Tag: Homesteading

Introduction

Crockpot freezer meals are a game-changer for busy individuals and families. They offer a convenient, nutritious, and time-saving solution for those who want to avoid the fast-food trap. In this all-inclusive guide, we’ll delve into five scrumptious and simple crockpot freezer meals, along with essential tips to elevate your cooking experience.

Benefits of Crockpot Freezer Meals

• Time-Saving: Prepare multiple meals simultaneously and freeze them for future use.
• Nutritious: You have full control over the ingredients, ensuring a healthier meal.
• Cost-Effective: Bulk buying ingredients can lead to significant savings.
• Stress-Free: Imagine coming home to a hot, ready-to-eat meal after a hectic day.

Essential Tips for Crockpot Freezer Cooking

• Seasoning: Customize the seasoning to suit your palate.
• Defrosting: Always defrost your meals in the fridge for 24 hours before cooking.
• Cooking: Use high-quality freezer bags to prevent freezer burn. Label them with cooking instructions for easy reference.
• Grocery List: A well-planned grocery list ensures you have all the necessary ingredients for multiple recipes.

Grocery List

Produce:

Meats:

Frozen:

• 1 family sized bag of corn

Canned:

• 2 small cans of pineapple rings
• 2 cans of diced tomatoes
• 2 cans of diced tomatoes with green chilies
• 1 jar of salsa
• 2 cans of cream of your choice
• 2 cans of cream of chicken
• 2   15oz cans of blackbeans

Dairy:

• Provolone Cheese
• 4 cups cheddar cheese

Bakery:

Staples/Spices

• Salt
• Pepper
• Flour
• Beef bouillon
• Worcestershire sauce
• Steak Sauce
• Steak Seasoning
• Taco Seasoning
• Cooking Sherry
• Butter
• Curry powder
• Rice
• Salad Supplies

Recipes

1. Savory Pepper Steak

Ingredients

• 3 pounds round steak, cut into ½-inch thick strips
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 4-5 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 green pepper, sliced
• 1 red pepper, sliced
• 2 16oz cans Italian style tomatoes
• 2 tbsp beef bouillon
• 4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tbsp steak seasoning
• 2 tbsp steak sauce

Directions

1. Mix beef bouillon, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.
2. Add remaining ingredients.
3. Cook on low for 8 hours.
4. Serve with rice and a side salad.

Nutritional Information

• Calories: 400
• Protein: 35g
• Carbs: 20g

2. Salsa Chicken

Ingredients

• 6-8 chicken breasts
• 2 15oz cans black beans
• 1 family-size frozen bag of corn
• 2 cans diced tomatoes and green chilies
• 1 jar salsa
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 2 cups cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Divide all ingredients except cheese into two bags.
2. Cook on low for 8 hours.
3. Serve over rice or corn tortillas.

Nutritional Information

• Calories: 350
• Protein: 30g
• Carbs: 25g

3. Chicken Curry

• 6-8chicken breasts
• 2cans of cream of chicken soup
• 1cup of dry cooking sherry
• ½cup of butter
• 8green onions chopped
• 4tsp of curry powder
• saltand pepper

Directions: Divide everything except butter into two bags evenly.  Add butter to crockpot when ready to cook.  Cook on low for 8 hours. Serve over rice with a side salad.

4. Hawaiian Chicken Sandwiches

Ingredients

• Cubed chicken
• Pineapple slices
• Teriyaki sauce
• Sandwich buns

Directions

1. Mix teriyaki sauce and add cubed chicken and pineapple slices.
2. Cook on low for 8 hours.
3. Serve on sandwich buns.

Nutritional Information

• Calories: 350
• Protein: 28g
• Carbs: 40g

5. Scalloped Potatoes and Ham

Ingredients

Directions

1. Layer Sliced potatoes, diced ham, and chopped onions in the crockpot.
2. Pour cheese sauce over the layers.
3. Cook on low for 8 hours.

Nutritional Information

• Calories: 450
• Protein: 30g
• Carbs: 50g

Conclusion

Crockpot freezer meals offer a convenient and healthy dining option for anyone juggling a busy schedule. With a bit of preparation, you can relish a variety of scrumptious meals that are both cost-effective and time-saving. Try these recipes and savor the simple pleasures of homemade comfort…

Hey, homesteaders! Are you looking for a delicious, easy-to-make recipe that not only fills your home with the aroma of autumn but also serves as a fantastic gift for friends and family? Look no further! Sarah Olson over at The Magical Slow Cooker has crafted a Slow Cooker Apple Butter recipe that is simply divine.

What Makes This Recipe Special?

• Cost-Effective: Making apple butter at home is far more economical than buying it from the store.
• Simple Ingredients: All you need are apples, brown sugar, and spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
• Versatility: Use it on toast, in recipes, or even as a topping for ice cream and milkshakes!

What’s the Difference Between Applesauce and Apple Butter?

Sarah briefly touched on this, but let’s delve deeper. While both are apple-based, they differ in texture, flavor, and usage:

• Texture: Applesauce is runnier and chunkier, whereas apple butter is smooth and spreadable.
• Flavor: Apple butter has a richer, spiced flavor due to the addition of spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
• Usage: Applesauce is often eaten as is or used in baking, while apple butter is more like a jam and can be used as a spread or in various recipes.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Apples: Gala or Fuji are recommended, but feel free to experiment.
• Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness and deepens the color.
• Spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves are key to a flavorful apple butter.

