Summer time freezer foods

[weliveintheforest]

I'm looking for some ideas of things to make ahead in the summer, when we'd rather not use the oven. I will make a couple of casserole type things but I'd love to come up with some stuff that wouldn't heat up the whole house. I want to have a couple of weeks worth of ideas so my dh can easily throw together a healthy meal after our new baby is born. He an do simple, easy stuff but is not much of a chef and if it's too hard I'm afraid he'll just order in.  

So far I'm thinking:

- spaghetti sauce

- spanakopita

- breakfast burritos

- burgers and meats to be cooked outside on the BBQ 

- cooked and frozen chicken to add to a quick stirfry or sandwiches or jarred butter chicken sauce

- rice to be thawed and served with whatever dh comes up with

- soups

Any ideas would be appreciated!  If there is already a thread please point me to it, I couldn't find one but wasn't sure what to search.

[HollyBearsMom]

cold melon soup freezes well as does other cold soups like Vichyssoise. Serve with a salad and good bread.

I make triple batches of carrot ginger soup too which is great cold or warm. Great sipped one handed out of a mug while BF

In addition to regular pasta sauce you can make/freeze different kinds of pesto-traditional basil but also asparagus based, mint based, etc

These are a few grill ideas: 

-freeze pizza dough for grilled pizzas.  So easy and you can top with anything in the fridge including leftover meats and veggies

-bags of frozen raw shrimp.  You can do a nice citrus marinade that takes minute or just toss with olive oil/salt/pepper and grill

-like you said-ground meat for burgers, chicken pieces for BBQ chicken, steaks, pork chops/porkloin

-butterfly a whole chicken or two and cook on the grill.  Good for dinner one night and then slice the rest for sandwiches

Freeze a batch of chili in smaller portions. Good to use in burritos, to top a baked potato, even chili cheese dogs (nitrate free, natch )

If you husband isn't a good/inspired cook you can also label all you freeze with meal ideas so he is not constantly asking you what to make for dinner.

Good luck with the new babe!

[AZgirl2207]

How about a couple batches of pancakes and/or waffles?  Both warm up easily for a simple meal or snack. 

We really like oven baked subs. Slice a french bread and layer with your favorites, wrap in foil and freeze.  Just thaw overnight in the fridge and put it on the grill for about 20 minutes to heat through and melt the cheese.  Our favorite combos are greek (chicken, feta, olives, tomato, oil and vinegar) and chicken bacon ranch.  Meatball subs would be good too. 

[BetsyS]

I had a June baby last year, and this worked well for us.

Some soups (yes, I know it's hot, but they are very nourishing and filling for me, so I didn't mind).  I especially liked tortilla soup, gumbo, brunswick stew, and Italian wedding soup.

Hamburger patties (to be made into salisbury steak with brown gravy) and frozen mashed potatoes (make them on the stiffer side, individiually freeze in ice cream scoop size on a tray, then store in a ziploc bag).  I serve this meal with another veggie, either fresh or frozen (depends on how old the baby is.  )

Taco meat and refried beans.  Easy to get supper on the table with this one.  You can also freeze shredded cheese and flour tortillas so that you have it on hand.

Red beans with andouille, onions, celery, bell pepper.  Make the rice fresh.

Pintos.  Again, make the rice fresh.  We usually eat these with salsa, cheese, and sour cream.

Black beans.  I serve this with a meaty red sauce (1 lb ground beef to 1-2 cans tomatoes; season liberally), which can be frozen.  Make the rice fresh.  (my family loves beans and rice...obviously)

Don't discount the convenience of having easy stuff frozen, too.  It'll save you when you are so tired or the baby is fussy or your bigger needs a little attention.  For us, that was muffins, pancakes, waffles, cheese quesadillas, bean and cheese burritos, and hummus (I didn't like the hummus thawed, but my dh and children did; ymmv). 

Sloppy joes.  I buy the buns fresh, then serve with frozen fries and fruit.

Chili.  Reheat and serve over baked potatoes, and it's feels like it's a lighter meal for summer.

Like PP said, marinated chicken, pork chops, whatever.

One thing that we really liked was a pre-cooked pork butt.  Dh did this on the grill, and he actually did 2 of them, which is a LOT of meat, and it was great.  I froze in meal size packages.  I used this for tacos/burritos, on top of salads, just thawed and served w/ bbq sauce, on top of baked potatoes.  I found lots of uses. 

