I make this gnocchi soup recipe once  a month or so; but definitely in the Fall and Winter. It’s super easy and tastes delicious! If you cook  the vegetarian  variation in a slow cooker, it should be ready in 30 minutes if you put it on high. This, like most of my recipes, this can be frozen and reheated.

 Ingredients

• (1) 22 oz and (1) 10.5 oz cream of mushroom soup
• 1/2 can of carrots (no juice)
• 1 tbs garlic powder (or more to taste)
• 1 tbs salt   (or more to taste)
• 1/4 cup spinach
• 17 oz package of pre made gnocchi
• 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese (optional)
• 1 chicken breast cubed   (optional)

                  * You can substitute a small can of cream of chicken for small cream of mushroom
* add other seasoning and ingredients to taste; I add salt and pepper

​ You will begin by pouring the cream of mushroom soup into the slow cooker. Then, fill the large soup can  with water and pour it into the slow cooker twice. Stir the soup until it is consistent.  Now, stir in the remaining ingredients.   If you want this meal quickly, put the slow cooker on high; otherwise put it on low and let it simmer for hours. (If you use raw chicken , it will take several hours to cook.)
 After the soup is cooked, I remove all except what I plan to eat that day from the baking dish and I let it cool in a bowl to prepare it for bagging. Bag the food in a freezer bag the sized bags needed to feed your household. Be sure to label the bag before you fill it with what it is and the date you are bagging it.
Enjoy!
​

I LOVE any type of organization because it helps so much. I have had a weekly meal planner on the refrigerator so that I can plan meals and list missing ingredients I need to buy for the meals. I also have a list of food in the freezer so I can plan meals.
Now that my children are older, we take turns making meals so that the responsibility doesn’t all fall on me (disabled mom). My family marks the meal planner with their name, what they plan to make, and what ingredients they may need to make it. Everyone has different cooking abilities so the meals vary greatly, and that’s fine.
What this does for me is not only self care and organizational but financial. It helps us not buy duplicate items, therefore saving money. If we do not have money to buy groceries, we can look at the the contents of the refrigerator and freezer and figure out what ingredients we have to make meals. 
When my family writes what they believe we need to buy, it’s like opening negotiations. I can search for the items they say they need or even suggest substitutions.

On my Patreon account, I have included a picture our weekly meal calendar as well as how I make it reusable. This post will be for my patrons only. My lowest tier is $3; please consider becoming a patron.

​I make smoothies for my family and myself often. None of these recipes are for weight loss or control, just condensed nutrition. I only prepare what can be eaten in a single sitting because in the refrigerator it may separate or get watery and in the freezer, it’ll get too hard. I freeze most of the ingredients so that I don’t have to worry about having fresh ingredients. This also means I don’t need ice to make the smoothies cold. I know many people hate spinach and kale. Believe me; you can’t taste it. A smoothie is a great opportunity to incorporate foods you hate to eat.
When I worked, I would prepare them at home and drink them over several hours or mix them in a single sized blender at school when I got up too early and didn’t want to disturb my family. (one note about the blender I’m recommending: I totally love it! The company sells individual parts if you lose the lid, want extra lids or break the cup)
 
Suggested Ingredients:
 
Some of my favorite ingredients are
•    Spinach or kale (fresh or frozen)
•    Orange/ Cranberry juice
•    Strawberries (fresh or frozen)
•    Blueberries (fresh or frozen)
•    Grapes (fresh or frozen)
•    Bananas (I use fresh out you can freeze bananas)
* all ingredients shouldn’t be frozen, it’s harder to blend
My only caution as someone with GERD, I’d watch the acidic products. You may want to substitute water or milk for the juice.


The amount of each ingredient really depends on how many servings you’re making. I use about ¼ or less liquid (I start with as little as possible and add if the ingredients won’t mix), ½ a banana for a single serving, a whole banana for more. I add all of the other ingredients to taste.
Always start by putting a liquid ingredient into the blender first. Chop large or harder ingredients before tossing them in.
Enjoy!
 
Variations and suggestion:
Try adding vegetables you don’t like; you won’t be able to taste them- avocado, cooked carrots or broccoli or sweet potatoes, etc.
Try adding different fruit; melons, pineapples or mangos, etc.

