Freezer Cooking

Freezer-Friendly Breakfast Burritos

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/3 cup chopped onion
• 1/3 cup chopped green pepper
• 18 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup chopped ham
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 20 flour tortillas

Saute onions and green pepper in butter. Beat eggs and milk together and pour into the skillet with the onions and peppers.

Add the ham, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until eggs are set. Mix in cheese and let melt.

Scoop 1/2 cup egg mixture onto tortillas. Fold ends under and roll up. Freeze (see instructions below) or put all burritos in a baking dish, top with extra cheese (if you’d like) and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until heated through. Serve with salsa.

Freezer Instructions:

Wrap burrito in a paper towel and then in a sheet of foil. Seal tightly and place in freezer bags. When bag is full, remove all air and seal. Freeze.

To serve: Remove foil and put paper-towel-wrapped burrito in microwave. Reheat for around one minute. Serve with salsa.

Recipe adapted from Amy’s Finer Things

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Pancakes

• 5 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
• 3/4 cup oatmeal
• 3 Tablespoons baking powder
• 1 Tablespoon salt
• 5 1/4 cups milk (I use clearanced milk from the freezer.)
• 3/4 cup butter, melted
• 6 eggs, beaten
• 9 Tablespoons raw sugar
• 1 bag chocolate chips

Combine flour, oatmeal, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Beat milk, butter, eggs and sugar together.

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour in the wet ingredients and mix together. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Spray with cooking spray or add a sliver of butter.

Pour 1/4 cup of batter onto hot skillet. Cook pancake bubbles appear on the surface. Flip with a spatula, and cook until golden brown on the other side.

Makes 20-24 medium to large pancakes.

Freezer Instructions:

Cool pancakes. Lay on a cookie sheet and flash freeze for 1-2 hours. Put in a freezer bag, remove all air and seal. Freeze.

To serve: Reheat in microwave or toaster oven for a few minutes. Or, lay pancakes on a cookie sheet and heat in oven at 350 degrees for 5-10 minutes. Serve.

Recipe adapted from MomAdvice.com

Whole-Wheat Chocolate Chip Pancakes

2 cups whole-wheat flour (we use freshly-ground flour)
2 tablespoons turbinado (or sugar)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 beaten eggs
2 cups milk, buttermilk or sour milk*
4 tablespoons melted butter (you can also use oil or coconut oil, but we prefer butter)
1/3 cup chocolate chips

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and baking soda in a bowl. Combine the eggs, milk and melted butter in a separate bowl.

Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add egg mixture and chocolate chips. Stir until just moistened.

Cook on a greased pancake griddle. Serve immediately or cool and freeze.

To freeze: Lay cooked and cooled pancakes on a baking sheet and stick in the freezer for 30 minutes to an hour (until frozen). Remove from pan and place in airtight freezer bags or containers.

To thaw: Take desired number of pancakes out of freezer bags and heat one to two at a time in the microwave for one to two minutes. Or, place on a baking sheet and cook in a 350-degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes until heated through. Serve immediately.

Makes around 10 regular-sized pancakes. I usually double or quadruple the recipe when I make it for the freezer.

*I freeze milk that I find marked down at the store or milk which is almost souring and then we just thaw it in the refrigerator or in a sink full of warm water and use it in pancakes.