Sloppy Joes - freezer meal

Okay this is for those of you who have husbands that were born and raised in the South. As Jason would say "Meat -good. Biscuits - good. Cheese - good. Barbecue sauce - good." (any Friends fans out there?) Anyway, even for this non-Southern girl I really liked this one too.

2 cups biscuit mix
2/3 cup buttermilk (I just used milk)
1/4 cup egg substitute (or just one egg)
1 lb. ground beef, cooked
1 - 1oz. package of dry onion soup mix
1 cup marinara sauce
1 cup barbecue sauce
1 cup cheese blend

In bowl, combine the biscuit mix, milk, and egg. Stir together to form soft ball of dough. Press dough into bottom and sides of a pie plate. In separate bowl, combine ground beef, onion soup mix, and marinara and barbecue sauces until mixed. Spread mixture evenly over the dough in pie plate. Sprinkle with cheese.

Cover with plastic wrap and foil to freeze up to 3 months. Or preheat oven to 375 F and bake for about 45 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Baked Ziti - freezer meal

When my mom was here helping with the craziness of life with a newborn, she made a few freezer meals from the Dream Dinners cookbook. They have been great so I thought I would do a little series of freezer meals that we have eaten and really liked. These are great for make ahead meals or to bring to others that might need a meal. So this is the first one:

1 lb. ziti
1 t. dried rosemary
1 t. Italian seasoning
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup cottage cheese
3 cups marinara sauce
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 cup onion chopped (I used dried)
4 t. minced garlic
3 slices provolone cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella

Spray 9x13 with nonstick cooking spray (I used the disposable tin). Cook pasta for 3 minutes. Drain and transfer to large bowl. Add rosemary, Italian seasoning, sour cream, cottage cheese, and marinara sauce, then stir. Transfer pasta mixture into 9x13. Cook ground beef, add onions, garlic until brown (about 10 minutes). Drain off excess fat. Sprinkle beef mixture over pasta. Top with provolone and mozzarella.

Cook at 350 F for 45 minutes covered with foil (make sure you remove the plastic wrap). Remove foil and bake until browned and bubbly, about 10 more minutes.

If freezing: wrap with plastic wrap and then foil. Label and date and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw in frig the night before and pop into oven.

Chocolate Oreo Cheesecake

Just made this last week and it was by far, the best dessert I've ever made. I thought I'd share it with you girls.

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 cups cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookie crumbs (about 16 cookies)
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 4 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips, melted and cooled
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 eggs, lightly beaten
• 20 chocolate cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies, coarsely chopped

Directions: In a small bowl, combine cookie crumbs and butter. Press onto the bottom of greased 9-in. springform pan. Refrigerate while preparing filling.
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in chocolate and vanilla. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Fold in half of chopped cookies. Pour over crust. Sprinkle with remaining cookies. Place pan on a baking sheet.
Bake at 325° for 50-60 minutes or until center is almost set and top appears dull. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Yield: 12 servings.