Prepare 4 crock pot freezer meals in a hour and a half and feed a family of 6!

  It's that time again, kids are in school and we are trying to figure out a good hearty meal for them that does not require to much time and effort. We have homework, chores and sports. Where are we finding time to get a good meal? I found myself buying A-LOT of junk to feed them and going out to eat. I have always seen people posting about these "Super easy freezer meals, under __ hours. I had a real hard time believing that. My household size is not a normal size. I don't know a whole bunch of people with 4 kids.. So I was a skeptic for sure! I figured that it would take longer to double everything. Here I am telling you it IS that easy! 

  While thinking of meals and digging around on Pinterest I had to remember that all these meals have to be "Mike Approved" Seriously.. he is PICKY! Worse than a toddler, no joke. His list of likes is way shorter than this likes. Cooking for him can be difficult at times. I came up with 4 crockpot meals that where completely mixed in the bags (No extra dishes to wash, WINNING!!). I tried to get out as much air as I could when each meal was finished. I would suggest that you fold down the sides of your bags and hold on tight so you don't spill. You can use a dish to sir the wet stuff but me.. well call me lazy or what ever the more dishes that don't pile up in my sink or on my counter is a blessing!

  I waited until now to post this (friends and family that are on facebook, this is for you!). I have had numerous people asking for recipes and finding what I am doing a great Idea. This (soon to be) past week Sep. 7th to Sep. 10th (Mon-Thur) my family has had crockpot meals all of them came right from the freezer to the crockpot. That simple.

Simply empty the contents in the crockpot! You may have to tear one side completely open, I did with all of them. Easy clean up and we had left overs all week except for Beef Tips and Gravy night, I didn't even think about taking pics before I handed out bowls but everyone was excited to eat. The kids would all come home saying how good the house smelled. I take pride in that, they are my biggest fans :)

This is my amazing family!

 I have enjoyed cooking these meals.This opened up time for me to get a few things done around the house and work on some new patterns that I will be releasing soon. I feel like I have accomplished quite about with getting my blog planner organized, a few patterns written and tested and enjoyed every minute! I can't believe that tomorrow is Sunday, That is why this one is being finished right now :)

A basic beanie pattern I worked up (Soon to be released) 

I'm working on a order and this is what I came up with!

I love these colors together <3

Find me on Etsy!

I will be adding a ton more!

Any questions, email or message me I'd be happy to help

  I hope you guys believe me when I say it is SO worth it! Taking a day (mine was Saturday) and sit in the kitchen for a short while to prepare your meals so your house can still have a healthy, cheap and easy meal.

  I did it again for this weeks meals. I'm so excited! My facebook friends know that I went out on a limb and bought a Foodsaver system and I found out NO do not mix the wet stuff in with the bag. It could get a bit messy. Other than that I am LOVING it!! Mike even helped in the kitchen today, helping with bagging and cutting up the meat. Honestly I think some of it has to do with him getting to play with it.. I was so happy to have him there with me.

  Are you ready to make your grocery list?

Lets start

1. Sit down either by yourself or with your significant other. I made a list of a few things I seen on pintrest that looked good but I had ideas on how to make it "Mike approved".

2. Write down all ingredients that you will need, don't forget freezer bags!
**You will need 4 gallon size freezer zip lock baggies**

3. Come home and start separating your items. I like to organize mine, meats, seasonings, veggies, recipes, etc. 

Scroll down for beef tips and gravy

**Dinners**

Beef tips and gravy

 -3 LBS of stew meat (helpful hint: buying the long already cut up strips are cheaper than buying all the meat cut up. It took me all of 2 minutes to cut chunks up and remember they fall apart in the crockpot)

-2 cans cream of mushroom soup (he didn't even know that was in there. He is NOT a mushroom guy)

-4 pkg of powder gravy mix

-1 cup water

-half of a large onion chopped up (I used onion powder mike does NOT like onions either lol)

-Rice, pasta or mashed potatoes you choose!

Mix the cream of mushroom soup, brown gravy mix & water

right in the bag. I folded down the sides and held on to make sure I 

didn't spill it (the less dishes the better right?)

add the gravy, cream of mushroom soup water to the bag, mix together and add the rest. Get out as much air as you can and seal it.

Cook on low 7-8 hours serve over pasta, rice or mashed potatoes (all of them are YUMMY)

---------------------------------------------------------------

Crochet Twisty Top Boot Cuff Pattern.. 5 sizes!

