Freezer Meal and Activity Recommendations

kafunder · August 2010

I'm 36w2d pregnant with twins, and these babies could come any day according to my dr's. In the mean time, DH and I are trying to find activities to keep us busy. I thought I'd make some freezer meals this weekend...any recommendations for particular things that work well or good recipes?

Also, any recommendations for easy activities/stuff DH and I could do to keep busy in these final days. Anything you wish you did before baby was born? I was on strict bedrest for 10+ weeks (bathroom privileges only), including 4 weeks in the hospital, so I've gotten my fill of reading, movies, TV, etc. I'm now recovering from the bedrest and can really only handle about an hour or so activity before my body is completely exhausted and needs an hour or so of rest to recover.

Thanks!

kastle · August 2010

I blogged about what I froze here:

https://thedirtyradish.blogspot.com/2010/06/whats-cookin.html

The Chiaquile casserole is especially good.

As for activities, in the final weeks, we went out to eat at nice restaurants frequently. Basically, went on a lot of "dates" and that was awesome. Maybe one of those Potomac river cruises since you can't really walk much? It'd be a lovely way to see the city.

eta: if you do casseroles, I highly recommend using those disposable aluminum pans (hey, you can recycle them!). The last thing my husband or I wanted to do was scrub a pan.

Hey Jellisy · August 2010

You know it is going to be such a beautiful weekend, I think I would want to be outside. Perhaps a picnic in a pretty location like Brookside or Meadowlark Gardens or the National Arboretum if you are in the District. Or if you are up for a longer drive, it would be fun to go to a apple orchard and just enjoy the early fall (there are plenty that are only about a 1/2 hour to 45 minutes away). You can get some apples and donuts (yum!) at the farm stand. In the days before I was due we went for along walk at Winkler Botanical Reserve and I just remember it being such a sweet time with my DH.

As to freezer meals, I would make a few things that don't require much active standing if you tire easily, or enlist your DH as sous chef for cutting, etc. Soups, stews, casseroles and your crock pot will all be your friend. My best advice if you are making a few different recipes is to read each recipe and combine some of the steps. If all recipes need chopped onions, chop all the onions at once and then divide them. If two recipes require browned meat, brown all the meat at the same time, etc. If you google freezer meals or once a month cooking you will come across all sorts of blogs dedicated to it. In general the only thing I don't like from the freezer is potatoes. If you are making a soup or stew that requires them, think about leaving them out and adding in later. For pasta dishes, make sure the pasta is just under al dente or it will be a bit mushy when you reheat.

Best of luck with these last few days. They really a blessed time.