1 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:06,560 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. 2 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:09,520 Speaker 2: I'm Kelsey Nixon and this is Kitchen Prescription, the podcast 3 00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:11,080 Speaker 2: you listened to and you don't know what to make 4 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 2: for dinner. Today's episode one hundred and twenty six freezer 5 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:17,480 Speaker 2: meals to help you survive Maycember. I hope you all 6 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:20,160 Speaker 2: had a wonderful week if you follow me on Instagram 7 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:21,800 Speaker 2: so that. I spent a good chunk of the week 8 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 2: in Mexico with a big group of college friends, sixteen 9 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 2: of us, all celebrating our fortieth birthdays. We went to 10 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 2: the Tuloom area and rented a big, beautiful Airbnb, and 11 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:36,680 Speaker 2: truly the highlight of the trip for almost everyone was 12 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:38,599 Speaker 2: the fact that we sprung for a private chef who 13 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:41,559 Speaker 2: prepared all of our meals breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I 14 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:46,519 Speaker 2: could not believe what a gift that felt like, and 15 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 2: not necessarily because I wasn't doing the physical cooking. It 16 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 2: was because I wasn't making the decisions. And I not 17 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 2: only was I wasn't worried about making the decisions for myself, 18 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:57,040 Speaker 2: I wasn't worried about making the decisions for all of. 19 00:00:57,080 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 1: The people that I lived with. 20 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 2: It felt like such a break and it really just 21 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 2: highlighted for me how taxing it is to make meals 22 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:07,640 Speaker 2: day in and day out, to decide. 23 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:08,640 Speaker 1: On meals day in and day out. 24 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:11,840 Speaker 2: And while I wish it was realistic for all of 25 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:14,800 Speaker 2: us to have private chefs around all the time, it's 26 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 2: not so. I came home with kind of this renewed excitement, 27 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:21,720 Speaker 2: asking myself, how can I really help make the dinner 28 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 2: process easier for all of my Recipe Club members. I 29 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:27,120 Speaker 2: really didn't expect to lead with that insight, but I 30 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:27,760 Speaker 2: totally did. 31 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:29,399 Speaker 1: I thought about it the whole plane ride home. 32 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:33,360 Speaker 2: But speaking of making things easier and home, after I 33 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 2: arrived home, I looked at our May calendar and asked myself, 34 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:39,040 Speaker 2: what can I do make dinner easier this month? And 35 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:41,120 Speaker 2: what can I do to reduce the amount of times 36 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:43,919 Speaker 2: that we will likely eat out? And for whatever reason, 37 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:46,679 Speaker 2: freezer meals came to mind, so I sprung into action. 38 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 2: I pulled up five of my favorite Recipe Club freezer meals, 39 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 2: I ordered the ingredients, I set aside an hour yesterday 40 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 2: to prep all of those recipes, and now I'll have 41 00:01:56,800 --> 00:01:59,600 Speaker 2: one freezer meal each week to rely on as we 42 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 2: get through this end of year madness. I'm really excited 43 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 2: to chat with you about it, because honestly, it was 44 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:11,120 Speaker 2: so easy and I couldn't believe how like from idea 45 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 2: to execution, it just happened, and I was like, this 46 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 2: is so this is so simple. So I'm excited to 47 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:18,680 Speaker 2: chat with you. But I do want to start how 48 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 2: we always start by suggesting a few recipes you could 49 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 2: put on your weekly meal plan, because deciding what to 50 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 2: make for dinner is the hardest part, so let's check at. 51 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:29,120 Speaker 1: Least that part off of your list. 52 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:32,480 Speaker 2: So first recipe for us this week is a new 53 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 2: recipe to Recipe Club. 54 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 1: It is my Dilly salmon with roasted potatoes. It is 55 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:37,880 Speaker 1: so yummy. 