make-ahead, easy freezer meals...

[jimenitayo]

I realized that since it's just me in the house, whenever i dont have something to nuke, I end up cheating, or waiting until I'm starved.

so, my latest strategy is to make food ahead of time, anything i can make a big batch of, or even better if I can freeze it.
easy stuff that I can pack for a lunch and throw in the microwave... or anything to save time, little shortcuts...

anyone have any ideas?

my favorites are usually:
stuffed peppers
I tried quiche yesterday, and i really liked it, I didn't think I would
a big batch of curry chicken keeps me going... I haven't tried freezing it yet, but I figure it should be pretty good
I like to make veggie ahead of time. I've been roasting eggplant and cauliflower, and I made a batch of pumpkin "mashed potatoes", it freezes great
I love having tongue, and it warms up very easily.
I'm gonna try to brown some hamburger and keep it ready in the freezer, it seems like that's the basis for many recipes...

ok... anyone else?

[jimenitayo]

Re: make-ahead, easy freezer meals...

oh, i forgot, i make a bunch of tuna salad all at once, and then I eat from it for a few days... it goes faste, so when i make it, I use about 5 cans and a lot of veggies...

[Barbde]

Re: make-ahead, easy freezer meals...

I love having tongue, and it warms up very easily.

Tongue??
I have never had that, and have no idea what to do with it?
I don't usually freeze meals anymore, except for sauce or soup. I used to do that a lot when the kids were small. It's a good idea!
I freeze what I bake. That way it is out of sight, and only pull out small portions for "must have" times!

[loana]

Re: make-ahead, easy freezer meals...

I really need to do stuff like this.. I am always so hungry trying to cook.. I wish i knew how to cook better as I really don;t know how to cook well and half teh time I am searching onlione to see what an ingredient is LOL

[jimenitayo]

Re: make-ahead, easy freezer meals...

well, I think quiche is s great starter, it's hard to screw up, and so easy that I'm gonna try to teach my klutzy partner how to do it
hey, if I got my phobic best friend to make a bechamel, I can get anyone started... let me know if you need any help!!

oh, and why is it so quiet around here? nobody has freezer ideas?

[loana]

Re: make-ahead, easy freezer meals...

hehehe Thanks girly!!! what is quiche?
I tried the Mock danish tonight? and it was not that sweet.. now I have no idea how much a splenda pocket is supposeto be as I have the big bag so I used 1/2 teaspoon? LOL

[jimenitayo]

Re: make-ahead, easy freezer meals...

yeah, that's my dilemma with splenda too...

quiche is like a pie.
basically you're gonna take a bowl, mix some eggs with a fork, add cream, cheese, and all kinds of fillers...

my mom made it with onions and bacon, or spinach, or alllllllllll kinds of things. the cool part is you dont need special equipment, just bowl and fork. once you stir all your stuff in, you put it in a pie dish and bake. eeeeeeeeeasy.

here's the site for more filler ideas..
http://www.carb-lite.au.com/71EGGS/7...he%20Fritttata
and another one with pretty pics http://users3.ev1.net/~fontlady/main_dish_recipes.html

great for breakfasts, brown bag lunches, quick snacks...

[loana]

Re: make-ahead, easy freezer meals...

awesome Thanks sooooooooooooo much
will be trying it today after my dr appt

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: make-ahead, easy freezer meals...

Tongue??
I have never had that, and have no idea what to do with it?
I don't usually freeze meals anymore, except for sauce or soup. I used to do that a lot when the kids were small. It's a good idea!
I freeze what I bake. That way it is out of sight, and only pull out small portions for "must have" times!

ROTFL, Barb, I saw one at Walmart last weekend....it was a huge tongue from a cow...IMO extremely disgusting!

I like to freeze quiche, I use the recipe in the back of DANDR and vary the fillings according to my mood and what I have on hand, I cut it into single portions and put it in baggies.

I freeze egg plant lasagana.

Cabbage Rolls

Spaghetti sauce.

Soups.

[omnimomma]

Re: make-ahead, easy freezer meals...

I don't always freeze my stuff, but I do like to prepare/cook many meals for the week on the weekends. I have several crock pots, and a couple of refrigerators, and so I mix stuff together and put in the fridge. That way, I just have to plop the liner in the crock pot in the morning, and when I come home from work in the evening, dinner's ready except maybe for a salad.

It sure stops the temptation to pick up fast food when I'm tired after work.

[jimenitayo]

Re: make-ahead, easy freezer meals...

oooh omni!!
i like the crock pot idea...

which combos do you make the most? that seems like such a great idea!

[dreamof145]

Re: make-ahead, easy freezer meals...

I also freeze meatballs, pork chops, hamburgers, different kinds of chicken with assorted spices. All of these can be nuked and made into a meal in a hurry with a salad and veggie. This is how I've survived the last few months with my surgeries and not being able to stand around in the kitchen and cook. My husband comes home and will help fix up the meals to freeze, and my daughter or my grandkids can stick them in the microwave for me. Planning ahead and making it simple has been a life-saver!!

[Barbde]

Re: make-ahead, easy freezer meals...

I'm still freaking out over the Tongue! LOL. Sorry. I just never knew anybody who ate those. What is the texture like?

[omnimomma]

Re: make-ahead, easy freezer meals...

Tongue is great! I was a city girl, and thought it was gross, too -- until I tried it. (I married a farmer, and his family loved tongue.) If you buy one, boil it so that you can peel off the outer skin. After it's peeled, brown it in a little olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Add some water and braise it. It is like a very tender beef roast, but doesn't get stringy like beef chuck would get.

[omnimomma]

Re: make-ahead, easy freezer meals...

jimentayo,
I often do a pork roast in the crock pot. A lot of the time I use boneless pork shoulder. I just add salt, pepper, and garlic powder and cook it all day. When I come home from work, I shred it, and add Mexican spices or taco seasoning. Add lettuce and cheese, and you have a great taco salad.

I do beef brisket the same way, but after cooking, I make up some BBQ sauce from SF tomato sauce, vinegar, Splenda, etc.

Brown some hamburger. Add SF tomato sauce, salt, pepper, and onion powder or flakes. Pour over some shredded cabbage. Makes great cabbage rolls, without all the work.