Freezer Meals

Well I have been extremely productive the past 2 weeks, organizing, cleaning. I am now out of things to do so I decided to take my sister's advice and make some freezer meals. I was so excited to do this. 

I made:

Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas

Goulash

Wild Rice Chicken Casserole 

Spinach Lasagna 

Healthy Corn Muffins

& yummy homemade maple syrup 

Here are the recipes:

 Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas:

1/3 c. honey

¼ c. lime juice

1 tbls. Chili powder

½ tsp. garlic powder

1 pound chicken, cooked and shredded

8-10 flour tortillas

1 pound Monterey jack cheese, shredded

2 cans green enchilada sauce

1 can green chilies

¾ c. sour cream

Mix the honey, lime juice, spices, green chilies, sour cream, and chicken.

Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spary. Fill flour tortillas with chicken mixture. Pour enchilada sauce over the top and sprinkle with cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 min until brown and crispy on top.  

Source: I have actually taken 3 different recipes and combined them to create this one. 

Goulash 

1lb ground beef

1 can tomato soup

6 oz can tomato paste

2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni  (I used whole wheat noodles)

2 Tbsp Italian seasoning (more to taste)

1 can (15oz) corn, drained

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

1-2 cups shredded cheese (depending on your “cheesiness” preference)

1. Brown Ground beef with onion powder and garlic powder.  Drain.

2. Cook noodles according to package, drain

3. In a large bowl, combine soup, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, noodles and ground beef.  Stir in corn.

4. Transfer to an ungreased 8X8 freezer baking dish and top with cheese.  I buy the foil pans.  Easy peasy and you wont be missing a pan while this meal is in the freezer waiting.

5. Cover with foil.  I like to use heavy duty foil and double wrap it to prevent freezer burn.  Label and freeze.

Cooking instructions: Thaw and bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes until heated through and melted cheese.

source: Joyful Momma's Kitchen

Chicken and Wild Rice

1 box wild rice with seasoning packet (4.3 oz)

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 can water

6 boneless skinless chicken thighs, uncooked

1. Mix together rice with seasoning packet, both cans of soup, and water.  Stir in mushrooms. (don’t need to cook rice before just put it in.)

2. Pour in to 8X8 freezer dish, I use the foil pans.  Top with 6 chicken pieces and sprinkle with slivered almonds.

3. Double wrap in heavy duty foil, label and freeze.

Cooking Instruction: Thaw and bake uncovered at 350 for 1 hour until chicken juices run clear and rice is tender. 

source: Joyful Momma's Kitchen

HEALTHY CORN MUFFINS:

Take one can of white beans (do not drain) blend in blender to thick paste. This makes about 2 cups. You can freeze the rest for later use.

In a medium bowl mix together:

1 c. of pureed white beans

1 c. applesauce

1 c. honey

4 tbl. Oil

1 c. milk

2 eggs

In a larger mixing bowl whisk together:

2 c. whole wheat flour

1 ½ c. corn meal

1 tsp salt

2 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp baking soda

Directions:

Pour liquid mixture into the dry mixture and stir gently to combine. Batter will be slightly lumpy. Spray muffin tins well and fill about 2/3 full. Bake at 375 for 15 min. 

Source: Janie Smith 

Homemade Maple Syrup

*Makes about 10 cups (2 1/2 quarts) of syrup

INGREDIENTS:

8 cups granulated sugar

1 cup packed light or dark brown sugar

1/2 cup honey

4 cups water

2 teaspoons pure maple extract

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

In a large 5-6 quart pot, combine the sugars, honey and water. Bring the mixture to a boil and reduce the heat to low so the mixture gently simmers. Cover the pot and simmer the mixture for 15 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and let it cool for 20 minutes before stirring in the maple and vanilla extracts. Let the syrup cool in the pot for another 40 minutes, or so, stirring occasionally, before filling jars/containers. Once the containers are filled, let them cool to room temperature uncovered.

Store covered in jars or other containers in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to 2 months in the refrigerator. 

Source: Melskitchencafe.com

Well your welcome, all of these are fabulous recipes! Great for nights that you are in a hurry or even if you are not in the mood to cook.

Side note:

I am so ready for our little guy to come! 

We even have the car seat and a bag packed for him and me in the car ready to go! I am seriously ready to meet him! We are hoping he will come tonight or sometime this weekend but who knows he might even make me wait to see him next week.

Face Time

 Like all mother's expecting I am extremely curious what our little man will look like. 

I was organizing all of our stuff and came across some pictures, I am pretty sure our little guy will look like his daddy. Tay was so adorable so I would not mind that one bit:)

This is random but here is a little collage of Tay and I from high school till now. Both of our hair colors have totally changed I was way blonde and Tay had black hair.