56 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:40,040 Speaker 2: I make kind of a sauce that's got some Greek 57 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 2: yogurt in it, a little bit of mao, It's got 58 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:47,400 Speaker 2: fresh dill, lemon, some spices, and this is both a 59 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 2: sauce for dipping and also a sauce that you slather 60 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 2: on top of the salmon flas and it's very delicious. 61 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 2: You do these oven roasted potatoes right alongside it. I 62 00:02:57,440 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 2: throw some asparagus on the sheet pan too. It's like 63 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:02,120 Speaker 2: a true sheet pan meal. And I knew it was 64 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 2: going to be a winner when I made it last 65 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:06,600 Speaker 2: week and my husband said, this didn't even make the 66 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:09,359 Speaker 2: house smell like fish, and I was like, nope, it didn't. 67 00:03:09,639 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 1: So it's really good. 68 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:15,640 Speaker 2: My girls call salmon pink chicken, and I always like 69 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:19,239 Speaker 2: it when we can work in some fish throughout our week. Next, 70 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 2: we've got a couple of like cold days coming up, 71 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 2: and so I pulled out my most summary soup, which 72 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 2: I consider to be my Tai Coconut Ramen. It's just 73 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 2: got some really bright flavors in it that feel kind 74 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 2: of tropical and light and bright, but the ramen will 75 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:43,240 Speaker 2: be warm and perfect for an unusually cold day this 76 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 2: time of year. And then our third one is my. 77 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 1: Creamy couscuse with feta. 78 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:49,800 Speaker 2: This is such a good recipe that uses one of 79 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:53,920 Speaker 2: my favorite ingredients, Israeli cuscous. It comes together very quickly 80 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:57,400 Speaker 2: in the oven and it actually makes her great leftovers 81 00:03:57,440 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 2: as well. So there are your recipe suggestions for the week. 82 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:01,800 Speaker 2: You can find and print all of these recipes and 83 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 2: recipee club either individually or in our weekly meal plan 84 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 2: that also comes with an easy to follow shopping list 85 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:08,320 Speaker 2: that's broken down by. 86 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:10,600 Speaker 1: A recipe recipe club. 87 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:13,720 Speaker 2: As you guys Know is a one stop shop for 88 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:19,479 Speaker 2: accessing weeknight recipes for families, meal planning, cheat sheets, basically 89 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:21,560 Speaker 2: anything to make it easier for you to get dinner 90 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:23,400 Speaker 2: on the table. And the thing that doesn't make that 91 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:27,359 Speaker 2: easier are recipe sites that are littered with ads, and 92 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:30,920 Speaker 2: we have no ads in recipee Club, no banner ads, 93 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:33,479 Speaker 2: pop ups or long blog posts, just the recipes you 94 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 2: need to get dinner on the table. Plus are one 95 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:37,720 Speaker 2: click shopping so that you can identify a recipe that 96 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:39,680 Speaker 2: might be a good fit for the week and simply 97 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:43,599 Speaker 2: click the get ingredients button and have those groceries added 98 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 2: directly into your grocery cart of the grocery store you 99 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:51,279 Speaker 2: select in your closest area you get to pick. It's 100 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:54,039 Speaker 2: really cool how the technology works. So anyways, if you 101 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 2: are looking for a system, especially this month when you 102 00:04:56,400 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 2: are after some five ingredient recipes and you are wanting 103 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:02,680 Speaker 2: to avoid the drive through line as much as I am, 104 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 2: now might be a great time to give Recipe Club 105 00:05:05,279 --> 00:05:07,800 Speaker 2: a try. Also, I just want to remind you before 106 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 2: we get into it, if you're looking for a last 107 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 2: minute Mother's Day gift for mom Mother's Days, just in 108 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:14,840 Speaker 2: a few days. Remember, you can buy gifted Recipe Club 109 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:18,240 Speaker 2: memberships on recipe club dot com or Kelsey Nixon dot 110 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:20,279 Speaker 2: com and that would be a perfect thing you could 111 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:22,359 Speaker 2: print off for mom last minute or just send it 112 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 2: to her via email and you guys could cook together. 