HELP! I need ideas for "Make Ahead and Freeze" meals

[RRBB]

I'm about 5 weeks (give or take a few) away from giving birth to our baby boy and want to be prepared for the days when I won't be in the mood/awake to cook dinner. I've already purchased chicken breasts, a couple roasts, and hamburger meat to have onhand during those first few weeks. But I'd like to actually have some meals prepared that all I'll have to do is defrost and heat. This isn't something I usually do because DH has a thing about frozen food so besides chili I can't think of anything.

So what are some good meals that can be made ahead of time and frozen for future enjoyment? (FYI, I'm allergic to pork so anything of that nature won't do me any good. Beef and chicken are what we eat around here most of the time.)

 

[mommytotwo]

Chili
Lasagna
Stew
Marinated Chicken
Teriyaki BBQ Meat

 

[TN Traveler]

I was going to suggest Lasagna. I hear it freezes well altho I've never done it. Have you ever heard of spaghetti pie? I've never frozen it either but would think it'd freeze well. Simple to make
altho it's time consuming.

6 oz spaghetti
2 Tbsp butter or margarine
1/3 C parmessean cheese
2 well beaten eggs
1 C (8 oz) cottage cheese
1 lb ground beef
1/2 C chopped onion
1/4 C chopped green pepper
1 8-oz can (1 Cup) tomatoes, cut up
1 6 oz can tomato paste
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/2 C shredded mozzarella (2 oz)

Boil the spagheiti as you normally would. Drain and stir butter or margarine into hot spaghetti. Stir in parmesan cheese and eggs.
Butter or spray a 10 inch pie plate w/Pam. Pour spaghetti mixture into the pie plate and form a "crust" in the pie plate. Spread the cottage cheese on the "crust".

While spaghetti is cooking, brown the hamburger w/onion and green pepper until veggies are tender and meat is brown. Drain off grease. Stir in UNDRAINED tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, oregano and garlic salt. Heat through.

Add meat mixture into spaghetti crust. Bake, uncovered in 350 oven for 20 mins. Sprinkle the moz cheese on top and bake for 5 more mins or until cheese has melted. Makes 6 servings.

My family likes more cheese so I add a little more as wanted.
I would think you could make this and then freeze it until ready to eat.

Try it and see what ya'll think.

Karen aka TN Traveler

 

[RumpleMom]

I don't freeze meals, but I love my crockpot. Do you have one?

I use defrosted boneless chicken breasts, half a jar of salsa and a little water. Cook it all day on low. That's it. We have it with rice. It's really easy and tasty.

I like to buy Market day products from our school. They are very convenient and good quality.

 

[i12go2wdw]

I do a few make ahead meals but like your husband I do not like a lot of things that come out of the freezer ie. mashed potatoes. I make a big stew (as much as can fit in my pot) then freeze half and put the other half in pre-made frozen deep dish pie shell and top with another (keep the tin on both so they don't break) two meals for the price of one. Macaroni and cheese, canneloni, I also cook ground beef as soon as I get it home, I buy it in the big bulk package, then I put it into sandwhich size ziplocks in the freezer so tacos, casseroles etc. are quick and a lot less mess. Meatballs are another good freezer. I hope these help and enjoy the baby.

Christine

 

[HunnyPots]

This is a site you might want to check out. There are lots of recipes that are designed to be prepared and then frozen. The idea is that you cook one day and have meals for a month. That might work for you, especially if you can get someone to help you out on cooking day. Even if you don't want to do the whole month thing, I'm sure you can scale it down however you want. I've always wanted to try the once a month concept, but for some reason, I just never have. I've known women, however, that wouldn't live any other way and swear it saves a ton of money, too.

once a month cooking

 

[grlpwrd]

First off, congrats! It's a great idea to stock up. I did the same thing.

Here are my bookmarked sites which have good recipes:

www.recipegoldmine.om

http://snider.mardox.com/plans.htm

www.30daygourmet.com

http://www.dinnersinthefreezer.com

http://www.thatsmyhome.com/slowcooker

http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/recipes.htm

I used my crockpot a lot, too, but after my babies turned 2 months old at least because I was always so busy and tired.

Soups and stews make excellent freezer meals so I would make what you usually make (your faves) or look at the sites I posted for some ideas.

Hope this helps and good luck!

