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If you read Beef Day! the next blue and pink sections are repeats.  The directions after that are new so read on.

To freeze the meals, you can use freezer bags.  You can also use Tupperware containers made for freezing that allow you to pop the frozen ingredients out and directly into the baking dish.  You can also line a baking dish with heavy foil, layer the casserole and then freeze.  When frozen you turn the container over and out comes the rectangle of food.  You then re-wrap in more foil, label and put back into the freezer.  You want to put it into the baking dish the day you take it out of the freezer before it defrosts.  With this method you can continue to use the baking dish for other recipes while the prepared meal stays in the freezer.

When it actually comes to the cooking, the first task is to separate the ground meat that will be assembled fresh from the quantity that will be browned.  You will need fresh ground beef for some recipes. This article is for those recipes that take browned ground meat and onions.

3 pounds of hamburger with some chopped onions comes to about 5 cups browned mixture.

This is the How To for the Marathon Cooking Day.  The full recipes are found elsewhere and are linked here.

Any left over browned meat can be put into bags and frozen for a quick meal.  In my family we use 4-5 cups of meat mixture per recipe so I bag accordingly.  Sometimes because of budget I am not able to get all the needed ingredients at one time.  I buy the meat when on sale and cook it up and then assemble the rest as the time comes.  I have made it a policy to rarely put uncooked meat into my freezer unless it is specifically planned for something like meat loaf or hamburgers.  The exception is when I purchase a side of beef but even then I plan on major cooking days when I cook up a great deal of the meat and then freeze it.  I have two crock pots, two dutch ovens, and two big pressure cookers so anything I do can be doubled and half frozen for busy day.  With a house full of children all of my days are busy!

TACO PIE
Full Recipe

3 pounds ground beef (5 cups cooked)
1 large onion, finely chopped (1 cup)
½ envelope taco seasoning mix (mild)
2 cups milk
2 cups biscuit mix
4 eggs
1 pound cheddar cheese, shredded (2 cups)

In a large skillet, cook and stir ground beef and onion until beef is brown; drain.  Combine beef with taco seasoning mix, and spread in a baking dish.  Beat milk, baking mix and eggs until smooth, 15 seconds on high in a blender or 1 minute with a hand beater.  Pour milk over beef in dish.  Cover dish with foil, and freeze.  Keep bag of grated cheese with pie.

TACO SALAD
Full Recipe

3 1/2 cups of browned meat mixture
Bag, label, freeze

1 cup shredded cheese
Bag, attach to meat mixture, freeze

Alternative:
2 30- oz can refried beans
Add the beans to the meat mixture and freeze.

TACO BUBBLE PIZZA
Full Recipe

4 cups browned meat mixture
2-15 oz cans of tomato sauce
1 package mild taco seasoning
Bag, label and freeze

4 c grated cheddar cheese
bag and attach to meat bag.

Alternative:
Assemble the entire dish, freeze

BEEF NOODLE SUPREME
Full Recipe

2 pounds ground meat
4 tablespoons margarine
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons sugar
4 8 oz. Cans tomato sauce
2 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
2 cups sour cream
12 green onions, including green part, chopped
2 8 oz pkg. Noodles
2 cups cheddar cheese, grated

In a skillet, brown meat in margarine.  Add garlic, salt, sugar and tomato sauce; simmer about 10 minutes.  Soften and blend thoroughly cream cheese and sour cream.  Add onions and set aside.  Boil noodles until tender; drain.  In baking dishes, layer noodles, cream cheese mixture, and meat sauce.  Repeat layers.  Sprinkle cheese on top.  Freeze

Alternative:
Assemble until you get to the noodles.  Bag, label and freeze.  On cooking day make noodles and assemble the dish.  Bake.

HACIENDA HAMBURGER
Full Recipe

3 pounds ground meat, browned
2 large onions, chopped
2 cans crushed tomatoes
Brown meat and onions together, add the canned tomatoes.  Bag, label and freeze.

2 cups cheese, grated
Grate cheese, bag, label and attached to the meat mixture.  Freeze.

LOGANOFF
Full Recipe

Bag 5 cups of browned meat mixture, label and freeze.  You can add a bag of frozen peas to the mixture if you like.

Alternative:
Assemble the entire dish and freeze.  Add the cooked potatoes, noodles, rice or toast when serving the meal.

Everything you read here is freely offered, asking only that you honor my copyright by sending my site address to others rather than copying and sending the individual articles.  You may print and use my articles provided that you give credit to me as the author and link back to this site. The articles were written in the hope that they will help mothers realize just how normal chaotic life with children really is and how priceless the journey.   The Noble Child Email List Be notified of any new postings in the topics of homeschooling, parenting, home management and just plain fun.  Converse with other mothers and keep the joyful perspective while raising children.  Many of the mothers are LDS but the list is open to mothers of all religions. Email Cherie