113 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 2: Be a great thing to give a mom. All right, 114 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:29,240 Speaker 2: let's jump into the back half of the podcast and 115 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 2: discuss how I made five freezer meals in one hour 116 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:41,640 Speaker 2: to make my life easier this month. Listen, I like 117 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 2: freezer meals, but I wouldn't. 118 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 1: Consider myself a diehard. 119 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:48,039 Speaker 2: Like we're not doing freezer meals multiple times a year, 120 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:51,880 Speaker 2: I mean maybe quarterly at most. I like to rely 121 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:54,039 Speaker 2: on them when I need some quick wins in the kitchen. 122 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:57,000 Speaker 2: But that's exactly what I needed this month, So I 123 00:05:57,120 --> 00:06:00,119 Speaker 2: knew it was time to kind of whip out that 124 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:03,480 Speaker 2: tool in my tool belt. When I realized the upcoming 125 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:06,279 Speaker 2: weeks would be so full, I had this brief thought 126 00:06:06,520 --> 00:06:08,560 Speaker 2: that freezer meals could really help. So I sprang into 127 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 2: action so quickly I literally didn't have time to talk 128 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:13,080 Speaker 2: myself out of it, and before I knew it, I 129 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:17,520 Speaker 2: was adding ingredients to freezer bags and making most of it. 130 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:20,479 Speaker 2: Anytime I do around a freezer meals, it's important to 131 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:23,599 Speaker 2: me that their meals will actually like eating, and that 132 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:27,479 Speaker 2: they're also healthy ish they don't require tons of work 133 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:30,400 Speaker 2: or prep. Honestly, this can kind of be tough to find. 134 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 2: When I initially went searching for freezer meals a couple 135 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:36,359 Speaker 2: of years ago, a lot of the resources I found 136 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:40,280 Speaker 2: were either too ambitious, like make ten meals at once, 137 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:43,760 Speaker 2: which not only do I not have the time to 138 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:45,600 Speaker 2: make ten meals at once, I don't have. 139 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:47,240 Speaker 1: The space to store ten meals. 140 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:52,000 Speaker 2: They included huge shopping lists and like really big, overwhelming. 141 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 2: It felt like something that was going to take a 142 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:56,599 Speaker 2: full Saturday and I just did not That was not 143 00:06:56,680 --> 00:06:59,200 Speaker 2: appealing to me. So I came up with my own 144 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:02,720 Speaker 2: kind of selection of recipes. And this is why I 145 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:05,240 Speaker 2: think they're great. They're freezer meals that are healthy, and 146 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:09,920 Speaker 2: they're made with real food or both fresh ingredients and 147 00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 2: some pantry staples. A lot of the freezer meal resources 148 00:07:14,240 --> 00:07:18,360 Speaker 2: you'll find include tons and tons of canned items, sauce mixes, 149 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:20,800 Speaker 2: things like that, where there's just not a ton of 150 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 2: fresh vegetables. And that was really important to me that 151 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:30,440 Speaker 2: they were healthy. And when I say healthy, I mean, 152 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 2: like chok full of good ingredients. I wanted these freezer 153 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 2: meals to require a little as little work on the 154 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 2: back end as possible, Like I'm totally open to cooking 155 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:43,880 Speaker 2: off some rice or pasta, or chopping some cilantro, adding 156 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 2: a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime juice, but really 157 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:50,680 Speaker 2: simple when it comes to assembly. I wanted these freezer 158 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:55,680 Speaker 2: meals to largely have very little advanced thawing required so 159 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:57,360 Speaker 2: that I didn't have to think about it too much. 160 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:02,160 Speaker 2: And most importantly, I wanted the freezer meals to be 161 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:06,360 Speaker 2: made with fun, bold, interesting flavors that we would actually 162 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 2: be excited to eat. That I wouldn't say, oh, we're 163 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:11,520 Speaker 2: having the meat balls from the freezer tonight and have 164 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 2: everybody grown. 