Good Freezer Meals

[cream_city]

I'm starting to think ahead to freezing a bunch of meals for after the baby's born. I want to try the recipes out before I make a bunch, because my son is VERY picky and I don't want to make several of something only to have to cook something else for him.

Any good ideas? I know chili, spaghetti sauce, meatballs, and beef stroganoff freeze well. But anything that's not so gravy/tomato based and heavy?

My son won't eat lasagne, unfortunately.

Recipes and/or just the names of dishes you've made that freeze well would be great!

[monkeysmom]

I have made chicken gumbo-nolacuisine.com, I think, like a chicken stew-make the roux with EVOO to make it more healthy. I tweaked the recipe to make it more to my liking, and froze the leftovers. Also, I hate to admit it, but chef boyardee has been really helpful for my 2 step-kids as DD is a very demanding girl so my cooking time is limited. Chicken strips/nuggets , and a lot of sodium-packed frozen foods have saved me as DH's cooking skills are pretty much limited to spagetti and (frozen) meatballs. Also, sandwiches, grilled cheese(until I had to cut out dairy products) and my mom made a lot of meals for us early on. I've also seen advertised home health aides that also healp out new moms.

[Joyto5]

I know you want something that's not Gravy/tomato bases.. But here is what a GF of mine helped me do not long ago. I'll paste what was in the email. Warning... It's long! We still have 6 of the meals left. I need to do it again and add some new ones.

OK, here are the meals that I am planning to cook on Thursday including the grocery list, strategy & recipes.

Meals:
Company Casserole x2
Lasagna
Zucchini Lasagna
Sloppy Joes x2
meatloaf x2
Meatball Sandwiches x2
Swedish Meatballs x2
Salisbury steak x2
Chicken & Broccoli x2
Mac N Cheese x2
Frozen Pizza x2
Spaghetti

Grocery List:

12 lbs ground beef
6 lbs Italian meatballs (from Costco)<--it's almost as cheap to buy them premade, so why not!
4 cups cooked chicken (about 3 lbs boneless skinless breasts)

6 onions
2 green peppers
1 bunch green onions
4 small-med zucchinis
4 cloves garlic
2 pounds broccoli
1 cup mushrooms

salt
pepper
thyme
oregano
marjoram
beef bouillon
prepared mustard
flour
sugar
brown sugar
vegetable oil
cumin
yeast

5 jars (15oz) spaghetti sauce (or I use 10 8oz cans tomato sauce with my own seasonings)
56 oz tomato sauce
4 (16oz) cans Italian-style stewed tomatoes
2 (10 oz) cans tomato soup
1 (4oz) can sliced black olives (optional)
2 cans cream of mushroom soup

Spaghetti Noodles (1 meal worth)
3 pounds Ziti (or Penne) pasta
12 oz lasagna noodles
3 pounds wide egg noodles
2-3 pounds macaroni noodles
3 cups dry bread crumbs
3 pounds rice (to cook with meals later)

8 cups Mozzarella cheese
1 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
4 cups small curd cottage cheese
16 oz sour cream
2 1/2 cups butter
16 cups milk
4 pounds cheddar cheese

12 hoagie rolls (or hot dog buns) <--- both of these can be frozen
12 hamburger buns


You will also need to have at least 8 gallon size freezer bags
several quart size freezer bags
Heavy duty aluminum foil (if not heavy duty, be sure to double wrap)
4 or more casserole pans (they don't have to be disposable... that's where the foil comes in)

To help speed things up, try to do these things the day (or days) before:

shop
make spaghetti sauce
Make ground beef mixture
chop vegetables (except 2 zucchinis)
Pre-cook and chop chicken








Here is the basic gameplan/outline of what we will be doing:

1a. Cook Ziti and egg noodles --make sure you DO NOT overcook. In fact cook only until just barely soft (still hard in the center) as they will soften in the freezer
1b. Start pizza crust in bread machine
2. Mix sloppy joes and sauce for ziti and company casserole while noodles are cooking
Prepare 4 "foil pans" (for company casserole and lasagnas) while noodles are cooking
3. Assemble Ziti, divide into freezer bags-make sure to attach grated mozzarella to each bag
Divide sloppy Joe mixture into family size portioned freezer bags
4. Assemble Company casserole in prepared foil pans
5. Slice zucchini for zucchini lasagna
6. Assemble lasagnas in prepared foil pans
7. bag, label & freeze remaining spaghetti sauce for other meals
8. Prepare raw beef mixture for meatloaves and salisbury steak
9. Bake meatloaves and cook Salisbury steak
9b. Cool cooked Salisbury steaks and package family portions into freezer bags
10. While meatloaves are baking...
11a Boil Macaroni Noodles - again making sure not to overcook
11b Steam broccoli-add chopped chicken and divide into 2 gallon size freezer bags
12. Make white sauce (for chicken broccoli & Mac N Cheese)-cook to boiling point (about gravy consistency)
Remove half white sauce and pour over chicken & broccoli-attach grated cheese
13. Add cheese to remaining white sauce and continue to heat/stir until melted
14. Assemble Macaroni-divide into 2 gallon size freezer bags
15. Remove cooked meatloaves from oven; cool, wrap with aluminum foil & label
16. Cook Pizza crusts, cool. Wrap in foil & freeze
17. While Pizza crusts cook, clean up the rest of the kitchen
18. Go home and make dinner for the family! (just kidding-we're having leftovers that day)







