Taco Soup

1 lb. ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1- 16 oz. can chili beans
1- 15oz. can kidney beans
1- 4oz. can diced green chilies
1- 15 oz. can whole kernal corn
1- 8 oz. can tomato sauce
2 cups water
2- 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes
1- 2.25 oz. envelope taco seasoning

Brown ground beef with onion over medium heat until meat is done. Drain and set aside.  Add rest of ingredients to crock pot.  Do not drain anything.  Add beef and mix well.  Cook on low for 8 hours.  Allow to cool. Place in freezer bag.
Already been cooked just need to heat and serve this month but in the future you can make with above directions.
To serve:  Thaw. Heat and serve with tortilla chips if you'd like.

Baked Penne

1 pound of ground beef or sausage
1-2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tsp fennel
1 tsp anise
1 can of diced tomatoes (drained)
1 jar favorite spaghetti sauce
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
1 container of cottage cheese
2/3 cup plain yogurt or sour cream
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
1 box of penne pasta or whatever style pasta you like

Sauce Mixture: Season meat liberally with salt and pepper. Brown meat with garlic, fennel and anise.  Drain fat.  Add can of diced tomatoes and jar of spaghetti sauce.

Cheese mixture: Combine cottage cheese, plain yogurt, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese and parsely.  Season with pepper.  May want to add one beaten egg to cheese mixture to help it set.

Cook pasta to a little before al dente.

Spray 9x13 (or two 8x8) dish with cooking spray.  Coat bottom of dish with tomato sauce or reserve a little spaghetti sauce from the jar to coat the bottom of the dish.  Layer in this order: noodles, cheese mixture, sauce mixture.  Repeat.  Make sure all noodles are covered in sauce.  Top with a little mozzarella and parmesan cheese.

Cover with foil. Freeze or bake.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until hot and bubbly at the sides.  Remove foil the last 10-15 minutes.  If baking from frozen, will take about 2 hours.

Tater Tot Casserole

1 2-lb package frozen tater tots
1 lb ground beef
2 10-oz cans cream of mushroom soup
1 soup can milk
Shredded cheddar cheese
Salt, Pepper, & Garlic Powder to taste

Place tater tots in 9x13 pan. Brown ground beef; drain. Spoon over tater tots. Mix soup and milk in bowl. Pour over top. Sprinkle with spices and cheese. Bake covered with foil for 1 hour on 350. Remove foil and bake an additional 30 minutes.

FOR FREEZER GROUP: bake covered for 2 1/2 - 3 hrs on 300.

French Dip

I used this recipe.  Their freezer instructions are at the end.  Since it's packaged in half portions, just be sure to only add 1 c water per container when you cook it

Mexican Lasagna

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 lb ground beef

2 Tbsp chili powder

2 tsp cumin

Salt and pepper

½ red onion- chopped

1 (14 oz.) can stewed tomatoes

½ c. taco sauce

1 (15oz.) can black beans

1c. corn kernels

6 flour tortillas

2 ½ c. shredded cheese- cheddar or pepper jack if you like it spicy

2 green onions finely chopped (optional)

Preheat large skillet over medium high heat.  Add olive oil –let heat up for a minute.  Then add meat and season with chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper, and red onion.  Brown meat for 5 minutes.  Add tomatoes, taco sauce, corn, and black beans.  Heat mixture through for 2 to 3 minutes.  Spray a baking dish (8x8) with cooking spray.  Cut tortillas into quarters or halves to make them fit in your pan, then layer in pan in this order- tortillas, meat mixture, cheese and repeat two more times so you have 3 layers.  Top with green onions if desired.  Freeze now or bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes.  

If using from frozen:  Thaw and bake at 350 for about 20 minutes.

Beef Stew

2 lbs. beef stew meat
3 (10.75 oz.) cans cream of mushroom soup
1 (1.25 oz) envelope onion soup mix
3/4 cup water
1 lb. carrots
1 onion, quartered
2-3 potatoes, cubed (these you will add later)

Place stew meat, carrots & onions in baking dish.  Combine soups and water and pour over all.  Cover with aluminum foil and bake 3 hours @ 325.  Remove from oven and allow to cool.  Place in freezer bag.

Thaw. Add cubed potaotes.  Heat on stove until hot and bubbly or in crock-pot until potatoes are done.

Slow Cooked Chili

1 cup dry pinto beans or 2 15 oz. cans
2 pounds ground beef
1/2  cup chopped onions
4 cans stewed tomatoes
1 cup chopped bell peppers
1/2 cup chopped celery
2 tsp. minced garlic
2 Tbsp. chili powder
1 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. cumin
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. salt

Brown ground beef with onions.  Add to slow cooker or large bowl.  Add beans, tomatoes, green pepper, celery, garlic, chili pwder, pepper, cumin, sugar, and salt.  Mix well.  Freeze or cook in crock pot on Low 8-10 hours or on high 4-5 hours.

To serve: Thaw.  Place in crock-pot cook low 8-10 hours or High 4-5 hours.  Top with sour cream and/or shredded cheese.