165 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 1: And say, oh, I don't want that. 166 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:16,840 Speaker 2: I wanted these recipes to at least be as good 167 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 2: as like takeout pizza. Otherwise it was game over and 168 00:08:19,560 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 2: I was not going to be doing this. If I'm 169 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:24,560 Speaker 2: going to invest the time into freezer meals, I really 170 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:26,520 Speaker 2: want them to be delicious, and I want them to 171 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 2: be something my family actually looks forward to and loves 172 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:31,680 Speaker 2: on the table. And I didn't want it to have 173 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:35,000 Speaker 2: too much stress. I just I just wanted to be 174 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 2: good recipes. So I started with our family's existing favorite recipes, 175 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:42,040 Speaker 2: the ones I know we'll all eat, and then I 176 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:44,640 Speaker 2: went from there. I figured out the marinads that could 177 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 2: be done in advance in froze. Well, I rewrote the 178 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:51,119 Speaker 2: recipes so that we could really clearly have the instructions 179 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 2: about just what to do from the frozen state. And 180 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:57,840 Speaker 2: these are the five recipes I came up with. So 181 00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:01,680 Speaker 2: these are all within recipe c life is traditionally written recipes. 182 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:05,200 Speaker 2: And then I have created a freezer version of each 183 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:07,920 Speaker 2: of these recipes as well. So the Italian meatballs are 184 00:09:07,920 --> 00:09:10,679 Speaker 2: a version of my five ingredient meatballs. And these are 185 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:14,720 Speaker 2: great because they come together so quickly. I mean really, 186 00:09:14,760 --> 00:09:18,000 Speaker 2: they reheat so quickly because you just pop them in 187 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:21,000 Speaker 2: the oven or the air fryer, and you can serve 188 00:09:21,040 --> 00:09:23,600 Speaker 2: them over spaghetti with jarred sauce like rayos, or turn 189 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:26,960 Speaker 2: them into meatball subs where you split a subrole. You 190 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 2: add some provolone cheese on top, pop it under the broiler, 191 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:33,040 Speaker 2: let the cheese melt, add the meatballs to some sauce, 192 00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 2: and serve it as a meatball sub really delicious, really fun. 193 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:39,680 Speaker 2: You could also do meatball sliders. That's something we've done 194 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:43,560 Speaker 2: before and it's always a hit. Probably one of my 195 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:46,720 Speaker 2: most popular recipes in Recipe Club is my Indian buttered chicken. 196 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 2: So I really wanted to make a freezer version recipe 197 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:54,760 Speaker 2: that worked well here. So when we regularly have Indian 198 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:56,960 Speaker 2: buttered chicken, it is really simple. 199 00:09:57,040 --> 00:09:58,239 Speaker 1: When it comes to serving. 200 00:09:58,000 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 2: It, I just do it over cooked white rice with 201 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:02,640 Speaker 2: non I usually top with some chopped cilantro and a 202 00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:05,719 Speaker 2: squeeze of fresh lime juice. So it is one of 203 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:08,320 Speaker 2: our most popular recipes that has been adapted for the freezer. 204 00:10:08,679 --> 00:10:12,760 Speaker 2: And I'm not joking when I say it probably took 205 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:15,440 Speaker 2: me seven minutes to assemble it and see it in 206 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:15,959 Speaker 2: the freezer. 207 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:17,360 Speaker 1: It was so fast. 208 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:20,520 Speaker 2: Next are my Greek chicken pedas. This is a version 209 00:10:20,559 --> 00:10:23,840 Speaker 2: of our sheet pan chicken pedas in Recipe Club, and 210 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:26,160 Speaker 2: what I love most at this is the delicious marinade 211 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:29,079 Speaker 2: and the flavors. It kind of flavors the chicken from 212 00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:31,960 Speaker 2: the inside out. It turns into a very simple sheet 213 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:34,520 Speaker 2: pan dinner with fresh bell peppers. You could throw a 214 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:37,760 Speaker 2: red onion there as well. We like to serve this mixture, 215 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:41,719 Speaker 2: once cooked, stuffed into pedas or over pearl or is 216 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 2: rayley couscous. A little strawbot set zeki is great on it, 217 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 2: or a doll of Greek yogurt with a squeeze of 218 00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:48,800 Speaker 2: fresh lemon juice, just. 219 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 1: To kind of add something bright at the very end. 220 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:54,680 Speaker 2: And I think that's actually a really important tip to 221 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:57,920 Speaker 2: point out. Whether you're using my freezer meal recipes or 222 00:10:57,960 --> 00:11:01,400 Speaker 2: somebody else's, or maybe you're even buying. There are companies 223 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:05,400 Speaker 2: that do these now, like behive meals. If I think 224 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:07,240 Speaker 2: one thing to do you can do to take those 225 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:09,640 Speaker 2: from good to grete is to add something to finish fresh. 