Recipes:

Spaghetti Sauce

2 pounds Italian Sausage (I use hamburger instead-and only 1 pound)
2 cups chopped onions
1/2 cup green pepper, chopped
1/2 cup celery, chopped (I am substituting zucchini but up to you)
2 cloves minced garlic
12 cups (or 5 jars commercial) spaghetti sauce
4 16-ounce cans Italian style stewed/diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can sliced black olives (optional)
1 cup cooked mushrooms (optional)

Brown meat, onion, pepper, zucchini, and garlic in large dutch oven or stock pot. Add spaghetti sauce and stewed tomatoes. Simmer on low-med heat for at least one hour. Stir occasionally. Add black olives and mushrooms after simmering. Allow to cool. Set aside sauce needed for other recipes and freeze the rest in bags for sauce over pasta meals and meatball sandwiches.


Ground Meat Mixture
(makes about 12 cups)

5 pounds ground meat (beef or turkey)
2 cups celery, chopped (again using zucchini instead--I have lots)
1 clove garlic
2 cups onion, chopped
1 cup green pepper, diced
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp salt (optional)

Lasagna
(10 servings)

*Don't bother precooking the noodles when planning to freeze this

12 oz lasagna noodles, uncooked
5-6 cups spaghetti sauce
2 cups cottage cheese
12 oz Mozzarella cheese (2 cups shredded)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

In greased 9x13x2-inch baking dish (make sure it is completely lined with aluminum foil, the grease helps to keep the acidic tomato sauce from damaging the aluminum), make layers in the following order: half each noodles, cottage cheese, Mozzarella, spaghetti sauce and sprinkled Parmesan cheese. Repeat. Make certain the dry noodles are completely covered by sauce. Freeze solid. When frozen, you can remove the "foil-pan" from your baking dish and finish wrapping with foil so lasagna is completely covered. Label and continue to store in freezer.

To Serve:
Remove from freezer-to fridge 24 hours before serving. Bake tightly covered at 350 for about 45 minutes, or until edges are bubbly and center is hot. Take cover off during final 10 minutes of cooking time. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Zucchini Lasagna
(10 servings)

This is made with the same ingredients and procedure as regular lasagna except you will be using sliced zuchhini instead of the noodles. Again, no need to pre-cook anything when assembling for freezer. If not making for the freezer, very lightly steam zucchini after it has been sliced. Serve in the same way as regular lasagna.


Baked Ziti
(18 servings)

3 pounds Ziti (or Penne) pasta
3 cups Ground Meat Mix
6 (8oz) cans tomato sauce
basil, oregano, salt, pepper, garlic to taste
3 cups mozzarella cheese (to be used at serving time)

Cook pasta until juste barely tender; drain and rinse with cold water. Add ground Meat mix and tomato sauce with seasonings. Mix well. Divide sauce and pasta mixture into 2 or 3 gallon sized freezer bags; label. Divide Mozzarella into smaller freezer bags and attach to pasta bags. Freeze.

To serve:
Thaw. Spread pasta into 9x13-inch baking pan. Sprinkle mozzarella evenly over pasta. Cover dish & bake 30 minutes at 350. Remove foil and bake 5 more minutes.


Company Casserole
(12-16 servings)

1 1/2 pounds wide egg noodles (or macaroni)
5 cups meat mix
4 (8oz) cans tomato sauce
1 Tbsp sugar (optional)
16 oz sour cream
12 green onions, chopped
3 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Cook noodles, Rinse & drain. Do NOT overcook. Divide noodles into 2 prepared greased "foil" 9x13 pans. Add tomato sauce to meat mixture. Add sugar if desired. Pour over noodles and mix well. Glop sour cream over mixture and sprinkle with green onions, then top with cheese. Freeze hard, remove from freezer and finish wrapping with heavy duty foil. Label & continue to store in freezer. To serve: Thaw in refrigerator 24 hours in advance. Bake covered at 350 for 30 minutes or until edges bubbly and center hot. uncover and continue to bake 5-10 minutes more .

