Freezer cooking doesn't always have to be about the main dish. Desserts freeze great too. This doesn't always have to be a big effort either. Last week I wanted to make cookies for play group. I didn't want to cook all the cookies, so I made up what I needed and froze the rest. To freeze cookie dough, simply scoop out the dough with a small ice cream scoop (I think mine is a 1 inch scoop). Place the balls on wax paper on a cookie sheet and pop in the freezer until they are solid. Transfer to a ziploc bag. When you are ready to cook, just plan on baking for a couple extra minutes. Watch them closely, but usually it takes about 3 extra minutes.
Here is my favorite oatmeal cookie recipe.
OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
½ cup shortening
½ cup butter
¾ cup white sugar
¾ cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cup flour
2 eggs
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup oatmeal
1 cup coconut
8 oz Heath bits
2 cups chocolate chips
Cream shortening, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Add dry ingredients and beat. Add remaining ingredients. Drop on sprayed sheet. Bake at 350° for 10-12 min.
Now for the contest! I admit I am curious as to who actually reads this blog. I haven't been really active lately about posting new recipes, but my freezer is getting low so I really have to start cooking again. If there are many people interested in freezer cooking, I will really try to be more active about keeping it up. So, help me get the word out. Pass this blog onto your friends and tell them how fabulous it is to have a freezer full of food.
The winner will receive a $15 gift card to Smiths/Kroger.
To enter simply provide your favorite cookie recipe in the comments section along with your name. The winner will be picked randomly. I will post the winner next Monday, February 15th. Good luck!
I love your freezer meals, I have used many of your tips and keep checking in. I don't live in Utah but visit quite often so the card will get used for sure! I stock up on granny sycamore white bread when I do come and smuggle it back home :)
ReplyDeleteThese are my new favorite cookie(bars)
Chocolate Cookie Bars
Directions:
Melt these three ingredients in a pan on the stove,
then add 2 tsp vanilla and set aside.
12-oz bag chocolate chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk
3T butter
Then cream together these three things:
1 Cup butter, softened
2 Cup sugar
2 eggs
then Add:
2 Cups flour
3 Cups oats
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
Spread 2/3 of dough on cookie sheet with fingers, it will be very sticky. Pour on chocolate mixture. Then sprinkle/drop the remainder of the dough on top. Bake at 350 degree for 20 minutes or until top is lightly browned.
Freezer cooking is a must!
ReplyDeleteI'm always looking for new recipes.
Here is my favorite cookie recipe from my sister :) (I'm eating one of these cookies as I type - mmmm!)
Chocolate chip cookies
2 cube butter
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 1/2 - 3 cups flour
chocolate chips
cream together butter and sugars. add eggs and vanilla and mix. Add dry ingredients and chocolate chips. mix.
Cook at 350 for 10 minutes.
jamestownboys@sbcglobal.net
ReplyDeleteOh, to have a freezer full of meals! I need to do better.
ReplyDeleteI am a sucker for chocolate chip cookies, but here's my next favorite recipe:
"Chocolate Crinkles"
2 C. white sugar
1 C. baking cocoa, sifted
1/2 C. vegetable oil
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 C. all purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 C powdered sugar (for rolling)
1) Mix sugar, cocoa, oil in a medium bowl.
2) Beat in the eggs one at a time.
3) Add vanilla and mix well.
4) Sift dry flour, baking powder and salt together. Stir into chocolate mixture. Mix well.
5) CHILL dough, covered, for FOUR HOURS. (You can cheat in the freezer if you must, but don't skip this step!)
6) Preheat oven to 350-degrees F. Using 1 tablespoon of dough for each cookie, form dough in balls. Roll each in powdered sugar.
7) Bake on a greased cookie sheet 7 minutes (for fudgy cookies) or 9 minutes (for crisper cookies). Cool on tray 5 minutes before removing to cooling rack.
You can also substitute peppermint extract for the vanilla and roll the dough in blenderized candy canes. Yum.
