Recipe(tried): Minestrone and Turkey Chili (freezer recipes)

Congratulations Jill. Hope you have time to make some good food before the big day comes. I always got a surge of energy ("nesting") a few days before my girls were born.

(Note: Re: Meatloaf: I always make two meatloaves and freeze one before baking.) Lasagna also freezes well (freeze before baking).

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MINESTRONE

1 lb. shin beef with bone (or beef ribs)
5 quarts water
1 cup dried kidney beans
1 onion, minced
1/2 cup fresh parsley
1/2 lb. ground beef (lean)
2 cups shredded cabbage
1 1/2 cups diced carrots
3 1/2 cups canned tomatoes
1 1/2 cups dry spaghetti, broken up
1 cup thin sliced zucchini
3 Tbsp. salt
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 cup diced celery
1 small pkg. frozen peas
grated Parmesan

Day Before:
Place shin bone with beef, water, salt and beans in large kettle. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer 3 hours.

In oil, saute garlic, onion, parsley, ground beef and pepper until onion is tender. Remove bone from soup and cut off meat. Add meat to soup, along with onion mixture, celery, cabbage, carrots, and tomatoes. Simmer, covered, 20 minutes. Refrigerate until next day.

Skim fat from soup. Bring to boil. Add spaghetti, zucchini, peas. Cook covered 10 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve with Parmesan.

Makes a large quantity. Freezes well.

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TURKEY CHILI

1 1/4 cups green pepper, diced
1 cup sliced onion
1/2 cup carrots
1/2 cup sliced zucchini
1 lb. ground turkey
1/4 cup chili powder
1 1/2 tsp. sugar
3/4 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 cans (14 oz. each) diced tomatoes
1 (16 oz.) can kidney beans, drained
1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained
8 oz. tomato sauce
1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Cook pepper, onion, carrots, zucchini, and turkey in small amount of oil. Stir in chili powder and next 8 ingredients (through tomato sauce). Cover and simmer 1 hour. Serve with cheese.