226 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:14,520 Speaker 2: Finish with some chopped herbs or cilantro, or some acid 227 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:17,640 Speaker 2: or some texture like some chopped peanuts, depending on what 228 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:21,520 Speaker 2: it is. Just think about finishing fresh. Next on my 229 00:11:21,559 --> 00:11:25,640 Speaker 2: list is my sal saverde shredded beef, and this is 230 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:27,560 Speaker 2: like the ultimate set it and forget it freezer meal. 231 00:11:27,640 --> 00:11:29,440 Speaker 2: They can go directly into the slow cooker or the 232 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:33,160 Speaker 2: instant pot to cook all day develop delicious flavors. We 233 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:35,520 Speaker 2: usually shred the beef and turn them into tacos or 234 00:11:35,559 --> 00:11:39,800 Speaker 2: burrito bowls, but there are some great shortcut ingredients in 235 00:11:39,800 --> 00:11:42,079 Speaker 2: that recipe, like a jarred sal saverite that go a. 236 00:11:42,040 --> 00:11:43,360 Speaker 1: Long way when it comes to flavor. 237 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:48,320 Speaker 2: And then finally, my baked chicken tiktos. So this is 238 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:52,000 Speaker 2: probably my kid's favorite after school snack that can also 239 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:54,400 Speaker 2: be turned into dinner. I love these because you can 240 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:56,640 Speaker 2: eat them individually, like you can just grab one out 241 00:11:56,679 --> 00:11:59,800 Speaker 2: of the freezer, or you can bake them all together 242 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:02,760 Speaker 2: and serve them with rice and beans for a quick 243 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 2: weeknight dinner option. Usually when I'm doing these, I always 244 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:09,560 Speaker 2: double the recipe. It typically makes between eight and nine, 245 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:12,000 Speaker 2: like larger sized tektos, Like my girls will only eat 246 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:15,320 Speaker 2: one tiqto my thirteen year old son will usually ea 247 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:17,600 Speaker 2: two or three tiktos, and my husband I will probably 248 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:21,760 Speaker 2: have two. So it's a full recipe, but we just 249 00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:24,400 Speaker 2: love them so much that it never hurts to double 250 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 2: that recipe. 251 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:28,440 Speaker 1: So that's it. Those are the five recipes I prepped 252 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:28,920 Speaker 1: in an hour. 253 00:12:29,559 --> 00:12:34,080 Speaker 2: They're all nothing's too similar. You have the Italian meatballs, 254 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:36,840 Speaker 2: you have the Indian butter chicken, the Greek chicken pedas, 255 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:40,000 Speaker 2: that salsa Verdi shredded beef, and the baked chicken tiktos, 256 00:12:40,240 --> 00:12:43,840 Speaker 2: so you've got a nice variety. And the way I 257 00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:48,200 Speaker 2: like to do it is take those meals and just 258 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 2: plan to make one per week. And what I will 259 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:55,360 Speaker 2: do is look at my family calendar and try and 260 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:58,560 Speaker 2: identify the busiest days. Now, some of these you're gonna 261 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:01,360 Speaker 2: have to stay something in in the morning. Now, you're 262 00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:03,000 Speaker 2: not gonna have to do much more than that other 263 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:06,320 Speaker 2: than transferred to the slow cooker. But keep that in mind, 264 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:08,880 Speaker 2: and you might want to have to you might have 265 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:12,120 Speaker 2: to put some like reminders in your phone, but it's 266 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:14,640 Speaker 2: really not that big of a deal. Here are a 267 00:13:14,679 --> 00:13:17,200 Speaker 2: few other tips that kind of made the process run 268 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 2: really smoothly for me. Especially if this sounds like something 269 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:23,600 Speaker 2: you might be interested in doing, I would keep these 270 00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 2: in mind. 271 00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:26,679 Speaker 1: I would buy the baggy hangers. 272 00:13:27,280 --> 00:13:29,560 Speaker 2: Now, if you I posted a reel about this, if 273 00:13:29,559 --> 00:13:31,640 Speaker 2: you saw the reel, you know what I'm talking about. 