Basic recipe

This next Aidan and Jacen approved freezer meal can be made several different ways. I will include the basic recipe, that is good to use if you have differing likes/dislikes in your family. But if you already have a family favorite, by all means replace the meat mixture to it. You might have to experiment with the amount to make... it needs to be an inch thick layer in a 13x9x2" pan. We've had it 3 times now, with the basic recipe. Next time I assemble my meals, I'm going to try it with my Mom's meatloaf recipe.

Meatloaf and Potatoes

1 1/2 lbs very lean ground beef (don't skimp on the lean here, you don't want a ton of grease in the bottom of your pan)
3/4 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup oatmeal (just the quick oats is fine)
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup onion, chopped
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
3 cups frozen cubed hash browns

Combine all ingredients except the hash browns. Layer the hash browns on bottom of 13x9x2" pan, then the meat mixture. Cover, label, and freeze.

Label: Thaw. Bake uncovered at 350 for 45 minutes.

***Now the reason for the "basic recipe": you can use different seasonings and cheeses to top it with, depending on the individual likes of family members. For example, we like melting pepper jack cheese on top OR cheddar and bacon bits OR mozzarella with italian seasoning. It will look kinda gross- what meatloaf doesn't? But it turns out moist and tastes much better than it looks.


A related fyi: After realizing my monthly freezer meal project was a keeper, I chose to purchase $3.67 13x9x2" pans from Walmart. Though disposable pans are nice for not having to clean, they fill the trash can and land fill and cost more money in the long run. So if convenience is king for you, continue to use them. If you feel like I do, the cheapos at Walmart do great. They have a nice non-stick surface, and the price can't be beat for the decent quality. Another thing to keep in mind is your freezer space. If you have a bigger freezer, no worries. If you are just doing some freezer meals and just have a small top of frig freezer, stick with the disposable, the others will be too big with their handles.

And if you are serious about making your own monthly freezer meal project and want real help with the organizing, and shopping lists, you'll want this software! It was totally worth the $30. Totally. You can pick menus from it, enter your own recipes into it, both freezer worthy and not, and it does all the figuring for you, so all you have to do is print the shopping list! Super helpful. I plan on getting a grain mill and will continue to tweak the recipes accordingly. You can totally do that with this software. http://www.30mealsinoneday.com/