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Freezer Meals

post #1 of 45
6/12/06 at 9:20am
Thread Starter 
So, ya'all freezing stuff in anticipation of baby/3rd trimester fatigue? I'm working on it. Last month I ended up pulling a lot of my pre-made dinners out of the freezer because we ran out of food and I was too lazy to get to the store... so I'm back in stock-up mode : can we post recipies/ideas?

Here's what I have so far and/or want to do:

Meatballs (JUST learned how to make these, lol!)

Maple rolls (like cinimon rolls, but with maple syrup instead of cin sugar` it gets all carmally in the oven)

Hamburger patties for DH (eww, I haven't been able to eat hamburgers since I got pg)

Frozen homemade pizza (2/3 peparoni, 1/3 veggie for me)

Homemade McDonalds sandwiches- sausage, egg, cheese on a bagel

Bread (we make our own bread)

Lasagna

Mashed potates (I did this this weekend)

Oatmeal banana muffins (24 this weekend, yay!)

Scalloped potatoes

Shepard's pie

Sloppy joes

Burritos

Hopefully have frozen veggies from my garden

Cara
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post #2 of 45
6/12/06 at 11:15am
Oh, I'm totally planning to stock up my freezer. Not awake enough yet to post recipes, but I'll be back. Share ideas, please!
post #3 of 45
6/12/06 at 11:53am
myhoneyswife-with the maple rolls you simply replace the cinn/sugar with maple syrup?
I've been longing for cinn rolls but maple rolls sound heavenly!
post #4 of 45
6/12/06 at 12:02pm
I'm doing pretty much everything on your list including:
Baked Zitti
Chilli
Beef Stews
Chicken and Dumplings

I usually use allrecipes.com for most of my ideas on what to freeze. The crock pot is my best friend.
post #5 of 45
6/12/06 at 12:39pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hazel
myhoneyswife-with the maple rolls you simply replace the cinn/sugar with maple syrup?
I've been longing for cinn rolls but maple rolls sound heavenly!
Yeah, but not the exact same amount. If you use real maple syrup (not the maple flavored corn syrup) then it's WAY sweeter than sugar, so you want to use less. I normally just spread the dough with butter, drizzle it lightly with syrup, and roll it up. Then on top if I think it looks a little dry I'll drizzle a little more. We love these. Too bad real syrup is so stinkin pricey!
post #6 of 45
6/12/06 at 2:30pm
I so want to do this, but I am afraid it is still going to be WAYYYYY to friggin hot here in Sept to turn on the oven. We are also vegetarian. Please give me some ideas for vegetarian non oven frezer meals

I am already planning to do lots of pancakes, french toast, egg burritos & muffins for breakfasts.

For dinner/lunches I am sort of lost other than having beans & veggie patties ready.
post #7 of 45
6/12/06 at 2:45pm
QUOTE]I so want to do this, but I am afraid it is still going to be WAYYYYY to friggin hot here in Sept to turn on the oven. We are also vegetarian. Please give me some ideas for vegetarian non oven frezer meals [/QUOTE]
I like hearty soups and stews. I'm not a veggie anymore but I used to manage a veggie restaurant, I'll get together some recipes for you. A crock pot will save you on the heat aspect...OOOHHH, try indian foods like curries and such, that will be nice for the fall. I can't believe I've totally spaced out on this. Thanks for the reminder ladies
post #8 of 45
6/12/06 at 2:47pm
I'm starting my stock up after we get back from traveling for a couple of weeks around the 4th of July.