274 00:13:31,920 --> 00:13:35,199 Speaker 2: These baggy hangers. They kind of are like there's kind 275 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:37,560 Speaker 2: of like this cheap plastic thing, but they pop up 276 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:40,640 Speaker 2: into this V shape and it holds each side of 277 00:13:40,679 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 2: the bag open, and so it makes it really easy 278 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:45,320 Speaker 2: to add all of the ingredients when you're making the 279 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:48,640 Speaker 2: freezer meals. There are a couple bucks, but if you 280 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 2: think you might be a freezer meal person, or you 281 00:13:50,559 --> 00:13:52,760 Speaker 2: might even do this quarterly like I do, it's worth 282 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:53,320 Speaker 2: getting them. 283 00:13:53,520 --> 00:13:57,480 Speaker 1: It really does make it easier. Make sure. This is 284 00:13:57,520 --> 00:13:58,520 Speaker 1: so important, you guys. 285 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:00,720 Speaker 2: If you really want to prep five meals in one hour, 286 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:04,720 Speaker 2: you must make sure to take the time to mees 287 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:08,000 Speaker 2: and plos or get everything in its place before you 288 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:10,880 Speaker 2: start cooking. It will take you three to four times 289 00:14:10,880 --> 00:14:13,079 Speaker 2: as long if you don't. So. 290 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:14,640 Speaker 1: Look at the recipes you're gonna do. 291 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:16,240 Speaker 2: Maybe you're gonna do all five, you're gonna do three 292 00:14:16,280 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 2: of them, or just one or two of them. Pull 293 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:21,200 Speaker 2: all of the ingredients out and put the ingredients in 294 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:27,560 Speaker 2: little piles next to the recipes and pull everything out. Then, 295 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:30,520 Speaker 2: if you really want to be a top student here, 296 00:14:30,920 --> 00:14:34,200 Speaker 2: earn a gold star. Chop anything that needs to be chopped, 297 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:36,960 Speaker 2: which is gonna be very little for these recipes. You 298 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:39,680 Speaker 2: could pre measure some things. You could take the can 299 00:14:39,960 --> 00:14:41,680 Speaker 2: the lids off of cans, like one of these has 300 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:44,280 Speaker 2: coconut milk in it, another one has some tomato paste 301 00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 2: in it. Just get ready, get all your stuff in 302 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:49,760 Speaker 2: order so that you're not going back and forth and 303 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:52,840 Speaker 2: back and forth. Huge tip like it will make such 304 00:14:52,840 --> 00:14:57,000 Speaker 2: a difference. I recommend freezing flat to optimize space. I 305 00:14:57,040 --> 00:14:59,520 Speaker 2: don't have a ton of freezer space in my current setup, 306 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:02,280 Speaker 2: and so freezing flat is my favorite way to do that. 307 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:05,920 Speaker 2: And then, like I mentioned earlier, just add the freezer 308 00:15:05,920 --> 00:15:07,800 Speaker 2: recipes to your calendar. Now. If you're gonna go to 309 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:10,440 Speaker 2: the effort to make the freezer recipes, heaven forbid you 310 00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:13,000 Speaker 2: forget that they're there and you never use them. So 311 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:15,800 Speaker 2: put them in your calendar. Put a reminder that we 312 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:18,120 Speaker 2: are having Indian butter chicken on this night, and if 313 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:20,000 Speaker 2: you need to put a reminder to pull it out 314 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:22,240 Speaker 2: the night before for it to thaw, then put that 315 00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:24,680 Speaker 2: in your calendar now. And when you do this, that 316 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:27,080 Speaker 2: might sound like an annoying step, but you were gonna 317 00:15:27,080 --> 00:15:30,240 Speaker 2: feel like a champion. You're gonna feel so proud of 318 00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:34,120 Speaker 2: yourself that you have just made five dinners in advance. 319 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:37,040 Speaker 1: Dinner is done. Not only have you done the majority. 320 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:39,440 Speaker 2: Of the prep, you have decided what you were having 321 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:42,120 Speaker 2: for dinner that night. And that is truly a gift. 322 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:45,560 Speaker 2: All right, that's it. Let's finish how we always finish 323 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:48,560 Speaker 2: with my weekly gimme five five things that made my 324 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:52,120 Speaker 2: life easier or more enjoyable this week. Number one on 325 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:54,840 Speaker 2: my list is my favorite slow cooker. If you guys 326 00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:57,640 Speaker 2: have been with me for a while, about nine months ago, 327 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:01,040 Speaker 2: I swapped out my loved slow cooker that I had 328 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:04,000 Speaker 2: received from my wedding fifteen years ago for a new 329 00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:07,120 Speaker 2: one that had a saute function on the bottom, and 330 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:08,360 Speaker 2: I'm obsessed with it. 331 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:09,840 Speaker 1: I used it this week to. 332 00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:13,200 Speaker 2: Make my carnitas, and I did the slow cooker version, 333 00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 2: but then at the very end, because you'll have some 334 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:18,760 Speaker 2: liquid in there obviously from slow cooking the carnitas, I 335 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:21,880 Speaker 2: wanted to reduce that liquid to kind of intensify the 336 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:24,760 Speaker 2: flavors of the carnitas, and so I just turned on 337 00:16:24,760 --> 00:16:27,600 Speaker 2: the saute function and it worked beautifully. 