In this post, I will share some of the things I have prepped for this year. I chose to do a little bit at a time so that the project was not too overwhelming. There are so many things that can be done ahead of time, but these are the things I have chosen this year.
Mini Pizzas
There are a variety of ways this could be done. My children saw mini Naan breads at Costco so we used them as a little splurge. I used one can of tomato paste and added the seasonings I wanted (Italian seasoning, Herbs de Provence, etc). Spoon a little sauce on each bread and top with cheese. Bake until cheese melts. After the pizzas cool, place the whole pan in the freezer for 10-20 minutes so they will be individually frozen. Package as desired. I used a plastic container with sheets of wax paper between layers.
You could use English muffins, small buns, crescent dough or anything similar for the crust.
Tortilla Roll-Ups
Use a tortilla or wrap of your choice. Spread with cream cheese. This time I used chive & onion cream cheese spread. Layer meat and cheese of your choice. Roll. Wrap each one in plastic wrap. Place wrapped roll-ups in a ziploc and freeze. I will take out the number I need and thaw in the refrigerator over night. Variation: Slice each roll so you have the fancy pinwheels and use as a snack instead of an entree.
Grilled Cheese
We made bread last week. The next day I sliced three loaves and made grilled cheese sandwiches. Shredded cheese was cheaper so that is what I used. After the sandwiches cooled, I wrapped each one in plastic wrap. I put the wrapped sandwiches in a bread bag to freeze. I will take out the number I need and thaw in the refrigerator over night.
Double Good Cheese Breakfast Muffins
My children love these, and they are simple too make. My daughter made a double batch (only some are pictured). The recipe can be found here. Put them on a cookie sheet and place in freezer for 10-20 minutes so they will be individually frozen. Place in a ziploc to store in the freezer. Take out how many you need in the morning and warm in the microwave.
Breakfast Sandwiches
Today we chose to make bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches. I made half with refrigerator biscuits because I was trying to save a little time. For the other half I used English muffins. It helps to have all the ingredients prepared and then just do a mass assembly.
Individual Egg Portions
Egg casseroles or quiche are wonderful breakfast (or anytime) foods, but often aren't ideal for early, busy mornings. I do not want to get up early enough that the breakfast has an hour to bake. A great solution for that is to take your favorite breakfast casserole and bake it in greased muffin tins. These will make a hearty breakfast that are quick to warm. Variation: Take your egg portion and put it in a tortilla for a fast breakfast taco!
Freeze the egg "muffins" on a cookie sheet for 10-20 minutes so that they are individually frozen. I chose to package them in a plastic container.
Pancakes
My family chose to start the year with pancakes instead of waffles. I wanted to increase the protein, however, so that they were not starting the day with a carb heavy meal. I added cottage cheese and protein powder to the pancake mix. The mix I used also called for eggs, milk, and oil.
After the pancakes cooled, I wrapped a serving of pancakes (in this case, 2 pancakes) in plastic wrap. I placed the wrapped pancakes in a plastic bag to freeze.
My freezer is getting full, and I am feeling ready to send my family off to school. I love that I will have the ease of convenience food but know they are eating food that is good for them. I have also been stocking up on fruit, granola bars, and other lunch items as I find them on sale. Hopefully, this will spark some ideas for you as well. Now, I need to make sure to get school supplies!