I'll be making:
meatloaf
spaghetti
"refried" black beans
taco meat
cooked ground beef
muffins
pancakes
waffles
post #9 of 45
6/12/06 at 2:52pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Piper's mama
I like hearty soups and stews. I'm not a veggie anymore but I used to manage a veggie restaurant, I'll get together some recipes for you. A crock pot will save you on the heat aspect...OOOHHH, try indian foods like curries and such, that will be nice for the fall. I can't believe I've totally spaced out on this. Thanks for the reminder ladies
Mmmm, I'd LOOOVVVEEE your recipes. We're not veg but I love veggie food. Mmmmm. LOL.
post #10 of 45
6/12/06 at 3:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Piper's mama
I like hearty soups and stews. I'm not a veggie anymore but I used to manage a veggie restaurant, I'll get together some recipes for you. A crock pot will save you on the heat aspect...OOOHHH, try indian foods like curries and such, that will be nice for the fall.
That would be WONDERFULL!!!!
post #11 of 45
6/12/06 at 3:34pm
Ya'll just tell me what you are interested in... I've got lots of soups, a nice spinach lasagna, and lots of Moosewood Cookbooks. Plus my Quiche recipe (doesn't really freeze well) and my Shepherd's pie, Seitan Fajitas, a really good Quinoa casserole (not sure how that freezes) that I picked up somewhere. Also a tofu salad (like fake egg salad) recipe from the restaurant, some sandwich spreads from the restaurant, and lots of side dishes like Ginger Tempeh, Sesame Green Beans (way easy to make), cucumber dill salad (really nice for summer), the best pasta salad ever, and a potato salad recipe I came up with last weekend. I haven't frozen anything but stews so I'm not sure how they will do, the lasagna should be fine. Just let me know
post #12 of 45
6/12/06 at 4:34pm
oh boy! everything sounds so good, I must be hungry!!
I hadnt really thought of doing this, its been many years since I had a newborn, so thanks for bringing this up! I need to make some plans and organized and started.
post #13 of 45
6/12/06 at 4:53pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Piper's mama
Just let me know
Oo, um, everything? I think soups would be great for the cold fall months ahead, I'd especially like the spinich lasagnae recipe.

Thanks!
Cara
post #14 of 45
6/12/06 at 5:13pm
I'd love the soup recipes, great for the fall when baby bean will be here! I'd also love the pasta salad recipe. Yummmm pasta salad sounds so good! Tomorrow I'm making a pesto pasta salad to take to the beach on Wed. I can't wait!!!

Oh, thanks for posting this! I totally fogot I should be packing up my freezer! It's been a long time since I've had a baby around
post #15 of 45
6/12/06 at 9:42pm
Ok, here we go:
Spinach Lasagna
Filling:
1 1/2 lbs of crumbled extra firm or firm tofu (really mush it up & make sure it isn't wet)
1 container of ricotta cheese ( I think it's an 8 oz. package)
1 1/2 Tbsp. Garlic
1/2 Tbsp. Salt
1/2 Tbsp Basil
1 package of frozen spinach, steamed and well drained (you don't want soggy lasagna!)

2 jars of your favorite marinara

2 packages of Lasagna noodles, cooked and drained

1 lb. of shredded parmesan cheese, I prefer the fresh stuff

3/4 lb of shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat your oven to 375. You should use a regular size casserole dish (9 x 13). Layer as follows:

start with marinara to cover the bottom of your dish, then noodles (if you overlap them in a way that there ends up being 2 layers of noodles it will hold together better), 1/2 of filling, marinara, noodles, other 1/2 of filling, all of parmesan, marinara, noodles, marinara (on this layer of marinara you want to make sure all of the noodles are covered, or made at least moist, by the marinara. If any part is left dry it will cook up and be really tough).
Bake for 1/2 hour
Remove from oven and top with mozzarella
Bake until the edges turn golden, about another 1/2 hour (I think - it's been a while)

Pasta Salad

Now this recipe is for 5 lbs. so you will probably want to adjust it. Or leave it, it's great for potlucks!

8 cups uncooked veggie rotini (or whatever you like, multi-colored veggie pasta makes for a prettier dish)
1 bunch green onions, chopped
2 cups kalamata olives, halved
1 cup fresh basil, minced
4 diced tomatoes
1/2 cup white wine vinegar
3/4 cup olive oil
1 1/2 - 2 cups crumbled feta cheese
1 tsp. black pepper
1 Tbsp. minced garlic

Boil pasta with a little olive oil till done. Drain and let cool, then toss with the other ingredients. Viola, the best pasta salad ever (in my opinion, but I can't say it's mine : )

now some soups:

Western corn & potato chowder

4 cups chopped onion
2.5 Tbsp. minced garlic
4 small chilies, seeded and minced
1 tsp salt
12 cups water or stock
1/8 cup ground cumin
4 medium sweet potatoes, cut to bite size
2 red bell peppers, chopped
12 cups frozen or fresh corn

Saute the onions until translucent (at least) in the bottom of the pot, add the garlic, chile, salt, cumin, sweet potato and water or stock and simmer until the potatoes are soft, add bell pepper and corn and simmer until tender. When the soup is done take 1/2 out and puree it in the blender, then put it back in. You can add 1/2 cup of minced cilantro if you like the taste.


