This is post one in a three part series. I have three freezer cookbooks that I couldn't live without, I am going to share each one with you along with my reviews on the recipes I have tried in each one.

First up is Fix, Freeze, Feast!

Chicken Main Dishes

Cherry Skillet Chicken p.20: Very easy to make and very yummy!

Mango Cranberry Chicken p.36: Another simple and fast recipe that turns out delicious.

Pecan Crusted Chicken Strips p.38: YUMMY!! Probably the #1 for our whole family! So much healthier than chicken nuggets and tastes so much better.

Tequila-Lime Chicken p.50: I had to buy tequila and margarita mix for this recipe and neither ever got finished off. For this fact I wouldn't make it again. The taste was okay but not worth the cost of the ingredients that would go to waste.

Beef Main Dishes

Beef and Bean Burritos p. 76: I made up a stack of alternating tin foil and tortillas so that I could add the filling, fold up the tortilla and wrap in tinfoil. Helped the  process go smoother.  Easy to make and a great lunch on the go!

Cheesy Chilada Bake p. 78: So yummy! The texture of the corn tortillas after baking is to die for! Great for a game day meal or snack! 

Classic Lasagne p.80: Just as the name implies it's your perfect lasagne easy to make and freeze! The recipe also calls for the "basic red sauce" which is a recipe you will find on p.178 which you can also freeze leftovers in portion perfect bags for later use.

Mozzarella Meatballs p.88: These have a surprising little bit of a kick to them. We loved them, one word of caution I don't know if it's the garlic in them or what but they have the ability to smell up your freezer and make other things taste like mozzarella meatballs ;) I'd recommend double bagging these guys.

Pork Main Dishes

Pepper Jelly Pork Chops p.113: So quick and easy to make. You can grill these but for the winter we cook indoors using the broil pan takes only 15-18 minutes! Taste is amazing!

Basil-Balsamic Chops p.114: another quick marinade and great for indoor broiler cooking. I love balsamic vinegar so these are another fave of mine!

Apple and Cranberry Pork Loin p.129: I have made this more times than I can remember the flavors of the marinated and cooked apples, onions and cranberries are like none other!

Meatless Mains, Sides, and Sauces

Rice Pilaf p.151: I ALWAYS have a stock of these sides in our freezer! Make up a huge batch and you are good to go for months worth of sides with you meat. I was skeptical the taste would compare to the store bought bags of rice but it's even better!

Feta and Spinach Lasagna Rolls p.152: Take a little bit of time to put together, but worth it especially if you vegi hating husband will eat them!

Manicotti p.159: Another yummy recipe using the "Basic Red Sauce".

Apples and Cheddar p.164: Very easy and delicious. My recommendation is that this recipe is better when eaten the same day you make it.  After freezing the half-and-half, cheddar mixture loses it's consistency and becomes kind of grainy.

Sauces, Marinades, and Butters

Basic Red Sauce p.178: Used in a few of the recipes in the book, you can also freeze for later use.

Breakfast , Snacks, and Sweets

Breakfast Burritos p.190: I used the same method as with the Beef and Bean burritos to make assembly a breeze.  Great for breakfast on the go!

Granola p.194: Makes a lot, Fun for the kids to help with.

Zoo Day snack mix p.197: Another fun one to make with your kids.

Pumpkin Muffins p.198: Perfect for fall.  I didn't have cake spice on hand so I used the homemade version you can find the recipe on p.136.

Tropical Fruit Smoothies p.201: Easy to make. Nice to have on hand when you don't have the time to get out all the separate ingredients.

Tried and True Registry Guide

Here is a list of my "necessities" for a new baby. Building your baby registry can be overwhelming just try walking into any big box baby supply store and you will know what I mean. You will feel like you need every single gadget and gizmo offered and while some are worth their weight in gold others you can easily do without!

Without further ado in no particular order:

1) Boppy Pillow

Whether or not you plan to breastfeed the Boppy is a great tool to have. It helps prop baby up for easier breastfeeding. Also holds baby up off of c-section incisions whether breast or bottle feeding. Boppy is excellent for tummy time and supporting baby when he begins to sit up on his own. I recommend purchasing the waterproof slipcover as well. 

2) Stroller

I've been through my share of strollers before finding the perfect fit.  With our first I believed we needed the regular stroller/carseat combo as well as an "umbrella" style stroller.  The City Mini by Baby Jogger stroller allowed me to get  rid of both of those in favor of one stroller that will work for every situation. Yes the price is fairly high but I promise it's worth it! The awesome features include: front swivel wheel, one hand fold, extra large canopy, reclining seat, 5 point harness and much more. It folds so compactly it takes up not much more space than the umbrella stroller. 

