What’s for Dinner: Freezer Meals!
One of the worst things about living out here (yes, there are a few downsides to living in Italy!) is that there isn’t fast food. Literally,
the only take-out food you can get in our town is pizza. Actually, strike thatâthere’s a kabob place down the road, too. There’s no Chinese delivery, or a Sonic-Drive In to grab a quick burger, tots, and coney, or a Chili’s curbside to-go. (Shoot, now I want all of those things.) So if we want a fast, no-fuss meal, we have to make it. And since everyone told me that once the baby arrived I won’t have time to sleep, let alone shower or make food for my family (they were right, by the way), I decided to do something about it ahead of time.
I started freezing meals. It’s taken a couple months to stock my freezer, but I have a pretty good stash at the moment. Sure, I could’ve done it all in one day (like I see all over the Pinster), but I didn’t. Walking around with a belly the size of a watermelon is no joke, so I spread it out and made them when I had the time and energy.
There was also no real planning involved. You’ll see a lot of New Mexican recipes below, because it’s what we enjoy. I just made the foods I know we like and eat often, tweaking itâif need beâso they would freeze well. I made a lot of the meals for dinner (sometimes doubling the recipe) and just froze the leftovers. I figured now was not the time to try new recipes; I’ll save experimenting with new meals when I’m back cooking in the kitchen.
If you have questions about the recipes or how/what I did to freeze things, let me know and I can include answers in a follow-up post. Here are meals currently sitting in our freezer along with links to the recipes:
No recipe again, sorry!
(In a crock pot I cook pinto beans {that were soaked over night}, 1/2 pound of cooked seasoned meat, and one container of red chile. We made it for dinner, then froze the leftovers. We eat it with Fritos, onions, and cheese.)
Breakfast Burritos
(My husband actually makes a version of these. He usually includes: eggs {one container of egg beaters}, one potato {diced and baked crispy with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic}, a meat {reduced-fat sausage or low-sodium bacon}, chopped mushrooms and onions, sun-dried tomatoes, and either chile or salsa. Delicious. Make, assemble {fold up both ends}, wrap in foil, and place in a freezer bag. When ready to eat, unwrap from foil, re-wrap in a paper towel and heat in microwave for a few minutes.)
Chicken Parm Bake:
(Made as written, except for the last step of adding croutons and more cheese. Freeze uncooked; thaw overnight. Bake as directed, adding cheese and croutons for last 15 minutes or so.)
(No picture, sorry!)
the leftovers. The next time we make this we’ll double the batch so we can have more to freeze.)
(No picture, sorry!)
Fried Rice:
(Made as directed, cooled, then frooze in individual portions so I can just pop ’em into the microwave.)
French Bread and Rolls:
(No recipe for the rolls yet, sorry!)
(Made as directedârecipe link has instructions for freezing the dough!)
I'm impressed that you made so much! I only had 3-4 meals in the freezer but somehow I managed. We don't have takeout here in Japan unless we drive to the base and get fast food. So unhealthy but some days I do it!
I've thought about investing in a freezer so I can make freezer meals. You make a strong case for it!
Holy cow! I can't believe you did all that while you were pregnant! I think all I managed to do was freeze some muffins and waffles. =P Of course, I did buy some frozen dinners from the commissary that I knew my husband could do…and then my MIL came in and took over all the cooking for 2 weeks. =) Way to go!
Wow – that is an awesome stockpile of dinners! Thanks for the suggestions and recipe links to – bff is preggers and I'm planning to take her quite a few meals when she has the babe đ
I'm planning to stock my freezer as well, (I'm due in August) but in the past I haven't liked the meals out of the freezer as much as when they are fresh. BUT I imagine I'll over look that since we'll be sleep deprived and starving đ
I made absolutely no freezer meals. In the end, I didn't need them! But you did awesome!
I made freezer enchiladas but my tortillas got SOOOO soggy. đ
I love freezer meals They get me though the days I don't want to cook. I simply double the recipe on them meals that I know freeze well. There is always 5-6 different meals waiting for me to heat up. I plan to stock my deep freezer with meals over the next couple of months before this baby is due!
Thanks so much for this post. I don't have space (or the time, hello due date) to make many but I'm going to pick one or two of these if this baby holds off a little while longer.
I didn't make any freezer meals, we didn't have the time or space unfortunately. Thankfully, my mom was here for 2 weeks after D was born and then I was able to get in a good groove. That's so awesome that you were able to do so much and I really bet it helped out a ton.
Perfect for me! THANK YOU!