The beans were soaking for a good 24 hrs. That’s one of my new year goals this year, soaking our beans. You see we eat lots of beans all year long. I love them homemade. I can’t recall the last time I had canned beans. I can remember when that’s all I use to eat.
I recently read a blog post at Deep Roots at Home all about beans and was so encouraged to start soaking our beans.
Then I read a blog post about preparing meals ahead of time and I was equally encouraged to give it a try.
The concept was simple. Take a few of my favorite crockpot meals and put together all the ingredients into a freezer bag. My very own frozen all put together crockpot meals. I love it!
Slow cooker Turkey Soup with Pinto Beans.
I even had a helper.
I was so encouraged by how easy this was and how quickly all the meals came together. I had just done some shopping so I had just stocked up on some pineapple tidbits. 
Sweet and Tangy Chicken from Taste of Home crockpot recipes.
Prior to this day I had cooked a turkey and two whole chickens plus I had some frozen chicken breasts tucked away.
Having all the beans, carrots and meat ready were time savers.
BBQ Chicken, made with homemade BBQ Sauce. Recipe is easy. 3lbs of Chicken, 2c of BBQ sauce :-)
At the end of my afternoon I had 6 family size meals ready to freeze.
Plus with all the yummy chickens cooking I was able to make Homemade Chicken Broth to store away in the freezer. Loving all this goodness!
~Cinnamon
Inspirational!! and probably what I need to do, it is soooo hot I'm totally uninspired to eat let alone cook.. but eat we do
ReplyDeleteI tell you what it's a great idea!! I'm so glad I bumped into it on the internet :-)
DeleteWhat a great idea Cinnamon! I think I will have to think about copying you on this one!! And...yippeee for soaking and cooking your own beans! I like to as well. :)
ReplyDeleteLove,
Camille
Yes and I always refer back to your Chicken Broth recipe when I make a batch! YUM!!
DeleteThat is a genius idea! I will have to try it! So nice and simple :-)
ReplyDeleteYes perfect for you with a wee one. How are you feeling. How is your sweet little baby?
DeleteThanks for taking the time to post this ~ I'm excited to give this a try! I was just! literally!!! thinking about crockpot meals for this week....no recipes made me smile until now ~ smile ~ I've I've never soaked beans...infact I've bever bought beans that were not in a can....and come to think about it I use black beans & kidney beans a couple times a week! You've inspired me! Honestly your blog inspires me ~ I peak in all the time. Blessings, EMichelle
ReplyDeleteI love crockpot meals. LOVE them. They are so easy and my days can get so busy that it's such a comfort to know dinner is all taken care of. I'm thinking they will be nice for Sunday's too to cut down on cooking.
DeleteHaha! There was a time I always ate beans from a can too. They taste so much better making them yourself. I like to make a big batch (already cooked) then divide them up into baggies (2 cups each) and freeze them. That makes for quick beans when I need them.
So glad you stopped by!
What a great idea!!!!! Do you need to thaw them before throwing in the crockpot? I loved the "family size meals" with you I know they really are :).
ReplyDeleteI haven't used one yet but I would say no. Just cut the bag and peel it off then throw the contents in the crock pot.
DeleteI am hoping they will be my emergency meals or we'll enjoy them on Sundays :-)
Love this!!!
ReplyDeleteI love crock pots.
I love freezer meals.
I'm totally going to do this!
What else you have up that sleeve of yours???
Haha! Up my sleeve? Probably crumbs or a blankie or an empty bottle :-)
DeleteHi Cinnamon,
ReplyDeleteI love doing crcockpot freezer meals.I just started doing them about 2 mos. ago. One of my favorite places to get new recipes for our meals is The Family Homestead.She has a lot of good recipes for crock pot and freezer meals.Your meals look.yummy.I think my daughter's and I are due a session.Thanks for the inspiration.Blessings,Muffy
Absolutely LOVE this idea! I will have to give this a try!
ReplyDelete