 I like marriage on us, I am much happier (I won't speak for Tay but hopefully he would say the same:).

Here we are now 2 1/2 years later and having a mini us. 

Knowing Tay since I was 14 I did not think my little crush I had on him would turn into spending my life time with him, so grateful we have each other.

Okay side note:

I really am in need of a good book since school is out. I went to the library and spent an hour looking and came out with a couple of parenting books but what I really want is just a good enjoyable book to read that is more mindless reading. Any suggestions?? 

The 8th Month Mark

                 Well last week I made 2 trips to the hospital because my doctor thought something

 was wrong with our little man. She thought I might need to be induced because my placenta stopped working and the baby at this point would stop growing and I would have a still born. Well my doctor only thought all this because my belly was not measuring according to the normal size. Well THANKFUL she was WRONG. We had a 3D ultra sound which was incredible! He is so flippin cute, I wanted him to come right then and hold him! He is already 7lbs and PERFECTLY HEALTHY! Tay and I were so relieved! I really want a 7-8 pound baby so I am happy to know he is already 7lbs. I really want him to come this week, but he is not due for 13 more days so that may not happen. I am so ready for him though! Luckily I have been feeling pretty good considering I am this far along. I have been getting a lot of contractions which is normal obviously not enough to send me into labor (which I would not mind at all). 

Last week we washed and folded all his little clothes and blankets, so adorable! I still can't believe what a miracle this all is. I am so excited to have a child that will come into a home full of love for him! 

Well I said I would post a picture of me when I am about to pop so here it is: 

7-24-12

Tay had to work on the 24th so we didn't get to celebrate until he got home. 

We had a fabulous evening. 

I kicked it off with an awesome salmon dinner accompanied with delicious rice and broccoli. 

We then played some games, went on a tour around Sugar House around some of the neighborhoods, shared a frozen yogurt at Red Mango, and ended the night walking 22 blocks to see fireworks. Thank goodness we had the company of good friends because the firework show was kind of lame (I think it is because of all the regulations due to the amount of fires this year, which makes sense). I mean even the stadium of fire on the 4th of July was not very impressive. It's okay I don't really care I just enjoy holidays and spending time with people I love! 

P.S.

Baby Owen,

We already have an abundance of love for you!

 We are finally all ready for you to come. 

The bassinet is by our bed (I stare at it all the time thinking of you and how I can't wait to see your little body in it), Daddy painted your dresser and fixed it all up for you so it is nice and full of all your little clothes. We are blessed to have everything you need, and now we just need you to complete it all!  

We love you mini man! Can't wait to hold you in our arms! 

Jed & Kenz Special Day

Tay's brother got married two days ago - on 7/11 (they choose that day so they could get free slurpees on their anniversary).

I flew home early that morning from Colorado (which I will blog about later) to make it in time for the wedding. I was just in time. I had to change my clothes in the car on the free way which was interesting considering being 8 months pregnant.

 I was so tired but after the wedding my husband and I had a little date night with just us and it was so wonderful, he made a yummy healthy dinner. We went on a drive around some unique neighborhoods downtown and just had a fabulous time together! I sure love him! To make my welcome home even better Tay cleaned the whole house (he even scrubbed the toilet and bath tub), he even organized all of our sweet baby Owen's stuff. I really didn't think I could love him more then I already did from when we first got married, but I do:) 

Anyways Jed and Kenz are now married! I am so happy for them (and myself because I absolutely love Kenz, she is just so great!). I am blessed to have married into Tay's family! 

Here are a few pics of the wedding day:

Powell 2012

Another year at Lake Powell with the Cook Fam.

This year was a little more rough because of the extremely HOT weather and the wind. Although I wouldn't trade it for anything for the time that I got to spend with my family! I really LOVE spending time with every single one of them! I feel so blessed to have a good family. 

This year we missed Max, Kathryn, & Lora:( Hopefully next year everyone can all make it!)

It's Raining..Shower time!

My precious Aunt was so sweet to throw me a WONDERFUL baby shower! 

Everything went so fabulous, the food was good, the decorations, and the company! 

I am so grateful to everyone that made time to come to my Baby shower, it really meant a lot to me! 

I love EVERY single gift we got! The morning of my shower I woke up and looked at Tay and said, "MERRY CHRISTMAS!" It really felt like Christmas getting all these little darling outfits, gadgets, and many more useful things for my little man! I sure felt blessed to get so many wonderful things for my little baby.

Patty was so sweet to take a picture of me with everyone that came, but that would take way to long  to post all the pictures. 

Here is the amazing woman (on the right) who put my shower together:

Grace made all these candy bars for everyone to take one, so cute!