Freezer Foods to Get Through Busy Times

About author / Pamela Chester

Mom of two; graduate French Culinary Institute; kids cooking program instructor; Master's degree in food studies. Creates kid friendly foods and loves her slow cooker.

By the time you read this, I hope to have welcomed a new bundle of joy into our family (or at least be on the verge of having that bundle of joy). Although I expected this baby to be born early like my first son, I’ve had a little more time at home to prepare than I originally anticipated. But tomorrow is my due date, and despite having tried such old wives' remedies for labor such as eating spicy foods, eggplant, and pineapple, so far there are no imminent signs that the little one will be here anytime real soon!

With all this “extra time” on my hands I have been cooking up a storm, preparing foods that can easily be frozen along with reheating instructions to get us through the first few busy weeks with our new baby and on-the-go toddler. Some of the dishes I have made so far include a classic chicken pot pie, spaghetti pie (an old family favorite), and a braised chicken, artichoke, and olive dish with a polenta and cheese casserole to go on the side.

My neighborhood also has a tradition of bringing a meal to families with a new baby. We are in the throes of a baby boom around here and over the last year, I’ve made meals for four different families. Each time I’ve puzzled over the best thing to make. We also welcomed my new nephew into the family last September, so I came up with some freezer friendly meatless meals, such as a butternut squash and lentil stew, to bring to my sister in law, a vegetarian. Since I’ve had the chance to think through what kind of meal would make sense and be the easiest to freeze and reheat, it helped me with some ideas for things to prepare myself.

If you find yourself in the same position and are trying to either prepare for a busy time ahead, or need to make a meal for someone in need, then the following are a few suggestions to help get you started. If you have an old time family favorite recipe (such as my mom’s spaghetti pie recipe below) then this would be the perfect time to make it. Casseroles, potpies and stews are all good, since they generally include protein, starch, and vegetables, all in one. Just enclose a note with detailed cooking instructions for reheating. It’s also nice to include bread or a salad to round out the meal.

Unless you really know a family’s eating habits well, it’s always better to err on the safe side and cook foods that have universal appeal (also, if possible, try to find out ahead of time if there are any special dietary preferences or restrictions). I generally avoid red meat, substituting ground turkey or chicken for ground beef, since so many people nowadays are trying to eat a healthier diet and limit red meats. Since many new mothers try to avoid garlic and onions if they are nursing, I typically eliminate these and any other gas producing items as well.

If you are not much of a home cook, or don’t have faith in your cooking skills, one meal that is easy to put together and that most people enjoy is a store bought rotisserie chicken along with bagged salad greens. Those prepackaged salads that already contain mix-ins and dressing are great for adding rotisserie chicken.

Now that my freezer is organized and well stocked, I feel more prepared to meet the challenge of feeding my family in the coming weeks. If you have any ideas for freezer friendly meals, please feel free to suggest them below!

Serves/Makes: 4

• 6 ounces spaghetti
• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 eggs, well beaten
• 1 pound ground turkey (or beef)
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup chopped bell pepper
• 8 ounces crushed plum tomatoes
• 1 can (6 ounce size) tomato paste
• 3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
• 10 pepperoni slices (or to taste)