February 2021 Moms
moguippy
member
Freezer meal thread
moguippy
member
It’s almost time to prep freezer meals! (Freezer meals are meals that are completely or mostly ready to cook that can be frozen. They are very helpful for the first couple of weeks after baby is born!)
Post your ideas and links to (or pictures of) recipes if you have them!
Please specify if it’s for crock pot/oven/instant pot/ microwave/other as not everyone has each of those.
Please specify if it’s for crock pot/oven/instant pot/ microwave/other as not everyone has each of those.
Re: Freezer meal thread
https://meagangetsreal.com/easy-home-made-chicken-pot-pie/
-the chicken needs to be precooked. I usually use leftover turkey (perfect time of year!) or a rotisserie chicken.
Butternut squash enchiladas: https://www.skinnytaste.com/butternut-squash-and-black-bean/ (we buy precut butternut squash and roast half of it for dinner and the other half for enchiladas)
Hawaiian Sweet roll sliders: https://www.makeaheadmealmom.com/hawaiian-sweet-roll-sliders/ (don't forget about lunch!)
Spinach and cheese stuffed shells: I have no recipe for this, just mom's recipe by memory. It easy; sauteed spinach and garlic added to ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, 1 egg, salt and pepper, stuff it into the shells cover with sauce and cheese and freeze.
Pasta e fagioli Soup: This is another family recipe but I make it so often and have written it down for my dad and sisters so many times I have it memorized. I like to double the recipe, freeze half and keep the other half for lunch during the week.
2 tbsp Olive oil
1 lb italian sausage (can be sweet, mild or spicy depending on your preference)
1 Large yellow onion
2 cloves garlic
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 box crushed tomatoes
1 box chicken broth
1 can white beans
2 bay leaves
2ish springs thyme
1 bunch spinach with stems removed
1 box ditalini pasta
Heat a large pot over med-high heat. Add olive oil and heat until shiny. Add sausage and brown for about 5 minutes, add chopped yellow onion and minced garlic and cook until sausage is cooked through and onions are soft and translucent. Add tomato paste and stir into sausage and onions. Let cook for 1-2 minutes (its okay if it burns a little on the bottom - we're going to deglaze in the next step.) Add chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Add drained can of white beans, bay leaves and thyme. Let simmer on low for as long as you need to, the longer it simmers the better. I usually do at least 30 min. Right before serving or freezing add spinach and cover with lid until spinach is just wilted. Serve over freshly cooked ditalini pasta. TIP: I don't like the soup to be absorbed into the pasta because I like the pasta to still be firm and al dente. So if I'm freezing it I freeze the soup by itself and then make the pasta the night I'm thawing the soup and eating it. If its going in the fridge for lunches I pack the soup and pasta separately. My mom packs them together so its just preference.
Edited to add! I have made the pasta e fagioli vegetarian by subbing veg broth for the chicken broth and diced mushrooms and an extra can of beans for the sausage. It was very good!
Married May 2014
TTC # 2 Since December 2021
Baby girl W born 2/2021
Our journey so far...
(tw loss & infertility)
Working with an RE since March 2016
2 failed TI cycles
3 failed IUI cycles
IVF Feb - April 2017
23 eggs collected, 20 mature, 14 fertilized with ICSI, 4 day 3 blasts, 3 day 5 blasts, 1 PGS normal
Transferred 1 PGS normal embryo 4.12.17
BFP 4.21.17
MMC due to small gestational sac 6.8.17
Our adoption journey:
12.25.18 Agency picked and apps submitted!
5.1.19 Adoption on hold so we can buy a house!
1.1.20 Homestudy process started
3.14.20 First social worker visit
5.25.20 Homestudy Approved & Submitted to Agency
6.1.20 Surprise! Positive pregnancy test!
Healthy baby girl born 2/10/2021
I will also make a baked ziti and lasagna to freeze as well as a few meatloaves.
My freezer foods list that I found includes a lot of casseroles.
they baked really easy
here's what I got, I will get recipes if you guys want when I'm not at work
-Chicken casserole (it was my grandmas recipe, basically soup, bread pieces and cooked chicken)
-an olive garden copy cat chicken gnocchi soup recipe
-chicken broccoli rice casserole
-freezer chicken pot pie
-lemon garlic dump chicken
-ziti taco bake
-tater tot casserole
-meatloaf
i think i'll make some meatballs to freeze too for meatball subs or spaghetti
last time i made like 2-4 (depending on the recipe) meals out of each recipe so I had a bunch to pick from. my family is totally fine with eating the same thing every week HAHA
Preheat oven to 375 F.
Oil muffin cups/tin (spray, rub, brush, whatever your non-stick preference is)
Load up cups with meats/veggies/cheese to your heart's content.
In a bowl, beat eggs with a smidge of salt & pepper and a splash of milk or cream and then pour over "toppings."
( I usually don't fill the cups more than 3/4 full because they expand when baking.)
Bake for around 20 minutes or so.
SD: 21 & SS: 17
BFP #2 6/3/2020
*Trigger Warning*
@PinkKathryn12 if you can share the chicken broccoli rice casserole you like that would be great! And the ziti taco bake too if you have it
i just snapped a pic of the recipe cards but if you have trouble reading them let me know
Some of our favorites:
Beef barley
Chicken noodle (maybe add noodles when eating, they don't always freeze great)
Chili
Butternut squash
Since we are a hunting family we typically always have a freezer full of meat and fish. Ground meat is easy to store and can be made into several really easy meals. Here are a couple really easy ones we like to do:
Taco rice- cook up a packet of Spanish rice, a pound of ground meat seasoned to your liking, add shredded cheese and salsa, eat as is or with chips. Top with veggies
Bbq cups- cook a pound of ground meat, season with bbq flavors (or just bbq sauce). With crescent roll or biscuit dough, shape into cups and set in a muffin tin. Fill cups with the meat (or filling mixture) and cook following dough directions
Pasta: cook and season a pound of meat, add a jar of pasta sauce. Cook any type of pasta. Combine and serve.
*Think easy sides. This might be a time to figure out if you prefer frozen or canned veggies. Side salads are easy to put together. Cut up a bunch of fruit ahead of time.
MC at 8 weeks {EDD 9.2.20}
Rainbow Girl! {2.28.16}
Baby boy, lost at 16 weeks {EDD 6.10.15}
Mine just got a new job like a month ago so he isn't allowed to take any paid time off for 6 months, so he can take time off but it will e unpaid so he is only going to take like a week max. Especially since my leave is unpaid as well. With a toddler around, I'm just gonna have my mom over a lot
my friends husband works for Pfizer and they get 12 weeks off at 100% pay for mom and dad!! Super jealous of that.