Five economical family meals suitable for freezing

Creamy Tomato Chicken

Serves 10

Ingredients

• 1tbsp Oil
• 2kg Chicken Drumsticks
• 1 Onion
• 4 Garlic Cloves
• 3tsp Chicken Stock Powder
• 1tsp Onion Powder
• 1tsp Garlic Powder
• 1tsp Dried Parsley
• 2tsp Cornflour
• 300ml Cream
• 2 Tins of Tomatoes
• 170g Tomato Paste
• 600g Rice
• 1.5kg Green Beans

Method

1.    Add the oil to a large saucepan or frying pan. Add the chicken drumsticks, sliced onion and crushed garlic cloves to the saucepan and brown for 6-8 minutes

2.    Add the chicken stock powder, onion powder, garlic powder, dried parsley and cornflour to a large bowl. Add the cream and whisk with a fork to combine.
Add to the chicken

3.    Add the tins of tomatoes and tomato paste to the saucepan. Cover and simmer for 30-35 minutes

4.    Cook the rice according to packet directions

5.    Add the green beans to a large saucepan, cover with water and bring to the boil. Continue to simmer for 8-10 minutes. Drain the water once cooked

6.    You can either serve the chicken on the bone or remove the meat from the drumstick and return to the sauce

7.    Serve the chicken on top of the rice with the green beans on the side
 

Country Chicken Casserole

Serves 6-8

Ingredients

• 2kg Chicken Drumsticks
• Salt & Pepper
• 1 Onion
• 4 Garlic Cloves
• 1kg Pumpkin
• 1kg Frozen Mixed Vegetables
• 3tsp Chicken Stock Powder
• 1tsp Onion Powder
• 1tsp Garlic Powder
• 1tsp Dried Parsley
• 2tsp Cornflour
• 300ml Cream
• 100ml Milk
• 6 Kumara
• 1/2c Milk
• 2tbsp Butter

Method

1.    Preheat the oven to 180°C

2.    Add the chicken drumsticks to a large casserole dish or deep roasting dish. Season the chicken with salt and pepper

3.    Peel and slice the onion, crush the garlic cloves. Add to the casserole dish

4.    Peel and dice the pumpkin. Add to the casserole dish with the frozen mixed vegetables

5.    Add the chicken stock powder, onion powder, garlic powder, dried parsley, and cornflour to a large bowl. Add the cream and 100ml of milk, whisk with a fork to combine. Pour into the casserole dish to coat the chicken and vegetables

6.    Cover the casserole dish with a lid or tinfoil. Cook in the oven for 1 ½ -2 hours (remove the lid for the last 15 minutes of cook time to boil the sauce down)

7.    Peel and dice the kumara, add to a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to the boil and continue to simmer until the kumara is soft. Drain the water and mash with the butter and 1/2c of milk, season with salt and pepper

8.    Serve the mashed kumara on top of the casserole

Creamy Bacon Spaghetti

Serves 13

Ingredients

• 750g Bacon
• 1 Onion
• 4 Garlic Cloves
• 1kg Dried Spaghetti Pasta
• 3tsp Chicken Stock Powder
• 1tsp Onion Powder
• 1tsp Garlic Powder
• 1tsp Dried Parsley
• 300ml Cream
• 1.5kg Frozen Green Beans
• Pepper

Method

1.    Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil (preparation to cook the pasta)

2.    Dice the bacon, slice the onion, and crush the garlic cloves. Add to a large frying pan and brown for 6-8 minutes

3.    Add the dried spaghetti pasta to the saucepan of boiling water. Cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes. Drain the water once cooked and add back to the saucepan

4.    Add the chicken stock powder, onion powder, garlic powder and dried parsley to a large bowl. Add the cream and whisk with a fork to combine. Pour into the saucepan to coat the pasta, bring to a gentle simmer to allow the pasta to absorb some of the sauce

5.    Add the green beans to a large saucepan with a small amount of water, cover and simmer for 6-8 minutes. Drain the water once cooked

6.    Add the bacon mixture to the cooked spaghetti pasta and toss to coat evenly

7.    Season with pepper

8.    Serve the pasta with the green beans on the side

Green Chicken Curry

Serves 8

Ingredients

• 1tbsp Oil
• 2kg Chicken Drumsticks
• 1 Onion
• 4 Garlic Cloves
• 100g Green Curry Paste (3-4tbsp)
• 3tsp Chicken Stock Powder
• 1tsp Onion Powder
• 1tsp Garlic Powder
• 3tsp Cornflour
• 2x Tins of Coconut Cream
• 2tbsp Soy Sauce
• 1/2tbsp Sugar
• 600g Rice
• 1kg Frozen Green Beans

Method

1.    Add the oil to a large saucepan or frying pan

2.    Add the chicken drumsticks to the saucepan with the sliced onion and crushed garlic cloves. Brown for 6-8 minutes

3.    Add the green curry paste, chicken stock powder, onion powder, garlic powder and cornflour to the chicken and toss to coat

4.    Add the coconut cream, soy sauce and sugar to the saucepan. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked

5.    Cook the rice according to packet directions

6.    Add the frozen green beans to a large saucepan, cover with water and boil for 8-10 minutes. Drain the water once cooked

7.    You can either serve the chicken on the bone or remove the meat from the bone and stir back through the sauce

8.    Serve the curry on top of the rice and the green beans on the side

Spaghetti Bolognese

Serves 12

Ingredients

• 1kg Beef Mince
• 1 Onion
• 4 Garlic Cloves
• 3tsp Beef Stock Powder
• 1tsp Garlic Powder
• 1tsp Onion Powder        
• 1tsp Dried Parsley
• 2 Tins of Tomatoes
• 1 Jar of Tomato Pasta Sauce (700g)
• 1kg Dried Spaghetti Pasta
• 1.5kg Frozen Mixed Vegetables

Method

1.    Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil (preparation to cook the pasta)

2.    Slice the onion and crush the garlic cloves

3.    Add the mince, onion and garlic to a large frying pan or saucepan, brown for 8-10 minutes

4.    Add the beef stock powder, garlic powder, onion powder and dried parsley to the frying pan, stir to coat the mince 

5.    Add the tins of tomatoes and tomato pasta sauce to the frying pan. Stir to coat the mince, simmer uncovered for 10-12 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Add a pinch of chilli flakes if preferred

6.    Add the dried spaghetti pasta to the saucepan of boiling water, cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes. Drain the water once cooked

7.    Add the frozen mixed vegetables to a large saucepan, add a small amount of water, cover and simmer for 8-10 minutes - drain the water once cooked

8.    Serve the mince bolognese on top of the cooked spaghetti and the vegetables on the side