Vegetable Ratatouille | Casserole | Stewed Vegetables

You might want to check out my easy recipe for Ratatouille Stewed Vegetables, which is so easy it cooks up in an hour! Mediterranean diet friendly !

Want a way to get your kids off of the couch and save some money at the same time? Start a family vegetable garden. It seems that kids spend most of their time indoors playing video games or watching television these days. Once the joys of your harvest have produced, put up some vegetables in the freezer for other seasons.

You can even make this easy Ratatouille stew in a crockpot I like to put up in Once a Month Cooking Glass Food Storage Containers for OAMC Freezer Cooking. 

When I was a child my family always planted a vegetable garden out in the "way back" yard.  We were growing cucumbers,  fresh lettuce, eggplant, peas, green beans, and radishes.  To this day, I still enjoy a fresh-picked hot radish, roots and all attached.  I now get  bunches from the farm stand, take them home, wash them, salt and enjoy  just as is!

My daughter and charming son-in-law recently purchased a new home, and it's obvious that at one point in time the previous owners had planted a vegetable garden.  There's a small picket fence around a now neglected small plot of land that I'm sure at one time supplied the family with plenty of fresh veggies.

My husband was never the type to enjoy tilling the earth, so I'm hoping that my daughter, hubby and the grandkids will plant a garden next year so I can put on my gardening shoes and stop over and "help."

Freeze or give away extra vegetables. You'll have enough for the months when nothing is growing. Sharing your vegetables with friends and neighbors, or bringing them a homemade recipe dish such as Mock Crab Cakes from Zucchini, a dessert or bread  from your extra zucchini or fruits might inspire them to begin their own vegetable garden!

Do you want a family activity that's environmentally sound and saves money? Start a family garden using the tips above. Also contact your local cooperative extension office or State Department of Agriculture for more information on gardening.

Easy cleanup with Handmade Dish Cloths from Moomettes Crochet Shop !

Buy these pretty Handmade Dish Cloths Set directly via Paypal https://py.pl/DuUhk

Ratatouille Stewed Vegetables

3 onions 1 eggplant, peeled 3 or 4 green and yellow zucchini squash 3 or 4 cloves of garlic 1 can tomatoes, drained (or use several fresh) 1 tsp dill 1 tsp oregeno 1 tsp basil Saute onions and garlic in EEVO olive oil until tender. Add peppers, zucchini, eggplant and tomatoes (chopped in chunks). Simmer for about 1 hour. Makes own juice. This recipe can also be made in a crockpot or slow cooker, or make it ahead when you prepare your freezer cooking meals. 

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© Frugal New England Kitchen 

Chicken Cordon Bleu Recipe | Freezer Meals | Easy Make Ahead Meals

If you're looking for easy freezer meals to bag and meal prep ahead for busy nights, this Chicken Cordon Bleu recipe is for you!

Chicken Cordon Bleu 

When my daughter had her third child, I went over and spent about 1 hour preparing and bagging these Chicken Breasts for her freezer.  All she had to do was take them out of the freezer the night before or morning of, and then bake in the oven for about 35 minutes!  She's a busy mom and always running around taking the kids to soccer, baseball, basketball, school events, community board meetings and more.  My youngest daughter has children and is expecting again, so I'll be making more of these ! Now how easy is that?

To make the chicken breasts and ham roll-ups extra fancy, you can prepare a sauce using Cream of Chicken Soup (I know, I know, but really it's delicious over the chicken breasts, and adds a nice touch making it special.)

Freezer Meal Prep

Place in Freezer Bag and take out as needed.  Serve with fresh vegetables and your favorite rice and Enjoy !


I made this easy make ahead meal the other night, but didn't have any Swiss cheese on hand, so I simply used what I had in the refridg, bagged Mozzarella cheese worked out just fine.  This is a great recipe for retired folks if you're cooking for two, just take out the individual portions you need for supper.  I save money by shopping at Aldi for my cheeses, staples, chicken and dairy.

Serve with helpings of Brown Rice, topped with Chicken Cordon Bleu Sauce

I freeze these Chicken Cordon Bleu in my Food Saver Vacuum Sealer, saving money when chicken is on sale, eating tomorrow at today's prices.

Check out some other easy Chicken recipes -

Chicken Cacciatore

Chicken Pad Thai
Chicken Liver Pate

Save the Planet with these reusable Handmade Dish Cloths from Moomettes Crochet Shop !

Chicken Cordon Bleu

3 or 4 Boneless Chicken Breasts, split in half
8 slices of thin Ham
8 slices of Swiss Cheese or Shredded Cheese
Salt and Pepper, to taste
Old Bay Seasoning, to taste
Seasoned Bread Crumbs or Panko (Keto - use crushed pork rinds)
1 Egg
Milk or Water
Toothpicks

I make a basic white sauce and doctor it up a little:

Chicken Cordon Bleu White Sauce:

Makes 1 cup

1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups whole milk
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons parmesan cheese finely grated
1 teaspoon thyme Fresh thyme is best. If using dried, reduce amount to 1/2 teaspoon
Salt and pepper as needed

In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the flour to the melted butter, whisk, and allow to cook for several minutes while continually whisking to avoid burning. Once the flour has started to cook, whisk in milk. Continue to heat until the milk bubbles and begins to thicken, about 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in dijon, parmesan, and thyme. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Chicken Directions:

Cut each chicken breast in half, lengthwise
Pound to 1/4 of an inch
Sprinkle with salt, pepper, Old Bay Seasoning
Top with 2 slices of Ham
Top with Swiss Cheese
Roll up and Secure with Toothpick (non-colored)
Roll in Egg Wash mixture (Egg and milk or water)
Roll in Seasoned Bread Crumbs or Panko

Bake in 350 degree oven for about 35 minutes

Spoon sauce over Chicken Cordon Bleu when serving and serve with Brown Rice or Long Grain rice

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© Frugal New England Kitchen