The best way to prepare ground beef in quantity.

Meat Preparation Trick

You can pre-cook ground beef in a slow cooker and freeze portions to use at a later date.

Simply follow the process below.

You will be amazed at how much time and effort this will save you in meal preparation.

COOKING EQUIPMENT NEEDED

Slow Cooker – you can cook 4 to 5 pounds of ground beef in a 4-quart slow cooker

or 6-8 pounds of ground beef in a 7-quart slow cooker.

Meat Chop Stir Tool – used to stir and chop meat while cooking.

Walmart sells them and so does Pampered Chef.

Large Kettle – to hold grease while draining.

Colander/Strainer – used to drain the grease from the meat.

FREEZER PREP SUPPLIES

Ziploc™ FREEZER Bag - (1-quart size holds approximately one pound of cooked meat.)

OR

Extreme Freeze Redi-tainers™ - Deli Type - (2 cup/16 oz. size holds 1 pound of cooked meat.)

Masking Tape - to label containers.

Permanent Marker – to write on labels.

PRE-COOKING GROUND BEEF IN A SLOW COOKER

1.      The day you bring the raw meat home from the grocery store, unwrap it and break into small pieces placing them into the slow cooker.

2.      DO NOT ADD any seasonings at this time. This is done when you prepare the recipe.

3.      Cover slow cooker and set on LOW.

4.      Every hour lift cover and stir meat mixture with the chop stir utensil so it cooks evenly.

5.      When the meat mixture is fully cooked (approximately 3 - 4 hours) unplug slow cooker and begin the draining process of removing the grease from the meat.

6.      Place a large strainer/colander over a deep empty kettle. (I use a metal stock pot).

7.      Pour or ladle the meat mixture into the strainer.

8.      Let mixture drain & cool for approximately 2 hours, stirring occasionally to drain more grease.

9.      If you need more time to cool the meat completely place stock pot, strainer & cover in the refrigerator overnight to package the next morning.

10.   Once the mixture has cooled begin the process of packaging the meat for freezer storage.

PREPARING COOKED MEAT FOR FREEZER STORAGE

1.      While the meat is cooling begin labeling the containers you will use to freeze the meat.

Important to do BEFORE filling with the food. Label the side if storing in an upright freezer – eye level. Label the top if storing in a chest freezer looking down.

2.      Be sure the meat is completely cooled. This is what prevents freezer burn.

3.      Begin scooping meat mixture in to a labeled 1 quart Ziploc™ FREEZER bag or

a 2 cup (16 oz.) Extreme Freeze Redi-tainer. (Available through www.amazon.com)

4.      Place labeled meat in freezer and it will keep for 6 – 8 months.

Run, Swim, Walk - the RACE!

Just DO IT!

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Your job is to keep it in good condition!

EXERCISE – the dreaded word.

But – is it really?

As the Nike commercial says: “Just Do It!”

Exercise has never been easy for me. I would rather sit and read a delightful book, or be on the computer at my desk working on things that are important to me. I was never one of those kids who participated in summer sport activities. I would wait anxiously for my Weekly Reader newspaper to arrive in the mail so I could sit under the shade of the weeping willow tree in my back yard and read.

Last year I began walking in a pool three times a week. My motivation was that I could go to the pool for free! Being 66, I belong to the Silver Sneakers through my health insurance and decided I should take advantage of that perk. I lost 35 pounds in 2016 and my goal is to lose 40 more pounds this year.

Slow and steady wins the race!

Each step in the pool is a step towards the goal of being healthier and happier.

Whatever type of exercise intrigues you, DO IT!

Exercise is good for you. It helps your energy level, your mood

It helps you sleep better and gives you more confidence

Find a friend to join you in your journey. Partner together. Enjoy life.

Get Up, Get Going, Get Healthy!

www.bethbergren.com

4/10/17

SCHOOL DAY SPUD BUD SUPPER

TRIED & TRUE THURSDAY

It's a recipe!

