Pre cooking food for freezing-recommended main meals

Most of the time I cook double the amount I need & freeze one. there is very little you can't freeze.
On Saturday I did 2 steak & kidney pies- one huge for the family coming yesterday & a smaller one for the 2 of us sometime which is in the freezer. I have pies, quiche,stews, pizzas & pasta sauces & rice based dishes in the freezer as well as desserts.
It saves me so much time & if I am out all day I only have to get it out before I go ( or pop it in microwave to
de-frost).
Start now & make life easier for yourself.
( I do have 3 freezers- 2 in the garage but they are not huge ones)

I have an old recipe for a sausage flan which I seem to remember was very good, I could make four for lunch and freeze.
Pizza is not something we eat but I had thought of buying the frozen ones for the family for lunch. Do you make your own dough?, it just seems a lot of work.
Freezers - I have a standard one in the kitchen and a fridge freezer in the garage which is about the same size. I'll not know until I start filling it just how much I can get in.
Both are usually almost full just for the two of us.

I thought of doing the cooking a month before they all arrive as I realise some things don't freeze for more than 2 months.

If you think pizza is a good idea try getting it delivered.

Go on Pinterest, loads and loads of lovely and simple dishes to suit all.

I’ve just frozen 6(x2) portions of chile. I put it in bags and squash down so they are flat, well as flat as they could be!. They seem to take up less space.
I really do try to label them all. Some have instructions on them e.g. needs thickening.
I wash and reuse freezer bags till they are totally useless.

I would teach these incompetent adults to cook! Plan meals and get them to help. (only for a couple of days)

Feeling the freezer with things you know they will eat is a good idea.

Buy frozen chicken upper and lower drumsticks, as many pieces as there are people. Defreeze, slice onions and tomatoes and place in a roasting tin with a little water and cooking oil. Salt. Lay chicken pieces on top, salt them too.

Cook until tender with crispy skin. Freeze when cold. Serve with rice or potatoes.

as I use gluten free pasta which doesn't freeze well
I didn't realise that, thank you kittylester

There are lots of good suggestions but can you also suggest that whoever does like cooking could take it in turn to cook for one or perhaps two of the nights so you have time to play with the DGC?

You can always look on YouTube where they show you the food prep.

If you have a slow cooker, they are really useful, especially if freezer getting full. Just put on in the morning and leave until you are really to eat, giving you time to enjoy being with your family. Curries, bolognese, chillies, etc. Using supermarket pre-prepared vegetables cuts time down too, if able.

Oh for those times again jeanie . Ours were fine as little ones, now they are older there are definite foibles, in fairness not too many and usually concerning vegetables so easy to get around.

If I use the foil containers I use the lid that comes with them and overwrap with cling film or pop into a bag. I think I'd prepare it all in the oblong ones that are good for 2 and then just remove the number needed. Don't forget to label them!

Don't stress too much, all will be well and the occasional takeaway will do no harm. Rope in anyone who will help with vegetables and delegate the clearing up and drink production then just relax and enjoy their company.

If you have a slow cooker, they are really useful, especially if freezer getting full. Just put on in the morning and leave until you are really to eat, giving you time to enjoy being with your family.
Yes, throw it in the slow cooker and go out for the day!!

If family won’t help with cooking, at least make sure they help with laying table, serving, clearing away and loading and emptying dishwasher. After meals, if I were you, I would just leave the kitchen and spend some time with grandchildren. Main thing is not to wear yourself out so you can enjoy the visit.

I have a slow cooker but only use it for making stock for soup using turkey or chicken bones.
I haven't had any success making meals using it, once cooked a large piece of gammon it was not good.
Does anyone have a tasty recipe using the slow cooker that I could try out.

I tend to cook in the oven and use a steamer for vegetables and use the microwave for sauces and gravies.

I am definitely going to try and get the family to set and clear the table and fill the dishwasher.

I have a good idea what I'm going to do now food wise and thank everyone for their suggestions.

J
X

??

jalima, further to not freezing f2f pasta. It's not really the pasta doesn't freeze but it take up lots of sauce making it very dry. I've tried making the sauce 'wetter' but it's like blotting paper.

Kitty I never freeze the pasta , I freeze the sauce and then thaw it while cooking the pasta fresh

That's what I said upthread, aggie. I was replying to jalima who commented on my post.

Hi Jeanie, I use this slow cooker recipe for bolognese. Recipe says it serves 6.

Ingredients
1 pack of bacon (I cut with scissors into strips/cubes)
1 kg minced beef
250m red wine/cooking red wine (optional)
2 garlic cloves (peeled chopped or I use 2 x teaspoons from jar)
2 onions, chopped
2-3 celery sticks sliced/diced
1 large carrot sliced/diced
400g tin chopped tomato
250ml tomato passata
1 beef stock cube crumbled (I prefer a rich beef stock pot, if you use these)
2 bay leaves
Salt & Pepper to taste

I just put everything into the slow cooker, stir a couple of times to break up the mince. Cook on low or medium according to your cooker settings for around 8-10 hours

If I am in a rush and we are going out for the day, to save time in the morning I will use supermarket prepared sliced onions, (stops my hands smelling of onions all day!) and I have also used tinned sliced carrots and they have been fine in the slow cooker.

Hope this helps.

When my family are coming to stay I spend some time looking on the BBC good food website they have lots of really good ideas for meals that freeze sausage and bean casserole being one of them. I also stock up on frozen croissant, pan au raisin etc. Try a buffet consisting of cold meat, croissant, cheese etc. I leave the children’s food up to the parents but always have a good supply of fresh fruit and veg. If you have anywhere cold like a garage use a sturdy plastic box with clip lid to keep vegetables and fruit in, it saves space in the fridge. Buy some Elmlea double and single cream to have as a standby.
We live 45mins drive from any shops so our freezers are stocked with milk, bread, soup etc.
Good luck! Here’s hoping it’s nice weather and they go out some days! ?

I see, kittylester

Yes, baking with gf flour alway requires more liquid, so I should have realised!

That's more or less how I make it too, Amee but minus the celery (some people are allergic to it).

The gammon was not a success in my new slow cooker, jeanie!

Hi Amee
Thanks for the recipe:
I've just copied and pasted it into word I'll give it a go this coming weekend, fingers crossed.
Kitty Aggie,
I see there have been comments about not freezing pasta, I was thinking of making lasagne and freezing it. Are you saying it doesn't freeze well?
Jacqui1956
I've had a look on the BBC food site and there does seem to be a number of interesting main meals, the only thing is though it doesn't say if the food will freeze successfully. I wish it did as I'm sure it would be very helpful to people.

Yes I am leaving the little ones food to the mums.

I also will have a couple of buffet meals mainly because our table only seats 8 at the most so it is going to be a bit of a squeeze.
On warm weather days we can eat in the garden.

As anyone tried the Reggae Reggae Sauce? I thought I might use it to marinate chicken drumsticks before roasting.

Good luck Jeanie, hope you like it

jeannie, I can't quite understand why you considered asking your son and DIL to help with catering and they won't help?

Nor why men can only prod things on a BBQ?

I think it is reasonable to provide a lovely home cooked meal when they arrive and a couple of more times. Catering for large numbers isn't much fun for you?