k
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Post by k on Dec 4, 2018 8:10:13 GMT -6
Share your meals! 🍽🌯🌮🍝
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k
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Post by k on Dec 4, 2018 8:17:59 GMT -6
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k
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Post by k on Dec 4, 2018 9:15:13 GMT -6
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CharlieB
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Post by CharlieB on Dec 4, 2018 9:50:07 GMT -6
Muffins! I keep them in the freezer and then just microwave for 30 seconds - super quick and easy to eat one-handed. One of the little things that kept me sane with DS was having my muffins and coffee every morning. I'll probably bake a few batches of pumpkin muffins to start since they freeze and reheat well. And this is the french toast that we bake for Christmas. We always freeze our leftovers cut into single servings and wrapped in foil. I might make another batch to have on hand for after LO's arrival. www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/cinnamon-baked-french-toast-from-the-pioneer-woman/I love breakfast, if you can't tell. I should probably start thinking about dinner, too.
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Post by thelittleredm on Dec 4, 2018 12:32:37 GMT -6
I make batches of McMuffins so I don't have to worry about H asking me to make him something Lol Lasagna is a favorite. I like to toss chicken, especially thighs, into bags of sauce (sorry, I rarely put together actual recipes for freezer meals) and toss them into crockpot when I'm ready to make them.
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dashook
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Post by dashook on Dec 4, 2018 17:18:09 GMT -6
k that baked ziti looks amazing (minus the whole tomatoes...blech lol)! I wish I were eating it right now. I definitely want to make something just like that and freeze in small portions for after baby. So easy to reheat. I made this turkey soup yesterday and it was sooooo good: www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/homemade-turkey-soup/4fdb9be4-b375-4d3e-960a-f83c46a160ceThere’s a ton so I’m eating some this week and freezing the rest. I didn’t use barley because usually I like soup without a grain but also because if I want to add a grain (noodles being my fave) I do it at the time of the reheating so that they don’t get all soggy. I need to make some muffins too. These ones are really good and freeze well: cookieandkate.com/2015/healthy-banana-muffins-recipe/Bonus is my kids like them too so making them will help me out a few mornings. Remembering now that I’ll have two tiny humans to feed in addition to myself this time around 😬
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hrh
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Post by hrh on Dec 4, 2018 21:59:20 GMT -6
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dashook
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Post by dashook on Dec 5, 2018 19:53:15 GMT -6
I made the Pioneer Woman baked ziti tonight. Holy hell, hrh is right that it makes enough to feed an army! 😱 This is only half of it. I don’t have a pan big enough to fit the whole thing so DH is picking me up a foil one on his way home so I can bake the rest! Sooooo good though.
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cch
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Post by cch on Dec 6, 2018 17:39:00 GMT -6
I didn’t do any freezer meals when I was pregnant with DD so bring on all the recipes! I definitely want to do a few this time. This isn’t a freezer meal but I made it last night and it was SO good. It really only took 15 minutes including the rice and green beans so definitely a recipe that’s going in my cook book!
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dashook
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Post by dashook on Dec 6, 2018 22:18:44 GMT -6
I didn’t do any freezer meals when I was pregnant with DD so bring on all the recipes! I definitely want to do a few this time. This isn’t a freezer meal but I made it last night and it was SO good. It really only took 15 minutes including the rice and green beans so definitely a recipe that’s going in my cook book! That looks good! I love that it uses stuff I always have in the house. She has some other good-sounding recipes on that site too. I bookmarked this one right away: www.familyfoodonthetable.com/healthy-chicken-broccoli-mac-cheese/
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Post by sunshiney on Dec 7, 2018 7:52:47 GMT -6
I have never done this but I am very worried about being able to eat healthy and affordably after c section....DH can't/doesn't do anything On his own in the kitchen except cereal or take out. (He's a great sous chef though if I'm in need of another set of hands!) Super basic questions... Does one need a special (larger, extra, or more powerful freezer) to save up a few weeks of meals? Are there any general principles of ingredients that really don't freeze well? I know potatoes are one I think. How do you portion, package, and thaw conveniently? I actually have a big ziplock of cheesy broccoli chicken rice casserole in the freezer but have left it there because 1 it's huge for us to eat at once and 2 I don't know how it should be defrosted! Thank you, and also we are totally eating honey garlic chicken this weekend, mmm!
