What's in Your Freezer?

[cali]

I've been scoping out freezer meals on Pinterest and I'm planning to cook up a few in the next couple weeks. I know a lot of you have mentioned you have made or plan to make freezer meals before baby, so does anyone want to share recipes? I'm always looking for new, delicious ideas!

[elliecat17]

I have a whole bunch of soups, because they are easy and healthy and it's quick to make a salad to go with. I also have chili, some casseroles, and stuff set up to just get dumped into the crock pot. Is there anything special you guys really like, because I am more then willing to share any and all recipes!
Soups: Butternut ginger carrot, Lentil, fish chowder, pumpkin, sausage and fennel, hamburger (which is mostly veggies oddly enough).
Casserole: Chicken broccoli, Cauliflower chicken and sausage
Crock pot: chicken sweet potato and butternut squash, ranch pork chops, Shredded beef tacos, maple mustard chicken, various roasts and meats.
I'm sure there are other things in there, but I can't remember right now, and I can't find my official list (of course).

[cali]

elliecat17, I'm interested in all of those crock pot recipes!

[addymac]

elliecat17 me too.

we don't do freezer meals. I've frozen extra soup like once, and forgot about it and a year later had to throw it out. So I feel totally lost on the concept of freezer meals. I also have never cooked or eaten a casserole so I have no idea how to make one. 😳

Any and all recipes / links will be welcomed over here bc I foresee a lot of crying in my future if I don't figure something out soon...

[elliecat17]

Maple Mustard Chicken
Ingredients
2 pounds Chicken, Boneless Breasts
½ cups Maple Syrup
⅓ cups Mustard, Stone Ground
2 tablespoons Tapioca, Quick

Make It Now
COOKING DIRECTIONS
These directions are for cooking this recipe to serve immediately
and NOT to freeze for later.
1. Place chicken inside a greased slow cooker.
2. Combine remaining ingredients and pour over
chicken.
3. Cover and cook on low for 3 or 4 hours.

Freeze For Later
COOKING DIRECTIONS
These directions help you cook or prepare this meal PRIOR to
being frozen for serving later (see Serving Day Directions when
you are ready to prepare it to eat).
Why would I want to freeze this?
1. Combine all ingredients.
2. Divide among indicated number of freezer bags.
Remove as much air as possible, label & freeze.

Make From Frozen
SERVING DAY DIRECTIONS
These directions help you cook or reheat this meal AFTER it's
been frozen for when you are ready to eat it.
1. Place chicken inside a greased slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook on low for 3 or 4 hours.

[elliecat17]

CHICKEN, SWEET POTATO, AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH SLOW COOKER RECIPE

Ingredients
1 pound Chicken, Boneless Breasts
1 ⅓ cups peel and dice Sweet Potato
6 ⅓ cups peel and chunk Squash,
Butternut
1 cup Chicken Broth/Stock
2 teaspoons mince Garlic, Cloves
⅓ cups chop Parsley, Fresh
⅓ cups chop Basil, Fresh
⅛ teaspoons Salt
⅛ teaspoons Black Pepper

Make It Now
COOKING DIRECTIONS
These directions are for cooking this recipe to serve immediately
and NOT to freeze for later.
1. Place all ingredients in slow cooker.
2. Cook on low for 4 hours.

Freeze For Later
COOKING DIRECTIONS
These directions help you cook or prepare this meal PRIOR to
being frozen for serving later (see Serving Day Directions when
you are ready to prepare it to eat).
Why would I want to freeze this?
1. Combine all ingredients and divide among gallon
size freezer bags.
2. Label and freeze.

Make From Frozen
SERVING DAY DIRECTIONS
These directions help you cook or reheat this meal AFTER it's
been frozen for when you are ready to eat it.
1. Cook in slow cooker on low for 4 hours.

[elliecat17]

Cauliflower and Sausage casserole
Serves 4-6
1 medium head cauliflower (~ 2 pounds)
1 teaspoon table salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ lb uncooked herbed chicken sausage or Italian sausage casings removed.
1 medium onion diced
4 cloves garlic minced
2 stems fresh thyme, leaves only (or 1 tablespoon dried)
1 28oz can whole peeled tomatoes drained (reserve liquid)
2/3 cup bread crumbs
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat to 350 and grease a 9/13 baking dish
Cut cauliflower head in quarters, remove leaves and stem and roughly chop.
Boil cauliflower in salted water for about 2 minutes, drain, rinse with cold water.
Sauté the meat in the olive oil and retain some of the grease when finished.
Turn the heat down to medium low and add the onion, garlic and thyme with the sausage. Sauté for 5-6 minutes, and make sure to scrape the bottom of the pan well. Crush the tomatoes and add them to sausage mixture in the pan. Add the reserved tomato liquid and cook for 5 minutes. Turn off heat and salt and pepper the sauce to taste.
Toss the sauce with the cauliflower.
Spread mixture evenly in the baking dish.
Mix the bread crumbs and Parmesan and sprinkle evenly over the casserole.
Bake for 25 minutes or until breadcrumbs have browned.
Let sit for 5 minutes before eating.

