Freezer Cuisine

Hey Guys & Gals,
So during the summer I will be posting a number of recipes that are perfect to cook then freeze.  These frozen meals are perfect to take back with you for the fall semester and heat up in the microwave on nights the dining hall just won't do.
Today's recipe is meatloaf.  Now these babies are versatile in size and taste so you can customize them to fit in your mini-fridge or have a Cajun zing--it's up to you.  For this post I will post the basic recipe and add some extra ideas for those that want to put a little more pizzazz into their meatloaf.

Easy Meatloaf

• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 1 egg
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup dried bread crumbs
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons prepared mustard

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, combine beef, egg, onion, milk and bread crumbs. Season with salt and pepper to taste and place in a lightly greased 5x9 inch loaf pan.
3. In a separate small bowl, combine the brown sugar, mustard and ketchup. Mix well and pour over the meatloaf.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour.
5. Once loaf is done wrap in tinfoil, place in zip-lock bag, then place in freezer
6. Prepare to eat by thawing loaf then warming in microwave or defrost in convection oven.

Try adding one of the following ingredients to create a meatloaf with a twist!

-Cheese-BBQ Sauce-Cajun seasoning
-Bacon
-Cooked Potato cubes
(Example: add bacon and cheese to make a bacon cheese burger loaf)

Crock Pot Chili

Crock pots are one of the few cooking devices most colleges allow in dormatories.  Not only that but they are one of the easiest methods for cooking.  Here is a super cheap and yummy chili recipe that will provide you with a few days worth of meals.  In all this dinner should cost about  10.00 and takes a few hours to cook; luckily you can let the crock pot take care of that while you’re in class!

Ingredients

1 Can---15 oz. Kidney Beans ($.85)

1 Can---15 oz. Black Beans ($.85)

1 Can---15 oz. Chili seasoned Chili Beans ($.85)

1 Can---Chili seasoned Diced Tomatos ($.85)

1 Lb.---Ground Beef ($4.50)

Dash of Salt, Pepper, and Onion Powder

*all prices are on the higher end of estimatation*

Directions

1.      Brown meat in a skillet or in the microwave.  To brown in the microwave simply put beef in a microwave safe bowl and cook in 2 minute intervals, stirring after each interval.  Do this until browned all the way through.  Drain the fat after finished.

2.      Add all the ingredients in the crock pot and stir together.  Season to your liking then cover and put crock pot on low for about 5 hours. 

3.      Serve and enjoy!

Snow Flake Party Mix

Here is a brand new page dedicated to providing you with delicious, easy, and cheap recipes that can be created in a college dorm room!

For my first post I wanted to stick to the spirit of the holidays.  Here is a super easy and fairly cheap recipe that you can enjoy while watching Christmas movie specials or bring to any Christmas party this season.

Snow Flake Party Mix

Ingredients:

·         6 Cups---Plain Chex Mix Cerel

·         1 Cup----Small Pretzel Twists

·         1 Cup----Roasted Peanuts

·         1 Bag----M & M’s Chocolates

·         1 Package(12 oz.) of White Melting Chocolate (2 packages if you want your mix to be extra chocolatly)

Directions:

1.      Combine the Chex Mix, pretzels, and peanuts in a large mixing bowl

2.      Melt chocolate in microwave according to product directions.  Drizzle chocolate on the mixture and stir carefully.  Be sure to coat the mix evenly with chocolate.  Once mixed lay out on wax paper or non-stick pan (a normal pan will work too, just a bit more work and finese required to remove the mix later).  While cooling add M & M’s and let mixture sit to firm.  Once the mix has set, break into pieces and store in baggies or tupperware containers.

P.S.-To add a minty twist use the seasonal

 Mint M & M’s or pieces of Ande’s mint bars.