 How about a boot cuff pattern that don't slip when you wear it and also a boot cuff pattern you can make as a mommy & daughter set? Yeah your in the right spot! I love designing things that not only look cute but also very functional. Being a mom to 4 I am always going and pulling up boot cuffs every 5 minutes is enough to drive me nuts. So I made these to go along with my Twisty Top beanie I designed and published a week or so ago. Whats awesome about these boot cuffs is that you have 5 sizes to choose from! Yes I said that and you read that right, 5 sizes toddler to adult large. Not all woman are alike and have the same body type. Im on the medium size and not all boot cuffs I have made fit right. I like the idea that you can wear jeans or leggings it don't matter they still look cute! Dress them up with pretty ribbon or dress them down and leave it off, let the spiral show its curves. They work great for mommy & me matching accessories, either for your self or a family member or a friend. They stay in place with out the slouching down and with the ribbon you can even tighten it up if need be. Each size was tested and tried on, Fits great!!

*my amazing (almost 11 year old) step son took the pics! Yes that is me and he did a AWESOME job! Even tho I told him only take pics of the waist down to show the boot cuffs he snapped this one. He loves the camera and playing with it*

 I'm so excited to release this new pattern! I am not going to lie, last week we had a cool 70 degree day so of course I got out my boots and slipped these on! During the chilly months you will find me with leggings more than anything else and I always have boots on. I LOVE being comfy and being cute. While out and about I got complements about how cute they where with the ribbon and I did such a great job. I appreciate when I get complemented, it makes me feel that I have done something right.
  Like all my paid patterns I work hard to make sure they are easy to read, lots of notes that are useful for the patterns. With out my testers I turn too (new and one's Ive counted on numerous times) my patterns wouldn't be this good. I take a lot of pride in my patterns and I make sure that they are as close to perfect before I list them. Sometimes that may be 2-4 times before getting it right but well worth it when I see finished items. It always makes me feel great to see others use my patterns and share patterns with me!
  I'm sitting here at my computer getting geared up for this week, I am writing in my blog planner trying to get organized. I will be sharing some easy, quick and saving money tips for in the kitchen this week. I am over joyed with what I have put together! So much is going on this week and to think it is only Monday!
  I hope you all enjoy this pattern as much as I do!

CLICK ON RAV, CRAFTSY OR ETSY TO PURCHASE THE PATTERN!
Buy on Ravelry
Buy on Craftsy
Buy on Etsy

Don't forget to share this post!
~Heather

School's in session! Try this granola bar recipe super simple 4 ingredients!!

Homemade granola bars!

  I am sure just about everyone has sent there kids off to school by now. Today was my kids first day of school and they where EXCITED! Quite honestly I was excited about the piece and quite, the non-stop yelling and tattling ALL.THE.TIME. Yes, I am not ashamed to admit it! 4 kids, confide in a small space and not much outside area is not a good combo. We have went here and there, did some fun things but Ashlynn spent weeks sick. Her counts where down so much that she barely left the house to reduce the risk of infection or another virus.. So school is a blessing right now. I am also trying to get up on house work today and got a little accomplished! Something that hasn't happened in a while because I have 4 tornado's that are constantly rolling through my house.

  I have been stuck to pintrest trying to come up with different snack idea. I give them a snack when they come home from school and I guess we have to send "good, healthy snacks" to school for snack time. Like I said.. 4 kids! Im a stay at home mom and I need to find ways to spend less on snack items and I want them to be healthy ones! What's healthier than home made snacks, not just something with junk in it but something that is GOOD?

I used a cake pan

   ONLY 4 INGREDIENTS, quick cooking oats, butter, sweetened condensed milk and M&M's! Its $8.10 for all 4 things on the list if you don't have any ingredients. If you do, even cheaper! I just did the math, figured out how much I spent ONLY on what I used (not the extra oatmeal, stick of butter and the M&M's I didn't use) I spent $2.78 to make 15 bars; thats $0.19 EACH!! I'm saving money and my kids are eating good.

Finished! Cut and cooling

Bagged and in the snack bucket! Ready for snack at school or lunch.

 Much trial and errors happen in my kitchen and these.. done so quick! 

****GET THE RECIPE HERE! BY THE FRUGAL GIRLS****