[elliecat17]

CROCKPOT RANCH PORK CHOPS

Ingredients
1 ounce Ranch Dressing Mix
10 ½ ounces Cream of Chicken Soup
1 ¼ cups Water
2 pounds Pork Chops, Boneless

Freeze For Later
COOKING DIRECTIONS
These directions help you cook or prepare this meal PRIOR to
being frozen for serving later (see Serving Day Directions when
you are ready to prepare it to eat).
Why would I want to freeze this?
1. In a large bowl combine dry ranch seasoning mix,
cream of chicken soup, and water. Divide evenly
between indicated number of quart sized freezer
storage bags.
2. Divide pork chops between indicated number of
gallon freezer storage bags.
3. Place one quart sized bag of soup mixture inside
one gallon sized bag of pork chops, label and
freeze.

Make From Frozen
SERVING DAY DIRECTIONS
These directions help you cook or reheat this meal AFTER it's
been frozen for when you are ready to eat it.
1. Cook in slow cooker on low 4-6 hours.
2. Place pork chops in the bottom of slow cooker.
3. Pour sauce over the top of the pork chops.

[elliecat17]

KOREAN SHREDDED BEEF TACOS
Ingredients
3 pounds Beef Roast
¼ cups Honey
⅓ cups Soy Sauce, Gluten Free
10 teaspoons mince Garlic, Cloves
1 cup dice Onion
2 tablespoons peel and mince Ginger,
Fresh
2 tablespoons Rice Vinegar
1 tablespoon Sesame Oil
1 tablespoon seed and dice Jalapeño

Serving Day Ingredients
24 individual Corn Tortillas
(Cheese
Guacamole
Sour Cream) *if wanted

Make It Now
COOKING DIRECTIONS
These directions are for cooking this recipe to serve immediately
and NOT to freeze for later.
1. Mix all ingredients together (except tortillas).
2. Cook in slow cooker on low for 8-10 hours until fork
tender.
3. Shred and serve on corn tortillas.

Freeze For Later
COOKING DIRECTIONS
These directions help you cook or prepare this meal PRIOR to
being frozen for serving later (see Serving Day Directions when
you are ready to prepare it to eat).
Why would I want to freeze this?
1. Mix all ingredients together (except tortillas).
2. Divide among indicated number of freezer bags.
3. Label and lay bags flat to freeze.

Make From Frozen
SERVING DAY DIRECTIONS
These directions help you cook or reheat this meal AFTER it's
been frozen for when you are ready to eat it.
1. Cook in slow cooker on low for 8-10 hours until fork
tender.
2. Shred and serve on corn tortillas.

[elliecat17]

Oh and with the Korean Shredded Beef I make a mango salsa.
Cubed mango, minced red onion, mint. Add a little lemon juice, white wine vinegar and sugar.

[addymac]

Bookmarking this thread!! You are a Lifesaver, elliecat17! Thank you!

[elliecat17]

SLOW COOKER STUFFED ACORN SQUASH
Ingredients
1 cup cook White Rice, Long-Grain
2 cups cook Lentils, Brown
1 tablespoon chop Cranberries, Dried
1 tablespoon chop Pecans
1 teaspoon mince Garlic, Cloves
2 teaspoons chop Thyme, Fresh
1 teaspoon chop Rosemary, Fresh
1 tablespoon Olive Oil
1 individual Squash, Acorn
½ teaspoons Salt
½ teaspoons Black Pepper

Make It Now
COOKING DIRECTIONS
These directions are for cooking this recipe to serve immediately
and NOT to freeze for later.
1. In bowl, mix rice, lentils, chopped cranberries and
pecans.
2. Add in garlic, thyme and rosemary.
3. Evenly brush olive oil over exposed flesh of acorn
squash. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. *It may be
necessary to cut a small slice off the bottom of the
squash so it will lay flat. This will make it easier to fill,
freeze and cook in the slow cooker.
4. Stuff each squash half with rice mixture.
5. Add about 1/2 inch water to bottom of slow cooker,
and carefully place the squash into the slow cooker.
6. Cook on low for 8 hours.

Freeze For Later
COOKING DIRECTIONS
These directions help you cook or prepare this meal PRIOR to
being frozen for serving later (see Serving Day Directions when
you are ready to prepare it to eat).
Why would I want to freeze this?
1. In bowl, mix rice, lentils, chopped cranberries and
pecans.
2. Add in garlic, thyme and rosemary.
3. Evenly brush olive oil over exposed flesh of acorn
squash. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. It may be
necessary to cut a small slice off the bottom of the
squash so it will lay flat. This will make it easier to fill,
freeze and cook in the slow cooker.
4. Stuff each squash half with rice mixture.
5. Place each squash half in baking dish and flash
freeze.
6. After frozen, place in freezer bag. Label and freeze.

Make From Frozen
SERVING DAY DIRECTIONS
These directions help you cook or reheat this meal AFTER it's
been frozen for when you are ready to eat it.
1. Add about 1/2 inch of water to bottom and carefully
place squash halves in slow cooker.
2. Cook on LOW for 8 hours.

