Busy season is pretty much upon us. Spring sports practices, tons of yard work that needs to be done, the last couple months of school, and just wanting to be outside enjoying this extra daylight we are finally getting. It’s a season we have all been longing to have for months! It just comes with a lot of extra work.

Like the outside work isn’t enough.

This week I got all our windows cleaned, curtains washed, and did a good spring cleaning on the old homestead. When it’s nice outside, I don’t want to be inside doing housework. I would rather be outside, raking up all the stones that get in our yard from plowing the snow or picking up the hundreds of sticks that are in our yard after the snow melts. That winter wind really puts a damper on the yard throwing limbs and sticks all over the place.

OK, so I can’t completely blame winter. My sweet, adorable, lovable black lab Bear enjoys getting sticks and bringing them into the yard so he can chew them. He starts getting a collection out there. I think it’s high time he starts pulling his weight around here and starts picking up the mess he makes! I am not kidding you; the size of some of these sticks he drags out just cracks you up! He has his favorite spot out back, where he usually takes them to. It’s his trademark. I’m like, “Bear! You have like a dozen sticks you could have picked from, but you just had to go into the woods to pick a new one and drag down here, didn’t ya?” Then, the audacity of him, he just ignores me! Just sitting there gnawing on the stick without a care in the world. OK, I’ll pick them up like normal. You keep chewing that new stick.

This weekend is a four-day weekend for my husband, and my kids are on spring break, so yard detail day will be at least two days of this weekend.

In the back of my head, I am thinking about food. I love having easy things on days like this. Especially weekdays. I bought hot dogs/burgers for around the fire for over the weekend and have chicken and shrimp ready to cook at any time too. Chicken over an open fire is to die for!!

Freezer meals this time of year just makes my heart so happy! I have about five homemade meals down in our freezer ready to go, but I honestly want to start building that up more. This way, when it’s nice outside, I can be out enjoying it instead of coming in and cooking. Have you ever thought about taking a day or an afternoon just to food prep?

There are so many good recipes out there that are so easy to throw together and freeze. I feel like freezer meals are a lot like Christmas. It is the best feeling in the world and a gift that keeps on givin’ the whole month or even year! Busy night? Knowing you have multiple meals ready helps so much. I have so many recipes that literally have five ingredients, three ingredients, and even two ingredients! Meals that taste incredible!

Meatloaf is always a great thing to have on hand, and it’s so simple to make! Seven simple ingredients and takes ten minutes to throw together.

If you are interested in more freezer meals of seven ingredients or less, follow ‘On the Pulse’ on Facebook for our April cooking shows of freezer meals! Also, lots of amazing recipes in my cookbook! My cookbook is still for sale at the Rust and Shine in Williamsport. I stopped by the other day, and they have so many wonderful spring items out now — just a great place to find things for the ones you love. You know, in all the free time you have in between all the work and food prepping. Haha. Thanks for reading! Happy Spring!!

Cheesy Meatloaf

Ingredients:
• 2 lbs ground beef
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1 egg
• 1 small onion, chopped fine
• 2 sleeves of Ritz crackers, crushed
• 1 cup sharp cheese, shredded
• Salt and pepper

Mix well by hand and form a loaf. Place into a baking dish with foil on top and bake at 350 for at least an hour or until brown.

To freeze: Wrap tightly in heavy-duty foil, and place into a freezer bag. Day of baking, take out of your freezer and unthaw.