• some people add honey for extra sweetener
• for a sweeter smoothie, let your bananas get brown (over ripened)
• for a less sweet smoothie that still has the nutrition, use a greener banana
• you can add protein powder or flaxseed/ flaxseed oil 
• consider apple cider vinegar if you are trying to incorporate that into your diet
• add greek yogurt to get probiotics

 

I figured I'd switch things up and give you an easy idea for protein. One of the least respected quick meals is a protein and a can of vegetables or frozen vegetables. I like to buy large packs meat and separate the meat into the amounts needed for individual meals and freeze them. My mother in law was a chef and after we got married, my husband let me in on one of her secrets; she remakes individual hamburger patties, wraps them individually and freezes them. We don't eat beef much anymore but you can steal that if you'd like.
When I need a portion to make a meal, I just pull the freezer bag out and defrost the meat. If it's chicken, I toss some olive oil and butter and spices into the bag and let it marinate for overnight or for a few hours. If it's fish, steak or pork, I usually do a dry marinate with some spices. If it's a burger, I usually season it with season salt as I'm about to cook it.
Did you know George Foreman grills are still a thing?! I don't use one anymore, it either grill in a pan or I fry or we grill on the barbecue pit. But since we're all about easy meals, why not take your meat and cook it quickly and easily on a Foreman grill?
However you cook, honestly protein can be the basis for a quick easy meal. I try to keep plenty of canned and frozen vegetables on hand at all times. Canned vegetables can be as simple as opening the can and microwaving. Frozen only requires a few minutes on the stove to warm. 
Even on the worst flare days, I'm able to take my individually wrapped fish, season it and toss it on the stove for a few minutes; bonus points to me if I make vegetables with it.
You could even make an extra portion or two of any of these proteins and put it in the refrigerator for your next meal or a quick meal a couple days later. Be sure to label the container with what it is and the date you are putting it until the refrigerator so you are wondering how long it's been in there.
Enjoy!

I make my pot pie using  my easy stew. I make them after the stew cools and freeze  them or eat them immediately. This is how.
Ingredients

• cooked stew
• deep pie crusts (frozen, in  pie pans)
• foil

* you may like to add pre-made  pie crust to cover the pot pie but it's not required

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Pour the stew into  your frozen pie crusts  until the filling is slightly below the rim.  If you choose, add a top crust by laying it over the pie and pressing the dough into the bottom dough.  If you add a top crust, slice about a 1 inch long slice in the top crust or poke holes with a fork.  This will  allow heat to escape and prevent a mess.  Whether you add a top crust or not, rip foil into half inch or so strips  and wrap around the edges of the crust so that it doesn't burn. Bake for  25-40 minutes or until  the crust is golden brown.
Enjoy!
*If you choose to freeze these for later,  be sure to label the pies beforehand  with what it is and the date.  

I made this stew yesterday. It's a great meal you can make ahead or make extra then freeze. I also use it in another recipe I'll share soon. If you are preparing this days before you want to eat it, put the pot or crock pot on low.  If it's being prepared early on the day of, put the slow cooker on high.
Ingredients

• a bag of  frozen vegetables
• 2-4 potatoes
• an envelope of brown gravy mix
• flour
• canned or container of broth or water (beef, chicken, vegetable)
• raw stew meat (if desired or substitute with cooked chicken)

* add other seasoning and ingredients to taste
First, you will need to make the stew base. Pour a small amount (about 2 cups)  of water or broth  into the crock pot.  Whisk in the envelop of brown gravy into the pot. Then  whisk in flour slowly until the mixture is slightly pasty. (gravy thickens  naturally) Now pour in more  water / broth until the pot is half full and mix.  Dump  the  meat and vegetables into your slow cooker. Add water/ broth until the pot is full and stir. 
 Cook for at least a few hours. I remove all except what I plan to eat that day from the slow cooker and I let it cool in a bowl to prepare it for bagging. Bag the food in a freezer bag the sized bags needed to feed your household. Be sure to label the bag before you fill it with what it is and the date you are bagging it.
Enjoy!
 

I use my chili recipe to make this recipe I'll share soon. You can assemble this, cook it and freeze it or eat it immediately. 
​Ingredients
•    cooked chili
•    about 3 cans of corn (may need more or less)
•    about 4 boxes of corn muffin mix
•    milk (amount required by muffin recipe)
•    eggs (amount required by muffin recipe)

Mix the corn muffin mix. Pour enough chili to cover about ½ inch into a dish. (I use these pie dishes for several recipes like this because they're easy to clean.) Then pour enough corn to cover the chili. Finally, pour about ½ inch of corn muffin mix on top; do not over fill. Bake following corn muffin instructions. Reduce bake time by about 10 minutes if you plan to freeze it to eat it later. Partially cooking it makes for better freezing and will ensure the cornbread doesn't burn when reheating. Cover the food with plastic wrap and aluminum foil and freeze. Be sure to label what it is and the date before freezing it. Whenever you fully cook it, I enjoy rubbing butter over the top of the cornbread as soon as I pull it out of the oven.
Enjoy!

