Freezer Meals?

CASK85

Hey ladies!  

I want to pick your brains about recipe ideas for good "make ahead - freeze - reheat" meals for a friend of mine. She's having her first baby in about a month, and I'd love to gift her with some meals for those busy first months. I don't have any in my recipe box, and the internet is hit or miss with appropriate reheating directions, so I thought I'd tap you all as a resource. 

I'm up for main courses or casseroles as well as desserts and sides. Thanks in advance loves! 

GreenPepperBurger

Lasagna, meatballs, meatloaf, chicken cutlets, rice dishes. Most desserts freeze well - cakes, cookies, cupcakes, etc.

bourgehm

This freazes well and is delish.

Chicken Parm (It's a family recipe)

Pound chicken 1/4 inch thick. Dip in eggs then bread crumbs (italian). Med heat pan with oil (2 table spoons) and fry the chicken. Five minutes per side. Pat with paper towels and put in pan.

While the chicken is cooking, put tomato sauce, oregeno, basil, garlic powder, parsley (or italian seasoning). Let simmer while the chicken is cooking.

Then put a table spoon or two of butter in the sauce- let it melt in.

Pour sauce over the chicken in a lasagna pan.

Grated parm on top and cover with foil. Put in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. Take out and put mozz cheese on it and put it back in uncovered for ten minutes.

Serve over noodles.

I would cook it and then just freeze it for her. It tastes just as good reheated. I usually make this and freeze it in one person size portions (it's just me) and stick it in the freezer.

Elle1036

Just about any casserole you come across will freeze well as long as everything is fully cooked (and allowed to fully cool) before freezing.  I don't have any specifics to offer -- sorry! -- but I don't think you're running too much of a risk as long as you stick with simple ingredients.

mookow86

I second the lasagna! I'd also add soups- I'm a particular fan of chili from the freezer. My biggest suggestion for freezing things is splitting the stuff up into smaller portions before you freeze it so that defrosting is easier.

Beads921

I freeze meals for myself all the time. I make a full batch of whatever it is, then put it in the fridge for a day to cool fully. Then I split it into portion sizes so that I can defrost it as needed instead of all at once. I usually just nuke that stuff, for about the same amount of time as you would for a pre-made frozen entree that you'd buy.

[Deleted User]

There is always a container of spaghetti in our freezer.  Meatloaf is great to freeze as well (I make up a batch for DH and wrap it in foil in individual servings so he can just grab one for his lunch).  One of our favorite meals (DH requests it every week and we're actually having it tonight) is to take your favorite pasta and favorite white/cream sauce (you can even use a box of pasta roni); steam some broccoli and cut up a chicken breast into small bite-sized pieces and brown them in some olive oil and a little Italian Seasoning - mix it all together and cook until heated through (sometimes I add in a can of mushrooms as well).

Blue & White

Stuffed shells.  They freeze awesomely.  A lot of soups do too!  We currently have some cream of crab soup frozen (and BF's gma said we could, so I believe her!)