Single dad for a week - Need freezer food for the weeknights (frozen, tomato)

[LLLL98]

Yeah, my thinking was to try a stew, maybe some chilli. I'd love to try a paella or gumbo, but my fiancee can't stand any kind of seafood, so it's kind of a lot of work for just me.
I haven't thought of stroganoff though, that might be a good one.

[Debsi]

Any beef stew recipe will freeze beautifully. I always make a ton so I can have several meals from it.

There are lots of Mexican inspired options that also work this way.

I like to freeze meat that you can thaw and make into enchiladas, burritos or tacos. All you have to do is chop up a little veg and heat up some tortillas and you have dinner.

You can pre-cook:

1)ground beef taco filling
2) Shredded beef -- crock pot a chuck roast with a small can of tomato sauce and some chiles to taste and/or chile powder. Shred with a fork when cool enough to handle and freeze in serving size bags
3) shredded chicken
4) pork or chicken tomatillo stew
5) a pot of black or pinto beans to go with any of the above, or to make burritos

[LLLL98]

Sounds delicious, we really love Mexican style food !
Do you premake and then freeze the beans also ?

[LaceyEx]

Gravy w/meatballs, sausage-make a huge pot and freeze containers with just sauce, some w/sauce and meatballs, some with sauce and sausage.

Soups, stew, chili, leftover pot roast gravy works great with hot beef sandwiches down the road.

[Paula Lynn]

Depending on the size of your family and appetities:

When on sale, buy 2 whole chickens.

Have a chicken meal, & use all the leftovers for enchiladas, casserole & soup. Those 2 chickens should last you for a week.

[Debsi]

Originally Posted by LLLL98

Sounds delicious, we really love Mexican style food !
Do you premake and then freeze the beans also ?

Yes, beans freeze really well. I cook the Brazilian black bean recipe from Joy of Cooking and freeze it in 2 and 4 cup containers all the time. I live by those "disposable" zip-lock containers, I wash and use them over and over again.

If you want refried beans, I'd suggest you freeze them whole in their liquid ("frijoles de la olla" style) and then do the refrying the day you are going to eat them. Things freeze a lot better when they have a braising liquid (e.g. beans, beef stew, pot roast) around them to protect them from freezer burn.

[stone-ground]

I'll do the same with beans and rice from scratch. They take so much time to soak and cook, like the garbanzos, and brown rice .. so it's nice to be able to just pull a few out of the freezer ready to go when you need them.

Just cooked up batches of kidney, black and garbanzos and made a chili yesterday. You'd think we had an army coming for dinner instead of just two of us .. so will be freezing some chili later.

[kelly237]

I tried but it is just too much thinking ahead at one time for me.
Now I try to double or triple as many recipes as I can when I cook and then freeze that .
That way it is the normal shopping for dinner except I make extra. I like going to the store really often for fresh produce anyway.

[allforcats]

Originally Posted by kelly237

I tried but it is just too much thinking ahead at one time for me.
Now I try to double or triple as many recipes as I can when I cook and then freeze that .
That way it is the normal shopping for dinner except I make extra. I like going to the store really often for fresh produce anyway.

I like the way you think! Your comments make sense to me, and your way is fun for you! Yay!!

[easternerDC]

Does anyone have any good links for freezer meals?

I am a busy working mom with 3 kids under the age of 2 1/2, and need quick easy dinner ideas.

I have not ventured too much into freezer meals until recently, and would like to expand my recipe collection:

My requirements:

• easy to find ingredients
• easy to bake (direct to oven, or defrost and put in crock pot type meals)]
• easy to store (I don't have an extra freezer, and have a smallish/medium sized freezer w/the refrigerator)

Here are some sites I have recently used:

• Six Sisters' Stuff: Slow Cooker Freezer Meals: Make 8 Meals in 1 Hour! //pics3.city-data.com/forum/
• http://happymoneysaver.com/making-50...ls-in-one-day/
• Freezer Meals | Our Best Bites