I love freezer meals/prep. It's fun to know who follows your blog through reader, etc. Thanks for the tips.
ReplyDeleteGinger Snaps
1/4 c butter
1/2 c sugar - cream together
1 egg
1/2 c molasses - add to butter/sugar mix
Mix the following dry ingredients in a separate bowl:
1 tsp baking soda
2 c flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
Slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter/molasses mix. It will be a bit sticky. Make small round balls (quarter sized) and roll each in sugar - covering well. Place on cookie sheet and flatten slightly. Bake at 400 for 9-10 minutes
(http://dancetocreate.blogspot.com/2010/02/gingersnaps.html) I just made these on Sunday and posted about them!
I love the tips I have gotten from your blog. I have always done some freezer shortcuts, but lately I have started making more freezer meals and I love it.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, favorite cookie. Mine is Peanut Butter chocolate chip, but my family also loves Molasses cookies. They are alot like gingersnaps, but they are so chewey. so even though gingersnaps were already posted, I am going to post my molasses cookies.
Molasses Cookies
Cream Together:
3/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses
Sift in:
2 cups flour (I usually use 1 cup white and 1 cup wheat)
1/2 tsp. salt
3 tsp. soda
1 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cloves
Roll in sugar
Bake at 325 for 10 minutes. LEAVE on pan for 1 minute.
I don't do many freezer meals, but I want to start once we get settled in our home.. I do like reading the blog for new recipe ideas--let's face it, we all get sick of our own! This is my sister-in-law's recipe..Very addicting and fun for holidays.. Just add pink, red and white M&M's for Valentines Day!
ReplyDeleteUtopia M&M Cookies
1 1/2 cup Butter Crisco
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 Tb vanilla
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
3 eggs
Cream together above ingredients.
3 1/4 cup flour
1/2 Tb salt
1/2 Tb baking soda
Combine above ingredints and mix with wet ingredients. Mix in 1 cup chocolate chips, 1 cup M&M's and another 1/4 cup flour. Bake at 375 degrees for 6-8 minutes. Take out of oven when still light in color and let cool on cookie sheet.
Here's one of my favorite unique cookie recipes:
ReplyDeleteCranberry & Vanilla Chip Cookies
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/3 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon imitation butter flavor
1 3/4 cup flour
1 cup rolled oats
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup sweetened dried cranberries (craisins)
2/3 cup white vanilla chips
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray cookie sheets with nonstick spray. In a large bowl, combine butter & sugar; beat unti light & fluffy. Add eggs & butter flavor; mix well.
2. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off. Add flour, oats, baking soda & salt; mix well. Stir in cranberries & vanilla chips. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto greased cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets. Cool on wire racks 15 minutes or until completely cooled.
High altitude: (above 3500 ft): Decrease sugar to 1 1/4 cups; increase flour to 2 cups. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
Here is one of my favorite Christmas Cookies.
ReplyDeleteCandy Cane Cookies
1 c butter
1 c powdered sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 almond extract
1 t vanilla
2 1/2 c flour
1 t salt
1/2 c sugar and candy canes
Heat oven to 375. Mix thoroughly butter, powdered sugar, egg and flavorings. Blend in flour and salt. Divide dough in half; blend red food color into one half. Roll dough betwen hands to make long tube. Cut tubes into 5 inch pieces. Twist a white and red tube together and shape into a candy cane. Bake about 9 minutes or until set and very light brown. Mix crushed candy canes and ganulated sugar. Imediately sprinkle cookies with candy mixture.
I bug Carla all the time about freezer meals...don't stop now that I've just discovered you.
ReplyDeleteI'm a sucker for easy and this is it!
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
Mix 'em all together. Roll into walnut size balls. Smush criss cross with a fork and bake at 350degrees for 13 minutes
TaDah!
Gluten free, too! But still full of the evil monster Refined Sugar...well I guess you can't win 'em all in the fine world of food but these are a smash! haahaa.