Make ahead (of time) dishes

[powellrj]

I have been pre-cooking my meals for years. I usually cook all my meat when I get home from the grocery store and then all I need to do is heat it up during the week when I get home from work. I am terrible about freezing things and then not taking them out in time, so this way works better for me.

This week we had, boneless beef ribs, beef tips over rice, beef stew, cubed steak I floured and browned all the meat and then in the morning I take if out of the fridge and cook it in the crockpot. There was a lot of beef this week because thats what was on sale. I usually cook around whatever is on sale. Next week it looks like chicken, so we will have meals heavy on chicken. What I will do is to clean and boil the chickens or put them in crock pots and cook while I am putting the groceries away. I will then have chicken for the week that I can use to make pot pies, casseroles, burritos, stir fry.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I have pre-cooked my hamburger and froze it. It really does help. I wish I had a deep freezer. I think it would help a lot. Space is such a premium. I'd like to do away with the "convenience" foods and have my own convenience foods. I don't buy a whole lot of the convenience foods, but it does help in a pinch.

If I can make my own pre-made meals it would be healthier and less expensive. I think I just need to allot the time and make it a habit!

Thanks again, everyone!

 

[Trish Bessette]

When I get a large package of hamburger this is what I do:

Brown the hamburg with chopped onion. Divide the hamburg mixture to make the following:

Chili
Goulash
Shephards Pie

BAM - three meals done and all have a different taste so it doesn't feel like your getting an overdose of hamburger.

 

[zaztooe]

I buy 3 pounds of ground beef when it's on sale. I cook it all, drain, let cool, and put about 1/2 pound amounts into Food Saver bags, and freeze. You can also just use Ziplock freezer bags. Since they are not large amounts of meat, they defrost really quickly in the Microwave. I use it in spaghetti sauce, Hamburger Helper, or use two and make Manwiches.

You don't even have to defrost the hamburger. If you put it in anything sauce based you can just put the frozen hamburger in. It will defrost in the sauce. It is great for the above based items

An even less expensive way to package it wrap the portions in saran wrap and then put several in 1 gallon size ziploc bag.

 

[clh2]

I've said this many time on the DisBoards - my favorite cookbook is:

The Warehouse Gourmet

The cookbook is the same concept as the dinner-prep places, but a whole lst less expensive!

 

[of the seas]

Do you guys use your crockpots in the summer time? And if so, does your kitchen get really hot?

 

[lovemygoofy]

Do you guys use your crockpots in the summer time? And if so, does your kitchen get really hot?

Does the whole kitchen get hot from the crockpot?? Not at all. I use my crockpot at least 3x a week during the summer and I remember when I was a kid my mama only cooking in the crockpot because it was so hot in the summer and that was the easiest way to keep the house cool.

 

[Julia M]

Here are some I made the other day.

Just FYI, I "cheat" on my OAMC. For example, I buy a big can of spaghetti sauce from Smart and Final. I buy shredded cheese from Costco.

Freezer Baked Mostaccoli
6 cups Spaghetti Sauce (canned, homemade, whatever) (I use more sauce, depends on taste)
16 ounces mozzarella cheese -- shredded
2 pounds mostaccoli noodles -- just cooked

Cook noodles until just done, drain, cool with cold water. Add sauce, divide in half, put each half into gallon freezer bag. Divide mozzarella and freeze separately in quart freezer bags. Attach cheese to mostaccoli.
To serve: Thaw for 1 day, put into casserole dish and sprinkle cheese on top. Microwave for 5-10 minutes.


Freezer CHEESY Chicken and Rice Bake
1 can condensed cheddar cheese soup
1 cup water
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
¾ cup uncooked regular white rice
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

To freeze: Dump all ingredients into 1 gallon Ziploc freezer bag. Lay flat in freezer.
To cook: Thaw in refrigerator. Place all ingredients in a 2 quart shallow baking dish. Cover. Bake at 375 degrees F for 45 minutes or until chicken and rice are done.


Freezer Sweet and Sour Chicken (one of my favorites)
1- 8 oz. Fat Free French Dressing
1- 8 Oz. can Jelly (whole)cranberry sauce
1 package – Dried Onion Soup Mix

4 Boneless Chicken Breasts (you can add more or less – cut into cube pieces)
To freeze: Dump all ingredients into 1 gallon Ziploc freezer bag. Lay flat in freezer.
To cook: Mix all ingredients in a 13 x 9 glass pan. Cover with tin foil. Bake 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Stir and serve over rice or noodles. Or, put in crockpot (on low) all day.


Honey Glazed Chicken
1/4 cup Butter, Melted
1/8 cup Soy Sauce
1/2 cup Honey

For immediate cooking: Pre-heat oven to 350 F. Place all ingredients into a large baking dish, turn chicken to coat. Bake until chicken juices run clear (45-60 minutes for chicken pieces, or 20-30 minutes for chicken breasts).

For freezing: Place all ingredients into a 1 Gallon freezer bag. Lay flat in freezer.

To thaw and cook: Take the bag out of the freezer the night before, make sure the baggie is completely closed. Place the Bag on a shelf furthest from the freezer (It works best if the bag is laying flat, although this may not be the best option with a side-by-side fridge/freezer). Preheat the oven to 350 F. Empty the contents of the bag into a large baking dish and bake until the juices run clear (45-60 minutes for chicken pieces, or 20-30 minutes for chicken breasts). Or, put in crockpot (on low) all day.



Sweet & Spicy Chicken
1 Package Taco Seasoning
8 oz Apricot Jam
12 oz Salsa

For immediate cooking: Pre-heat oven to 350 F. Place all ingredients into a large baking dish, turn chicken to coat. Bake until chicken juices run clear (45-60 minutes for chicken pieces, or 20-30 minutes for chicken breasts).

For freezing: Place all ingredients into a 1 Gallon freezer bag. Lay flat in freezer.

To thaw and cook: Take the bag out of the freezer the night before, make sure the baggie is completely closed. Place the Bag on a shelf furthest from the freezer (It works best if the bag is laying flat, although this may not be the best option with a side-by-side fridge/freezer). Preheat the oven to 350 F. Empty the contents of the bag into a large baking dish and bake until the juices run clear (45-60 minutes for chicken pieces, or 20-30 minutes for chicken breasts). Or, put in crockpot (on low) all day.


Pesto Cheese Ravioli with Chicken
I copied this from one of those dinner places. I used 1/2 bag of Costco cheese ravioli, 1/4 package of precooked and frozen grilled chicken strips, and premade pesto.

Tacos
Cook multiple pounds of ground beef with taco seasoning. Package the appropriate amount for your family in a freezer bag. Also package shredded cheese, and tortillas. Freeze packages. That way, the night you want tacos, you know you'll have the tortillas and cheese for soft tacos. Add the "extras" you like (sour cream, lettuce, salsa, tomatoes, onions, etc)

Julia

 

[PartyOf5]

Julia M - thanks for the step by step instructions...I love posts like this!