Freezer Meals!!!

[cattuccino]

The time is slowly approaching....shoogars' DH botching their freezer space for these made me think of the the thread, and I hope she can find more space....so maybe share some hamburger and waffle meal ideas...

Anyway, let's use this thread to share freezer meal recipes, or easy recipes to help prepare and/or survive the first little while with a newborn!

[packerfan4life]

I was literally just telling my H this weekend that we need to start making freezer meals

[happyday]

We didn't do any with dd1, and I don't anticipate it with dd2. We did a lot of takeout.

[txmommy14]

That's so funny you just started this thread because I was literally just thinking about this as I was thinking about what to do with DS! My Mom is so awesome and helps with meals a lot, but she will likely come in town to help a week after she is born when DH goes back to work, so I want to make some freezer meals to get us through that first week. My church also does about 10-15 meals (that people sign up for) when you have a baby, which will start about a week after she's born. I'm super thankful for that! I'm actually bringing a meal for a family tomorrow and next week, so it'll be nice to receive them!

I'll try to gather some recipes I have and post them here when I get a chance! I need to start a Pinterest board for this...

[athn64]

We didn't really do any last time. But our church does a meal train for each new baby, and my ILs stocked us up with some food when they visited, so we got on just fine. I'm pretty much anticipating that's what will happen this time too. And since we move three weeks before I'mm due, I'm not going to have a freezer full of food to move between houses anyways.

[babyzebra]

Ooh I'm excited about this! I did this when DS was born and it helped a ton. Plus, I also love using my slow cookers and I love casseroles so it's a win-win. I'll be back later to post some recipes.

[mladerri]

Something I did last time and I'll do again is very simple. I made bean and cheese burritos and breakfast burritos.

Bean and cheese:
- tortillas
- jalapeno refried beans (trader joes)
- cheese
- red enchilada sauce (tjs)
- 1/8 cup chopped onions

I put everything in microwave for 10 seconds to make the tortilla easier to wrap then I roll it up in a paper towel then in plastic wrap then into the freezer. I made about 40 and my mom was so happy to have a quick snack.

Breakfast burritos: eggs, tater tots, turkey bacon, salsa, cheese

[bighair12]

I have been making larger dinners for us. Last night I made a southwest pasta salad. We had a ton of leftovers. So, I froze two tupperwares of it. I also put 4.5 pounds of chicken in the crockpot and shredded it. I then put them in freezer bags and froze what I didn't use with dinner last night.

www.momontimeout.com/2016/04/creamy-cilantro-lime-southwestern-pasta-salad/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+momontimeout%2FzXtr+%28Mom+On+Timeout%29

[nitecheese]

Since I'm having this baby in the summer, as opposed to the winter, lots of meals will be protein that DH can toss on the grill + some kind of salad (pasta, veggie, bean, etc).

I also plan to stock up on tons of fruit and yogurt so I can snack throughout the day. The hunger is no joke.

[shoogars]

I was going to make a couple pans of chicken divan (from skinny taste), chicken spaghetti (from pioneer woman) and then a chicken and rice casserole...but who knows now. I also figured I would try to have a good stock of meat on hand for grilling since it will be June and I love some grilled meat. I'm also going to cook and shred a bunch of chicken to freeze and keep on hand for lunches (salads) so I can be healthy while I'm nursing. Unfortunately the 20 pizzas and 8 boxes of waffles are taking up all my space for freezer meals as well as breastmilk (hopefully). DH didn't even have waffles for breakfast this morning!

[bighair12]

shoogars, could you guys return some of the food your DH bought?

[nitecheese]

Apr 20, 2016 8:19:20 GMT -5 shoogars said:

I was going to make a couple pans of chicken divan (from skinny taste), chicken spaghetti (from pioneer woman) and then a chicken and rice casserole...but who knows now. I also figured I would try to have a good stock of meat on hand for grilling since it will be June and I love some grilled meat. I'm also going to cook and shred a bunch of chicken to freeze and keep on hand for lunches (salads) so I can be healthy while I'm nursing. Unfortunately the 20 pizzas and 8 boxes of waffles are taking up all my space for freezer meals as well as breastmilk (hopefully). DH didn't even have waffles for breakfast this morning!

