Frozen Meals
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Topic: Frozen Meals
Posted By: Stoked
Subject: Frozen Meals
Date Posted: 22 December 2011 at 9:40pm
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Hi Everyone.
Yes, this should probably be in the Food section but it seems a little dead in there... I am getting ready to prepare a pile of frozen meals for when bubs #2 arrives but... I seem to be having a mind blank about what to make! So far I have: Lasagne Cottage Pie Macaroni Cheese Curry Pasta Bake Unfortunately I'm not so keen on casseroles (though I will eat them occasionally) and DH isn't too fond of pasta. (But will also eat occasionally). Can you help me add a bit of variety to our diet? I figure that I should be able to freeze them in proper food dishes (foil) for up to 6 months? ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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Replies:
Posted By: Smelly_Kelly
Date Posted: 22 December 2011 at 9:50pm
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You could do up some spag bol mince and freeze it, so all you would need to cook is the pasta - and DH could have it on toast or something
You could just go to your supermarket and have a look at the frozen meals there for inspiration  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/392aa6"> 
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Posted By: Hopes
Date Posted: 23 December 2011 at 3:49am
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Last time I made lots of frozen meals, and although they were wonderful I found the fact that I just tended to make the 'meat' part of the dish not ideal - I'd still have to chop some vege and do some kind of carb. So this time I've bought oodles of one-meal-size flatish containers and frozon whole meals meat, vege and all. I've tried for things with lots of sauce, to help the veges reheat better - chicken dishes like apricot chicken or chicken cacciatore freeze well. I've frozen roast dinners (lots of gravy again, for the reheating) and fish pie (or whatever you call it - mine's basically just fish and veges in a white sauce with pasta or kumera.) -------------   
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Posted By: Bexee
Date Posted: 23 December 2011 at 6:14am
| Soups are really easy to make and freeze well, cannelloni freezes well (although that's pasta), bacon and egg pie (although I haven't tried myself), roasts, things like savoury muffins for quick snacks... |
Posted By: gmunster
Date Posted: 23 December 2011 at 7:50am
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Meat loaf, vege bakes, quiche, And muffins savoury and sweet for inbetween! -------------  
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Posted By: Bexee
Date Posted: 23 December 2011 at 11:55am
| oh and you can freeze veges with cheese sauce (like a cauliflower bake or something) to just be reheated if you want to throw a piece of steak on to fry or something. |
Posted By: MamaT
Date Posted: 23 December 2011 at 12:05pm
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Pizza -------------  
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Posted By: Nutella
Date Posted: 23 December 2011 at 12:53pm
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Mexican mince with beans and veges mixed in is a great freezer meal. Then can use as wraps or as nachos or how ever you like.
Making the carbs with the veges mixed in is the easiest thing, ie with pasta bake just suate veges and add to the mix, macaroni cheese add in corn and courgette and peppers chopped up little, mince can always have heaps of veges added. ------------- 
 Oct 11
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Posted By: fairy1
Date Posted: 23 December 2011 at 6:20pm
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Apricot Chicken, chicken Chasseur? I freeze them for ds so would imagine it would work in larger quantities. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: kiwiking
Date Posted: 27 December 2011 at 2:49pm
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I've just done a google search for the same reason (except I'm on #1).
I made shepherds pie this morning (enough for 10 serves) and was looking for inspiration. I found a section on healthy food guide (but only through google, their website couldn't find me "freezes well" dishes). I'm going to make some moroccan chicken, curried sausages and chicken curry, as well as little things like pizza pockets and muffins. Will also do some bolognese sauce so all I have to do is boil up some pasta. Bought a chest freezer in the Boxing Day sales yesterday for this very reason! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Bexee
Date Posted: 27 December 2011 at 6:35pm
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The BBC Good Food website also has a section for recipes that freeze well... bbcgoodfood.com
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Posted By: Keleho
Date Posted: 28 December 2011 at 1:11pm
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Im in the process of doing the same. I froze a couple of lasangas before having DD but found the cheese sauce didnt hold up so well (plus I think it tastes nicer freshly made and is pretty quick really).
So whats on the list this time: - cooked mince/tomato mixes (some with onion, some without as DD tum didnt agree with onion when I ate it). These will be used to make up spag bol, lasanga, nachos, mince on toast, anything like that. - cottage pie - quiches - mince & cheese pie - casserole (you could do sausage ones, or perhap larger chunks of meat so its more steak in gravy than a casserole?) - meatballs/beef patties - meatloaf - may also make some chicken meals, not sure what yet but anything in sauces should hold up well (curries etc) The other things I am hoping to do is make a few batches of lactation cookies and other baking so I can grab out say a 6 pack of muffins for us to snack on Also in the process of ripping out our vege garden (well most of it anyway), blanching and chopping up the veges, and freezing in portions. This is something I do pregnant or not as we always end up with a huge amount of veges (leafy ones in particular) and I dont wanna waste it! After reading that back I think its a good thing we have a massive chest freezer  ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: MrsH
Date Posted: 28 December 2011 at 2:18pm
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I love the idea of making muffins, cookies etc. I'm not a fan of frozen meals so will probably be using the slow cooker quite a bit (due in almost-Autumn anyway).