My daughters loved baked potatoes when they were growing up – I did this often for an evening meal.  You can prepare toppings the night before and quickly remove them from the refrigerator at mealtime. 

How to Bake a Potato in the Slow Cooker

Makes 1 to 8 potatoes

Ingredients
1 to 8 russet potatoes (See Recipe Note)
Olive , Canola or Vegetable oil
Sea Salt

Equipment
Aluminum foil
1 slow-cooker, any size

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Prepare the potatoes. Lay a square of aluminum foil on your work surface and set a potato on top. Prick the potato with a fork. Rub it with 1/2 teaspoon of oil and sprinkle with sea salt or potato seasoning. Wrap the potato tightly. Repeat with remaining potatoes.
2. Arrange the potatoes in the slow cooker. Lay the potatoes in the slow cooker so they fit snugly next to each other. If you are baking 1 to 2 potatoes, set them in the middle of the slow cooker; stack 5 or more potatoes in a second layer.
3. Bake for 8 to 10 hours on LOW. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours. The potatoes will be ready to eat any time after 8 hours, but will be fine if cooked for up to 10 hours. You can remove the potatoes and eat them at any point between 8 and 10 hours. Do not leave them on the WARM setting for more than an hour.
4. Remove potatoes from the foil, split, and eat. When ready to eat, unwrap the potatoes, split them along the length, and top with your favorite toppings. Leftover potatoes can be kept, wrapped in foil up to 3-4 days in the fridge.

Truthfully – I haven’t baked a potato in the oven for over 15 years.  This is my go-to way of preparing potatoes - especially in the summer as it doesn’t heat up the kitchen.

TOPPING SUGGESTIONS

Butter

Sour Cream - plain or w/chives

Shredded Cheese or Parmesan Cheese

Taco Meat

Salsa

Beef Stroganoff Sauce

Bacon

Pepperoni Slices w/pizza sauce

Olives - green or black

Lettuce

Any fresh vegetable - green pepper, onion, corn, broccoli, tomatoes, peas

SCHOOL DAYS

TIDBITS OF WISDOM TUESDAY

Today, my oldest grandson Kyle heads off to 7th grade!
Where has the time gone?

When my daughters were young, I loved taking them shopping to pick out their new backpacks, school supplies, shoes and clothes for the start of the new school year.  We would head to the local mall and spend the whole day focused on our buying mission. We would come home exhausted BUT we were armed and ready for whatever the new school year would bring.

Several days before school began we would try and kick back into the routine of going to bed earlier and getting out of bed in time for breakfast and to catch the bus. I busily planned quick and healthy breakfast menus to start the year off right and send them off with tummies full of nutritional goodness and lunches made from a mom’s heart full of love.

Sometimes I miss those days! The smell of morning pancakes floating through the air. The crowded bathroom, the rush to get ready to exit the back door. My husband was the peacemaker many mornings when my personality along with my oldest daughter would clash. (We are very much alike!)

As the first day of school closed upon us, my girls asked endless questions. Will I like my new teacher this year? Will my BFF’s be in my class? Should I take a bag lunch or eat school lunch? What if I can't find my bus? Endless wonderings paired with anxiety and excitement.

Now these are cherished memories. Those years flew by so quickly. Suddenly they were grown and gone!

To this day, as I did then, I start my mornings with my Bible in hand. Sitting in my office before the window that shines the days’ light on the pages; I pray for my daughters, son-in-law, and grandsons. I lay before God my concerns, fears, worries and ask Him to bless my children that day. I ask Him for protection and pray the full armor of God over their lives. I pray they make wise choices according to His Word. 

As you think about sending your children off to school this year, know they are securely wrapped in the Lord’s arms with his favor and blessing upon them.

Check back Thursday for a School Day Supper Recipe and Menu!

HOME KEEPER SECRETS

Welcome to my blog! 

At Mom’s Table – Home Keeper Mentor

 

Tidbits of Wisdom Tuesday - Encouraging tidbits of truth to help you look forward to the week ahead. Something to lift your spirit and motivate you to enjoy life as a busy homemaker.

