hey ladies! I wanted a space for us to share tips, tricks, and recipes for freezer meals or other quick and easy meals for when babies get here!
I had planned to do this with my first but never got around to it and he came early so I'm trying to be a bit more proactive this go around knowing I'll be even busier with a newborn and toddler.
So I have been making my own pizza dough and par baking it and then pulling it out of the freezer and adding toppings. It is easy and cheaper than buying a frozen pizza. I use the recipe below, for the pizza dough I spread it out onto a half sheet pan so it is a little bit of a deep dish and then bake for 10 minutes. Once it is cooled I cut the par baked crust in half and wrap each half and freeze. When I go to make the pizza, I pull out about 30 minutes before hand and add whatever toppings I want, cook the pizza at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes depending on how crispy you like it. Super easy to make and freeze ahead.
Our freezer is tiny, so I didn't make much last time, but I think I made a double batch of chili and also beef stew, which both froze really well. I also made a batch of lactation cookie dough and froze it so I could bake fresh cookies as needed.
TW
Me: 33 DH: 32 Started Dating: 2003 Married: 2013 Started TTC August 2016 BFP: 2/1/17 MC: 2/8/17 BFP: 3/8/17 MMC: 5/1/17 BFP: 7/23/17 EDD: 4/5/18 BFP: 2/27/20
We have a pretty small freezer also. Thankfully I am blessed with a husband that does the majority of the cooking. I can cook very well also but he enjoys it more. With DD we didn't do any freezer meals or stock up ahead of time. Although I think I'm going to start to get him on board for it this time around. 2 NBs + a toddler will require all hands on deck. My joke last time was going to the store and filling my freezer with frozen pizza counts as meal prep right? Making stew or chili ahead of time is a great idea. Also making sure to have easy grab and eat breakfast/snack options will be a must.
MH has been starting to teach SD (9yo) to cook small meals like eggs, mac n cheese, etc for DD & herself and that will be a HUGE help 💜 gotta brag on her, she is such a great big sister and has grown up sooo much recently 😭😍
BFP 3/21/2020! OMG We're having TWINS! 4/17/2020 -------------------------------- LO arrived 11/9/2018! We have a baby! -------------------------------- Me: 33 | DH: 41 Married: March 2016 TTC #1/IUD out January 2017 PCOS dx January 2018 Medicated cycle 2.5mg Letrozole CD3-7 February 2018 BFP 3/10/2018! -------------------------------
TTGP December Siggy Co-Winner: Favorite Moments from Holiday Movies/TV
My mom made these no bake energy balls recently and they are delicious. I will definitely be making them post partum, and quite possibly tomorrow. I've also made versions with dates, which will be good for the final weeks of pregnancy to help get things moving! https://www.onelovelylife.com/no-bake-cookie-energy-bites/
Due date is coming closer and I know that if I don't get on it putting meals in the freezer it's not going to happen. I called my mom last night to ask her for some ideas and this is the list we came up with: -chili -pasty (sometimes called meatpie I think?) -turkey or beef gravy (with chunks of meat in it) easy to make potatoes to go with -browned hamburger separated into usable portions -taco hamburger -sloppy joe -zuppa tuscana -tomato rice soup -lasagna -homemade pizza As you can tell, we're big meat eaters but I'm sure there are substitutes that could be used for those who do not eat meat. Another idea is to stock up on canned soup if it's something you family likes.
@hedgepig omg please don't laugh at me, re-reading this i realize that was my pregnant brains way of saying "dough". Like cinnamon roll dough, cookie dough, etc....
@doublestroller I'm pretty sure this was the recipe I made. If I remember correctly the brewer's yeast is pretty strong, so depending on how much of a yeast taste you've acquired you may want to reduce it and work up to the full amount. https://www.howsweeteats.com/2015/02/lactation-cookies/
TW
Me: 33 DH: 32 Started Dating: 2003 Married: 2013 Started TTC August 2016 BFP: 2/1/17 MC: 2/8/17 BFP: 3/8/17 MMC: 5/1/17 BFP: 7/23/17 EDD: 4/5/18 BFP: 2/27/20
We made a few slow cooker meals which are so good for your postpartum healing. Pork shoulder for pulled pork sandwiches or carnitas, and this is our fav pot roast. Make a big batch and freeze half or whatever you don’t eat that evening!
