Our First Attempt at Convenience

I was browsing Pinterest (My latest addiction.) looking for crock meals for the freezer at the recommendation of a co-worker. I came across the: mamaandbabylove blog for freezer meals. That was it! I was hooked on the idea of making my own convenience meals.

The thing was I wanted meals that my family was used to eating. We are Mexican and I couldn't find anything that was available for that kind of food. I decided that I needed to adapt my own recipes for the freezer. I called my mom and away I went!

Now I admit this first thing I tried isn't Mexican at all. It is something I was eating while I was searching for recipes. I was staring at the monitor scooping oatmeal from Chick-fil-A into my mouth. I looked down and thought "Hmmmm...I bet I could make my own instant oatmeal cups."

This is the attempt:

Notice I had Mexican Vanilla in the picture. Can you figure out the problem with that? Give up? Well, when I was putting the ingredients together I realized that ... DUH!!! I can't put liquid into the dry ingredients and store in the pantry!! What a goof! I'll have to add that when I actually make it.

Looks pretty doesn't it?

Layered:

1 cup Quick Cooking Oatmeal

1/3 Cup Dry Milk

1 Tsp Splenda Brown Sugar

Sprinkled Cinnamon 'til it looked pretty to me

Box of Raisins

Walnuts

Top View

Final Product:

After doing this I figured out that I was going to have to add 1 3/4 cup water to this and microwave for 1 1/2 - 2 minutes.

Phil came into the kitchen about this time and sat down at the table. He looked at it and said they looked good and then asked about the liquid. He pointed out that the container was too small. I defended my creation because I didn't want to admit that he might be right. Then he questioned me about the amount of dry milk I put into it. I told him that I only wanted the equivalent of 1 cup of milk in my oatmeal and the rest water. He read the box directions on the oatmeal and said that it asked for water. I said that I wanted to substitute milk, hence the dry milk. If he didn't want milk, I could make some without dry milk. He said that was okay.

That was yesterday.  This morning, I tried out my creation.

• I used my hot water maker to put liquid in and the nuked for 45 sec in hopes it wouldn't throw up in there. It did. (Damn it.)
• I had to add 3 Splenda packs. (I like it sweet.)
• I forgot to add my Mexican Vanilla.

Things I learned. 1/2 the recipe for the bowl size and add 3 packs of Splenda to mine.


Update: 22-Jan-2012

I finally mastered this:

1/2 cup quick cooking oatmeal (the kind that cooks in 1 minute). Surprisingly the wal-mart brand is better than Quaker Oats... go figure.

2 Tblsp of dry milk
2 Tblsp of raisins or other dried fruit
2 Tblsp of walnuts or nuts of choice
3 splenda packs

When ready to cook--add 1 cup of boiling water. I have one of those pitchers that boils the water. I found it at Target for about $20.00. It's nice and was so worth the investment.

I use the small bowls still because I don't put it in the microwave. I seriously don't have the time. I add the water, close the bowl and finish getting ready for work. I usually toss it in my lunch box and eat it at work while I'm checking emails in the morning. By the time I start doing that it's a nice temperature and cooked to perfection!