(I love this, but H is NOT a veggie person so good luck with this one).

[elliecat17]

I have tons more, but let me know if this is the kind of thing you are looking for.
My crock pot is my BFF.

[muscari]

I been wanting a crockpot since I first moved to the States and my then-MIL made awesome food with it. Now I want one to try out your recipes elliecat17!!

[muscari]

I do plan on freezing stuff beforehand.. probably mostly soups and sauces that go well with spaghetti/pasta or rice. The freezer is rather small so I can't freeze to many full meals..

[bsouls]

H will do all our cooking like he did last time. And, he doesn't work until 5 or so, so he will still do the cooking when he goes back to work.

[cali]

Jul 17, 2017 15:02:23 GMT -6 bsouls said:

H will do all our cooking like he did last time. And, he doesn't work until 5 or so, so he will still do the cooking when he goes back to work.

Jealous.

[elliecat17]

Jul 17, 2017 14:44:56 GMT -6 @starzia said:

I think the freezer meal thing is the only advice I have completely ignored. If I was having a baby in December hell ya to ready made soups and casseroles and lasagna. But it's hot as shit and I want fruit , cheese sandwiches, and pasta salad all day. Can't really prep that stuff

This is a legitimate reason. 
I can get away with the soups because it's still in the 50s most nights.

[mrshall1027]

Not sure if I'll regret this or not, but we've asked my MIL to come stay with us for at least two weeks once baby gets here. She is going to be helping with the cooking, cleaning, and taking care of our other 3 rug rats. When she goes back home, H will take over the cooking and I'll start helping more once I'm recovered.

[addymac]

Jul 18, 2017 10:49:02 GMT -6 mrshall1027 said:

Not sure if I'll regret this or not, but we've asked my MIL to come stay with us for at least two weeks once baby gets here. She is going to be helping with the cooking, cleaning, and taking care of our other 3 rug rats. When she goes back home, H will take over the cooking and I'll start helping more once I'm recovered.

My mom is coming 1 week after my due date so I know she'll be super helpful with cleaning and cooking but she's also a nut about food- she went gluten free and doesn't eat meat anymore and does all these other food things that are unnecessary bc "dr oz said so". I'm hoping she'll cook us regular food.

When my MIL comes, DH said that when she stayed with BIL for their first kid, she was incredibly unhelpful re: cooking and cleaning, so I'm not looking forward to that part of her visit. I did hear she was much more helpful with their second post birth since she took care of their first kid, but that's pointless for us...

[ketchup]

Stocking our freezer with crock pot meals was one of the best baby prep things we did. You can't Prime 2-day that kind of thing.

That said, I've done exactly zero prep so far. I'll likely do some of the tried/true slow cooker freezer meals from the rotation, but I'm looking to add a bunch of instant pot freezer meals, as well. Basically, I'm pinning all the things. Once my H is back, he's going to be in charge of doing the shopping and assembly. I did it last time, but mama is tapping out for the remainder of this pregnancy, thankyouverymuch. 

[addymac]

ketchup can you share some if your go to crock pot meals?

[ketchup]

Jul 18, 2017 17:29:30 GMT -6 addymac said:

ketchup can you share some if your go to crock pot meals?

Yep! My H is finally back, so I'm going to go pick him up, but I should be in the office tomorrow or Friday, and can definitely do that! 

[muscari]

Jul 19, 2017 8:25:07 GMT -6 ketchup said:

Jul 18, 2017 17:29:30 GMT -6 addymac said:

ketchup can you share some if your go to crock pot meals?

Yep! My H is finally back, so I'm going to go pick him up, but I should be in the office tomorrow or Friday, and can definitely do that! 

Ahhhhhhh ketchup soooo happy for you you got YH back home finally again!!!!

[elliecat17]

ketchup yay! I'm so excited that YH is finally home!!!!!

[addymac]

Ahh yay for your H being back!!! ketchup 🎊🎉

[jexxa]

I'm glad he's finally back ketchup!

[unicornsparkles]

Jul 17, 2017 14:44:56 GMT -6 @starzia said:

I think the freezer meal thing is the only advice I have completely ignored. If I was having a baby in December hell ya to ready made soups and casseroles and lasagna. But it's hot as shit and I want fruit , cheese sandwiches, and pasta salad all day. Can't really prep that stuff

Same same same to all of this.

[buggirl]

ketchup I'm so glad your H is finally back!!!!

[muscari]

It wasn't until yesterday that I finally managed to cook up several things for in the freezer, nothing like doing everything last minute huh?? But I'm pleased that I now have a large batch of spaghetti/pasta sauce, 2x 2person portions of smokey BBQ bean dish, ditto bobotti, several freshly chopped veggie mixes, and soon also a large batch of soup in the freezer. More easy meal ingredients in the pantry, plenty of freshly frozen bread, fries and snacks in the freezer as well, and there's always the Chinese take out nearby too. I think we won't be starving those first weeks to come after baby arrives I would have made some more if it hadn't been for the fact our freezer is actually pretty small and filled to the brim now.

How did you all do on the planned freezer meal prep??