My outrageously bad cooking/baking track record is pretty well documented here. I’m the one who forgets to add water to the boxed cake mix. Who totally destroys a 3-ingredient crockpot dish. Who considers cereal a perfectly acceptable option for dinner.
So a couple months ago when my friend, Cristie — who happens to be my raise-a-happy-healthy-family guru — suggested I give her friend’s new dinner plan/cookbook a try, I couldn’t help but be intrigued. She said, yes, even I could do it. With an endorsement like that, who was I to say no?
I bought the Stock Your Freezer in a Snap program, and, as soon as we got back from vacation I dove in. This is way more than a downloadable cookbook. It clearly outlines great items to have in your pantry, the ideal containers for freezing food so it doesn’t get lost in your freezer, and how to make modifications for vegetarian options. Rather than being overwhelmed, my mind was totally put at ease. With every step clearly laid out, I might have a shot at success. Phew.
While the manual suggests cooking a few meals a week, I created my own remedial program and started with one. Sloppy Joes. I mean, how family friendly and simple does that sound?
Here’s the thing. It WAS! The recipe included great tips on shortcuts (buying pre-chopped ingredients, etc), and very clear instructions on not only how to make the recipe, but to make a ton of it so it could be frozen for more family goodness down the line (think post-practice dinner, late work days, etc). And this kid-friendly sounding recipe? Well, it was packed with veggies — and flavor. I seriously could eat these every night…from a bowl. (Guess what we had for dinner on Wednesday night…two weeks after I made it, after a long work day. Hint: It wasn’t frozen chicken nuggets or grilled cheese!)
I should also mention, the taquitos (pictured) were unlike any I’d ever had before (also packed with flavor, veggies, and simplicity), and my mouth waters every time I see them in the freezer. So good. Now, to pick which recipe to make as #3…
If “family time”, “healthy living”, or “saving time” are on your maybe-this-should-be-my-resolution list, this is definitely worth looking into. Or putting on your Christmas wishlist. And the awesome news? The talented chef/mama/lifesaver, Eila, announced today that she’s doing a 2-for-1 special. (Get a gift for yourself and a friend!)
Though I bought the program as a mom desperately trying to find a better way to feed my family dinner, not a blogger, I’ve been so impressed I wanted to share. (The fact that an affiliate program was launched — meaning that if you purchase this thanks to my referral by January 2, 2014, I’ll get a small percentage of the sale — was just icing on the not-hard-as-a-rock cake.)
If it sounds interesting, definitely check out these FAQs about the program.
For a list of the recipes included, click here.
Or to check out the program details and purchase it, click here. Get it while the 2-for-1 special lasts!
What do you think? Would you give something like this a try?
Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links which mean I will make a small percentage of any sales generated from this post. All opinions are my own.
Photo credits: Eila, Stock Your Freezer in a Snap
Cristie’s ideas are pretty amazing! We still use tons of her recipes from when Andy hired her as a health coach. He lost nearly 40 pounds from her easy recipes!
I know, Cristie is the queen of smart, healthy eating. These aren’t Cristie’s recipes, but they’re Cristie approved. Her friend, Eila, has a bunch of well-thought out meals as well.