I was blog surfing a few weeks ago looking for freezer meal ideas when I came across The Funky Freezer Girls and their leader Jackie Wheeler. As I learned more about their group and its mission, I got really excited and knew that I had to have her as a Guest! She happily accepted which thrilled me. As I do with my monthly cooks I asked her a few fun questions.
Jackie’s Favorites
Movie:Princess BrideDessert:Anything ChocolateVacation Spot:toss up between Paris and TuscanyHobby:Need to work on finding one again. But I love to dance.Your claim to fame:Seems at the moment to be Founder and Chief Steward to Funky Freezer GirlsIf I got to spend 1 month on a beautiful tropical island all by myself, what 3 things would I take with me: My BeautiControl travel bag, plenty of magazines & books (especially my Bible), and my IPhone so I could record, journal and photograph my experience.(Provided all the necessities have been taken care of.)
Her website/Facebook: www.thejackiestyle.com www.facebook.com/thejackiestyleThrough Jackie’s own words you can learn more about freezer cooking:“I’m married to a great guy who has an off schedule and am the mommy of two wonderful, crazy little boys (5 and 1), AND have my own home base business. I tell you this so you know where I am coming from and what having freezer meals available to me means.
I had been praying about how I could “do a better job” when I had two “aha” moments occur fairly close together. One, a friend of mine (Heidi) brought to my attention that I could prepare a recipe calling for 13 X 9 pan meals into two 8 X 8’s (don’t do the math, it just works). Make the first one and freeze the second one. BRILLIANT!! I started doing that on the days my hubby was home to wrangle boys and found some relief for our dinner dilemma. I also started reading themoneysavingmom.com blog. I noticed a post about a freezer cooking day and it peaked my interest. I read all about it and felt very overwhelmed by the concept of doing a month’s worth of meals for my family in one day. My youngest was about 4 months and I was just not up for it. The concept just kept nagging at me.
Then my second “aha” occurred when I decided that I could shop for and make the same meal all at one time. I just needed to find a few friends that would like to exchange those meals with me. (next week read how Jackie organized her first meal group.)
I have to say that since Funky Freezer Girls has started I have eaten more meals I would not normally choose. And the bonus of that is I have really enjoyed them. One such meal has been meatloaf. I am not the biggest fan. My mom says it’s because she makes a bad meatloaf and that has been my “example” for all these years. So when we got meatloaf the first time I was a little sad. Wanting to be a good example to my kids I made it and ate it. I have since decided I like (this) meatloaf. Hope you like it too.”
“Heather’s Meatloaf”
Member recipe: Jesse Moore (Heather’s friend)
Serves: 8 Prep time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef 93% lean
1 chub jimmy dean spicy sausage
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped carrots
1/2 cup chopped onions
1 egg
1/2-1 cup bread crumbs
Instructions:
Mix together all ingredients and place in loaf pan either freeze or bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
**** Optional: Mix 1/2 cup ketchup and 1/2 cup of brown sugar (or use favorite bbq sauce) and spread on top of meatloaf.