Make Ahead Meals

There was a  time when I cooked everyday and huge amounts of food because it seemed as if I always had a crowd to feed. Kids and grandkids, friends, family and neighbors. For the last several years after Baby O moved out it was down to just  O Wise One and myself. Yet I was so used to cooking large amounts. So I got wise. I cook now about 2 times a week. I love having meals available all the time so that we can go out in the garden or whatever is on the agenda for that day and just pop in and have a home cooked healthy meal waiting for us in the refrigerator. 

We went to the small Mennonite farm stand down the road and spent about $20 on fresh veggies. We bought some fresh tomatoes and cucumbers from their greenhouse.

Broccolli and a big bag of mustard greens

 And a fresh head of cabbage. During the spring and summer we pretty well live out of our garden and the local farm stands and farmer's markets in our area.  

While I cleaned, chopped and washed my mustard greens and cabbage I put on 2 skillets of bacon chopped and onions for seasoning. 

I then cooked down the mustard greens and cabbage.

Then I emptied a pint of home canned purple hulls, a 15 oz can of corn, and black beans and rinsed them all. Then I added a can of Rotel tomatoes to drain. 

Chopped half a medium onion. Finely chopped a bell pepper and added that to a bowl with the bean mix.

Then I added about a cup of Mojo Cuban marinade. You can also use a zesty Italian Dressing.

Throw in some cilantro and salt and pepper and mix. There ya go Bean Salsa. 

Then I roasted both the carrots and broccoli in the oven with a little olive oil then put a couple pats of real butter and some sea salt. 

Then O Wise One threw chicken breast, pork loin chops and some plain hamburger patties on the grill. 

I filled them out with a bag of corn from the freezer.

When it is all said and done we have 10 meals to eat on for the next 4 or 5 days. I can work in the garden or do whatever I choose and not have to worry about cooking. Simple meat grilled and fresh veggies. Notice that the meals are very vegetable heavy compared to the meat. No sauces really or cheese. 

10 meals in the fridge!

To the garden I go for a fresh head of lettuce.

Cleaned out the bottom drawer in the fridge. 1 breaded chicken breast sliced. A hand full of left over ham chunks. A small heel of Amish farmers cheese. Add some cucumbers and tomatoes and salads to go. I love salted pumpkin seeds for croutons and a simple vinaigrette dressing.

The first year we did this O Wise One lost 70 pounds and cut out 2 meds. I lost 30 pounds. We eat like this 6 days a week. Sunday is a free day and we eat what we want. We try to limit bread, potato and pasta. We also go really light on the dairy. Just butter and I drink half and half in my coffee every morning. 

Blessings from The Holler 

The Canned Quilter