What’s for Dinner Tonight?

[NYCgrrl]

when I do cook, I make extra for the next evening and sometimes depending on the meal, I freeze portions. I definitely do not cook every night.

This makes a lot of sense for us, solos. Recently, I’ve invested in kitchen tools that will make storing individual portions easier. Bought a vacuum sealer and found it useful for everything but soups and stews. For them I discovered 1 cup covered “ice trays”” real game changers.

 

[AnnaS]

This makes a lot of sense for us, solos. Recently, I’ve invested in kitchen tools that will make storing individual portions easier. Bought a vacuum sealer and found it useful for everything but soups and stews. For them I discovered 1 cup covered “ice trays”” real game changers.

My son uses a vacuum sealer. He loves it and takes up so much less space! I keep forgetting using ice trays for certain things - for instance when I open a can of tomato paste (I keep forgetting to try and buy the one in the tube). Or sometimes I need a bit of sauce for flavor/color and don't need much. Ice trays would be good for this also.

PP mentioned some meals to freeze,

These come to mind right now,

I make meat loaf - slice up the left overs and freeze two slices in each portion
Fried chicken cutlets - freeze two slices for one portion - (don't usually fry/much of anything really)
Beef Stew
Soups - Lentil/split pea/chick peas//chicken
Baked Ziti (when Ricotta is on sale/I make a few small trays/I always have mozzarella in the freezer)
Sauce (w/or without meatballs)
Meatballs that I did not put in sauce
Chicken Parm
Eggplant Parm

I have frozen leftover mashed potatoes/stuffed mushrooms after a holiday

I shop now every two to three weeks (unless one of the kids/family come over).

I buy certain Entamanns cakes when on sale - slice individual portions and freeze

I freeze english muffins, bread and bagels/I take as needed

I always have clementines/apples/oranges since they last in the refrigerator. I take out two pieces at at time and replace as I have them.

I do slice up mangos, strawberries and freeze as well as blueberries. I can add them to my cereal or oatmeal when the bananas are done. I only buy 3 slightly green and one yellow to have the next day for my cereal or oatmeal. I don't buy more. They all turn brown/too ripe for me at the same time.

I buy a few fresh vegetables each week (always have some store bought frozen for backup). If I don't get to use some, I will also freeze raw. Wash, dry and freeze (especially when on sale)

Cut up broccoli/crowns. Asparagus, peppers, broccoli rabi (these I give it a quick boil)

Some meals are quick and easy. Some take more time and work. Some are just too much of a hassle for one portion. I don't like wasting food after shopping, cooking and cleaning up and spending $$.

I have also started using a toaster oven so I don't need to turn oven on many times.


Would love tips/suggestions!!!!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

You are so organized. I often forget about what's in my freezer. Do you use any particular system?

Would love to hear everyone's freezer favorites. I aspire to be organized enough to plan ahead and have stuff in the freezer for emergencies (and remember it's there).

We just put some leftover chili in freezer last night. I said “I hope we remember it’s there!!”

 

[cabanafrau]

This makes a lot of sense for us, solos. Recently, I’ve invested in kitchen tools that will make storing individual portions easier. Bought a vacuum sealer and found it useful for everything but soups and stews. For them I discovered 1 cup covered “ice trays”” real game changers.

Oooh, the ice trays sound like an idea solution for expanding what I can freezer prep for my in-laws.

Recently I batch cooked several things to fill their freezer with pre-made homecooked meals. Some of the options that I made that expand on @AnnaS' list included salmon croquettes and stuffed cabbage rolls. Even tucked a bit in our freezer for rushed/lazy nights.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Oooh, the ice trays sound like an idea solution for expanding what I can freezer prep for my in-laws.

The ones I bought are called Souper Cubes or Trays, I think. You can get them from Sur la Table, Williams-Sonoma and Amazon with Amazon being the most inexpensive for the double pack. They have a nice range of sizes and I opted for the one cup version to tryout.

Great lists of make ahead dishes, ladies !
I’ll add on if I think of something

 

[leebee]

If we have an open can of tomato paste, I put a layer of olive oil on top of the paste, enough to cover, then cover the can with foil and refrigerate it. It's keeps pretty well. The cold olive oil looks gnarly, so I try to scrape it off when I need to use the paste, but really- what's wrong with a bit of olive oil in your sauce?

Dinner last night was leftovers. The sausage rigatoni casserole and sticky chicken legs are gone! There is one lunch-sized serving of squash soup left and about a cup of pea casserole, so mission mostly accomplished. There is still a lot of roast turkey breast (from a turkey, not the deli) and stuffing left, though, so I think turkey sandwiches are on the menu plan for the weekend, at least for lunch.

Dinner tonight is TBD. I have to work until at least 7pm and didn't have either a meal plan for this week OR time to make anything this morning. On my way out the door I said perhaps cheese omelets, but I have a full day and work to finish up that should have been done by now, so someone else will have to kick in. There's still turkey breast left, and several cans of Campbells soup, if people get desperate.

 

[cabanafrau]

I've never been a fan of anything open in the refrigerator out of fear of spills and definitely cannot stand anything that generates odors. It's a bit more costly, but even back when I was actually preparing true meals every night I switched over to a tube of tomato paste for recipes that only call for a tablespoon or two so that the rest stayed stable and aroma free in the fridge until I use the rest up. I've found two brands that I like in the tube, reliable old Cento and another one in a black tube that I think is called Amore is pretty decent, too.

I've got sheetpan gnocchi with Italian sausage and veg planned for tonight.

 

[AnnaS]

Sausage and Peppers tonite.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Spaghetti and meatballs

 

[fla4fun]

I don’t know. I was all set to make spaghetti and then my sister sent me a package for Valentine’s Day. Of course, I had to sample them for quality assurance, so now I’m not hungry . . .

 

[DanceDisney23]

Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. It’s going to snow tonight. Again.

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

Pulled chicken bbq and fries. We just found out no school tomorrow.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Oops. Got my days mixed up.

 

[WorldWacky]

We had seasoned baked chicken breasts. Ds and I added spaghetti sauce and mozzarella cheese to ours with a side of spaghetti. Dh had the quinoa and corn with his.

 

[NYCgrrl]

For that opened can of tomato paste, I tend to freeze it (whadda surprise! ) by the tablespoon. First, flash freeze on wax or parchment paper then into a small Ziplock bag they go. Oh and if you smear or spray some oil on the spoon the tomato product won’t stick.

Another serving of rice and gandules with turkey tonight. I added some cherry tomatoes to it as they were getting too squishy for salad making. I’m thinking the last two servings of this rice dish might make a nice soup or stew. Will see what my overnight dreams think up, lol.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Grilled chicken, Cobb salad for me. Bacon cheeseburger w/fries for DH.

 

[LoveDaisy]

Met some coworkers for dinner at chilis. We ate our body weight in chips and salsa and then had all the appetizers. The heartburn I will have later will remind me of my fine choices earlier tonight.

 

[Meriweather]

Tempura shrimp, Wasabi crusted filet, onion rings, asparagus, Yuzu cheesecake.
Very good

 

[BlueStarryHat]

The baked fish I made last week was such a hit that I've been requested to make it again tonight, so Lemon Butter Fillets it is.

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

Leftover turkey burgers and will make some hickory smoked bacon to put on them this time and of course, cheese. Will probably have tater tots with it.