Foods to keep in the freezer... I need lots of ideas!!!? 10 pts for the best answer!!!?

Question

I'm 34 weeks pregnant and I intend to cook some meals, this week, in order to freeze them until baby is born (so I can be off-cooking-duty during the next two weeks or so, and concentrate on what matters : my newborn)

But I have not idea what to cook. Of course, I thought of a spaghetti sauce and stew... but any other ideas? We love mostly all meals, we're not very difficult (neither of us) so any idea will be apreciated... the one with the most/best ideas gets 10pts

Answer 1

There is lasagna, pot pie, meatloaf, meatballs, shepards pie, marinated steaks-chicken-chops...., twice baked potatoes, encheladas, burritos, roast a chicken or turkey sliced with veggies-mashed potatoes- and gravy, casseroles, pot roast-veggies-potatoes, ham, chili, soups-chowders....

Here are a couple of good recipes:

Easy Shepards Pie:

1 lb. ground beef

2 cups  hot mashed potatoes

4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) cream cheese cubed-1 cup  

KRAFT Shredded Cheddar Cheese-divided

2 cloves garlic-minced

4 cups  frozen mixed vegetables-thawed

1 cup beef gravy PREHEAT oven to 375ºF.

Brown meat in large skillet. Meanwhile, mix potatoes, cream cheese, 1/2 cup of the shredded cheese and the garlic until well blended.

DRAIN meat. Return to skillet; stir in vegetables and gravy. Spoon into 9-inch square baking dish; cover with potato mixture and remaining 1/2 cup shredded cheese.

BAKE 20 min. or until heated through.

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My meatloaf recipe is a little different everytime but here's my general version:

fairly lean ground beef

ground sausage

Green bell peppers (reds also if I have them)

Onions

Mushrooms

Green Onions

Eggs

Ketchup

Mustard

B-B-Q sauce-sometimes

terriyaki-more for meat balls

worcestershire sauce

Dry ingrediants of some kinds such as oatmeal, dried out bread, slightly crushed Plain cheerios etc..

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Also these burger recipes are really great and they freeze up well too....

Terriyaki Burgers:

1 1/2 pds hamburger

1 8 oz can water chestmuts (drained and chopped)

Marinade:

1/3 cup reduced sodium beef broth or sherry

1/2 cup reduced sodium soy sauce

2 green onions chopped

1 tbsp brown sugar

2 garlic cloves-minced

1/2 tsp ground ginger

6 buns

6 Pineapple rings

6 slices swiss or provolone cheese

Mix the burger and water chestnuts. Shape into 6 burgers and place in a 13x9 pan.

Mix all marinade ingrediants and save out 1/4 cup. Pour remaining marinade over burgers. Marinate at least 2-3 hours or longer (I did a set for a day and 1/2 and they were super awesome). Turn frquently.

Grill patties brushing with remaining marinade. Grill the pineapple rings for about 1-2 minutes per saide. Top the burgers with a pineapple ring, and a slice of cheese. Serve on buns. Mmmmmmmm.

These are good to make up a bunch and freeze to pull out and make later.

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Southwestern Burgers:

1 Can Chopped Green Chili's

4 Tsp Ground Cumin

1 Tsp Chili Powder

3/4 Tsp Garlic Powder

3/4 Tsp Salt

1/2 Tsp Pepper

2 Pound Ground Beef

3/4 Pound Bulk Sausage

8 Slices Montery Jack Cheese

8 Burger Buns Split and Toasted

8 Lettuce Leaves

1 Large Tomatoe Sliced

1-2 Ripe Avacado's Sliced and Peeled (Optional)

In a large bowl combine first 6 ingrediants, then crumble the beef and sausage over the top, and combine well. Shape into 8 patties.-Freeze and thaw at a later date

Thaw and briol or grill covered over a medium heat for approx 5 min on each side or until cooked to well done (160 degrees). Top with a slice of cheese and let melt (move to a low heat part of the grill). Serve on buns with lettuce, tomatoes, and avacado slices

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Bacon Wrapped Burgers:

6 Slices of Bacon

2 Eggs, Lightly Beaten

¾ Cup Crushed Saltines

2 Tbsp Chopped Onion

1 ½ Tsp Salt

1/8 Tsp Ground Pepper

1 Pound Burger

½ Cup Ketchup

2 Tbsp Brown Sugar

¼ Tsp Ground Mustard

1.Microwave bacon on on microwave safe plate lined with paper towels unitl cooked but not crisp. Set aside.

2.Meanwile mix the eggs, saltines, onion, salt, and pepper with the burger. Sahpe into 6 patties, and wrap with bacon. Secure bacon with a toothpick.

3. Meanwhile in a small bowl mix the ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard. Brush the burgers with the ketchup mix. Broil or grill, flip and brush on more ketchup sauce is you have it. Continue to cook until done and bacon is crisp.

****This is your choice, if you want to brush the sauce on before or after freezing. You could make the sauce up and keep it in the fridge, as it will keep cuz all that stuff will keep for a long time anyway.

