I recently discovered several crockpot recipes that I was eager to try. So, I decided to make them. All at once.
I figured that I could freeze them in individual portions and pull them out when I was in need of a quick meal. (Hint: Click on the titles to view the recipe on my new favorite blog.)
Recipe 1: Margarita Chicken
I really liked this chicken. The flavor is very unique and the meat was tender. Plus, it took less than five minutes to put together. Quite yummy over rice.
Recipe 2: Vietnamese Pho Soup
This was quite flavorful, but was missing a few ingredients. I couldn’t find bean sprouts or basil, which I think are pretty crucial to pho. The noodles I bought were too small. I think if I try making it again, I’d leave out the cinnamon stick. The flavor of it was a bit too strong for me.
Recipe 3: Taco Soup
Recipe 4: Vegetable Broth
This wasn’t a crockpot recipe, but I turned it into one. I added a few ingredients and used dried spices when I didn’t have fresh.
I poured some of the finished soup into a muffin tin. I read a great idea to then pop those single serving sizes of broth into a plastic bag and keep them in the freezer for later. The only bad thing is that I haven’t been able to get them out of the muffin tin. :)
The broth is rather strong, but I think it will be great for recipes that call for vegetable broth.
I'm lovin' that taco soup. Are you going to fry corn tortilla chips to garnish?
ReplyDeleteAunt Duddie: No, no fried tortillas. (That's one thing I never use up... I always buy tortillas and then they always get gross before I can use them all. argh.)
ReplyDeleteThe taco soup was my least favorite out of these... I think the last time I made chili, I had to eat the entire thing by myself (since my parents didn't want any) and I was so sick of it. So, I'm not really interested in eating it. :) But, when I get back to it, I can just get a container out of the freezer.
The Margarita Chicken and Pho were really good though. Mmm.
To get the stock out of the muffin tin just put some hot water in your sink and set the muffin pan it it for a few seconds and they should pop right out. Or freeze the stock in zip-lock freezer baggies a cup at a time or a quart at a time or even a gallon at a time. Put the baggies flat on a cookie sheet and put in the freezer until solid then you can stack the baggies flat in your freezer, one on top of the other. They take up a lot less room this way. Don't lay the unfrozen bags of liquid on the freezer shelf or they will get stuck in the grids and you will have to take the shelf out of the freezer to get the baggies of stock off of them.
ReplyDeleteHope this helps!
x0x
Great tips! I never thought of putting them flat and then storing them that way. Awesome! I'll have to try that next time.
ReplyDeleteJenna, The Pho sounds really good. I love that kind of food. Adding all the fresh ingredients into your bowl, mushrooms, basil, sprouts, lime juice etc. I like the flat rice noodles, more like fettuccini noodles, and you add them just to your bowl, so they don't get funky. I Love to eat soup anytime! I have a great Tortilla Soup recipe that is soooo easy.
ReplyDeleteTammy: It was good. Next time I'll just make sure I can find all the ingredients and larger noodles! I added the noodles to the crockpot about 10 minutes before serving and they were perfect.
ReplyDeleteTortilla soup. Yum. Neva makes a really good one too. I miss that! I'm totally in the mood for a 'soup party.'
I'll come to your party... soon as I feel better. Scruffy is very sick too. She started insulin a couple of days ago. Poor pup.
ReplyDeleteTammy T - is that you, Buttercup?
Aunt Duddie: Poor Scruffy. :(
ReplyDeleteAunt Duddie-is that you, Sweetiepie?
ReplyDeleteJenna-we thought it would be fun to have soup once a week for whoever is out in service, take turns at homes or in my case bring it to the hall. Good idea?
ReplyDeleteLoves and kisses to you Sweetiepie.
Yes Buttercup, it is I. Soup sounds good. Verrrry good. Gotta love a crockpot.....
ReplyDeleteJenna, when will you be up next?
Tammy: That sounds great (soup once a week)!
ReplyDeleteI'll be up... um... right now. :) I'm actually sitting in my old bedroom typing this. I'm here for the weekend. I leave Sunday evening. So, I'll be sure to see you some time this weekend. xx oo!