338 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:29,160 Speaker 1: It was so great. 339 00:16:29,520 --> 00:16:31,080 Speaker 2: Another thing I used it for this week is we 340 00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 2: went to a SINCODMYO party with some friends and I 341 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:35,920 Speaker 2: was asked to bring the black beans. So I seasoned 342 00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:38,360 Speaker 2: these black beans, I stored put them in the slow cooker, 343 00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:42,040 Speaker 2: and they had this buffet setting and so it was 344 00:16:42,160 --> 00:16:47,680 Speaker 2: like more than just a low on a slow cooker heat, 345 00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:51,080 Speaker 2: but not quite a sate or a simmer. It was 346 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:54,240 Speaker 2: called buffet and the idea being that it's the perfect 347 00:16:54,360 --> 00:16:56,840 Speaker 2: temperature for people to come through the line and dish 348 00:16:56,880 --> 00:16:57,840 Speaker 2: up black beans, and. 349 00:16:57,760 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 1: They were perfect. 350 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:02,000 Speaker 2: It was perfect. So it's really cute. It actually it's 351 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:04,639 Speaker 2: not cute, it's pretty. It's a pretty slow cooker, if 352 00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:06,600 Speaker 2: you can imagine such a thing. So that made my 353 00:17:06,640 --> 00:17:10,040 Speaker 2: list because I really am just so happy with that purchase. Next, 354 00:17:10,600 --> 00:17:13,040 Speaker 2: I had to include the baggy hangers. We're talking about 355 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:16,520 Speaker 2: freezer meals this week. Those baggy hangers made my life easy. 356 00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:19,640 Speaker 2: And if you are, like I said, if you're thinking 357 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:22,040 Speaker 2: about becoming a freezer meal person, or at least just 358 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:24,160 Speaker 2: trying it once, it's worth a couple bucks to spend 359 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:29,760 Speaker 2: on those. Okay, Next, this is a little unexpected I 360 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:34,640 Speaker 2: have for years. I used to get regular manicures. Years 361 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:36,320 Speaker 2: when I did my show on Food Network, I always 362 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 2: had big apple red red nail polish and it was 363 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:42,360 Speaker 2: part of my routine. Then, as I had more children 364 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:45,719 Speaker 2: and family life got busier, I just I didn't want 365 00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:47,920 Speaker 2: to spend the money on weekly manicures and I did 366 00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:51,879 Speaker 2: not want to spend the time. Mostly so I have 367 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:55,080 Speaker 2: mentioned before, I have this favorite product. It's called Nail Concealer. 368 00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:59,640 Speaker 2: It's a really light just kind of not even a shimmer. 369 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:03,240 Speaker 2: This makes my nails look nice and I love this polish. 370 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:06,639 Speaker 2: But that's been on this give Me five lists before. 371 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:09,400 Speaker 2: I was noticing that my cuticles were starting to look dry, 372 00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:11,440 Speaker 2: and I think it's because I'm not going into a 373 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:15,560 Speaker 2: nail salon and having like a traditional manicure that often. 374 00:18:15,560 --> 00:18:17,840 Speaker 2: And I'm sure I could do that. But someone recommended 375 00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:20,920 Speaker 2: this product called heart as Hoof nail cream and it's 376 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:23,800 Speaker 2: almost like just a really thick lotion and I keep 377 00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:25,399 Speaker 2: it at my desk and once a day I just 378 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:28,040 Speaker 2: rub it into my nail beds and it has totally 379 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:31,520 Speaker 2: made a difference. It also comes in this like coconuty smell, 380 00:18:31,560 --> 00:18:34,640 Speaker 2: which smells like vacation and I love it. 381 00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 1: I love it. 382 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 2: It was a couple bucks and it's totally solved that 383 00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:40,000 Speaker 2: problem for me of dry cracking cuticles. 