Labor Meals

Labor Meals 

I started to make a bunch of freezer friendly meals that would make our lives a little bit easier when the baby comes. Hopefully this will alliviate some of the stress while we are lacking sleep in the first few weeks. Here is a list of some of the meals that I have prepared so far. All are crockpot approved except the burritos. Those can be heated via the oven or microwave. 

•  Beef and Barley Soup
• Chicken and Dumplings 
• Cheesy Chicken Broccoli and Potatoes
• Chili 
• Black Bean Soup
• Bean & Cheese Burritos 

Beef and Barley Soup 

Ingredients: 

• 1.5 lb Stew Beef ( I chop mine smaller than packaged) 
• 2 c. Sliced Carrots 
• 1/2 Onion 
• 2 Cloves Pressed Garlic 
• 1 c. Uncooked Pearled Barley 
• 29 oz Beef Broth ( about 2 cans) 
• 2 cups water 
• 4 oz sliced mushrooms 
• pepper to taste 
• 2 Tb chopped fresh parsley 
• 14.5 oz diced tomatoes in juice

Chop all ingredients and place except the 2 cups of water into a gallon sized freezer bag. Write the name of the recipe, date, and instructions on the bag such as "Add 2 cups Water and cook on Low 6-8 hours" so you do not forget. Freeze flat in freezer and de-thaw the night before you need to cook it and place ingredients directly in to the crockpot and you are all done for dinner. 

Chicken and Dumplings 

Ingredients: 

• 2-3 Chicken Breasts
• 2 cans Cream of Chicken Soup
• 1/2-1 bag frozen mixed vegetables  
• 2 russet potatoes ( peeled and diced) 
• 1 c Onion diced 
• 2 Tb fresh parsley 
• 2 Tb butter diced 
• 1 Tb dry sage
• pepper to taste
• 1 package biscuits

 In freezer bag add all ingredients except the biscuits.

Write on freezer bag:

Chicken & Dumplings

- Cover with water 

- Cook on high for 4 hours. 

- Cut each Biscuit into 4s and drop into crock pot. Cook for 30 minutes