4 New Convenience Meals in A Jar Recipes!

We had a class Thursday night at Preparing Wisely in Mesa Arizona and I added 5 new recipes to the seven meals that I have already shared for the  convenience meals  in a jar that are "just add water".  
The blessed part of these new additions is that they are still the same homestyle food that my husband calls "normal people food". I think it's a cut above normal...but not so gourmet that it will intimidate my in-laws who prefer mild food.  I don't use a lot of sodium or go too crazy on the seasoning here, so adjust as you need for your family. I like to add more to my personal jars.  I know a lot of folks who are trying to plan food storage that will be stable for several years.  Some want a full year on hand for emergencies like personal unemployment or natural disasters.  The best part of adding the new meals is that now we have enough to do a 2 week menu plan instead of just one week. So one can do 24 jars of each meal and have dinners for a "years supply" of dinners...give or take. I keep it in denomination of 12 because canning quart jars come in 12 jar cases! One can be certain it's easy to organize. 

 Last Monday I added the first of the five new recipes.  It was Creamy Chicken and Veggie Casserole in a Jar. The next four are here today. This is basic stuff folks...but hopefully it will save you some time and money when you're making some shelf stable meals for your family. They're great for camping, emergency situations (like floods, hurricanes...) or Tuesday night. Whatever your life is like, these fit. You control the ingredients.  So, let's jump into these ones.{Side note...have you ever used freeze dried cheese? It's amazing! It's crazy stuff...and totally real cheese...just freeze-dried to preserve its freshness.}

NOTE: The repacking of Freeze Dried Meat must be done within 24-48 hours of opening the can and must be done in a dry environment. Once repacked you must use an oxygen absorber to make sure there is a vacuum oxygen-free environment.

Meal 1: Saucy Baked Ziti with Sausage and Mushrooms

Saucy “Baked” Ziti

with Sausage and Mushrooms

In a quart jar:
2/3 cup tomato powder
1/3 cup dehydrated onion
1T Chef Tess Italian Seasoning
1/3 cup freeze dried sausage
2/3 cup Freeze dried Hamburger 
1 cup Ziti (3 ounces)
1/3 cup freeze dried mushrooms
2/3 cup freeze dried Mozzarella cheese (in a snack baggie)
Directions: Place contents of jar (except for cheese) in a covered skillet or pot with 4 ½ cups water. Simmer 15-20 minutes until pasta is tender and sauce is thick. (Solar oven 30-40 minutes covered). Place contents of cheese bag in a bowl and spray lightly with water. Sit for 5 minutes. Uncover cooked pasta mixture. Top with cheese. Cover again and allow cheese to melt, about 5 minutes.Serve hot.

Meal 2: Beefy Spanish Rice

Beefy Spanish Rice

 In Quart jar with oxygen eater:
1 ½ cup freeze dried hamburger
1 ½ cup long grain rice
½ cup freeze dried bell pepper trio
½ cup dehydrated onion
1 ½ tsp Chef Tess All Purpose seasoning, 1 tsp dehydrated minced garlic
1 T dehydrated minced ancho chilies
1 ½ tsp salt
½ tsp smoked paprika
¼ cup tomato powder
1 bay leaf
Directions: Add contents of jar to 5 ½ cups boiling water. Cover and simmer low 25-30 minutes until tender. Top with cheese or sour cream if desired.

Meal 3: Bean and Rice Fajita Casserole

  

Bean and Rice Fajita Casserole

                                                                                                                 

2 cups quick cook beans (these cook in 20 minutes!)
1 cup long grain rice
½ cup freeze-dried bell pepper trio
½ cup dehydrated onion
1T Chef Tess All Purpose Seasoning blend
½ tsp cumin seed
½ tsp oregano leaves (or 1 drop oil of oregano)
1 tsp minced garlic
1 bay leaf
½ cup cheese sauce powder
¼ cup powdered tomato
Place contents of jar in a deep covered casserole and add 6 cups of very hot water. Place covered in a solar oven or conventional oven 30-35 minutes. 

Meal 4: Golden Cheese and Sausage Potato Casserole 

Golden Potato, cheese, and Sausage Casserole

In a quart jar:

1 cup cheese sauce powder
½ cup sour cream powder
1/3 cup dehydrated onion,

1 ½ tsp dehydrated minced garlic
1 cup freeze dried sausage (or ham)
2 cups (4 ounces) dehydrated hash brown potatoes
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp cracked fresh pepper
1 bay leaf

Combine contents in a deep casserole with 5 ½ cups hot water. Cover 10 minutes. Bake in solar oven 1 hour covered or in the microwave 15 minutes uncovered. May top with additional cheese, crushed corn flakes or crushed crackers if desired.

There you go. Make some meals in a jar!

Always My Very Best,

Your Friend Chef Tess