I need a freezer meal recipe...

[sgtmom52]

I have just been invited to a "Fill the Freezer" Baby Shower where instead of a baby gift, each guest is asked to bring a prepared frozen dinner that the new parents can just pop in the oven after the baby is born. While I think this is a great idea, I'm having trouble finding a good, healthy, tasty meal for the new parents and their 16 month old son. Does anyone have any recipes they can share?

Thanks!

 

[Chickie'sMoma]

make a casserole, lasagna, or even a type of quiche!

 

[dawnchick]

I used to do this with leftovers all the time. Anything that freezes well will work. Meats do best if they have a sauce. I'd probably make a chicken and rice and sauce recipe, and add veggies. A stir fry would be great. Something like hamburger steak or cubed steak with gravy over it would be good. Lasagna freezes well. Store bought fresh ravioli with a prepared sauce would work well. Even a hearty minestrone would work. You could browse allrecipes.com or recipezaar.com. Tuna noodle or chicken noodle casserole; most any casserole if it is moist enough.

 

[peeplessinNC]

My suggestion is Chicken Tetrazzini:

http://southernfood.about.com/od/chickencasseroles/r/bl31011b.htm

 

[Dar]

THREE CHEESE MANICOTTI



1 (8 ounce) package manicotti pasta
16 ounces ricotta cheese
6 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
6 ounces shredded Monterey Jack cheese
2 tablespoons sour cream
1/3 cup dried bread crumbs, seasoned
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups spaghetti sauce




1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente, drain. (Or use the oven ready ones and omit this step)
3. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine ricotta cheese, 4 ounces mozzarella cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, sour cream, bread crumbs, parsley and salt and pepper to taste; mix well.
4. In a 9 x 13 inch baking dish, spray dish with non-stick cooking spray and cover bottom of dish with a thin film of spaghetti sauce.
5. Fill each manicotti with cheese mixture and place in dish; cover with remaining sauce. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella cheese on top of sauce.
6. Bake in preheated oven uncovered for 40 minutes; serve.




and a family FAVE!!!! and sooooo easy and inexpensive

PASTA BAKE



1LB OF GROUND BEEF
1 JAR OR CAN OF PASTA SAUCE
1 ½ CUPS OF SHREDDED CHEESE
1 CAN OF CHEDDAR CHEESE SOUP
4 CUPS (DRY) PASTA (3 CUPS IF YOU ARE USING SMALL PASTA LIKE ELBOWS)
1 ONION (OPTIONAL)
½ A GREEN PEPPER (OPTIONAL)
MUSHROOMS (OPTIONAL)
1 TSP ITALIAN SEASONING
1 CLOVE OF GARLIC



1. BROWN GROUND BEEF IN FRYING PAN ALONG WITH, SEASONING, GARLIC, ONION , GREEN PEPPER, AND MUSHROOMS (GREEN PEPPER AND MUSHROOMS ARE OPTIONAL)
2. AS THE BEEF IS BROWNING COOK PASTA ACCORDING TO PACKAGE DIRECTIONS
3. WHILE THE BEEF IS BROWNING AND NOODLES ARE COOKING COMBINE IN A LARGE BOWL, ¾ OF A CUP OF CHEESE, CHEDDAR CHEESE SOUP, JAR OR CAN OF PASTA SAUCE.
4. DRAIN THE PASTA WHEN COOKED AND ADD IT TO THE BOWL, DO THE SAME WITH THE BEEF. NOW THAT ALL INGREDIENTS ARE IN THE BOWL MIX WELL.
5. ONCE MIXED TRANSFER MIXTURE TO A CASSEROLE DISH BAKE IN OVEN AT 350°F FOR ABOUT 20 – 30 MINUTES OR THE DISH IS HEATED THROUGHOUT.
6. DURING THE LAST 5 MINUTES OF BAKING ADD THE REMAINING CHEESE AND MELT. SERVE HOT.

 

[sgtmom52]

Yum ~ they all look good ~ I may have to practice a few of them on DH!

 

[Kim_NC]

Try Baked Spaghetti. It's easy and delicious. But make two, 'cause you'll want one to keep:

[URL]http://www.millriverfarm.com/recipe.cfm?id=85&catname=Pastas and Pizza[/URL]

 

[booker81]

Search "OAMC" on the recipe sites...it stands for once a month cooking, and the recipes are specifically for making ahead, freezing, and usually only heating for a meal. The system is meant to have one spend almost a month of groceries and a weekend of cooking, in order to not have to shop or cook (other than heating up) for a month.

I OAMC, and often give meals already in my freezer to friend who might need them

Oh, one OAMC thing DH loves is calzones

 

[Kim_NC]

Quote:
Holy Smoke! I tried that on recipezaar.com (now food.com) and got a boat load of nice looking recipe ideas for the freezer. Thanks for the idea!