With baby #3 making her debut (hopefully) very soon, I have failed at getting prepared by making and freezing meals ahead of time for those few post-partum weeks when everyone is too tired to form a coherant sentence nevermind make a great meal from scratch.
Wouldn’t it be nice, though, if groceries presented themselves in a conveyor system of sorts so that you didn’t have to go to the grocery store 3 times a week? Or is that just me? I know, I know, you’re supposed to meal plan for a week or two at a time but I’ve never gotten around to doing that and now certainly isn’t the time.
How great would that be, though, to have someone do the personal shopping for you – just go through a recipe book, use a picking system of sorts on your iphone or laptop and give someone else the task of creating fabulous recipes for you.
Ok, I’m done dreaming. The fact of the matter is that I’m running out of time and need some easy, freezable, recipes….fast! If you have any to share or links to ones that you’ve posted on your own sites – send them my way!
We have a fabulous business here called “Dashing Dishes” where you can make a bunch of freezer meals (or have them make them for you for a small fee) and they are DELICIOUS! You should check to see if there’s something near you. I’ve done it a couple times, and it’s so nice to have 10 meals to choose from in your freezer.
As for recipes, you know I can hook you up with some good ones!! Here are some good freezer meals:
Sausage & Spinach Pasta Bake http://kitchenkathy.blogspot.com/2010/02/contest-entry-4.html
Teriyaki Chicken Marinade
http://kitchenkathy.blogspot.com/2010/03/this-gots-nice-flavour.html
Enchiladas
http://kitchenkathy.blogspot.com/2009/03/best-baby-present-butter-chicken.html
Chocolate Chili
http://kitchenkathy.blogspot.com/2010/09/chocolate-chili.html
BBQ Beef with Rootbeer Sauce
http://kitchenkathy.blogspot.com/2010/03/bbq-beef-with-rootbeer-sauce.html
Off to check them out today, thanks Kathy!
Not even sure if this has a name, but I went to a friends for dinner and she had this and I have been making it ever since
Italian Sausage
Red Onion
Penne Pasta
1 can Tomato Paste
1/2 cup Sundried Tomato Oregano salad dressing
Fry your sausage and once half done cut into coins, add the onion (you can add whatever else with it that you desire).
Cook your pasta,once done, add pasta to your sausage. Mix up your tomato paste and your dressing and add to your sausage and pasta, mix and viola! Perfect for freezing.
*double up the tomato paste and dressing if you want it more saucy…I usually do.
I’m not even a sausage fan and that still sounds yummy! Thanks Nicole!
Breakfast: http://revealingmeagain.blogspot.com/2010/08/banana-chocolate-chip-waffles.html Make and freeze. Toast to eat.
Lunch: http://revealingmeagain.blogspot.com/2010/07/healthier-burger.html mix ahead of time, freeze as patties, take out and broil them.
Dinner: http://revealingmeagain.blogspot.com/2010/07/spaghetti-pie.html Make, cook, freeze and reheat.
Try Dinner Rush in Saskatoon…similar to dashing dishes! I quite love going, it’s fun to assemble the meals but even if you’re too busy for that, they will assemble them for you! You have your choice of 1, 5, 10 or 12 meals!
Check out Kraft Canada’s website for some awesome freezer meals…one of my fav’s is not so kid friendly, a chicken broccoli lasagna!
Pepperoni Pizza Pasta (Freezer directions)
8 oz (2c) uncooked ziti
1 (14oz) jar pizza sauce
2 oz sliced pepperoni, halved (I actually make the pieces smaller) (~3/4 cup)
1/4 c finely chopped green bell pepper
1/4 c grated Parmesan Cheese
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1 garlic clove, minced (I use the fresh minced garlic from the jar)
4 oz (1c) shredded mozzarella cheese
Heat oven to 375. Spray 8in square (2qt) baking dish with nostick cooking spray.
Cook ziti to desired doneness as directed on package. Drain.
In a large bowl, combine cooked ziti, pizza sauce, pepperoni, bell pepper, parmesan cheese, oregano and garlic; mix well. Spoon into sprayed baking dish.
Making fresh directions from here: Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Cover with foil. Bake at 375 for 30 to 35 minutes or until mixture is thoroughly heated and cheese is melted.
Make-ahead directions from here: Cover with foil. When ready to use, do not thaw; bake, covered at 375 for 1 hour. Uncover and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake an aditional 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and mixture is bubbly.
If making fresh,
i was also going to suggest dinner rush in saskatoon. i really found for myself that with 2 other kids at home, even though i slept little during the night i was literally too busy during the day to remember, so life just went on like nothing had changed. i was scared with the 4 year gap, but i think that just made me appreciate the baby even more because i knew how fast it goes by and how much tougher they get once they talk and talk and talk!!!! i hope your adjustment is smooth too.
Stuffed pasta shells. You can pre-make and freeze. I blogged about them here: http://www.busyworkingmama.com/2010/07/stuffed-pasta-shells-recipe.html
If you prefer a meatless variety, replace ground turkey with more mushrooms.
Chili freezes well, too.