Freezer Friday: Ground Beef Stroganoff

A family favorite that everyone in our house likes is Lion House Ground Beef Stroganoff. If you have some of this in your freezer it makes a quick delicious meal for a busy weekday night.

On a day when you have a few minutes make multiple batches of this recipe. Then just divide it up into quart or gallon size freezer bags, label and freeze. It's easy to pull it out and heat it up while you cook the pasta, and throw a salad together.


Ground Beef Stroganoff - Lion House

½ cup chopped onion

1 clove garlic, minced

Sauté in one teaspoon butter until tender.

Stir in:

1 pound ground beef

2 tablespoons flour

1 teaspoon salt                               

¼ teaspoon pepper

Sauté until meat loses its color.

 Add:

1 cup sliced mushrooms -( I like to dice these pretty small - my kids don't love mushrooms)

1 can cream of mushroom soup

Simmer 10 minutes.

Stir in:

1 cup sour cream and heat but do not boil. Add a little milk if needed. Serve on hot rice or noodles. Makes 4-6 servings. Freezes well in zip-lock bags. 

To use from frozen, simply put in microwave safe dish with lid and heat through. Serve on hot rice or noodles. 

Freezer Friday: I made freezer meals, now what?!! Freezer Inventory

I love freezer cooking. It has been my go to method of cooking for as long as I can remember but it is not always easy to keep track of what you have in your freezer. I don't want all of my hard work to go to waste.

Here is an idea to use that extra white board you have. I used 3m velcro strips (love those!) to attach the white board to my freezer. I love that I can "see" what is in my freezer without opening it. This will be even more important in the hot summer months.

Tally marks indicate how many of each item are inside. When I take something out, I just erase a tally mark. If I take the last one I erase the entire name off. When I put something in I just add it to the list. Nothing fancy but it really helps me make sure we use what I have worked so hard to make!

I Believe.

“God put Santa Claus on earth to remind us that Christmas is 'sposed to be a happy time.” 

― Bil Keane

Freezer Friday - Taco Night

Taco night. Quick dinner, right? With just a little planning you can stock your freezer at the same time.
Here is the plan: Instead of cooking 1 pound of hamburger cook 5 pounds. Be sure to use fresh not previously frozen hamburger. (Remember the rule don't freeze meat twice) When you are done you have meat for dinner plus 4 quart size zip-lock freezer bags full of cooked taco meat.
Next time taco night will be even quicker! I love having extra frozen taco meat in the freezer. The next time you make Taco Soup... just throw the meat in, it's already cooked.

After dinner there were several cooked tortillas, some meat and refried beans leftover. I rolled up the tortillas with a little bit of beans and meat, brushed them with butter and cooked them for 10 minutes at 400 degrees. Once they cooled I wrapped them individually in foil and put them in the freezer.  So now instead of having a bunch of leftovers in my fridge that may get thrown away in a few days I have several quick Flautas that can be reheated in the microwave and eaten on the way to football practice or after school.

It didn't take any extra planning (other than buying a large package of hamburger at Sam's Club) but it was an easy way to save myself some time.

First Day of School...Where did the years go?

Today I sent my only daughter off to her last day of high school. I can't believe how quickly the years have gone. As I look at these pictures I realize that we really only get these sweet children for a little while. I am so grateful to be her mom.
I also realize it's a good thing I only had one girl... I really don't know how to do hair... Poor Haley!

Silhouettes... Check! One bucket list item completed.

 I've seen silhouettes and have always wanted to make them. I thought they were difficult... at least the tutorials I had seen seemed time consuming. Then I saw this tutorial on Pinterest. It finally made sense to me and seemed simple enough that even I could do it. 
Here are some simplified directions:  (read tutorial from Pinterest for more detailed information) 

Take a profile picture in front of a window. Print out picture on regular paper  to fit frame.

Tape photo onto black scrapbooking paper and cut around edges with an exacto knife.

This gives you your silhouette. Mount this onto heavy drawing paper that has been cut to fit frame and write child's name and the year below.  

I have been collecting oval frames at Goodwill for a while. I spray painted them all black.  I added the pictures. It is fun to see the differences and similarities between my kids. I love the finished product. 

This hand is your hand...

After being inspired by this pin on Pinterest. I enlisted my kids to help show our patriotic spirit. Even my 2 year old was game and after watching his brother, did a great job. I mounted them on scrapbook paper and put them in frames from the dollar store. It was super easy and fun.