Message Boards

 Have you thought about slow cooker recipes? I know we have a lot of the site. Just search for "slow cooker"...

I have made large batches of chili or soup and frozen them in smaller batches. The other "rescue" meal I use is buying a rotisserie chicken from the store and cutting it up for sandwiches and quesadillas. Lasagna is another meal that I make ahead, and then cut the pan into smaller bathes and freeze in tin foil. Hope that helps.

.

 Hello! Here are some great sites that give recipes and tips for freezer meals. Hope it helps!

Hi Cakgirl20. The websites you refer to do not display... can i trouble you for the name of some sites. Maybe it is the actual address that gets omitted. ~ Thank you!

I make meat loaves into single serving size, bake them and freeze individually. That way in the morning I can pull out of the freezer what I need for dinner at night and it works out great. I do the same with lasagna and it is so nice to have dinners made for the week ahead.

Shepard's pie (mashed potatoes over layers of seasoned ground beef and corn) freezes and re-heats great and pleases a meat and potatoes eater quite well.  You can mix ground turkey with the ground beef for a lower fat content. 

The slow cooker lasagna recipe here has rave reviews - am going to try it soon as I'm dealing with the same circumstances. 

I am looking for the complete preparations for Shepard's Pie can you help me there

I have several different ways of making it.  Very versitile.

One way is Box of cornbread mix made according to package directions.  Pour that into a a greased or sprayed 8" square baking dish.  Mixture of ground beef browned with onions, salt, pepper, garlic, and whatever other seasonings and herbs you like poured over the cornbread mixture and spread out.  I always put a layer of shredded cheese on top of  the meat  and then  1 1/2 to 2 cups of mashed potatoes (instant or left over will do) on top of the cheese spread out from side to side making sure to get it up next to the baking pan.  Bake according to the cornbread directions.  (Apx 25 min)  You are only baking long enough to bake the cornbread and melt the cheese as everything else is already cooked. 

 You can change the seasonings in the ground beef to any of the following or be creative:

Taco seasoning packets ( I put tomatoes and cheese over the meat then a layer of mashed potatoes on top)

Chile seasoning packets ( I put a can of ranch style beans and a can of corn-drained - and cheese and top with another box of cornbread mix instead of potatoes)

I hope this was some help to you

I have been seeing a lot of different recipes for Shepard's Pie.  This is one that I have used since I got married 13 years ago and my family who all have very hearty appetites love it.  My husband finds it very easy to heat up & he and my 11 year old son even made it themselves one week while I was traveling on business so I think it is pretty easy.  I usually make this during football season so when we have been out in the cold at the kids games all afternoon or evening, we can come home & heat it up & it really fills everyone up & warms us all up!  I don't use measurements when I cook so I will just tell you what I put in and let you figure out how much works for you.  I use an extra large family skillet and two rectangle baking stones when I make this.

I brown hamburger (anywhere from 2-5 lbs depending on how much you want to make) which I season with salt, pepper, and garlic

I chop up some onion to cook in with the hamburger

Once the hamburger is browned, drain any greese, then add two cans of green beans (drained & rinsed) and two cans of corn (drained) into the skillet & mix it up well.  Again depending on how much hamburger you used, just use your judgement as to what your family would like as far as a ratio of meat to vegetables.  

Then add two cans of cheddar cheese soup and mix it up extrememly well.  Sometimes I add a third can if I went overboard on the hamburger or a tiny bit of water but you shouldn't need any water really, just the condensed soup.  I have had occassions where I was going to overflow my skillet so I put half of the mixture in another large skillet before adding the soup and made two separate batches.  The soup may be a little chunky at first, but it will get more soupy as it heats up.

Heat on low stirring frequently until the soup has pretty much saturated everything and is bubbly.

Pour into your baking dishes about 3/4 of the way full.  I cover the entire top of the casserole with thick home made mashed potatoes and then sprinkle some shredded cheddar cheese on top.  Place it in the oven on 350 for about 20-30 minutes.  The cheese soup should bake up throught he mashed potatoes and when the potatoes start to brown on the edges & the cheese is melted, it is ready. 

If you make very thick potatoes like me, you may want to poke a few holes in the potatoes with a butter knife before putting it in the oven so that the soup can easily bake up and not force its way out the edges & make a mess instead of mixing with the potatoes.

Also, if your mix seems a little too soupy, don't fill your casserole dish all the way up, only go about 1/2 way with the meat mixture and up to 3/4 with the potatoes or it may overflow while baking & make a horrible mess.

Sorry I don't really do measurements but you should be able to adjust this recipe for your family.  Also, I do cover the entire casserole with the potatoes because my family likes them & everyone wants some but that could be a change you make as well.  This is a very heavy meal but my boys love it - hey it has meat, potatoes, & cheese - what's not to like!!!

here are a few sites that you might try:www.allrecipes.com: www.alcoa reynolds.com:www.meals.com: www.recipelink.com:and www.beef.com   hope this helps, granna

Hi raemarie,  There's a recipe of mine for chicken fettuchini alfredo in "kitchen conversations",  or you can take your chili recipe mix, make enough dough from your box of biscuick, pour the dough over the chili (that's now in a casserole dish), pop it in the oven for about 20-30 min. and viola!  You now have chili casserole!  Sprinkle some cheese over it a few minutes before you take it out of the oven and serve sour cream on the side!  I did that for the first time last week and my husband's eyes nesarly popped out of his head, he loved it so much!  Good luck!

chicagosinger