Freezable Meal Ideas

I am not much of a recipe follower, but here is a great "recipe" for beef stew, which freezes well and can be made in a crock pot.

3 cans condensed tomato soup (do not add water)
1 packet dry onion soup mix
salt/pepper to taste
chopped onion (1/2 onion or so)
about 2 cups of chopped potatoes and about 1.5 cups of chopped carrots

put everything in a crock pot and cook (or cook on the stove on low)

I add 1.5 lbs (or more) of beef stew meat later into the mix. I find that, if I add it right away in the crock pot (or on the stove), it gets a little tough because the veggies take longer to cook than the meat.

I have also added mushrooms and/or frozen peas, and both are great in the mix.

After an elderly neighbor's wife passed away I made a habit of making an extra plate of whatever we were having and putting into those divided tupperware containers. If you are not going for long term storage, most meals can be frozen and reheated with little damage. I just also made breakfast mixes of eggs and sausage and cheese, or a mixture of wide egg noodles, chicken, corn and gravy. Seasoned properly these are tasty and can be eaten right out of the microwave with a fork, y'know?? I also made mini loaves of breads, banana, cranberry and regular breads for snacks/breakfast. These also freeze well and thaw quickly.

And, salads! You can make bowls of nice salads like they do in the supermarkets to have on standby. They can't freeze, but they are nice in the summer. How far away are you? Can you make weekly deliveries? Or does your area have meals on wheels or other programs that can help?? Lastly, there are dinner services that make full meals and package them for two or eight or whatever, you just pick them up all packaged and ready to go. they beat the daylights out of take out, but they tend to be pricey.

Good luck! I wish you and your family well. Both of my parents are gone so enjoy them while you can!

You can freeze just about anything - enchiladas, chili, stir fry. Whenever you cook for your own family, try to double the recipe - 1/2 for you and 1/2 for your parents - that may save some time with extra cooking.

Do they have a slow cooker? Drop a chicken or brisket and some potatos in there and they can have dier and lunches for a couple days.

www.allrecipies.com is one of my favorite sites - type in the ingredients you have (or DON'T want i.e. garlic) and tons of recipies will pop up.

Hi C.,
Here are some recipes that are yummy and easy to make too (just leave out the garlic since your dad doesn't like it). They would be good to make and freeze. I am sure I have more recipes so if you like these and you want some more, send me a message. Hope your mom recovers quickly!
Cyndi

Lentil Soup

¼ cup olive oil
1 pound ground beef
4-5 cloves garlic
2 carrots
1 small yellow onion
2 celery sticks
1 bag lentils, rinsed
32 ounces of beef or veggie stock
3 cups water
6 ounces tomato paste
1 tablespoon salt
1 cup corn

Heat large stock pot with olive oil. Cook ground beef for 2 minutes. Add all chopped veggies and sauté until meat is brown. Add lentils, stock and water—enough so everything is covered with liquid about 4 inches and bring to a low boil. Add tomato paste and salt. Cover and reduce heat. Stir occasionally and add more water if needed. Season with pepper and more salt. After 30 minutes, add corn. Add some Italian seasoning when lentils are soft. Turn off stove and let sit covered for a little bit.

White Chili (I have never really been a fan of white chili, but this recipe is fantastic!)
(Makes 12 1 cup servings)

2 T Butter
1 Cup chopped onion
2 Ribs celery, sliced
4 Cups chopped cooked chicken or turkey
2 (15.5 oz) cans Great Northern Beans
2 (14.5 oz) cans chicken broth
2 (11 oz) cans white shoepeg corn
2 (4 oz) cans green chilies
2 to 4 tsp cumin
½ tsp hot sauce
4 oz shredded Monterey Jack cheese
2 T chopped fresh parsley

Heat butter in sauce pan. Sauté veggies until tender. Add remaining
ingredients except cheese and parsley. Cover and cook until heated.
Serve with cheese and parsley.

