Quick Meal Idea Day Five

Freezer Cooking

Menu Planning Central

I don’t know about you, but I have a lot more time to cook some nights than others. When I do have extra time, I try to cook an extra batch of food, stick it in the freezer and then just grab a meal that’s ready to be heated and served out of the freezer on the days when we’re really busy. Here’s a list of things I tend to either cook in batches, or cook while I’m working on that day’s regular dinner and then freeze for later.

·         Lasagna – anything from regular meat versions to vegetarian ones. Just assemble and freeze, then bake as usual straight from the freezer.

·         Soups or Stews – Almost any type of soup or stew freezes well. I always cook these in double batches and freeze one. The only exception I’m aware of is chicken and dumplings. The dumplings just don’t turn out well when they are frozen.  Some soups with chunks of potatoes can also get mushy, so test a small batch first.

·         Chili – You can make any type of chili. Just double your favorite recipe, remove one half before you serve it and freeze it.  When you’re ready to eat your frozen leftovers, let the chili defrost in the fridge throughout the day before heating, otherwise add the frozen chili to a pot with a bit of warm water and slowly heat it up.

·         Casseroles – Almost any casserole freezes well. I keep a few of these in the freezer to eat for dinner or to take to potlucks or a sick friend or family member.

Take some time this week or over the weekend to stock your freezer with a few ready to heat and serve meals. You’ll appreciate these convenient meals after a long day. Plus they taste much better, and are healthier and cheaper than the stuff you buy in the freezer section of your grocery store.

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