Chicken, Chicken, Chicken!

Over the past couple weeks there have been some great chicken sales here in AZ. A few weeks ago Albertsons(Can you tell this is my favorite place to buy meat?) had Boneless, Skinless Chicken breasts for 1.57$/lb. I bought 65 lb's and used a 10$ off 100$ purchase coupon and got it for 1.41$/lb. That is the best price I think I have ever gotten and am very excited to have so much chicken. Also, this week Albertsons has Split Chicken breasts(Bone-on, skin-on) for .88$/lb. This is not the best price I have gotten, but I love to use the bones to make chicken stock and want to get some into the freezer. I bought 40 lb's. I, also, have 10 whole chickens that were less than .50$/lb at Safeway, I think.

So, what to do with all this chicken!? I don't think I've ever had over 100 lbs of raw chicken in my freezers. I'm actually excited by all the idea's I got last night while brainstorming.

First the 65 lb's of Boneless, skinless:
Each breast is about 1/2 lb. I bought 132 breasts, wrapped in packages of 6. I have 22 packages in all. For us 1 package is a meal.

Here's the plan:

4 packages Cord en blue, I made this once a couple weeks ago and it was a smashing hit!
4 packages stuffed roll-ups. I pound out, add some stuffing, roll up, bread it and bake.
4 packages chicken parm
4 packages left raw to be made into whatever, when I feel like cooking.
6 packages into nuggets. Cut into pieces, breaded and baked. Flash frozen.


40 lb's of split breasts:

These will be all be boiled, in a very large stockpot with onion, carrot, and celery.

Once cooked, the bones and skin will be removed and discarded.

The broth/stock will be cooled and frozen in hard containers in 2 cup portions. This will come in handy to make gravies, soups and stews. And well, anything else you would use canned stock in. It's healthier for you and a whole lot cheaper.

The meat will be divided into thirds.

1/3 shredded and spices added to make enchilada's or taco's.

1/3 shredded and frozen plain to be added to gravy.

1/3 chunked and frozen plain to be added into pasta dishes.

These will all be frozen in meal sizes. All I have to do is add a few things and it will be a quick meal.


Onto the Whole chickens:

Well I haven't really decided what to do with these yet. I will have to decide later.


Now off to get started on the split breasts. Should be a fun day of cooking for me.

So it appears I am not very good at this...

But I will try harder!

So we are expecting baby #6, a little girl who is not named yet, in April. We have planned our induction for April 2nd, Good Friday and are hoping she doesn't decide to make an early entrance into our lives. Expecting again makes me realized that this year has flown by and I am still disorganized and not well prepared. We always have TONS of food in the house, but I have a tendency not to plan what's for dinner until noon and then the stuff in my deep freeze will not thaw for dinner, so we end up eating the few things that are pre-cooked, Sauce, chili, soup. These are fine meals and when things from the fridge and pantry are added are healthy and filling, but We can not live on these things. I need to plan better! So now that I am stuck at home, no more driving for me, I will have time to get things done. Here's to hoping I am motivated and have enough energy to care for the little 2 who are home all day and get our household organized in the next month.

I have a good amount of meat in the freezer from some really good sales this past month, so I will be having the husband go out there tonight and count it out so that tomorrow I can start my game plan.