Tried & True Thursdays - Tips, tricks, tasty recipes and/or anything to do with taking care of a home.  From menu planning ideas, meal prep techniques, recipes, household helps and referrals to websites, blogs or products I follow so YOU can be encouraged in your walk as a woman of God.

My purpose is to mentor busy women who desire to find balance in their lives.

Please take a moment to register your email to receive the bi-weekly posts.  Your information is confidential and will not be used for any other purpose than to be encouraged. Forward to your friends so they can enjoy being encouraged too!

Take a moment and look at my website: www.bethbergren.com to see what I am all about. If you live in the Nashville area - come and visit a Cook Once or Slow Cooker class, they are listed on my website.

Praying you will be blessed!

With Love ♥ from Beth!

MEALTIMES MATTER

By Beth Bergren on Feb 25, 2016 posted on www.themominitiative.com blog

WATCH VIDEO: Make Mealtimes Matter https://youtu.be/2wfbY3i4FY0

Come Lord Jesus, be our guest.

Let this food to us be blessed. Amen.

I truly believe mealtimes can be one activity that consistently connects family in a unique way.

Everyone is busy!

HOW TO CONTROL MEALTIME MADNESS

Ponder – think about what is going to be served before 5:00 PM that day.

Plan – make and stick to a menu plan at least 3 times a week. You can’t win the battle if you don’t have a plan!

Purchase – grocery shop for what's needed for the week or month of planned meals.

Prepare– use a slow cooker and learn freezer prep techniques to prepare meals in advance.

Preserve – use proper storage containers to save food for later use.

Present – serve the meal to those you love! BE PRESENT at the table and enjoy the meal with them.

My passion for mealtime planning is a very personal one. My husband Jim, lost his eyesight from diabetes in his early 20’s. When we married it was important that I learned ways to make meals that would be easy for him to heat and eat while I was at work.

When our daughters came along, it became even more important that I had at least three meals a week planned, prepared and ready to go for my family. It simply made life easier. I discovered having that one area of my life organized made a BIG difference in how I handled other areas of my life as a wife and mom.

What I didn’t realize while doing this all those years was God was using that time for my daughters to get to know their father more intimately because of mealtimes together. It was a time when my girls felt free to talk about their day and spend quality time together as a family. Of course we were busy – Girl Scouts, flute lessons, ice skating, girls basketball, Awanas Club, Sunday School & church youth events, after school activities, sleepovers and more.

My husband passed in 1994, my girls were 11 and 9 at that time. I see how God used those mealtimes for my girls to get 30 years of their dad rolled up into 10 years together. They knew their daddy. They felt his love!

After his passing, I also saw the importance of maintaining regular mealtimes to help in the healing process of that loss.

We always had an extra space at the table to invite family or friends for a meal. It made having that empty chair at the table less painful. Oh, the laughter we shared with the boy’s next store, or the girl’s best friends when they came to eat at least once a week. It was a hoot!

My prayer is that you will "be intentional" about making mealtimes a priority in your home. If you find yourself floundering or frazzled, feeling like you are getting nowhere, maybe organizing mealtimes is a good place to start to bring balance in your home

Mealtimes nourish our bodies and provide rest for our souls!

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

It’s a time God will use to bless your family in ways you can’t even imagine.

What mealtime traditions do you have in your family?

How have you glorified God through mealtime?

Beth – At Mom’s Table – Homemaking Mentor

Beth’s website: www.bethbergren.com

The Mom Initiative – www.themominitiative.com

HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME

Can you use your slow cooker

 in the summer?

You bet you can!

I use my slow cooker as much in the summer as I do in the fall or winter.  It saves energy, keeps the kitchen cool and helps you get dinner on the table in no time at all.

Using an internet search engine check out all the websites that offer slow cooker recipes for the summer.  You will be amazed at what you can serve from the slow cooker.

Enjoy!

Beth Bergren
At Mom's Table - Homekeeper Mentor
www.bethbergren.com