Man, the flu has sure hit our area, hasn’t it? It seems everyone you talk to is sick or was sick. I think we try to prepare ourselves to be ready, but this stuff seems to be lasting for a week or longer! Who’s ready for spring? My hand is raised high in the air!

Nothing worse than being laid up in bed for days, and the world still goes on. Bills need to be paid, kids need to be fed, and clothes need to be washed. Darn it. I hate it when that happens. I can’t pay your bills or wash your clothes, but I can help you in the food department.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have freezer meals ready in your freezer for weeks like these? I know the thought of prepping food to some people is “Blahhh!” But I am telling y’all, it’s just like a good workout. No one ever regrets and says, “Man, I wish I just didn’t do that 30 minutes of weight training or walked that two miles.” No, because it feels good to get it done! It’s a sense of getting something accomplished.

Last Saturday, I prepped food. I made five dozen meatballs, 2.5lbs of BBQ, made chicken salad, and seasoned 6 lbs. of chicken for grilled chicken strips.

Now, the chicken salad was for lunches, but everything else went in the freezer to help me out in the weeks ahead. Life is kinda crazy around here right now. Food prep makes me feel more prepared.

Take that 6 lbs. of chicken, for instance.

OK, so a family pack at Wegmans of boneless skinless chicken breast is around $12 for about 6 lbs. Being a family of four, I can get three meals out of that. As soon as I get home, I prep it. Don’t put it in the freezer! Just get it done right away.

Buy some freezer bags and get your favorite seasonings. I use Clover Valley Chicken Seasoning from the Dollar General. $1 a bottle. Love that stuff! I take half the pack, clean my chicken, then will cube each breast into one-inch chunks. Put seasoning on it, place in two different bags, and pop in my freezer. One will give me meat for chicken quesadillas, while the other bag I could use for a stir fry or chicken alfredo. — or leave it in strips for fried chicken! Mmmmm, my fav!

With the other half pack of chicken, I buy McCormick’s Seasonings in the packets and freeze it like that. (I love the Garlic Herb and Wine and Bourbon!) I cut all those into strips, then when I pull it out of the freezer, we throw it on the grill, or you could bake it. I usually serve it with a side of pasta and steamable or fresh roasted veggies.

If you aren’t a chicken person, I have lots of other great freezer meal ideas on my website at http://www.andreascountryhomecookin.com like; Crock-Pot Creamy Ranch Pork Chops, Easy and Tasty Meatloaf, Lasagna Roll-Ups and more! My favorite side to pair with these meals is my famous cheesy bread. In case you don’t have the recipe, here it is.
And remember, you will never regret being prepared for anything that life throws your way.

Cheesy Bread

Bake right in foil, no mess no fuss!
• 2 loaves of French Bread, cut in half
Mix:
• 2 cups of Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
• 1 cup of Extra Sharp cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup mayo
• 1 stick of softened butter

Mix all together using a wooden spoon in a bowl. Spread evenly on 4 halves. I wrapped each half in foil, making sure the foil doesn’t touch the cheese. Leave a gap at the top and roll down foil. Like a Tepee!

You bake it in the foil for 20-25 minutes at 350°.

This will also freeze beautifully. Bake the same way, but for 30 minutes or so or until warm and melted.