3)Carseat

Again do not be afraid of the price of this carseat it is worth every penny! It is convertible and can accommodate your baby/child from 5-120lbs! In other words the only carseat you will ever have to buy! It is in my opinion one of the safest out there with excellent ratings as well as a steel frame! I'll be honest not the lightest at 31.6 lbs. but it does fold up for use as a backpack for those trips through airport security. 

4) Cloth Wipes

Shameless plug as I make these but I have used the same ones I made 4 years ago and they have held up excellent. Great for use with cloth diapering, tubby time, kitchen clean up as well as tissues. FYI boogey wipes are far from a necessity! Neither of my boys enjoyed me wiping their noses with those wet cold wipes which are sceneted and I personally disliked the scent. 

5) Waterproof mattress pads. I recommend getting two so you have a clean one to put on in the middle of the night when baby spits up or wets through.

6) Swaddling blankets

We love the Aden and Anais swaddling blankets. You won't need any other recieving blankets. I love the large size of them at 44''x44''. They are wonderful for swaddling as they are stretchy. My favorite though is how breathable they are.  For someone who borders on insanity with safe sleeping I have peace of mind when using these blankets. My second son attached to them and I found they make "lovey" size blankets as well!

7)Cloth Diapers

Over the past four years we have tried out over 6 types of cloth diapers before finally settling on these. Elementals by Bum Genius. I love the soft organic cotton inside. The all-in-one feature makes them very "daddy friendly" and you won't spend time stuffing or matching up pieces after washing. Theses are also a One-size adjustable diaper. The link will take you to our local Cloth Diaper store. They will be able to answer any questions you may have and help you find what will work for you!

8) Reusable Nursing pads. 

The are easy to clean and you won't be purchasing box after box of disposable pads. 

9) Diaper rash cream

Grandma El's diaper rash cream is the bomb ;) And smells amazing to boot! Safe for use with cloth diapers as well. 

10) Bath products

With our first son we started out with Johnson and Johnson baby products for bathtime but he had a reaction to them and they didn't help at all with his eczema. Our pediatrician recommended Aveeno products and we have used them ever since. With all things going on baby's skin you want to stay away from scents and fragrances. The Aveeno wash and shampoo is lightly scented and the lotion is unscented. 

11) Co-sleeper

The Arm's Reach Co-Sleeper offers a safe way to keep baby close to you. It comes with straps to hook up right to your bed and one side can lower so baby is level with your mattress. Makes those nighttime feedings so much easier. The mattress does drop to the bottom for later use as a pack n play. 

12) Breastpump

You can't go wrong with any Medela Breastpump but this one is by far my favorite especially for moms having to go back to work. When looking for a pump I'd suggest electric as it's more efficient than a manual pump. The double pump allows you to cut your pumping time in half.  What I love in particular with the Freestyle is how it comes with a hands free pumping option.  The pump itself is small and lightweight and gives you the option to hook to your belt loop!

13) Bottles

If you plan to use them I don't recommend registering for 20 of the same type of bottle. You never know which bottle your baby will take and it's almost nicer to have 2-3 different types of bottles on hand so you can find what works best for you. Our favorites have been Playtex Ventaire and Dr.Browns bottles. Although no matter how many we tried with our second he NEVER took a bottle.

14) Pacifiers

The same deal with bottles it's nice to have a few different ones on hand. Personally the soothie brand ones make me nervous as they are so pliable I have seen older babies get the entire thing in their mouths and recently have heard of babies choking on them! They are still given out at hospitals though so they can't be that bad I suppose. Be sure if you are breastfeeding to wait until you supply is well established (around 2-3 weeks) before introducing a pacifier as they can interfere with the breastfeeding process.

15) Baby Carrier

Baby carrier was a life saver especially with our second baby. Ergo is excellent for it's ease of use, padded shoulder straps and how it holds baby ergonomically correct (as opposed to other infant carriers that hold baby facing out from you). Ergo also makes an infant insert which is helpful in bringing baby up closer to you. Always be sure no matter what carrier you use that baby is close enough for you to kiss the top of his head and his chin is not resting on his chest. Many places offer "baby wearing" courses where you can learn the correct way to baby wear and try out different options as well. I particularly love to have my baby close to me in public spaces as strangers are less likely to touch them. You can nurse discreetly with your baby in a carrier as well! 

16) Baby Gym

Both our boys loved this gym from just a few weeks old up until they started crawling around.

17) Highchair.

We actually sold our Graco brand highchair in favor of an antique wooden highchair that I refinished. The main reason for the switch (other than how cute it turned out) was the fact that I got tired of throwing the fabric cover in the washing machine every couple of days. So if you find an all wooden or plastic high chair it will make cleanup a ton easier. I have seen some very simple functional highchairs at IKEA too!