384 00:18:41,080 --> 00:18:41,359 Speaker 1: Okay. 385 00:18:41,440 --> 00:18:46,119 Speaker 2: Number four is something from a reference from my girl's 386 00:18:46,160 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 2: trip last week. Our friend kat Catherine. She came out 387 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:54,199 Speaker 2: in this most jarling set from Amazon that had like 388 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:56,040 Speaker 2: this scalloped edge on it. 389 00:18:56,200 --> 00:18:58,200 Speaker 1: We all stopped looked. 390 00:18:58,000 --> 00:18:59,639 Speaker 2: At her and said, where did you get that, and 391 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:01,639 Speaker 2: she said, You're never gonna believe it was ten dollars 392 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:04,200 Speaker 2: on Amazon, and so we kept talking about the ten 393 00:19:04,280 --> 00:19:07,640 Speaker 2: dollars set throughout the vacation. It comes in all these colors, 394 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:10,560 Speaker 2: and before we left, everybody had ordered the ten dollars 395 00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:12,040 Speaker 2: Amazon scalped set. 396 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:13,840 Speaker 1: It's so cute, so cute. 397 00:19:13,720 --> 00:19:17,680 Speaker 2: Especially for the price, great cover up or just cute 398 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:22,000 Speaker 2: little summer set to where it's very, very cute. And 399 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:24,920 Speaker 2: then finally number five is I've added our Mother's Day 400 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:29,520 Speaker 2: gifted memberships. And I've added this because this is something 401 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:32,040 Speaker 2: I've noticed in my life as I've been thinking about 402 00:19:32,280 --> 00:19:34,879 Speaker 2: Mother's Day this week and my own mom and what 403 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:36,160 Speaker 2: I'm gifting my own mom. 404 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:37,680 Speaker 1: I am so. 405 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:41,400 Speaker 2: Grateful that Recipe Club has become something I can share 406 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:44,760 Speaker 2: with my mom. Oftentimes we are cooking the same recipes 407 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:46,680 Speaker 2: because we both follow the Recipe Club meal plan to 408 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:50,640 Speaker 2: a certain extent, and it is so fun to have 409 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:53,159 Speaker 2: that commonality. We don't live in the same state, so 410 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:56,320 Speaker 2: we don't see each other that often, but there's something 411 00:19:56,320 --> 00:20:00,919 Speaker 2: that I love about us both making the carnitas on 412 00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:03,600 Speaker 2: the same night of the week. It's so fun to 413 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 2: share that. So if you need a last minute gift 414 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 2: for your mom or your favorite mom figure in your life, 415 00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:10,480 Speaker 2: we're eating yourself. 416 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:11,480 Speaker 1: Think about this. 417 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:13,639 Speaker 2: Cooking with friends. Maybe you want to give your sister 418 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:17,199 Speaker 2: a Mother's Day gift cooking with friends and doing it 419 00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:20,320 Speaker 2: in a club like setting where you are surrounded by 420 00:20:20,560 --> 00:20:21,400 Speaker 2: virtually my. 421 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:24,840 Speaker 1: People who are in the thick of getting. 422 00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:26,440 Speaker 2: Dinner on a table for the people that they love, 423 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:28,359 Speaker 2: and they are doing it because they know that that 424 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:31,720 Speaker 2: connection point is important. This is the perfect thing to share, 425 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:33,840 Speaker 2: So don't forget about that. If you're looking for a 426 00:20:33,920 --> 00:20:37,320 Speaker 2: last minute gift. All right, that's it for today. I 427 00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:41,399 Speaker 2: will be sending positive vibes to anyone tackling on a 428 00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:44,800 Speaker 2: few freezer meals this week. It already feels so nice 429 00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:46,480 Speaker 2: to note that I have dinner waiting for us in 430 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:49,560 Speaker 2: the freezer for those busy nights this month, and otherwise 431 00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:52,800 Speaker 2: we likely would have driven through some restaurant and it 432 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:54,960 Speaker 2: would have cost me seventy five dollars to feed my family. 433 00:20:55,359 --> 00:20:56,760 Speaker 1: Who knows? Who knows. 434 00:20:58,720 --> 00:21:00,520 Speaker 2: Make sure you're subscribed to the Post podcast so that 435 00:21:00,520 --> 00:21:03,360 Speaker 2: you never miss an episode. This podcast is always meant 436 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:05,359 Speaker 2: to be a quick twenty to thirty minute listen just 437 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:06,960 Speaker 2: while you map out your own meals for the week. 438 00:21:07,480 --> 00:21:09,760 Speaker 2: I've always left listening to a podcast, and it's been 439 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:13,520 Speaker 2: part of my routine for years. Thank you so much 440 00:21:13,560 --> 00:21:16,760 Speaker 2: for being here today. I'm so glad we got to 441 00:21:16,840 --> 00:21:19,760 Speaker 2: chat about freezer meals. Until next time, happy cooking. I'm 442 00:21:19,840 --> 00:21:22,320 Speaker 2: Kelsey and forward to chatting with you all next week.