Sloppy Joes
(8-12 servings)

4 cups ground meat mix
2 (10 3/4-oz) cans tomato soup
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tsp prepared mustard
(I also like to add 1 Tbl of cider vinegar)

Place Meat mix into large skillet. Add tomato soup, brown sugar and mustard; stir. Heat covered over med-low hear & simmer 10 minutes. Cool and freeze in Freezer bags

To serve:
Thaw and heat sloppy Joe mix in skillet. Serve ladled on to hamburger buns


Beef Mix for Meatloaf, Meatballs, and Salisbury Steak

18 ounces tomato sauce (or subsitute half -or all-with salsa)
2 1/4 cups dry bread crumbs
5 eggs
3/4 cup onion-finely chopped
1/2 cup green pepper, finely chopped
1 medium carrot, shredded (optional)
2 tsp salt, optional
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp dried marjoram
1/2 tsp ground sage
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
6 pounds ground beef

Combine all ingrdients except ground beef. Add beef and mix well. Divide meat mixture into thirds. Use 2/3 for meatloaf & 1/3 for salisbury steaks.

For Meatloaf:
Shape into two loaves and place in a large high-sided baking dish. Don't allow loaves to touch while baking. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Cool; wrap in heavy-duty foil; label and freeze. To serve, thaw loaves and bake in 350 oven for 30 minutes for 30 minutes or until heated through. Can also be reheated in crockpot.

For Salisbury Steak:
Form into oval 1/2-in thick patties. Heat nonstick skillet over med heat until hot. Place beef patty in skillet; cook seven-eight minutes or until centers are no longer pink, turning once. Cool; Place in freezer bags; freeze. Thaw; heat family size portion with 1 (10 3/4-oz) can cream of mushroom soup poured over as sauce. Serve with rice or noodles.


Meatball Recipes

Meatball Sandwiches
(6 servings)

1 family size serving of meatballs (approx. 4-5 meatballs/person)
6 hot dog or hoagie rolls
6 thin slices mozzarella cheese
2 cups spaghetti sauce

Thaw meatballs and sauce. Heat until hot. Place meatballs into warmed (or toasted) buns. Ladle small amount of sauce on to each sandwich; place mozzarella slice on to each sandwich.

Swedish Meatballs
(6 servings)

1 family size serving of meatballs
cooked egg noodles, rice or mashed potatoes (family size)

gravy:
2 cups chicken broth
2 tablespoons cornstarch
seasonings to taste (I always add basil & pepper)

heat broth to near boiling. Mix cornstarch and small amount of water until smooth, slowly add while stirring to broth. cook until thickened. Ladel over meatballs and noodles.

Pizza
(makes 10 servings)

Crust: (Bread machine)
All ingredients at room temp. (70-80 F)
3/4 tsp salt
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp active dry yeast
1 1/4 - 1 3/8 cups water
3 Tbsp olive or vegetable oil

Combine all ingredients into bread pan. Select dough setting. Press start. When unit signals ready, remove dough. Pat dough into one 14-in round pizza pan (for thicker crust) or 2 12-in round pans (for thinner crust). Preheat oven to 400 F. Bake 7-10 minutes until barely golden. Remove. If freezing, cool; wrap; freeze & label. To serve: remove from freezer, spread with 8 oz seasoned tomato sauce (add basil, oregano, garlic, salt & pepper to taste). Top with sliced meatballs and/or anything else you want. Cover with 1-2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese. Bake 10-15 minutes until cheese is melted and edges are lightly browned.


Macaroni & Cheese
(serves 12)

4 cups macaroni noodles
1 pound cheddar cheese, sliced
8 Tbsp butter
8 Tbsp flour
4 cups milk
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
(I also like to add a dash of hot sauce & cumin)

Cook pasta & rinse with cold water. Divide into 2 freezer bags. Melt butter in medium saucepan over med heat then add flour. When bubbly, add milk and seasonings. Stir constantly until gravy-like consistency. Add sliced cheese one at a time-allowing to melt completely. Pour sauce over noodles. Cool, label & freeze.
To serve:
Thaw. Spread into 2 qt casserole dish, Sprinkle with shredded cheese. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until heated through. You can also add sliced hotdogs, cooked sausage, or sliced meatballs and spread over top before adding cheese and baking if your family wants meat.

Chicken & Broccoli
(16 servings)

1 cup butter
1 cup flour
8 cups milk
salt and pepper to taste
4 cups cooked chicken, chopped
2 pounds broccoli, steamed
2 pounds cheddar cheese, grated

Make white sauce. Place cooled chicken into 4 8x8-inch baking pans or freezer bags (or use 2 for bigger family portions). Divide steamed broccoli and place over chicken. Pour white sauce over all. Sprinkle each pan with grated cheese or attach cheese in seperate freezer bags to larger. Cover pans with foil; label and freeze.
To serve:
Thaw, if not in pan already, spread into baking dish and add cheese. Bake at 350 for 30 minnutes. Serve over cooked rice or spaghetti noodles for Tetrazini-type meal.

*This is also fantastic with mushrooms added

[Stephanie]

Wow! What a great list.

I freeze enchiladas and they reheat nicely.

[cream_city]

Joyto5 -- That's awesome -- so you do a huge cook on the weekend and then have food for weeks!

Thanks!

[blessedbythree]

I find soups freeze really well and are a little lighter. I like chicken noodle, chicken tortilla, corn chowder ....

[MichelleB1]

yea soups are the best to make. Chicken and stars!