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cch
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Post by cch on Dec 7, 2018 8:06:45 GMT -6
dashook yes! That honey chicken recipe was so easy and delicious and all the bonus points for having the 5 ingredients already. I have a feeling we’ll be making that a couple times a month. The broccoli mac and cheese recipe you saved and shared is definitely going to happen over here too. Looks so good!
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cch
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Post by cch on Dec 7, 2018 8:10:23 GMT -6
k those lactation cookies seriously look so delicious my mouth is watering. I didn’t make any when I nursed DD. I did fenugreek and ate all the steel oats oatmeal when my supply took a dip but I’ll for sure be making those!
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k
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Post by k on Dec 7, 2018 8:16:04 GMT -6
k those lactation cookies seriously look so delicious my mouth is watering. I didn’t make any when I nursed DD. I did fenugreek and ate all the steel oats oatmeal when my supply took a dip but I’ll for sure be making those! I really don’t know if they help with supply, but you should definitely make some-they are aaaaamazing.
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Post by notagoddess on Dec 7, 2018 8:56:39 GMT -6
I didn't do this with my first but I think I need to do it with this baby. I'm bookmarking this thread for late January/early February. I'm definitely going to make muffins/cookies in addition to dinners. I was so hungry when up breastfeeding MOTN. sunshiney I have no advice because I'm new to this but freezer space is definitely a concern for me.
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Post by thelittleredm on Dec 7, 2018 10:47:37 GMT -6
sunshiney, My parents gifted us a used (but in good shape) upright freezer since we're expanding beyond the capacity of the drawer freezer on our fridge. We've been storing a lot of stuff in their freezer so it's great to have our stuff at our house! Best gift ever, IMO. As for things that don't freeze well, in my experience, anything particularly starchy or watery will not freeze well. Potatoes, squash, celery, etc. Not to say that you can't freeze them, especially since you're probably reheating in the oven and that should help them crisp up a little. Here's a good list: Click Me!
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CharlieB
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Post by CharlieB on Dec 7, 2018 11:25:19 GMT -6
cch I’m drooling over that honey chicken. Lunch needs to happen rightnow. sunshiney My knowledge only extends to baked goods...I will individually wrap muffins in foil and fold the ends tightly. Then I’ll pop everything into gallon freezer bags to be doubly protected against freezer burn. That said, if you aren’t storing for long and use everything quickly, muffins are ok just stored in a freezer bag without the extra wrapping. We make and freeze muffins for DS’s breakfasts, throw them in a freezer bag, and they’re fine if used within a week or two. Something else that occurred to me last night was breast milk storage. Even with freezing the bags flat, I remember losing some precious real estate in the freezer last time around with my modest BM stash. The freezer at our new house is pretty small, so we may be looking into a deep freeze in the near future.
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Post by thelittleredm on Dec 7, 2018 11:30:19 GMT -6
sunshiney, Okay, back to your questions now that work is slow, again Lol I do a lot of my freezing in galllon-sized freezer ziplock bags because a lot of my freezer meals are throwing raw ingredients and sauces in a bag and into a crock pot when I'm ready. I portion by what we'll eat in one meal plus extra for leftovers so I don't have to think about lunches the next day. As far as thawing is concerned, I stick whatever it is I want to make into the fridge the evening before I want to use it, earlier the day before if I'm planning to throw it in the crock pot the next morning. If I'm tossing it into my pressure cooker, I do straight from freezer to cooker.
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hrh
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Post by hrh on Dec 10, 2018 9:33:45 GMT -6
I'm just catching up on this thread again! Yummy recipes. sunshiney I do have an upright deep freezer which makes this much easier. I use cheap containers from the dollar store, e.g. lasagna in their disposable tinfoil, cheap plastic containers in good portion sizes with lids for stews, etc. Also freezer ziplocs. I don't like to use my typical pans for freezer stuff because then I'm missing my pan for weeks at a time. Lots of stuff will freeze. thelittleredm's list is great. I do make ahead brunch dishes, etc. often with potatoes in them that are totally fine (e.g. we like this one to feed a lot of people, I make ahead and freeze before baking: www.readyseteat.com/recipes-Hash-Brown-Casserole-8211?brand=302). I also freeze quiche, stews/soups with veggies, with no issues, so just package well!
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