Oops...forgot to add... if there is a way to encourage it somehow I would get the word out that you'd really like freezer meals. I know many expectant moms who had friends or family help by giving freezer meals as a gift to you. I know it may sound imposing, but if you're asked what can people do for you - you might want to mention this would be helpful to you.

 

[RRBB]

Thanks for all the suggestions, links and advise. This is really helping. I browned about 5 lbs. of hamburger meat yesterday and split it into separate bags for freezing so at least that parts ready for whatever I/we may decide to have on a few nights. (Spagehetti & sauce comes to mind for a quick and easy meal. )

 

[WDWMom]

I make and freeze ahead meatloaf. Use fresh beef and make up the loaf the way you normally would and place in an aluminum pan. (You can get 2 for $1 at the $$ Store). Then I place in a zip lock bag and freeze. I usually make 3 or 4 at a time. All you need then is baked potatoes, and veggie (raw carrots are great) or whatever else you want with it.

Another easy meal is put chicken breast in a crockpot (or pork chops) and cover with cream of whatever soap. Put on low for the whole day and you have a yummy main dish. I add rice to go with it.

 

[pjlla]

I also make and freeze meatloaf, but I have a slightly different way.

I buy ground beef/hamburg on sale in bulk.... to it I add my usual Meatloaf ingredients, which for my family has included soy meat substitute, oatmeal, breadcrumbs, leftover mashed potatoes, leftover cooked vegetables, potato flakes, soy sauce, worcestershire sauce, eggs, ketchup, etc etc etc!

I use mini loaf pans because it works best for me.... I take one mini loaf pan.... line it with saran wrap, fill it with the meatloaf mix, pack it down, level it off, and tip it over onto a foil-lined jelly roll pan... and continue doing this until I have used all the meat mix.... the saran wrap helps keep the meat from sticking to the pan. I usually make about 20 meatloaves at once. I cook them all at once. After they have cooled I wrap them in saran wrap and then in foil... label and freeze.

When I am ready to use them I just defrost (either by leaving in the fridge or by microwave) and microwave until heated through. Add instant mashed potatoes or rice or whatever to the side.

With my method you only have to heat up your oven once to make 20 meat loaves.... we have very expensive electricity up here in NH, so that really helps!

Chicken is a bit tougher to make and freeze... I find it gets dry if cooked more than once. Your best bet there would probably be using the crockpot. I LOVE myself when I actually am organized enough in the morning to use my crockpot!

My easy version of chicken cacciatore for the crockpot.

chicken parts without the skin (whatever is cheapest.... usually leg quarters around here)
canned/jarred spaghetti sauce
sliced onion/peppers (buy presliced at the salad bar if you want)

If time permits sautee the veggies in a pan with a bit of oil before adding to crock pot. Otherwise I just soften them in the microwave for a few minutes.

Put chicken in bottom of crock pot.... pour spaghetti sauce over to cover... add veggies. Cook for several hours (in crockpot).

Serve with a side of cooked pasta to pour the sauce over!

I discovered that you CAN freeze lots of things you might not think of. I was PG with DS at Christmas time (he was born in Jan.) and when our family Christmas dinner was done I was offered all the leftovers for the freezer. I jumped at the offer! I froze cooked chicken with sauce, rice, all kinds of stuff... and it was all just fine when defrosted and reheated.

Best of luck with the new baby and with the cooking! .........P

 

[Daisymae26]

Chicken and Cheese Enchiladas - there's this really good sauce you put in them and it from a Chevy's and Rio Bravo cookbook i found at the librabry.
individual pizzas
soups

these are a few i'd add

 

[TinkerPixxie]

Hi RRBB
I think its great your going to cook ahead of time, you will surely apprieciate it when your tired and busy wiht the new baby.
I know when my twins were born {they were the last of my 5 children} we practically lived off pizza. And i dont even like pizza. But i was to drained to cook being up with two babies all day and night.
I find anything with pasta freezes well. Baked Mac and Cheese holds up well , as others have said, lasagna, baked ziti. Also stews and soups do great. Sometimes the liquids seem to disappear when they get frozen so keeping a few cans of broth around might be helpful just in case you need a bit to add in.
Just remember airtight containers will be best as to not get freezer burn and ruin the flavor.

When in doubt...call the pizza guy

Tink~