(Probably very stupid) Question: Do you actually bake the muffins and cookies and then freeze them? Or does the unbaked mix freeze okay? Ooh, another question: Vegetables and freezing. What veges freeze well from fresh? Can these be chopped and then frozen? Like for stirfrys? ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Keleho
Date Posted: 28 December 2011 at 3:46pm
MrsH, with the lactation cookies in particular you can do either. I have some cooked ones frozen to take with me to the maternity home but will be freezing the dough in tube shapes so I can grab one out, cut into rounds and bake (mostly cause I love a warm cookie  )
Muffins - I would freeze them cooked. Havent tried freezing the batter personally. Cakes would be the same. Veges - I have done some asian greens, spinach and silverbeet so far (just because thats what was in the garden). Im sure most leafy veges would work the same. As long as you blanch and refresh it first, should freeze well (so dunk into boiled water, refresh under cold tap or in cold water, then chop up and freeze. I use them for stirfries, quiches, savory muffins etc ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Hopes
Date Posted: 28 December 2011 at 4:47pm
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In my experience, freezing veges works to a certain degree. I hate frozen veges in stir-frys, they always go soggy and don't taste nice and crisp, which to my mind is pretty much the point of a stirfry. On the other hand, I freeze them pre-cooked with stuff like a roast - covering them in gravy works pretty well - and they can be blanched, frozen and added to stews or mince mixes well. -------------
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Posted By: Stoked
Date Posted: 28 December 2011 at 7:29pm
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Just listing for easy reference
Meals Lasagne (keep the white sauce really runny) Cottage Pie Shepherds Pie Macaroni Cheese (runny white sauce) Curry Pasta Bake Apricot Chicken http://www.foodinaminute.co.nz/Recipes/Chicken-Cacciatore - Chicken Cicciatore Chicken Chasseur Moroccan Chicken Fish Pie Mince and Cheese Pie Soups Bacon and Egg Pie http://www.foodinaminute.co.nz/Recipes/Empire-Meatloaf - Empire Meat Loaf Quiche Pizza Fish Cakes Mince for: Spag Bol Mexican Mince Meat balls annd beef patties Rissoles Snacks: Savory Muffins Pikelets Pizza Pockets Lactation Cookies www.bbcgoodfood.com www.donnahay.com Lemon Thyme and White Wine Chicken Basic risotto recipe Pikelets work really well frozen once cooked Mrs H. I've found that frozen veges are better in a stir fry Hopes if you seam them first. Time to hunt down some more recipes. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: millemama
Date Posted: 28 December 2011 at 8:15pm
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DH & I made huge batches of mince rissoles. We made them into patties and froze on oven tray before putting into plastic bags 'freeflow'. Have worked out great so far. They sound boring but we put a lot of flavour into ours incl chilli, curry spices, fish sauce, soy sauce, egg, bread crumbs, herbs etc etc. We make in bulk and they can be used for burger patties, rissoles, even make some smaller meatballs. They are good with different sauces incl satay, tomato relish etc.
GL ------------- http://daisypath.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Bexee
Date Posted: 29 December 2011 at 9:54am
| I've got a Jamie Oliver recipe for Fish Cakes with fresh salmon that apparently freeze well (so he says!) that I can dig out if anyone wants that. |
Posted By: Herewegoagain
Date Posted: 29 December 2011 at 10:41am
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The Donna Hay website has really good recipes that can freeze well, like lemon thyme and white wine chicken. I find other foodie people use ingredients I can't get hold of most of the time. http://www.donnahay.com .
Also, she has a basic rissotto recipe, which you bake instead of standing and stirring around the oven. And a bonus with rissotto is you can add anything you have in the fridge. I plan on using quick bang up meals, frozen or crockpot meals when bubs arrive. I'm trying the creamy mushroom rissotto tonight  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
+ My big school boy (6) |
Posted By: GuestGuest
Date Posted: 29 December 2011 at 11:01am
| Wow that risotto is so easy compared with standing over the stove spooning the stock in every few mins! Have you tried it before and it works the same? Thanks for the link. |
Posted By: Herewegoagain
Date Posted: 29 December 2011 at 11:06am
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No I haven't LuckyRed, tonight I'm going to try it. I'll let you know how it goes! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
+ My big school boy (6) |
Posted By: kiwiking
Date Posted: 29 December 2011 at 11:08am
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First double batch of wholemeal blueberry muffins done. Next will be chocolate rough muffins. Have to keep a couple aside for DH to eat tonight though, otherwise he might raid the freezer!
