Help Wanted: Ricotta Bake, Freezing, and Make Ahead Lunches

 I've been thinking of experimenting with mason jar salads. Have you seen those? You put the meat in the dressing and those sorts of ingredients in the bottom of the jar and then your veggies on top, you put your lettuce and last so that it doesn't get yucky. And then when you're ready to eat you cannot shake it up and eat it out of the jar. 

These sound really yummy. I think I might have to try this.

Mason jar salads keep really well. Personally I would bring the dressing on tbe side and dump it into a bowl.

I fix a breakfast casserole with eggs, sausage, pepper, onion and cheese and bake it.  It keeps well for a week in the fridge covered. I just started eating left overs.  I have NEVER done that before, but eating out with co workers is just not the same since surgery.  Since I only eat a little it is a waste of money to go out and this way I can spend my lunch in the gym.

I fix a weeks worth of meals for whole family on Sunday and LOVE IT!  It really only takes a couple of hours and is so worth it.  I think once you do it and see how easy and convenient it is, you will do it forever!!!

I've thought about the cook for the whole week thing many times but have never ventured to try it.  If things go well on the lunches front I might try it!

I cook up a pound of hamburger and season it with the taco  mix.  measure and freeze my portion to have on salad or use romaine lettuce leaves as your taco shell.

I also like to make mini meat loaves and mini shepperds pie loaves.  I use 4 oz of ground beef and 1 - 2 oz of mashed potatoes on top.  I'll freeze gravy in an ice cub tray and use a couple cubes per loaf.

Hardboiled eggs or devilled eggs or egg salad. Chicken breast with sautéed onions and peppers, a little cheese and sour cream.  Yummy!

The standard tuna salad, chicken salad.  and chili, make ahead and freeze your portion.

OMG!  Little tiny frozen gravy cubes! Love this idea!

There is an excellent Web site called AboutFood.com. It tells you anything and everything you would ever need to know about food, cooking, kitchen, food safety and recipes. They even have a cooking school on their site. Need to know how to chop an onion,  if butter needs to be refrigerated, how to bake a fish? They have all the answers and more. They also have recipes for just about anything you would (or wouldn't)  want to make.  Have fun there and plan on spending a long time on their website site!   Barbara

Hey Elizabeth... It will freeze but it will change texture slightly... if you have ever had a tv dinner lasagna it has that grainier texture to the ricotta (tastes the same) but just looks and mouth feel is slightly different. It will keep in the fridge for 2-3 days. I'd just half it maybe.

Lunches... Hope this helps https://www.pinterest.com/eggface/lunch-bento-licious/ 

Chili is a great freezer item for lunch http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2015/10/black -bean-and-butternut-squash-chili.html 

Bites http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2009/10/party -time-confetti-bites.html 

Hope those give you a few ideas :)

Happy weekend!

YAY! Thank you thank you!

~E