Meatloaf or Meatballs

1 lb Hamburger

½ lb Sausage

1 Egg, Slightly Beaten

¼ cup Onion

1 ¼ tsp Salt

1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce

1 cup Dried Breadcrumbs plus 1 ¼ cups milk or 1 cup Fresh Breadcrumbs plus 1 cup Milk

¼ tsp of EACH of the following Pepper, Celery Salt, Garlic Salt, Dry Mustard, and Sage

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Separate into two loaf pans and bake at 350 for 1 ½ hour or make into meatballs and place on a cookie sheet. Cook at 350 degrees until done, the cooking time will vary according to the size of the meatballs.

If freezing, I have done both, cooked and uncooked for the meatloaf. If you cook it first, then you just microwave to warm up. If uncooked, then thaw first then cook like above. Freeze the meatballs cooked, then just thaw and heat to eat.

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Lasagna

1 ½ lb Hamburger

½ Large Chopped Onion

1 Jar Spaghetti Sauce

2 Cups Ricotta Cheese

2 Eggs, Slightly Beaten

1 Cup Parmesan Cheese

2 Cups Grated Mozzarella Cheese

8 to 12 Lasagna Noodles

Cook your Lasagna Noodles but only for ½ the time it says to on the package.

Brown hamburger and onion, drain the fat.

Add the spaghetti sauce to the meat mixture.

In a small bowl combine ricotta cheese, eggs, and ½ of the parmesan cheese.

Grease an 8 ½ x 11 pan.

Layer ½ of the noodles, ½ the meat sauce ½ the cheese mixture and 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese, repeat layers adding the ½ cup parmesan cheese to the top.

Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes or until bubbly. Keep covered with foil until the last 15 minutes.

You can also substitute penne pasta for the lasagna noodles, mix the cheese in with the penne, put that in the bottom of the pan, then the sauce, then the mozzarella and the parmesan.

When you freeze a meal with noodles, only cook the noodles for ½ the cooking time.

Another great meal from my sister-in-law Jodi.

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Cheese Manicotti

1 8oz pkg Manicotti

2 cups cottage cheese

1 ½ cups ricotta cheese

4 oz Cream Cheese

½ cup Parmesan Cheese

1 ½ cups grated Mozzarella Cheese

1 Tbsp Dried Parsley Flakes

1 tsp Salt

¼ tsp Pepper

3-4 cups Spaghetti Sauce

Do Not Cook Manicotti. Combine all ingredients except manicotti and spaghetti sauce. Grease 8 ½ x 11 foil baking pan. Cover bottom of the pan with spaghetti sauce. Stuff manicotti with cheese mixture. Arrange on spaghetti sauce in the pan. Pour spaghetti sauce over all. Cover with heavy freezer foil. Label and freeze.

To Serve: Thaw. Bake covered for 45 min at 350 degrees. Uncover, top with more mozzarella cheese and bake an additional 10 minutes or until cheese melts.

We also used penne pasta instead of the manicotti for this one. Mix the pasta and cheese together then put it in the pan.

This recipe comes from my wonderful sister-in-law Jodi, who made a lot of my freezer meals and gave them to my family as a gift. It originates from the book Dinner is Ready by Deanna Buxton.

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Bean Soup

Cook together:

2 lbs. hamburger

1/2 c. onion

Add and cook:

1/2 c. brown sugar

1 tsp. salt

1/2 c. ketchup

1 1/2 tsp. mustard

1/4 tsp. pepper

1 can mushrooms (optional)

1 can kidney beans

1 large can or 2 small cans pork & beans

1 can lima beans or white northern beans.

Cook until everything is heated through well. I cook the meat and onions on the stove, then add it all to the crockpot or instapot! Easy, and yummy Thanks to my Mother-in-law Elaine Smith

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Glazed Carrots

1 lb Carrots

1 tbs Butter

2 tbs Brown Sugar

1 tsp Water

Peel the carrots, then slice each one into rounds. Place the carrot coins in a microwave-safe bowl, cover them with water, and cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Microwave for 6 to 7 minutes or until the carrots are tender but not mushy. Drain the water and set the carrots aside.

In a small frying pan, melt the butter, stir in the brown sugar and water, and cook for 1 minute. Add the carrot coins and toss to coat with the brown sugar mixture. Cook on low for 3 to 4 minutes or until the carrots are thoroughly glazed. Serves 4.

My daughter found this off the internet. My kids beg for these. It’s a great way to get them to eat their veggies!

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