I've also cooked 1kg brown rice and divided into 1 cup portions (and a couple of 2 cup portions). I like to have a cup of brown rice with a tin of chop chop chicken. It freezes well and all you have to do is thaw it out and microwave for a minute. Think I will also do a chicken chausseur this weekend - who said the rain was horrible? It gives me the perfect excuse to stay indoors and do my jobs! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: kiwiking
Date Posted: 29 December 2011 at 11:56am
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Tip from me:
If you want to make a pie/casserole in a pyrex (or similar) dish to freeze then here is how you can re-use the same dish rather than have it stuck in your freezer: Make food as required, serve into dish, cool, then freeze. I have a dish with a lid, but covering with cling wrap also works. Once frozen (I left mine 2 days but I'm sure one will suffice) remove from freezer. Have a giant snaplock bag ready (and labelled). Put dish (without lid) into sink with hot water up to the level of your food (careful not to overfill or you will swamp your meal). After a minute or so, use a knife to wedge between the food and the side of the dish, soon you will feel enough give to remove it. Take dish out of sink, flip it over (I kept one hand underneath to make sure I caught it) and then place in snaplock bag. Seal and take back to freezer. Worked a treat on all four of my shepherds pies and now I can reuse my pyrex for something else. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: millemama
Date Posted: 29 December 2011 at 5:34pm
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Very clever, will try that one. thnx ------------- http://daisypath.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: MrsH
Date Posted: 29 December 2011 at 7:45pm
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A Ha! That's a great tip and I was wondering how to freeze the likes of shepherds pie. Thanks!!
------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: JadeC
Date Posted: 03 January 2012 at 10:18am
I've used this one, and it was delicious! http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2818/ovenbaked-risotto- It's not quite as creamy as a traditional risotto, but really yummy anyway. ------------- http://pregnancy.baby-gaga.com/" rel="nofollow"> 
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LuckyRed wrote:Posted By: kiwiking
Date Posted: 03 January 2012 at 6:03pm
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I should have added that when you want to eat your frozen pie to remove it from snaplock and put back into original dish to defrost.
That will save a bit of mess! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Hopes
Date Posted: 03 January 2012 at 6:19pm
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I tried the Donna Hay risotto the other day and recommend it Not quite the same as the stir-on-the-stove version, but the convinience outweighed any losses there!! -------------
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Posted By: Herewegoagain
Date Posted: 04 January 2012 at 9:06am
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Mine was great and I couldn't tell the difference. It was a little bit salty but that was my own fault with adding salt before baking. The parmesan and chicken stock provided enough salt.
Good pointers kiwiking, I'll be coming back to this thread a bit closer to when I'm due! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
+ My big school boy (6) |
Posted By: GuestGuest
Date Posted: 04 January 2012 at 9:42am
| I tried it as well, made the bacon, mushroom and spinach one, it was so easy! Not quite as good as the real deal but I think I will cook it for less time next time around because it was a bit mushy. |
Posted By: Tissy
Date Posted: 06 January 2012 at 5:56pm
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we are a bit unorthodox when it comes to freezing meals. I work random nights a week and when i'm at work DP eats home alone so we pre make meals with left overs for him to have on those nights. we go by the rule of if it can go in a container it gets frozen here. its all in glad containers with the blue lids, and the larger stuff is in the clicky sistema containers.
currently in the freezer we have: 1. a lasagna with white sauce and grated cheese on top (we have a small glass pyrex container with a lid that we specifically make this in. let it cool and put the lid on and freeze, thaw, remove lid and cook) 2. beef casserole on rice 3. roast chicken portions and roasted vege's pre gravied 4. roast lamb, veges and gravy 5. corned beef, veges and mustard sauce 6. stirfry. the vege's are slightly crunchy and the schnitzel meat is only 1/2 cooked. so he just has to bang it in the fry pan for a few min and its done and hot I also make up a mince mix using about 2kg of mince with garlic, chilli, oxo beef stock cube, worchester sauce, egg and breadcrumbs and whatever else I feel like (usually some grated carrot and zuchinni). some I roll into small meat balls and pre cook them pasta sauce added then frozen so he just has to boil some pasta and heat them up. some is made into burger patties and free flow frozen then bagged for burgers and the rest (about 500g worth) is frozen pressed into a container so it can be made into what ever he wants, and usually he defrosts it, mixes sausage meat into and turns it into meatloaf. ------------- http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/ABCD1234" rel="nofollow - My Ovulation Chart |
Posted By: Stoked
Date Posted: 07 February 2012 at 8:15am
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Bump, because I need to make a shopping list and get to it! ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: minipig
Date Posted: 13 February 2012 at 12:32pm
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Yum, some good ideas on here.
I want to get into making a few frozen meals over the next few weeks. Random question: If you buy meat and freeze it straight from the supermarket, can you refreeze it again after cooking? I was going to make a lasagne to freeze, but just realised I put the mince in the freezer so don't know if I can re-freeze it after cooking??? ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 13 February 2012 at 5:13pm
Yes you can re-freeze meat once it's been cooked. It's only raw defrosted meat you can't re-freeze. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">   [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: minipig
Date Posted: 14 February 2012 at 9:03am
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Thanks ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: noodlesnz
Date Posted: 15 February 2012 at 10:54am
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When my wife and I had our first child we used eat.co.nz to order meals. Not quite the same as doing your own, but very handy and quite tasty (for prepared meals). ------------- 
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Posted By: Stoked
Date Posted: 23 April 2013 at 10:50am
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Bump - going back to F/T work and want to stock the freezer to get us through the first few months! ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Stoked
Date Posted: 10 February 2015 at 5:33pm
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Bump again, for a friend. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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