meals to freeze

[jazzyjas]

My sister will be expecting in a few months and I am beginning to plan for stocking her chest freezer for thos hectic new baby days. I usually cook everything fresh and have a tiny freezer -- so I need advice and suggestions on meals that freeze well as well as techniques. Freeze before or after cooking, how to package etc.

Thanks

Jas

[mightyh]

Try this link for a previous discussion on this topic....
http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/Archives/Archive-000001/HTML/20010301-1-001501.html

[schuh]

I don't know if this came up on the previous thread, but if you're low on space you can freeze soups, stews, etc., in plastic freezer bags. Lay them on their sides so they get really flat -- they won't take up much room.

And take it from me -- don't freeze soups with noodles in them. They become like mush.

[Gail]

No time to search for you... in the archives also (archive: archive) there's a thread called something like "I'm going to be out of commission for a while" started by Susann which had loads of recipes. If you run searches on key words like "casserole" or "freeze" you should come up with tons of recipes, be it on the Great Foods Board (this one) or either of the archives.

Good luck!

[sherri]

Lasagna is always good to freeze. The asparagus pot pie froze nicely (I forget what issue).

[Jessica]

Chili and bean soups, like black bean or lentil, freeze well. I usually let them cool before I freeze them.

[WeekendCook]

My favorite CL recipe to freeze is the BBQ chicken potpie. I make the filling ahead of time and freeze flat in a zip-lock freezer bag. To make it, I just defrost, top with the cornbread sticks, and bake.

[RunnerKim]

I did something similar as a Christmas gift for my parents - as I plan to do it again for them I asked for feedback. One of the big things was that many of the meals were salty/too spicy. I think when you freeze things it'll break down the cell walls of any veggies and herbs which can make them more potent (plus we just like things more flavorful than they do I think) - so depending on how your tastes compare to your sister's- watch the seasoning. Whenever you can do individual servings that will let them heat just as much as they want, do it. (i.e., Freeze soup in a muffin tin and once frozen put in a ziploc). I did a couple of things in big disposable containers and it was too much.

They really liked the Green Chili Raviolis from the end of last year. I did a soup (African Peanut Chicken soup) that went over well. Stromboli was good (kids enjoyed dipping them in tomato sauce) just make sure you use ignredients that don't release liquid or it'll be soggy. Quiche did not turn out at all, but I know others have frozen and reheated quiche successfully.

I labeled each container with contents and directions but also gave them a sheet with everything written on it (I also included some rolls and desserts (cookies and cheesecake) and made recommendations on which to eat together. One logisitcal thing that came up - we had to drive with this food for many hours in a couple of coolers and it just got "dumped" in their big chest freezer when we arrived. They had a hard time finding things that were suppose to go together sometimes. My Mom loved the fact that not only didn't she have to do much to make dinner but clean-up was a breeze too.

Kim