Chicken tettrazini.  This is my favorite casserole, so I made an exception to the no-casseroles-in-June rule.  :smile

Chana masala.  Make the rice fresh.

Savannah red rice (like jambalaya) with sausage and chicken.

Enchiladas.  Another casserole, but if it's not too hot to use your oven, it's a good one to freeze.

spaghetti sauce

Italian beef for sandwiches (it is slow cooked with a jar of pepperocini, a package of good seasons dry salad dressing, and beef broth).

the cheese sauce for macaroni and cheese.  Make the pasta fresh.

[BetsyS]

Oh, I just re-read and think I misunderstood.  That was what I froze ahead last year for eating postpartum.  Sorry if that's not what you're looking for.

[weliveintheforest]

Yep, that was what I was looking for!  I was having trouble thinking of things to freeze and eat after baby that wouldn't heat my whole house up and you gave me some good ideas :)

[Piratelady2525]

Cooked chicken is a great one!  Can be added to all sorts of easy to prep meals...just heat it up and throw it in burritos, soups, on rice, beans, or chopped up in a salad.  Lean and full of protein, which you'll definitely need after the little one arrives!  Also, do you have a toaster oven?  If so, you can make smaller portion sizes of your fave cassaroles, and heat them up in there, so it doesnt heat up the whole house like the regular oven does.

And a great cold treat that my mom makes all the time:  cut up your fave fruits (she uses strawberries, bananas, pineapple, and cherries) and put in a big ziploc baggie.  Then pour in orange juice, zip shut, and lay flat to in freezer.  Eat it when its mostly frozen or slushy.  Its wonderful when its super hot out (we eat this alot right now, since its been 100+ most days.)

Congrats in advance on your baby!

[Mama Ana]

I found a recipe for artichoke and tofu casserole that I wanna try and freeze. My only concern is with the tofu, I know you can freeze it but this recipe calls for BAKING the tofu first and then making the casserole. Would you still bake the tofu as directed or would you just make the casserole, freeze it and then bake it all once you were ready to eat it?

This thread is a god-send, as I've been having a bugger of a time finding recipes that sound appealing to freeze. My LO is due in late July/early August and I want to start freezing SOME things for future meals. Thanks for your help!

[HollyBearsMom]

Originally Posted by Mama Ana 

I found a recipe for artichoke and tofu casserole that I wanna try and freeze. My only concern is with the tofu, I know you can freeze it but this recipe calls for BAKING the tofu first and then making the casserole. Would you still bake the tofu as directed or would you just make the casserole, freeze it and then bake it all once you were ready to eat it?

This thread is a god-send, as I've been having a bugger of a time finding recipes that sound appealing to freeze. My LO is due in late July/early August and I want to start freezing SOME things for future meals. Thanks for your help!

I have never had any luck freezing tofu in casserole dishes-either baked first or not.  I find that the tofu release way to much moisture and the casseroles become watery/soggy and often separate. I had slightly better success when I made a lasagna using no bake noodles since they require additional moisture.

However is this recipe from a site/person you trust? If so I would go with their instructions.  My tofu disasters were from me trying to sub it in for other ingredients and then adapting the recipe. I am not a seasoned tofu cook so pretty sure the mistakes were of my own making.

[Mama Ana]

The recipe is from vegweb.com (http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=39880.0) I've never done anything except stir fry with tofu but would love to start using it more. I see the person who posted the recipe changed the tofu from turkey so maybe I could modify the recipe back...? It just sounds so yummy! I love artichokes! 

[IAmLePewsWife]

Stuffed Peppers freeze and re-heat well!

[SundayCrepes]

Pamelita's Tortalita Soup.

(I invented it.)

2 large cans crushed tomatoes

3 small or 2 large cans tomato sauce

2 cans of beans (I usually do 1 black and 1 red)

1 bag frozen corn

1 bunch cilantro

1 cup water

2 or 3 cloves of garlic

1 chopped onion

bunch of chopped green onions (optional)

1 bunch chopped cilantro

lots of cumin

lots of oregaon

crushed red peppers to taste (optional)

Throw in a pot and heat on stove until hot then simmer awhile or throw in crockpot and cook on low all day. It really doesn't matter. It's pretty flexible.

Just before serving slowly stir in 3/4 pound shredded monterey jack cheese (or whatever cheese you prefer.)

Serve as is or add olives, avocado, sour cream, or tortilla chips.

We freeze the leftovers then heat and serve over overeasy eggs. We call that Huevos Tortalita. (Or you can just thaw, heat, and eat as soup.)