If you have room, a second fridge or freezer is a GODSEND.  We put one in the garage for all the extra meat, precooked meals, etc. and left the one in the kitchen for breastmilk and items we used daily. 

[babyzebra]

bighair12 that recipe sounds great, I'll have to try it. Do you eat it cold or warmed up?

[frecklesnbrains]

I'd like to think that I'm organized enough to make freezer meals ahead of time, but I've decided not to try to fool myself because I have other priorities. I'm sure we won't starve...

[sandandsea]

I'm not really going to plan ahead and make anything this time. I found that I actually had more time to cook when I was home on maternity leave than I do now! I do have some freezer meals that I make semi-regularly like lasagna or enchiladas where I make 3 at a time, eat one that day and freeze two. I also tried the 30 day freezer meal thing and didn't like it. I thought a lot of the meals didn't freeze that well and the meat especially got weird. My mom will also be with us for the first couple of weeks and will cook for us.

[bighair12]

Apr 20, 2016 10:37:39 GMT -5 babyzebra said:

bighair12 that recipe sounds great, I'll have to try it. Do you eat it cold or warmed up?

cold.  so good!

[microworm]

I have never done a freezer meal. Talk to me like a small child. Do you cook it and then freeze it or do you just prep all the ingredients in one container, freeze, and cook upon removal from freezer?

Either way, I probably won't pre-make meals this time either. I think throwing something on the grill, a side of veggies or rice/pasta, and some fruit will be good for this time of year (thanks for the idea nitecheese).

[sandandsea]

Apr 20, 2016 11:43:54 GMT -5 microworm said:

I have never done a freezer meal. Talk to me like a small child. Do you cook it and then freeze it or do you just prep all the ingredients in one container, freeze, and cook upon removal from freezer?

Either way, I probably won't pre-make meals this time either. I think throwing something on the grill, a side of veggies or rice/pasta, and some fruit will be good for this time of year (thanks for the idea nitecheese ).

I assemble everything up to the point of baking, then just wrap it really tight and freeze it instead of baking.  Basically all meats are cooked and then frozen then reheated once you take them out of the freezer.

[Kevinmac]

I want to make a couple things like prep taco meat, bolognese sauce, maybe put some chicken breasts in marinade. I have a huge cupcake order for the weekend I'm due that will be taking up a lot of freezer room. The customer was ok with me freezing the order beforehand just in case I go into labor, so my freezer space will be very limited.

[woodengirl07]

@microworm really either. The ones I have made usually are freezing the uncooked food and then either baking or crockpot, but there are also meals that are pre cooked and you just warm. It depends on your cooking preferences and time.

If anyone knows a pampered chef consultant they do a freezer meal workshop that is pretty good. You have to buy the pampered chef spices and all, but it's not too expensive. Then you get together and put together like 8 meals in 2 hours. I've done it several times just because DH and I get home late and they are easy.

I actually was thinking I might have more time to cook while on leave. My biggest cooking issue is getting the time, but I guess we'll see. Also, I'm not really that concerned about eating takeout or frozen foods if that's what we need to do.

[regal]

Freezer meals are the way I have survived the last 3 years. I never remember to pull out raw meat to thaw so having a full freezer means I make a meal very quickly. Below are my go to freezer meals.

-meatballs- fry and bake until cooked. Freeze on a tray and transfer to bags. Add to tomato sauce as needed.
- tomato sauce
- chicken or beef broth (I make risotto or soup from this)
- grill chicken legs, boneless skinless chicken thighs with just a basic seasoning of salt, pepper, paprika and garlic powder. Freeze on a tray and transfer to bags. You can cut up the thighs before freezing to add to salads or wraps easily. I often heat them with fajita seasoning, peppers an onions for a quick meal. When we eat the legs we coat them in BBQ sauce or just heat them up as is.
- sausages done the way as above. Eat whole, on a bun, sliced on pizza, or added to tomato sauce.
- BBQ pulled pork, vegetarian chili, and taco meat frozen flat in ziploc bags
-quiche baked and then sealed in ziploc bags with the air sucked out.
- cabbage rolls and lasagna
- muffins

Also in my freezer are raw shrimp, frozen corn, peas, broccoli beans and cauliflower (not in the summer), blueberries, banana chunks, bread, waffles and english muffins.