[jenfl]

I'm starting on my post-partum freezer stash! Freezer meals are tricky for me, because DH is vegetarian and I'm not -- I have to find things where both versions will freeze well. I've decided to make one meal a week that I can double and freeze the extra.

Tonight was cream of tomato soup with barley, frozen before the cream and barley are added.

I've also got some ground turkey in the fridge to turn into meatballs to freeze for DD and I.

Anyone else started on their stash? I'd love to get some new ideas.

 

[tomtemama]

So far I've frozen a bunch of chili (which I'm planning on having dh pull out of the freezer and stick on the stove when I'm in labour) and a pot full of corn chowder. Soup is easy to make extras of and it freezes well so I hope my family is ready for soup for a few days after the birth.

 

[summerforever1977]

I use a commercial sealer w/freezer bags so I started about six weeks ago and have in my freezer stash so far:
-potato kale soup
-vegetable bean soup
-vegetarian chili
-broccoli cheese soup
-2 trays of stuffed spinach cheese shells
-vegetable lasagna
-spinach artichoke dip
-raw meatloaf mix
-raw veggie-meatball mix

I also plan on adding:
-eggplant parmesan
-stuffing for peppers (vegetarian and meat versions)
-bean stuffing for burritos (I sautee onions, garlic, two cans of Garden Eden beans, cumin, paprika, chili powder, and 1/3 cup water for 10 minutes and then add spinach, parsley, salsa, and cheese)
-chicken cacciatore
-sweet and spicy barbeque beans
-short sharp chops
-jambalaya
-black bean soup

I get my recipes from Cookinglight.com so these are actually pretty healthy meals.
I keep veggie options but meat also since hubby is a meat-eater, though he will happily eat vegetarian several nights a week.

I would love a recipe for a quiche that freezes well since my favorite veggie quiche recipe gets very, very water if frozen.

ETA: Here is a great tip for freezing stuff you bake in a pan in the oven (like lasagna and stuffed shells). Line your pan with foil prebaking, spray with cooking spray, cook, then freeze the pan overnight in the freezer; the next day remove the frozen dish and pop out the dish you made and transfer to a freezer bag or however you want to freeze your dish. This way you get your baking pan back, plus you get more space in your freezer. You can use a butter knife or pie slicer to remove the item from the dish if you can't get it out by flipping it over.

 

[aims1029]

I bought a ton of ground beef in bulk on sale and made-
chili
taco meat
sloppy joes

I also have-
split pea soup
white chicken chili

I'll be watching this thread for more ideas!

 

[rhiOrion]

Make sure you save your recipes! Early next month I'm going to start a freezer meal recipe thread.

(I put that on my google calendar months ago so I won't forget!)

 

[tomtemama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by summerforever1977 ............... ETA: Here is a great tip for freezing stuff you bake in a pan in the oven (like lasagna and stuffed shells). Line your pan with foil prebaking, spray with cooking spray, cook, then freeze the pan overnight in the freezer; the next day remove the frozen dish and pop out the dish you made and transfer to a freezer bag or however you want to freeze your dish. This way you get your baking pan back, plus you get more space in your freezer. You can use a butter knife or pie slicer to remove the item from the dish if you can't get it out by flipping it over.

What a great idea! Thank you for sharing this tip

 

[artemis33]

Yay, I've been meaning to start a thread about this!

When DD1 was born, we relied heavily on take out food and pseudo healthy organic 'junk food' (like Amy's pizzas, etc). Since then, however, we have moved to a place where take out is no longer an option and I cook most things from scratch - so I really need to put some work into stocking things that will make cooking easier for a while.

So far I have:

Two 1# balls of pizza dough. I think that is all.

But I plan to do something similar to OP - make larger batches of dishes I'm already making and freeze half.

On my list to make:

cooked beans (from dried)
more pizza dough
shredded cheese (I buy 2lb blocks and shred w/food processor and freeze)
Soup - black bean, white bean, beef vegetable....

Baked penne (I will do similar to PP suggested except I freeze it before it is baked - I cook al dente and assemble, then freeze like that.....otherwise the cheese gets overdone/dried out....at least in the oven, which is what I use

)

homemade biscuits (cooked unbaked - so nice to just bake off a few at a time - they are way better fresh!)

cookie dough

I know there is more, better work on my list!

I will also stock my pantry and will include some 'convenience' items - like Near East rice pilaf, for example. Isn't the healthiest in the world, but makes a fast/easy side for dinner and we all like it.

 

[aylaanne]

I've frozen cheese soup, chili, and beef stew. My MIL works for a private high school with a chef, and she's been bringing extra portions home for us as well. I thought about freezing Jambalaya but it's so yummy that we always eat it all.

 

[Peace+Hope]

so far chicken biryani (layered chicken and rice w/ lots of onions and veggies and indian spices) and veggie lasagna.

definitely plan to do chicken pot pie, ham and bean soup, and looking for more ideas...

great thread!

 

[finn'smama]

 

[jsh7809]

Our freezer is teensy, but I know I'm going to want to do this too, so I'm thinking of asking my MIL if I can use some of her freezer space (she lives about 5 miles away). So far I've just made more chicken broth, but I've been thinking about it lots and know I will want to do more as April gets closer!
It's funny, because I'm not even the only cooker - we split it pretty equally - but I am the primary eater these days

and I do most of the grocery shopping. It will be interesting to see how DH does with being the go to guy for all of our food needs... currently if I send him to the store without an extensive list, he comes back with one bag of stuff based on how hungry he is at that moment.