Message Boards

Here are some of my favorites!

1. I toss Hamburger Helper, broth, and veggies in my slow cooker - when I get home from work, I've got delicious homemade soup!

2. The Bullet! When we were given this for gift I thought- Oh, what a waste of space. But it's the perfect when cooking for two. (For chopping, blending, etc) Plus, it's easy to clean.

3. If it can fit in my budget, I like the pre-shreaded cheese and lettuce for taco night!

leftoverqueen:

Whats a "bullet"?

It's one of those see on TV things that I bet my MIL found at a store.

http://www.buythebullet.com/howitworks.php

how much broth do you use for the recipe??? and how long is it cooked in the crock pot?

gamblinggal:

how much broth do you use for the recipe??? and how long is it cooked in the crock pot?

So, there isn't an exact recipe to it. I just eye-ball it.

For this one, I throw it all in one slow cooker and cook for 2-4 hours on low. To avoide mushy noodles add the noodles about 15-20 minutes before you serve. So here is one I've worked off of.

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes.aspx/garden-patch-minestrone/e1ee3a42-bc27-4dc1-b1d0-42703b1d1c8b

Karen from the kitchens reminded me, " Just be sure to brown meat before putting in slow cooker."

Here are some other ones that I cook for 2-4 hours on low.

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes.aspx/beef-pasta-and-mushroom-soup/a8eda736-497b-4937-8486-344c5783ab47

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes.aspx/quick-italian-soup/3c5d92ec-5694-4064-b15b-b6362db26586

I'll have to see what it takes for longer crockpot HH recipes. If you play around with the idea- please share your outcomes!

Sincerely, Cate

show me how !   i have the bullet and never use it. it mushes everything.

ro-ro:

show me how !   i have the bullet and never use it. it mushes everything.

For the bullet, I usually make fruit shakes each day. It's perfect single serving.

I've also made homemade pesto (which is great, because you usually don't need a ton of it in recipes). I 've also chopped nuts in it for baking recipes.Hmmm.. If I do anything new with it- I'll let you know.

Sincerely, Cate

Hmmm, I never thought about this, but what a smart idea! Freezing your PB & J in advance for lunches. Smart.

http://www.amandascookin.com/2010/02/how-to-freeze-use-peanut-butter-jelly.html

Sincerely, Cate

Do you use the directions on the back of Hamburg Helper, hamburg, etc? How much broth?  How much time in the crockpot?

OMG.....Your slow cooker soup with the hamburger helper sounds awesome!!!  Can you please send me the recipe??  It sounds like something my family would love!!  We are always, weekly, trying new recipes!!

THank you in advance!!!

Trish

Sometimes when I buy ground beef in bulk I will brown it all at once and seperate it into pound bags.  After it cools I put them in the freezer.  That way when I need a quick dinner my hamburger is already fried.  I sometimes add onions, peppers and mushrooms to the meat as it cooks.

I do this all the time. My daughter is in a dorm, and doesn't like to cook her hamburger in the microwave for her Hamburger Helper. I cook hamburger and freeze it for her, and it saves her time cooking between classes.

When I used to buy family sized packages of ground beef/hambuger, I wouldn't always have time to divide it up, so I would gently press a line across the package, from side to side, pressing all the way to the bottom, dividing it into sections and freeze the whole package. When I wanted to use some of it, I would hit the package against the sink edge and brake off part, then put the rest in a plastic bag, to protect the opened side and return to the freezer. This really works great. Granna2

Hi!

Sometimes I will make extras and freeze them for later meals.  For example, meatballs--I have three different recipes:  1.  spaghetti and meatballs 2.  sweet and sour meatballs  3.  bbq meatballs.  When I need them I remove them from the freezer and just warm them slowly (in oven or toaster oven) and then add them to my recipes.

I love going to the farmer's market and getting all the locally grown fresh produce.  I hate when late fall comes and I lose the fresh fruits and veggies.  So, I buy extra's and freeze them to eat throughout the winter months.  For example, I buy peaches--love peach pie.  I mix up the peaches like I was gonna make a peach pie (peaches, sugar, spices) and add a mix of powder to help preserve them in the freezer (I am sure I can't mention the name brand but it is very popular brand and you can use it for canning or freezing--they also make jars).  When I want to make a pie--I just unthaw and add to pie shell and bake.  Very yummy. 

I will also buy extra veggies--for example corn.  I will cut it off the cob and freeze it.  Just warm it in a pan with a little s&p and butter.  Makes a great creamed corn as well.  You can also freeze cut up peppers and onions--great to add to fried potatoes or other recipes----saves time cleaning and cutting the veggies.

These are just a few of examples.  You can apply them to things you make and can freeze.

Good luck,

renee