I'm thinking that perhaps I should get some meals prepared and frozen so that we don't have to cook or shop much after the baby is born. All I can think of is Lasagna, Chicken Pot Pie, Beef Stew, and Spaghetti.

I'm looking for one pot casserole type dishes as I have found that anything not in a sauce tends to get freezer burnt.

Any suggestions?

TIA

By Cat on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 11:39 am:

You can fry hamburger and freeze it in 1lb packages to use for things like chilli, spaghetti sauce, tacos, etc. Also, meatloaf freezes well. I have a cookbook calle "The Freezer Cooking Manual From 30 Day Gourmet". It's a once a month cooking system. It's got lots of good ideas in it. You basically cook as much as you can ahead of time so all you really have to do is assemble foods and reheat them for dinner. I also love my crockpot. I can throw 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into strips and a jar of bbq sauce in it at 8am and then spend 5 minutes shredding the chicken at 5 or 6pm and dinner's ready. Just throw it on buns. You could make a big batch of that and freeze it, too. Just make sure there's enough juice/sauce for reheating it. Good idea getting things together before hand. It will save on takeout later when you don't feel like cooking.

By Heaventree on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 10:01 pm:

Thanks Cat! I'll add those items to my shopping list.

By Reds9298 on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 10:41 pm:

Ditto on the crock pot. I use it more than ever since dd was born and I'm a SAHM now. (You'd think I would have used it more when I worked full time, but I don't want to mess much with dinner when dh gets home because I want to hang out with them!) If you don't have it, the best crock book IMO is "Feasting with your Slow Cooker" can't remember the author off-hand. It was a bestseller though. Just have plenty of meat stocked in your freezer and spices and you can have great meals every night in your crock pot.
Also, I agree that meatloaf does freeze really well. I usually make 2-3 when I make it so I can freeze them.

By Paulas on Saturday, July 23, 2005 - 12:36 pm:

I did the once-a-month cooking a few years ago and will be doing it again this year as I am returning to work full-time. Here are some of the things I made:
meatballs-just had to make the sweet/sour sauce
pizza (regular and chicken kind)
lasagna
spaghetti sauce
chicken pot pie
chicken casserole
marinated meat (then just had to put it in the crock)

I have a brain freeze. I'll get back to you

By Amecmom on Saturday, July 23, 2005 - 05:38 pm:

I sautee a big batch of veggies with either thin sliced beef or chicken breast and freeze it. It defrosts quick and holds its flavor and texture if you don't overcook the veggies.

Also, you can bake a bunch of salmon steaks and freeze them in individual ziploc bags.
Ame