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Make up your own spaghetti sauce:

Canned stewed chopped tomatoes

Canned tomato sauce

garlic

onions

chicken bullion

italian seasoning

dried chives

parsley

basil

oregano

granulated garlic

onion powder

seasoned salt

Add to taste and simmer at least 2 min. Freeze then all you have to do it thaw, boil pasta, heat the pasta and wala!

You can add meat to these, or simmer skinless, bone-In chicken thighs for a couple of hours until they are nice and tender. Then freeze and serve over pasta.

Answer 2

oh my goodness I did exactly the same thing when I was pregnant.  I was so worried that I would be laid up and all my hubby can make is macaroni and cheese so I stocked up 15 meals in my freezer.  You may want to make sure you steer clear of things with heavy tomato sauces, cabbage, anything spicy, broccoli or beans because they can bother the baby (this is only if you are breast feeding though).

Goulash:

2 cups noodles (cooked and drained)

1 lb hamburger (browned)

1 chopped onion

couple of dashes Worcestershire sauce

1 can tomato soup

salt and pepper

Cheddar Cheese

Mix the first 5 ingredients together and add salt and pepper.  pour in greased casserole dish, sprinkle cheese on top.  Place in 350 oven for 20-25 min.  It isn't necessary to bake this dish but it tastes better..it also tastes better after it's been in your freezer for awhile.

Pigs in the blanket are great because you can freeze a bunch of them and only take out as many as you want for dinner.  There are so many recipes though it's best to choose your favorite.

Cabbage rolls are another good one.  Cheap, easy to make and they freeze well.  Same as with the pigs in a blanket you can pull out as many as you want.

Homemade mac n cheese also freezes great.

Good luck and Congratulations!

Answer 3

My favorites have been chicken and rice, meatloaf, lots of pesto sauce (can use that as a spread on crackers, sandwhiches, over fish...) Chicken alfredo.  I'm mexican so I always have home made beans and spanish rice in my freezer, along with tomales, and tacos.  I also keep tons of homemade pancakes (college student).  Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Get disposable aluminum baking dishes, so that you won't use up all your pots:) ...... Chili ... stuffed peppers ... lasagna ... vegetable lasagna ... Florentine Beef casserole ... porcupine balls ... soup ... stew ... Tortilla-crusted tilapia ... salmon and crab patties ... HOT DOGS and gourmet sausages ... goulash  ... chicken casseroles ... fried chicken ... Buffalo wings

Answer 5

I freeze almost any leftovers we have after a meal.The only things I don't freeze are fried foods such as french fries.fried okra,fried squash,etc....I make homemade tv dinners.I bought some plastic containers that have 3 sections.I have frozen things like lasagna,meat loaf,mashed potatoes,almost any kind of steamed or boiled veggie except for boiled potatoes.I make spaghetti sauce in large batches and freeze in meal size containers and I only have to cook the noodles and fix a salad and bread.I have frozen chicken and rice casserole,baked chicken and dressing.I also have a container in my freezer that I dump uneaten veggies in.When the container is full I take it and make soup with it.This saves money by not throwing the veggies out when there is not enough leftover to put in my homemade tv dinners.You can make cakes and pies and breads and put them in the freezer also.There are several good web sites that specialize in these freezer meals. I am listing a few below.Best of luck with your new baby.They are really a blessing from God.

http://www.momsbudget.com/freezerrecipes...

http://www.thriftyfun.com/Recipes_Freeze...

http://www.chiff.com/cooking/make-ahead....

Answer 6

Stuffing (I don't mean stove top) does pretty well in the freezer, too.  If you wanted to stuff a chicken breast or fish or pork chops and have the hubby put the in the oven the day you want them, they will turn our great.  At Thanksgiving and a couple other times of the year, I make a big batch of homemade stuffing and freeze it for later.  Then when the time comes, its something thats just a little more special than a box of stove top. Congrats on the baby!!!

Answer 7

i have cooked steak before and put it in the freezer

Answer 8

casseroles

lasagnas

pre-packaged fish

mashed potatoes

pre-cooked or frozen vegetables

cakes/desserts

bread - zucchini or plain

hamburgers

hot dogs

soup

chili

buns

Answer 9

Pesto and bread keep will in the freezer and defrosts quickly on the counter top.  I also keep lots of frozen vegetables, ground beef, meatballs, pizza dough, soup or chili, cooked sausages, pre chopped peppers and onions, roasted red peppers (pimentos), frozen shrimp and fish fillets (breaded or not).

Answer 10

My parents are not doing well and I'm making a bunch of stuff to take to them and put in their freezer. Here's what I've done:

Lasagna - both the tomato sauce/beef kind and Alfredo sauce/chicken

Chicken enchiladas

Potato beef casserole

Chili

Chicken gumbo

15 bean and beef soup

Shepard's pie

Goulash

Chicken noodle soup

Gladwear make these plastic 8x8 pans that can go in the freezer, microwave, oven and dishwasher. And they're reusable.

Best of luck to you and the baby!