I mentioned frozen onions and peppers in my chili post. I freeze many foods that many people don't thinks of freezing. I hope this post helps you. I also did a video a couple years ago. I freeze

•  Ginger root- For recipes and tea. It's still easy to grate or cut off a piece. I stick it right in the freezer with no container.  (you may or may not choose to put it in a container)
• Onions and peppers- For soups, omelets, and other recipes that require cooked onions and peppers. I use them for some recipes that i would normally use fresh onions and peppers but only if their being soft instead of crisp doesn't matter. Simply set them out on a paper towel to defrost. I try to buy enough for several months  whenever they're on sale and I cut them up and put them into a freezer bag. *Some grocery stores have pre-chopped onions and peppers in the freezer section; this is even easier.
• Citrus- For zesting, recipes that call for slices or juice. I have citrus trees and I also buy citrus. I buy it when it's on sale then I freeze it. I jus stick the whole fruit in the freezer.
• Avocado- For recipes and hair treatments. If you don't use all of an avocado in a recipe or you find a great deal on avocados, buy them and freeze them.  It's important that the avocado is ripe when you freeze it because you will have to take it out of the skin, mush it and be sure to add citrus juice (lemon or lime) so that it will maintain it's green color.
• Berries- For smoothies, recipes and snacks. I buy fresh berries when they are on sale and I wash and freeze them. In addition to using them in recipes, frozen berries are a great snack.Try frozen grapes- yum.
• Spinach- For smoothies, recipes and snacks. Great for smoothies and soups. Simply wash and freeze it.*You wouldn't want to freeze any leafy vegetable (besides broccoli) that you want to eat raw.  it will likely be wilted after defrosting.
• Many vegetables- For meals, snacks, and recipes. Most vegetables can be washed, cut and frozen for later use. Many people buy frozen vegetables but if someone gives you vegetables or you find a great deal, don't pass it up, freeze them.
• Herbs- For drinks and recipes. Usually when I buy herbs for a recipe, I have to buy a whole bundle which is more than I need. Most herbs can be placed in a freezer bag and frozen. If you know you want to use the herb in a drink or soup, you can make herd ice cubes by pushing the herbs into the mold and then filling it with water.  Make sure you don't crush the herb so much that it's unrecognizable. I take the cubes out of the mold when the water freezes. If you are experienced with their appearance, you can mix the cubes together in one dated freezer bag. If you're a beginner, I suggest putting each kind of herb in a small, labeled and dated freezer bad.
• Cooked meat- I cook all the meat all at once. I buy large amounts of meat because not only is it cheaper, this also means less visits to the store. after cooking all of it, I separate it into the amount that I'll need for meals, put them into appropriate-sized freezer bags, label what it is and date it.
• Cooked beans- Beans are a staple in several cultures.  I cook the beans in a crock pot, mash them, put them into bags appropriately sized freezer bags, label and date them.
• Bread/ Flour Tortillas- I buy large amounts of bread and tortillas and I put them in the freezer until needed. My grocery store makes fresh breads of all kinds and they always have a discount rack as the bread gets old. I buy the clearance bread and i freeze it. These items freeze great in the original packaging.  Just make sure that you don't put anything on top of the bread before it's frozen and make sure the tortillas are laying flat because they will freeze into whatever shape they are placed. When they defrost, you can't tell they were frozen.
• Cheese- I buy large amounts of cheese because the larger the amount, the less expensive it is. I just separate it into an amount that I think we'll eat in before it could get moldy. When it defrosts, you can't tell it was frozen.
• Butter- I buy large amounts of butter because running out of butter would be a definite emergency in our house. When it defrosts, you can't tell it was frozen.
• I also freeze cooked meals so that they are ready to defrost and eat at a later date. In addition to the potential to freeze pretty much any meal here are two quick suggestions:
  • I make a huge wok of fried potatoes, divide them into small amounts for meals and freeze.
  • I make a ridiculous amount of pancakes and waffles, let them cool completely, then put the whole batch into the freezer.

I'm sure I don't know all of the potentially freezable foods but I hope I've encouraged you to freeze to make your life a little easier.