Sometimes you can’t pass up a good deal on bulk food.  This week was the day to pick up the deal, 40 pounds of skinless, boneless chicken breasts.  I had some work ahead of me, but happy because of the deal, and I get to share with you.

I got the deal from Zaycon Fresh each month they have different selections of bulk meats delivered to a location near by.  This was my first order and I am very impressed with the chicken.  Plus when I went to pick it up, I didn’t even have to get out of my truck, they loaded it.  Bonus!

My first job was to freeze the individual chicken breasts so I could vacuum seal them.  I freeze on cookie sheets overnight then divide and seal. I use a FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer , I absolutely love it.  Mine is an older model than in the link since I have had mine for about 5 years, but still their base model.  It keeps everything fresh that I freeze, and I know it is sealed good and no freezer burn.  If you get a good deal on food, the last thing you want to do is ruin any of it.

As for the rest of the chicken I put about 10 chicken breasts in the crock pot, just a thin layer of water on the bottom so they wouldn’t stick until they started cooking.  Added some seasoning salt, garlic powder and pepper.  They cooked all night on low, I let them cool then shredded them.  Divided into these freezer safe containers , now they will be ready for me to thaw out for an easy dinner.  This was my meal prep portion.  It is easy enough to put chicken in the crock pot all day, then make into something.  Although, sometimes I am busy and just want something already cooked. Easy to mix up into tacos, nachos, bbq or just some sandwiches on the way to a day at the lake.  The crock pot did all the work, so my time spent on the pre and post prep was only about 30 minutes.

And, of course I had to make some chicken salad.  I can’t go through all of the work cooking, sealing, freezing without getting to eat some.

I mix the chicken with mayonnaise, dijon mustard, zesty italian dressing, mustard powder, garlic powder and a little pepper.  Served it over lettuce, the last of my tomatoes from the garden, red grapes,  onions, mozzarella cheese, walnuts, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds.  Top it with little olive oil and vinegar.

Another food prep tip I have works well within a normal weekly food budget.
Bulk food buys are great, although sometimes all we have is our weekly budget.

When you make a dinner in the crock pot or skillet make at least one extra portion.  You can still use the same amount of meat if needed, that is usually the most expensive.  Add some extra rice, beans, noodles or potatoes to stretch out that one extra portion then freeze it.  Even if you only do this once a week at the end of the month you will have four or so extra meals ready to go in the freezer on a busy, lazy, or short on funds day.

Don’t forget to mark what it is.  I go through times where I say “I will remember what that is” then because it isn’t marked it gets put further and further back in the freezer.  Then you are left one day with something you don’t know if it is a real dinner or just some gravy.

Enjoy the fun of food, and easy food prep.