Freezer Cooking Stage 1 .. Our Spicy Chili Is On The Stove

With winter closing on us here in Northern Minnesota I am in the mood to cook and get some freezer meals ready for cold nights and easy cooking.

I do not want to spend hours at one time cooking enough food for a month or more. So I am doing it in stages. Our freezer is really only the top of a refrigerator so could not get that much in any way.

There is only 2 of us so what I am cooking this afternoon is Our homemade Spicy ( to me ) Chili and I am dividing it in to 3 containers for 3 different nights.

We can add a salad or cottage cheese and fruit plus crackers or bread for a fast tasty dinner.

My recipe is for 6 servings so would be a nice amount for 4 to 6 people.

1 1/2 pounds of ground beef 85 percent fat free $3.00

small amount of onion chopped up $.25

2 tsp of garlic

4 tsp of Chili

2 tsp of basil

1/2 tsp of salt

1 tsp of pepper

2 tsp of cumin

2 tsp of oregano

2 16oz cans of Chili or Kidney beans $1.58

2 16 oz cans of diced tomatoes $1.38

1 32 oz cans of Tomato Sauce $1.19

1 can of water

Brown ground beef,


drain off the grease
add onion to meat


then add your spices and stir

add your tomato sauce, diced tomatoes and chili beans

Simmer for about 45 minutes . It is now ready to eat or cool and freeze for future meals.

This pot has been divided into 3 containers for dinner and there was enough for us to each have a small bowl for lunch some time.

Total cost is $7.40 for us to have 3 good size freezer meals. I added the beans to my chili. Later was reading an old Betty Crocer cook book on " Do Ahead Cookbook " and with their chili recipe ( which is nothing like mine spice wise) said to not add the beans and to add them when ready to reheat and cook. I will see how the beans are when I thaw out and cook to see if this is necessary.

Stage 2 of Cooking will be coming up soon..

Thanks for stopping by .. Lets keep saving together .. Grace