Cooking with Lauren: From freezer to crockpot

Here’s a fun fact about me: I loathe cooking.

Thinking about what I am going to make for dinner each day stresses me out. It’s just not my thing, even though I certainly try. I have prepared some successful meals in the past, but far too often I’ve said, “Let’s get pizza instead.” Just ask my husband.

I’d much rather a home cooked meal prepared by the hands of my mother, mother-in-law or by one of the thousands of incredible chefs that have restaurants in metro Detroit. 

But I have no choice. I must cook. So, I am always looking for tasty recipes that are simple – enter The Crockpot.

It’s changed my life. It’s hard to chop, cut and add ingredients when you start work at 3:30 a.m., but I’ve found a solution and I had to share it with you - our Local 4 & ClickonDetroit viewers.

Crockpot Freezer Meals

Maybe some of you have already discovered this secret, but this cooking ‘hack’ - as I like to call it - takes the prep and worry out of what to have for dinner. It’s a great shortcut for busy families or anyone in a pinch. (It’s even great for those who actually enjoy cooking!)

It’s all thanks to my dear friend Andrea Lulgjuraj, whose husband produces the 11 p.m. newscast here at Local 4. When I saw this picture on her Instagram page – at first it gave me hives – but then I was intrigued.

A counter chalk full of ingredients would normally make me run, but then she posted this picture with the caption “Guess who won’t be cooking for 9 days” – I knew I had to try this.

 


Andrea sent me some of her favorite recipes (which even included shopping lists) and on my day off, I went to the grocery store, bought the ingredients and spent two hours chopping, cutting and prepping meals.

It’s as simple as it sounds. You put all of the recipes ingredients: meat, vegetables, stock, even seasonings into a freezer bag, seal it, place it in freezer and done! Then, when you’re ready to eat it, take the freezer bag out (you can let it thaw a little if needed) and dump it into the Crockpot – set it on low or high (whatever the recipe calls for) and dinner is served!

Here are a few of my favorite sites for freezer meal recipes:
http://www.plainchicken.com/2014/08/10-kid-friendly-freezer-meals-with.html
http://www.mommysfabulousfinds.com/2013/10/easy-crock-pot-freezer-meals-2.html

If you give this a try or have your own great (easy) recipes, let me know about it! Email me at lpodell@wdiv.com.

Happy (slow) cooking!