This time I plan to make a meatloaf and attempt to include liver since liver is another one of those power foods postpartum. And anything you can easily eat with a fork one-handed while holding baby is clutch!
DH was looking up a lot of recipes for taking beef stew meat and using it in other ways like pulled beef bbq which was more like sloppy joes which I was excited about. It is helpful because it is already cut up. Also I know I used my Instapot more when I was recovering since you could throw in items and let it cook and usually had left overs. I am excited because it will be cooler months so I can do chili and soups like that.
Re: Freezer Meals
https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/blitz-bread-no-fuss-focaccia-recipe
Started Dating: 2003 Married: 2013
Started TTC August 2016
BFP: 2/1/17 MC: 2/8/17
BFP: 3/8/17 MMC: 5/1/17
BFP: 7/23/17 EDD: 4/5/18
BFP: 2/27/20
MH has been starting to teach SD (9yo) to cook small meals like eggs, mac n cheese, etc for DD & herself and that will be a HUGE help 💜 gotta brag on her, she is such a great big sister and has grown up sooo much recently 😭😍
--------------------------------
LO arrived 11/9/2018! We have a baby!
--------------------------------
Me: 33 | DH: 41
Married: March 2016
TTC #1/IUD out January 2017
PCOS dx January 2018
Medicated cycle 2.5mg Letrozole CD3-7 February 2018
BFP 3/10/2018!
-------------------------------
SO
SD (11/2010)
DD1 (09/2014)
DD2 (10/2015)
Baby Girl #4 (11/2020)
https://www.onelovelylife.com/no-bake-cookie-energy-bites/
@Ecat504 What is doh?
Started Dating: 2003 Married: 2013
Started TTC August 2016
BFP: 2/1/17 MC: 2/8/17
BFP: 3/8/17 MMC: 5/1/17
BFP: 7/23/17 EDD: 4/5/18
BFP: 2/27/20
-chili
-pasty (sometimes called meatpie I think?)
-turkey or beef gravy (with chunks of meat in it) easy to make potatoes to go with
-browned hamburger separated into usable portions
-taco hamburger
-sloppy joe
-zuppa tuscana
-tomato rice soup
-lasagna
-homemade pizza
As you can tell, we're big meat eaters but I'm sure there are substitutes that could be used for those who do not eat meat. Another idea is to stock up on canned soup if it's something you family likes.
Tempeh (or bean chili)
Sweet potato/lentil curry (Vegan Richa)
Baked potatoes (freeze cooked, add toppings later)
Brunswick stew
Like I said, very slowly 😂 I am writing down meals we all like that freeze easily as I make them!
Like @babywiik said a lot of her meals could be adapted to be veg friendly. If you need ideas I love to talk food ☺️
Cheeseburger Handpie https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-cheeseburger-hand-pies-223932
Jamaican Beef Patty https://whiskitrealgud.com/jamaican-beef-patties-with-perfect-flaky-crust-2/
Started Dating: 2003 Married: 2013
Started TTC August 2016
BFP: 2/1/17 MC: 2/8/17
BFP: 3/8/17 MMC: 5/1/17
BFP: 7/23/17 EDD: 4/5/18
BFP: 2/27/20
SO
SD (11/2010)
DD1 (09/2014)
DD2 (10/2015)
Baby Girl #4 (11/2020)
https://www.howsweeteats.com/2015/02/lactation-cookies/
Started Dating: 2003 Married: 2013
Started TTC August 2016
BFP: 2/1/17 MC: 2/8/17
BFP: 3/8/17 MMC: 5/1/17
BFP: 7/23/17 EDD: 4/5/18
BFP: 2/27/20
We made a few slow cooker meals which are so good for your postpartum healing. Pork shoulder for pulled pork sandwiches or carnitas, and this is our fav pot roast. Make a big batch and freeze half or whatever you don’t eat that evening!
Started Dating: 2003 Married: 2013
Started TTC August 2016
BFP: 2/1/17 MC: 2/8/17
BFP: 3/8/17 MMC: 5/1/17
BFP: 7/23/17 EDD: 4/5/18
BFP: 2/27/20