Suggestion for meals that freeze well?...

[Sue G in PA]

Looking to make some meals ahead and freeze them for when the baby comes. Any suggestions for meals that freeze and re-heat well? Nothing to elaborate. I'd like to take one Sunday after church to make a weeks worth of meals or so w/ the dc. Thanks.

[Tia in Wa]

http://frozenassets.wordpress.com/
I read the book Frozen Assets and it was great. :D

[Amy in Orlando]

Looking to make some meals ahead and freeze them for when the baby comes. Any suggestions for meals that freeze and re-heat well? Nothing to elaborate. I'd like to take one Sunday after church to make a weeks worth of meals or so w/ the dc. Thanks.

I wonder if there's a way to put a "sticky" note on threads like this so people always have access to common questions?

Things that I freeze:

Lasagna
Chicken pot pie
Chicken noodle soup
Meatloaf (freeze raw and just stick it in the crockpot in the morning)
Chili
Bean soup


Ground meat in one meal-bags - easy for tacos or sloppy joes
Cooked chicken - easy for salads, etc.
Breakfast burritos and biscuits (stuffed with eggs, cheese, etc) - individually wrapped - kids can heat them up quickly in the microwave
Pancakes/french toast sticks - easy breakfasts

Par-baked pizza crusts (make the crust but only bake for 5-10 min)

I'm sure you get a lot of other good suggestions! When are you due?

[AnneJ]

Freezer Meal Ideas (http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5672)

[Sue G in PA]

I'm sure you get a lot of other good suggestions! When are you due?[/QUOTE]

I'm due around April 7th if not sooner (I'm hoping!). Thanks for the suggestions (I'd forgotten that pancakes/french toast freeze well and make good dinners, too!)

[tess in the burbs]

chili and soups are good.

he loves spaghetti and meatballs and chicken parmesan.

the chicken recipe I use the Tyson breaded chicken breasts...so all I do is boil spaghetti and put in dish to be frozen, top with one chicken breast, pour some pasta sauce on it and sprinkle some mozz and parm cheese. freeze. he loves this one best!

[Tonia]

I love to freeze foods, but I have very few casseroles that I freeze - we just don't care for the way they come out. What I do freeze are the components to a dish so that I just have to grab everything and cook.

I keep on hand:

bags of hamburger cooked with onion and celery in 2 cup portions (2 cups is about 1 pd of cooked hamburger) - I use this for pizza topping, sloppy joes, tacos, anything where I need browned hamburger.

spaghetti sauce - I make a huge pot and freeze in 2 cup portions - I use it for pasta dishes, calzones, pizza, or just eat it with a good piece of bread!

chicken pieces in different marinades - just have to throw in the oven and bake

veggies, blanched and frozen. Just throw some in a pot with hot water and bring to a boil. Drain and add butter, salt and pepper.

desserts - cakes (without the icing), cookie dough, all freeze well

[Whitney in KY]

Breakfast burritos and biscuits (stuffed with eggs, cheese, etc) - individually wrapped - kids can heat them up quickly in the microwave


Make and freeze these?
TIA
Whitney

[StephanieZ]

Search for OAMC on recipezaar dot com and you'll find tons of great ideas. If you narrow it down to 4-5 star rated recipes with atleast 3 or more reviewers, you'll still have hundreds of choices and they'll be great. I've gotten dozens of fabulous recipes from that site and cook from the freezer several days a week. LOVE IT!

[ELaurie]

(link) 30 day gourmet (http://www.30daygourmet.com/)

[Amy in Orlando]

Breakfast burritos and biscuits (stuffed with eggs, cheese, etc) - individually wrapped - kids can heat them up quickly in the microwave


Make and freeze these?
TIA
Whitney


Yep. I make them completely and freeze them about 50 at a time (I have three teenage boys). They reheat surprisingly well.

[Denise in IN]

Yep. I make them completely and freeze them about 50 at a time (I have three teenage boys). They reheat surprisingly well.

How do you package these for the freezer?

[Amy in Orlando]

How do you package these for the freezer?

I wrap in plastic wrap twice (I've also used the stuff that seals up when you press on it) and then I wrap and tape in freezer paper. It's a time consuming effort, but if you make a ton of them, it really pays off. I also make bean burrito's for my teen boys that always seem to be starviing.

[Suzanne in ABQ]

Chicken Spaghetti freezes well. You can get a good recipe at www.PioneerWomanCooks.com

Just scroll down the pictures on the left hand side. It's second from the bottom (at least it was a minute ago).

I use green chile instead of cayenne pepper.

Yum.