Getting ready...

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I mentioned before that we are trying to clear our our freezer as much as possible so I can stock up on freezer meals for the first few weeks after the babies arrive. I did the same thing when our second son was born, and it was literally life-saving. I've never even thought of doing it with my first (I wish somebody would have taught me a few tricks before I became a Mom...), and when I ended up having surgery ten days after the delivery, our fridge was BARE. Thank goodness for some Church ladies who helped out my Mom who basically replaced me for a week while I was recovering. They cooked for her, shopped for groceries, brought diapers and anything she could've needed since they didn't speak each others languages. I will be forever grateful for their kindness...

But it pays to be prepared... So over the weekend I created a list of meals I want to try and a grocery shopping list. I'm not going to share with you my shopping list because I don't have a fancy spreadsheet. It's more of a homemade, let's-do-it-now kind. But I thought some of you might enjoy some of these great meal ideas even if you are not pregnant :)


Stuffed bell peppers - http://www.lovingmynest.com/food-love/stuffed-bell-peppers/

  

Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole - http://moneysavingmom.com/2012/05/4-weeks-to-fill-your-freezer-chicken-broccoli-rice-casserole-day-14.html#_a5y_p=946787

 

Mexican Chicken Taco stuffing - http://www.stacymakescents.com/crock-pot-freezer-cooking-tutorial-6-meals-1-hour

Honey Hoisin Chicken in the Slow Cooker - http://eatathomecooks.com/2009/11/honey-hoisin-chicken-in-the-slow-cooker.html

Teriyaki chicken - http://www.ringaroundtherosies.net/2012/02/freezer-cooking.html

BBQ chicken - http://www.overthebigmoon.com/super-fast-chicken-freezer-meals/

Chicken spaghetti bake - http://farmerswiferambles.com/2014/04/white-chicken-spaghetti-bake/#mxY4jdL2TPBQkzbH.32

Lasagna soup - http://allthingskatiemarie.blogspot.com/2014/01/frozen-meal-prep.html?m=0

Orange chicken - http://zitzmanfam.blogspot.com/2012/03/freezer-meals_23.html

Café Rio Crock-pot chicken  - http://zitzmanfam.blogspot.com/2012/03/freezer-meals_23.html

Pepper steak - http://www.ringaroundtherosies.net/2012/08/freezer-cooking-part-5.html#

White chicken enchiladas - http://www.ringaroundtherosies.net/2012/08/freezer-cooking-part-5.html#

Breakfast sandwiches - http://www.macheesmo.com/2012/04/breakfast-sandwiches-revisited/

Cheesy ham biscuits - http://onceamonthmeals.com/cheesy-ham-biscuit-lunch-muffins-recipe/

BBQ chicken pizza (with premade dough) - http://fabulesslyfrugal.com/fabuless-freezer-cooking-bbq-chicken

Beef stroganoff - http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2011/10/slow-cooker-beef-stroganoff-freezer.html

Funeral potatoes with ham - http://fabulesslyfrugal.com/fabuless-freezer-cooking-funeral

Freezer slaw (have to try this!!) - http://hickeryhollerfarm.blogspot.com/2012/07/freezer-slaw.html

Chicken, Mushroom and Spinach Alfredo - http://femiology.com/make-ahead-freeze-crockpot-dinners-feed-your-entire-family-for-3-4-per-meal/

Sweet Barbecue Hawaiian Chicken - http://femiology.com/make-ahead-freeze-crockpot-dinners-feed-your-entire-family-for-3-4-per-meal/

Chicken Veggie Soup - http://www.recipe4living.com/article/freezer_ready_chicken_veggie_soup_and_more_freezeable_soup_recipes.html

Mini meatloaves - http://thebetterbaker.blogspot.com/2011/04/mini-meatloaves-from-make-ahead-meals.html

 

We will be increasing our grocery budget for September to accommodate some of these meals and other ones (like basic tomato meat pasta sauce, pesto sauce, muffins, waffles etc). I'm not sure how many of these ideas I will use, but I can see some of them becoming part of our regular menu rotation. Yum!! I would love to be done with most of it by the end of September if possible or my husband will have to learn how to cook, lol!! :) I'm already getting uncomfortably big and I still have 13 more weeks to go. Yikes!!