September Freezer Cooking

It was my turn to choose the meals in September.  My dear friend Jamie showed up with three huge glasses of caffeine.  Now that's a friend, folks!

I chose the following:

• Taco Lasagna rated 3

• Slow Cooker Chicken Cordon Bleu rated 5

• Chicken Enchiladas  (serves 12)  rated 5

Cook 4 large chicken breasts and cut into 24 strips.  Melt 1/4 c. butter in Dutch oven.  Add 2 c. chopped onion and 4 minced garlic cloves.  Saute until tender.  Add 2 16-oz cans diced tomatoes, 2 8-oz cans tomato sauce, 2 4-oz cans chopped green chiles, 2 t. sugar, 2 t. cumin, 1 t. salt, 1 t. oregano, 1 t. basil; mix well.  Bring to boil, reduce heat, simmer covered for 20 min.  Remove sauce from heat, dip each tortilla into the sauce, place 1 chicken strip and 2 T. Monterey Jack cheese in tortilla and roll.  Blend 1 1/2 c. sour cream into remaining sauce, pour over tortillas.  Sprinkle with remaining cheese.  Bake, covered, at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until heated through.

• Minestrone rated 4

1 lb ground beef
1 lg onion, chopped
1 lg. potato, diced
1 c. carrot, sliced
1 c. celery, sliced
1 c. cabbage, shredded
3 1/2 c.canned tomatoes, undrained
1 crushed bay leaf
1/2 t. thyme
1/2 t. basil
2 1/2 t. salt
pepper to taste
1/4 c. regular rice
3 c. water
Brown meat and onion. Add other ingredients. Put in plastic bag and freeze if making freezer meal.Cover and simmer several hours or put in crock pot.

• Pizza Pasta Casserole--4

• Chicken Pot Pie (this one was a repeat and had a rating of 4.8)

Start with 4 c. of cubed, cooked chicken.  Combine with 4 c. frozen hashbrown potatoes, thawed, 1 pkg frozen mixed vegetables, 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup, 1 can condensed cream of onion soup, 1 c. milk, 1 c. sour cream, 2 T. flour, 1/2 t. salt, 1/2 t pepper, 1/4 t. garlic powder, 1-2 c. shredded cheddar cheese.  Divide between two 9-inch deep pie plates.  Roll out pastry (you can make it or buy refrigerated) and cover.  Cut slits in pastry, trim, seal and flute edges.  Thaw, bake at 425 for 30 min, reduce heat to 350, remove foil over edges, and bake 50-55 min or until golden brown.

• Hawaiian Chicken--2

• Crockpot Chicken Taco Soup--4

We always have a great time.