Slow Cooker Chicken Curry

8 servings
Prep: 30 minutes
Cook: 6 to 8 hours (low), 3 to 4 hours (high); plus 30 minutes (high)

3 T all-purpose flour
3 T curry powder
1-1/2 t ground cumin
1 t salt
1-1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast halves or thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 cups peeled and chopped potatoes
1-1/2 cups bias-sliced carrots
1 cup coarsely chopped cooking apple
3/4 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1 t instant chicken bouillon granules
1/2 cup water
1 13-1/2-ounce can unsweetened coconut milk
Hot cooked rice
Raisins
Chopped peanuts

1. In a large plastic bag combine flour, curry powder, cumin, and salt. Add chicken, a few pieces at a time; seal and shake to coat.
2. In a 3-1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker combine potatoes, carrots, apple, onion, garlic, jalapeno, and chicken bouillon. Top with chicken. Pour water over chicken mixture.
3. Cover; cook on low-heat setting for 6 to 8 hours or on high-heat setting for 3 to 4 hours.
4. If using low-heat setting, turn the slow cooker to high-heat setting. Stir coconut milk into chicken mixture. Cover; cook for 30 minutes more. Serve over hot cooked rice. Sprinkle each serving with raisins and peanuts. Makes 8 servings.

Meatloaf (This is the best meatloaf I have ever had! Would be good to make up the meatloaf part and just freeze it not cooked.)
1 lb ground beef
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup quick oats
1 cup milk
1 egg
Mix all ingredients together and then break off into chunks, roll into balls, lay in pan and slightly flatten it with your hands. Cover with sauce (recipe below).

Sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. mustard
1/2 cup ketchup
mix and spoon over meat mixture.

Cook for 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Wild Rice/Sausage Casserole (This is great for breakfast, but makes a good dinner also.)

2/3 cup Long grain & Wild rice
1½ cups water
1 lb. Pork Sausage
1 med. Onion (chopped)
1 med. Green pepper (chopped)
1 med. Red pepper (chopped)
½ cup Celery (chopped)
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese
2 T. Parsley
½ cup Sour Cream
½ cup pecans (chopped)

(I use a box of Uncle Ben’s Long grain & Wild Rice or a bag of Lipton Long grain & Wild rice and cook according to package instructions. Then you don’t need the first two ingredients if you use either of these products prepared as instructed on the package.)
Cook rice according to the instructions on the package. Crumble sausage and brown together with onion, peppers, and celery. Cook until sausage is done. Combine all ingredients. Spoon into a greased 11X7 baking dish. (approx. size)
Bake at 325° for 30 minutes.
Can make ahead of time and freeze before baking.
Serves 6-8

I love the website "Once a Month Mom"--she does these wonderful "Once a Month Cooking" menus that include recipes, shopping lists, and detailed directions. It's more geared towards cooking for a family (of 4)--spend 1 day cooking enough meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a month, but you can just pick & choose recipes that you think your parents would like and split them in half.
That's a wonderful idea for someone recouperating from surgery!

One big help that I received was to cook down sausage and hamburger ahead of time and freeze in 1-2 cup portions. Then it can be easily made into tacos, pizza toppings, sloppy joes, add-on to spaghetti, sausage gravy (this freezes well as gravy too) and then they have a little freedom to pick out their own meals. I loved this idea when I had my 2nd baby and couldn't cook much so I continue to buy meat in larger size packages and cook it down this way.

Very thoughtful of you to do this for them, I know it will be greatly appreciated!

We do alot of frozen soups, make a big batch for the day you plan to eat and then freeze the remainder in single meal size containers. A couple of my favorites are split pea with ham and lentil. My husband does french onion and my mom makes homemade vegetable beef in large batches. All freeze great!

I agree with Rebecca, www.allrecipes.com is a great source!

shepherd's pie, chicken and rice stew (with vegetables), fettuccine alfredo, chicken or beef pot pie (can make these individual, or make a whole one and freeze small servings), grilled chicken sliced to put on salad.
I also freeze strawberries, blueberries, and banana to make quick smoothies (with an orange juice base)
Hope this is helpful. Wishing her the best outcome to her surgery.
J.

It sounds like you have many good ideas already, I thought of the lasagna nadmeatloaf b/c when I was single I would make those and put them in mini loaf pans or muffin tins to make them and then freeze each one and pull out when needed. Ravioli, spaghetti, and casserole would be fine. Chicken casseroles are easy and would freeze great. One that I make that is so easy is chicken, rice, peas, and cheese whiz. Cook them all and then blend together in casserole dish and bake 350 degrees for 15 mins. You can add salt, pepper, onion to taste. I top with Durkee fried onions for the last 5 mins to add some crunch. Can use Ritz crackers instead but not as crunchy. That is really good! Kraftfoods.com helps, foodnetwork.com is great!! You are a good daughter, nice idea.