Mushroom Barley (one of my favorites)

2 cups barley
3 1/2 quarts water or stock
2-4 large onions, chopped
1 lb. carrots, cut into quarters
1 1/2 Tbsp. fresh dill, minced
4 stalks celery, sliced finely
3/4 lb. shittake mushrooms
2 Tbsp. Tamari
Cayenne, Salt, and Pepper to taste
1/2 cup fresh parsley, minced

Cook the barley separately in water. Saute the onions in a little olive oil until translucent, or a bit brown, whatever you like. Add carrots & celery and saute about a minute more. Add the dill, mushrooms, salt and other spices and saute about a minute more, or until the mushrooms get soft. Mix with the barley adn add Tamari and parsley.


There you go, I'll post more later.
post #16 of 45
6/12/06 at 9:47pm
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention Pot Roast. The easiest thing ever to make!
post #17 of 45
6/13/06 at 1:52am
Yumm! These recipes look delicious I'll be trying the pasta salad one VERY soon, and the rest will follow closely!

Thanks mama!
post #18 of 45
6/13/06 at 8:23am
I'm very happy we have a deep freezer now. When I had my son, I couldn't make a lot of meals because we didn't have space in the fridge freezer. Here is the recipe I use for Lasagna. You can replace the meat with faux meat like Boca.

1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1 onion -- chopped
2 cloves garlic -- minced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 can diced tomatoes -- (29 ounce)
2 cans tomato paste -- (6 ounce)
12 dry lasagna noodles
2 eggs -- beaten
1 pint part-skim ricotta cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons dried parsley
1 teaspoon salt
1 pound mozzarella cheese -- shredded
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

In a skillet over medium heat, brown ground beef, onion and garlic; drain fat. Mix in basil, oregano, brown sugar, salt, diced tomatoes and tomato paste. Simmer for 30 to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add lasagna
noodles, and cook for 5 to 8 minutes, or until al dente; drain. Lay noodles flat on towels, and blot dry.

In a medium bowl, mix together eggs, ricotta, Parmesan cheese, parsley and 1 teaspoon salt.

Layer 1/3 of the lasagna noodles in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Cover noodles with 1/2 ricotta mixture, 1/2 of the mozzarella cheese and 1/3 of the sauce. Repeat. Top with remaining noodles and sauce. Sprinkle additional Parmesan cheese over the top.

Bake in the preheated oven 30 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
post #19 of 45
6/13/06 at 9:01am
Thread Starter 
Oh, for lasagna, I don't pre-cook my noodles, I just add about 1/2 to 1 cup of water to the finished product, just pour it down one side. Lazy lazy lazy... if anyone else wanted to skip the step I just thought I'd share
post #20 of 45
6/14/06 at 5:11pm
Oooh, thanks for sharing recipes & ideas, everyone! I'm doing pretty much the things that everyone mentioned - enchiladas, lasagna, meatloaf, chili, probably some soups, muffins, egg & sausage breakfast burritos - not to mention stocking up on our quick & easy (but more expensive) prepared dinner items, like boca burgers, potstickers, and tortellinis.

myhoney's wife, would you share your banana oatmeal muffin recipe? I'm always on the quest for good muffins, I'll post one for lemon poppyseed muffins that freezes really well in exchange. Probably not as healthy, though!

Lemon Poppyseed Muffins
1 1/2 c. flour (sub up to 1 c. whole wheat pastry flour)
1/2 c. sugar
1 tbsp poppy seeds
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 c. sour cream
1/4 c. applesauce
1/4 c. vegetable oil (I've subbed more applesauce for this with okay results)
1/2 tsp lemon extract (haven't experimented yet with how much fresh lemon juice could be used instead)
2 eggs

Combine wet ingredients. Mix dry ingredients in separate bowl, add to wet ingredients, stir just until moistened. Bake at 375 for 12-14 min or until tops are lightly browned.

Also, here's a surprisingly good chicken recipe for the crockpot, I'm planning on freezing a few batches.

Chicken Cacciatore
2 medium onions, sliced thin
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 15-oz can diced tomatoes
1 8-oz can tomato sauce (I use premade marinara instead of plain tomato)
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp basil
1/2 tsp celery seed
1 bay leaf
1/4 c. white wine (or red works okay too!)
6 boneless chicken breasts, or mix boneless breasts & thighs

Combine all ingredients in crockpot until done. Serve over pasta. (Don't precook chicken if freezing.) Yummy!