Step-by-Step Directions

1. Preparation: Start with 5 pounds of apples. Peel, core, and slice them.
2. Mixing: Add the apples to a 6-quart or larger slow cooker. Add brown sugar and spices.
3. Cooking: Cook on HIGH for 5 hours or LOW for 8-10 hours.
4. Blending: Use a blender or an immersion blender to achieve a smooth consistency.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Too Thin?: If your apple butter turns out too thin, don’t fret! Sarah suggests cooking it on HIGH with the lid off for an additional 45-60 minutes.

How to Serve and Store

• Serving Ideas:
  • On toast or croissants
  • With biscuits
  • As an ice-cream topping
  • In milkshakes
• Storage: This is not a canning recipe. Store it in the fridge for up to a week or freeze it for up to a year.

Additional Recipes to Use Up Your Apple Butter

• Apple Butter Little Smokies
• Slow Cooker Apple Butter Pork Chops
• Apple Butter Snickerdoodles

Why You Should Make This Recipe

• Gift Material: It makes for a wonderful homemade gift during the holidays.
• Long Shelf Life: When properly stored, it can last up to a year in the freezer.
• Health Benefits: Apples are rich in fiber and vitamins, making this a somewhat guilt-free indulgence.

So, what are you waiting for? Head over to The Magical Slow Cooker for the full recipe and make some magic in your kitchen today!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What types of apples are best for making apple butter?

While Sarah from The Magical Slow Cooker recommends Gala or Fuji apples, you can experiment with different varieties to find your favorite. Tart apples like Granny Smith can add a unique twist!

Can I use a sugar substitute?

Yes, you can! Some readers have successfully made this recipe using brown sugar substitutes. Just be sure to adjust to your taste.

How…

Hey, homesteaders! Are you looking to build a chicken tractor that’s not just functional but also durable and efficient? Well, you’re in luck! We’ve stumbled upon an incredible blog post by Kelsey Jorissen Olesen from Green Willow Homestead Blog, featured on The Prairie Homestead. Kelsey shares her top 10 tips for building a chicken tractor that you won’t want to miss!

Why a Chicken Tractor?

Before we dive into the tips, let’s talk about why you’d want a chicken tractor in the first place. Chicken tractors are mobile coops that allow your chickens to graze on fresh grass, catch bugs, and fertilize the soil, all while staying protected from predators. It’s a win-win for both you and your feathered friends!

Top 10 Tips from the Expert

1. Ventilation and Shade

• Ensure proper ventilation to keep the air fresh and humidity low.
• Provide shade for your chickens to escape the hot sun.

2. Protection from Predators

• Use heavy-duty welded wire fencing and hardware cloth for maximum security.

3. Daily Movement

4. Pecking Order

• Address pecking issues by identifying the bully or the victim and taking appropriate action.

5. Roosting Bars

• Place roosting bars higher than nesting boxes to satisfy your hens’ natural instincts.

6. Exterior Nesting Box Access

• Make your life easier with exterior access to nesting boxes for quick egg collection.

7. Heavy-Duty Tires and Hardware

• Choose quality tires and hardware to ensure smooth mobility.

8. Human-Sized Access Doors

• Include large doors for easy access for feeding, cleaning, and medical care.

9. Durable Materials

• Invest in quality materials like corrugated metal siding and high-quality hardware.

10. Annual Maintenance

• Regularly check and maintain your chicken tractor to ensure its longevity.

Additional Insights

• Roosters for Peace: Consider adding a rooster to maintain peace within the flock.
• Eco-Friendly Stains: Use eco-friendly stains to preserve untreated pine lumber.

Wrapping Up

Kelsey also offers downloadable, printable Mobile Chicken Tractor Build Plans that come with a materials list, step-by-step instructions, and bonus tips. So, if you’re serious about building a chicken tractor that stands the test of time, make sure to check out her original blog post for all the juicy details!

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your tools and start building the chicken tractor of your dreams today!

Are you tired of stockpiling rolls and rolls of toilet paper? Do you want a more sustainable, eco-friendly alternative? Well, Tara Dodrill has got you covered! In her insightful blog post on Ares and Athena, Tara introduces us to the concept of growing our own toilet paper using plants. Yes, you read that right—plants!

Why You Should Consider Growing Your Own Toilet Paper

• Sustainability: No more hoarding rolls of toilet paper.
• Cost-Effective: Save money in the long run.
• Space-Saving: Plants take up less storage space.

Plants That Can Replace Toilet Paper

Tara lists seven plants that can be used as natural toilet paper alternatives:

1. Mullein: Soft and velvety leaves, grows abundantly in dry soil.
2. Lamb’s Ear: Extremely soft and broad leaves.
3. Blue Spur Flower: Grows in hot or tropical regions, leaves are broad and soft.
4. Corn Lily: Sturdy leaves, grows freely in the western United States.
5. Thimbleberry: Sturdy and broad leaves, also offers delicious berries.
6. Pink Wild Pear: Thick and soft leaves, grows in agricultural zone one or indoors.
7. Large Leaf Aster: Soft heart-shaped leaves, common in most areas of the United States.

Beware of Toxic Plants

Additional Tips

• Preservation: Dry the leaves for year-round use.
• Allergic Reactions: Always test a small amount of the plant on your skin first.
• First Aid: Keep Calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream handy for any allergic reactions.

Why This Matters

In a post-disaster scenario, taking care of basic needs like toilet paper can become a significant issue. Tara emphasizes the importance of being prepared for such situations. She also provides valuable tips on preserving these plants for future use.

About the Author

Tara Dodrill is a homesteading and survival journalist and author. She has been both a host and frequent guest on preparedness radio shows and has published a book on surviving power grid failures.

So, what are you waiting for? Start planting these toilet paper alternatives today and make your homestead more sustainable and prepared for any situation!