blast!

My dad (aka Tim the Tool Man Taylor) and my bro....who gets a mulcher out on Easter just to take it for a spin!

I promise I will bring back all the good recipes, inspirations and add in some gardening tips in the very near future.

I have also learned how to allow you to "print this recipe" without the pics! Super excited about that (Casie)!

Happy Hump Day!

Oh yeah....I also planned a mini vacation to Niagara Falls, Canada for June in the time I have been neglecting my blog. Whew! I have been busy.