Okay my darlings! It is your crazy Chef Tess here for some fun! It is time for five new meals! I’m excited to share with you the cool-fest I’ve been having making and taking my personal sized meals with me to random events…like vacations, work trips, work lunches, and hotel rooms. Oh yeah! The party travels with me. Truth be known, sometimes I just want something familiar when I travel and I don’t really want it to be the familiar taste of McDonald’s cheeseburgers (as gooey-comforting as those may be to my thighs). So, about six months ago I started making my meals in a jar in the personal sized half-pint jars for me and the kids to have on the go. I also started developing some personal sized mylar meals to take with me on the road when I traveled. Initially it was for lunches during the summer for my boys with the bottomless-pit stomachs. Seriously. What is it with boys and constant eating? Then it turned into a really predictable calorie count on a meal so I could be accountable to myself.
If you want to see how to make the personal mylar pouches, see my How to Make Homemade Mylar Meals Tutorial. It has all the details on the safety of making these meals. Always use an oxygen absorber if you are using the real freeze dried meat. That is not optional! Today I’m going to share recipes. I think that is what makes these so amazing. This is a 5 day menu!
Taco Rice for One
The first one is adapted from my family meal that is easy that we’ve used often from this recipe for Fast Taco Rice. It cooks in about 7 minutes and is made by just adding boiling water in this shelf-stable version. It is heavy on tomato and saucy. I love a good saucy rice for scooping with a few baked taco shells. It makes a great quick meal.
Ingredients:
3/4 cup instant white rice
1/4 cup Honeyville Freeze Dried Sausage or Taco TVP
2 tsp onion powder
2 tsp dehydrated jalapeno (optional)
1/4 cup Honeyville Freeze Dried Cheese
Directions:
Place contents in a half pint jar, shaking powder into the jar completely. Or use a pint sized mylar bag. Always add an oxygen absorber if you are using the real freeze dried meat.
To prepare meal: In a quart sized pot, bring 2 1/2 cups water to a boil. Add Taco rice mix and return to a rolling boil. Turn off heat and cover pan. Let sit for 5-7 minutes until water is absorbed.
French Ham and Asparagus soup for One
This is a beautiful blend of bold flavors using one of my new spice blends Cheftessbakresse™ French Provencal Essential™ It should be available soon at your local Honeyville store.
Ingredients:
Directions:
Place contents in a pint jar, shaking powder into the jar completely. Or use a pint sized mylar bag. Always add an oxygen absorber if you are using the real freeze dried meat.
To prepare soup: In a pot, bring 1 1/2 cups water to a boil. Add soup mix. Reduce heat and simmer low heat 10-15 minutes until meat and vegetables are tender and soup is slightly thickened. Cover and turn off heat. Allow to sit 5 minutes. Serve hot.
Country Beef Stew for One
Yes, this is adapted from my Original Family Size Menu but now in a personal sized recipe and including chunks of beef. Use a pint sized jar or mylar bag with an oxygen absorber.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup Honeyville Quick Cook Red Beans
Directions:
Seasonings I shake down into the jar: 2T Honeyville Tomato Powder ,1/4 tsp thyme, 1/4 tsp garlic,1T all purpose flour, and 3/4 tsp beef bullion. It will fit if you shake it really well.Always add an oxygen absorber if you are using the real freeze dried meat.
To prepare Country Style Beef Stew: In a quart size pot, combine stew mix with 1 1/2 cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 15-20 minutes until vegetables are tender.
Chef Tess Taco Soup for One
Yes, this is adapted from the Original Family Size Menu but now in a personal sized recipe. This one includes chicken breast and has only 380 calories with 14 grams of fiber and only 8 grams of fat.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup Honeyville Quick Cook Red Beans
1/4 cup Honeyville Taco TVP
1/4 cup Honeyville Freeze Dried Chicken
1/4 cup Honeyville Freeze Dried Corn
3/4 tsp homemade taco seasoning
Directions:
When you get to the tomato powder, just shake the jar so it works its way into the cracks.Always add an oxygen absorber if you are using the real freeze dried meat . Seal. Good on the shelf in a cool place up to 5-7 years.
To prepare Taco Soup: place contents of jar in a quart sized pot ion the stove. Add 2 1/2 cups of water and simmer 10-15 minutes until veggies are tender. Serve with nacho chips, sour cream and salsa if desired.
Honeyville Classic Chili for One
Classic Chili Meal in a Jar is still one of our most popular meals. Why? Because it is just freakishly good. Pack in a pint sized mason jar or a pint sized mylar bag with an oxygen absorber. Always add an oxygen absorber if you are using the real freeze dried meat.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup Honeyville Quick Cook Red Beans
1/4 cup Honeyville Tomato Powder
3/4 tsp beef bullion (no MSG)
3/4 tsp chili powder (more or less depending on how you like your chili)
3/4 tsp Chef Tess All Purpose Seasoning
pinch of hot chili flakes (if you like it hot)
Directions:
I pack the ingredients as tightly as I can in the jar, shake the seasonings in there too. There is always room for the most vital addition to your jar, the oxygen absorber.
To prepare: Combine the contents of the jar with 2 cups hot water (depending on how thick you like your chili) and simmer over medium-high heat 10-15 minutes until hydrated and ready to eat. Serve with hydrated freeze dried cheese if desired…or just have it plain in all it’s glory.
To prepare: Combine the contents of the jar with 2 cups hot water (depending on how thick you like your chili) and simmer over medium-high heat 10-15 minutes until hydrated and ready to eat. Serve with hydrated freeze dried cheese if desired…or just have it plain in all it’s glory.
There you go! Make some personal sized meals in a jar or mylar.
Always My Very Best,
Your Friend Chef Tess
