[figuresk8er]

I just had a friend who has had some back issues for the past while. Finally, after 6 days of not being able to walk her husband took her to the ER for help. She was given a Catscan and the results are not good. In addition to severe arthritis, she also has 3 herniated disks, bone calcification and degenerative disk failure (?). Needless to say, she will definitely require surgery and will not be mobile for some time.

Another friend and I are planning on cooking up some meals for her and her family this weekend and I'm looking for some ideas. Does anyone have any great recipes for meals that freeze well? I have seen a few women on this board mention that they were freezing meals before their due dates so I know there are probably some good ones out there! Even if you don't have a specific recipe, I"m open to ideas which I can Goggle (Lord knows I have MAD Google skills!).

Thanks in advance

[feydruss]

I've fallen in love with my slow-cooker. I'm making chilis, stews, soups, pulled pork. You can throw pretty much anything in there, leave it for 6-8 hours, and have a nice big batch of yummy stuff to freeze. It's awesome.

[Browneyedgirl]

I always freeze chili and spagetti sauce. You could cook up burrito meat (or taco) and freeze that. Taco shells obviously won't need to be frozen but one would need to freeze up the tortilla shells for the burritos. Another idea could be to cut up chicken for crock pot meals so that all they have to do is throw all the ingredients inthe crock pot inthe morning and have a meal at night. I know there is a Italian chicken crock pot meal you can do up. I pick up the package for seaasoning at the grocery store. Other then that, I use a meal service called "Dashing Dishes" out here in Alberta. Youcan gothere and prepare the meals for yourself or have them done for you, bring them home and freeze them. Most prep times are 15-30 mins and very tastey. I know there are also places called "Simply Supper" exact same idea. Good luck!!! It's a verynice thing you are doing for your friend!!

[Ginger Megs]

There is a cookbook called The Big Cook - was written by busy moms. the idea being you put together meals to freeze so you only have to cook them the day you want them (either slow cooker or oven). I havent been organised enough to do it but some friends have and say the food is great.

Feydruss - can you post some slowcooker recipes...I was given a slowcooker and havent been able to make anything particularly edible. Love the idea of it though and would love some recipes that work!

[mollygirl21]

Currently I have meatballs and meatloaf frozen in my freezer. I use the meatballs in either spaghetti sauce or cook them in a bbq/sweet & sour type sauce and serve with rice.

For the sauce, I just wing it and I imagine you could freeze it...maybe separate from the meatballs. The basic sauce I used to use is 1 jar of Heinz chili sauce and one jar of apple jelly. But I didn't have full jars of either the other day so I used:

1/4 jar chili sauce
1/4 jar apple jelly
1/2 jar Sweet & Sticky bbq sauce
1/2 c brown sugar
1-2 tbsp vinegar
1/2 c ketchup

I think that was it. I boiled it on the stove and then poured it over the thawed meatballs and put it in the over for about 1/2 an hour on 350.

[mollygirl21]

Oh, I also have chili and spaghetti sauce in the freezer

[~*Megan*~]

You are too sweet - what a great idea.

Sheppards pies are good to freeze, pasta sauce...pot pies...

[DiXie]

I agree spaghetti meat sauce is freezable as well as meatballs, shepard's pie, base for a stew, so only cook the beef and then defrost and add potatos to it, chicken or any other soup could be frozen.

This is an excellent website which will tell you what can be frozen and if should be cooked first..so as an example you could steam some veggies (which take long time to steam) for her and freeze them.

http://www.stilltasty.com/

[ceska_holkacz]

I agree....potpies are a great thing to have frozen...I used to make them in advance and freeze them to pull out for dinner....along with that are quiches (if you need some great recipes let me know)...you can even do pies (those I wouldn't cook first though). I also used to do a big lasagna and then cut it and freeze it in single portions... I also always roast up a 6-8 chicken legs (just alot cheaper than the breast) and clean them and then freeze them by 1 cup....then I can defrost for a quick homemade club sandwhich (I tend to keep the pre-cooked bacon at my house) and there are always tomatoes and lettuce or I can throw it in a salad or make a potpie or mix in with pasta or a hot chicken sandwhich or chicken à la king...needless to say if I don't have frozen roasted chicken I feel totally lost!!

I also will make hearty stews or thick soups and freeze it...beef and barley is a great one...I'll try to type out the recipe tonight.

But I would have to say a meal that is always in my freezer is my Hawaiin Chicken. I tend now to make it fresh because I am home but I still like to have it in the freezer so if we are gone all day we can come home to a great meal...here is the recipe (everyone I have shared this with just LOVES it....it is always a hit).

HAWAIIAN CHICKEN (6-8 portions)

Ingredients:

• Chicken breasts or thighs (I prefer the thighs just because they don't dry out like the breast can)
  
• 1 bag onion soup mix
  
• 1 or 2 can(s) of mandarins, drained
  
• 1 can of cranberry jelly or sauce (I prefer the sauce....I like the chunks of cranberries)
  
• 1 can pineapple chunks, drained
  
• 1 small bottle of French salad dressing
  
• Paprika to season
  
• Salt/pepper to season
  
• Bread crumbs

Directions:
1- Mix together onion soup, mandarins, cranberries, French dressing and pineapple
2- Season the chicken with bread crumbs, paprika and salt/pepper (as much or as little as you want)
3- Spray baking dish with Pam
4- Place the seasoned chicken in the dish and cover with the prepared sauce
5- Cook at 375ºF for 1.5 hours (if browns too fast, cover with aluminium foil)
6- Serve over rice

I have lots of others as I used to always cook on Sundays for the week. I'll post some more later.

PS: I'll keep your friend in my thoughts.

Hugs.
Karolyn

[Rosa]

I make the following items and freeze them: soups, stews, lasagna, chili, spaghetti sauce, meatballs, meatloaf, chicken cacciatore, chicken parmesan, quiche

I make a salad to go with these meals (I'm lazy and usually used the bagged salad mix) and presto dinner is made. For a side, couscous is great too (requires no cooking, just add equal parts boiling water and couscous, cover with plastic wrap or a plate and let stand for 5-10 minutes, fluff with a fork and you're done).

I often batch cook on the weekend and then freeze in individual containers. I try to have about 5 or 6 different ready to eat meals in my freezer at all times and just pop them out and eat any night of the week. I got into the habit when I was working long hours at work, but now that I have a baby, I find it equally hard to spend lots of time cooking meals. This allows me to cook when DH is home and he is taking care of her.

I also second the slower cooker. Any soup or stew recipe can be made in the slow cooker and it's so easy.

I do hope your friend feels better, it sounds like she has some tough time ahead of her.

[figuresk8er]

You guys are amazing!

Thank you Thank you Thank you!

I think I'll start with some meatballs, a Lasagna and most definitely the Hawaiian Chicken pie! I'll probably have to make one to stay here too, hubby and I love pineapple.

I'll keep checking back as I'm pretty sure there will be a few weeks we will be doing this but also, this is a great thread for expectant mom's too! Maybe one day I'll be freezing meals for myself too

[s00n]

Soup is good - i don't have the recipe but carrot ginger soup freezes really well. Mmm. And soup is nice in the spring.

[s00n]

Soup is good - i don't have the recipe but carrot ginger soup freezes really well. Mmm. And soup is nice in the spring.