topic Need Meal Ideas in Kitchen

Need Meal Ideas

hovis — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 20:08:54 GMT

My daughter is having sugery the end of Jan. and I want to have dinners prepared for them. I would like to start making them now. Any suggestions ? I would like meals that freeze well. Thanks.

Re: Need Meal Ideas

hopi — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 20:15:10 GMT

Sloppy Joes are a very healthy meaI. I put lots of fresh onions, celery and garlic in my Ninja and seriously blitz them. Also when ground sirloin is on sale I use that because it is low in fat. I never freeze cooked meals but it probably would work.

Hopefully surgery will be a breeze. You are a good Mom.

Re: Need Meal Ideas

CLHS68 — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 20:33:27 GMT

Soups and chili freeze well and I love soup when it is cold out.

Go to Food Network because Ree Drunnond (The Pioneer Woman) has a lot of make ahead meals.

Re: Need Meal Ideas

LUV 2 SHOP — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 20:40:57 GMT

I freeze beef stew. I don't freeze the stew with potatoes. They turn to mush. After thawing the stew and while it heats, I cook egg noodles and serve the stew over the noodles.

Navy bean eat soup is easy to cook ahead and then freeze.

Good luck

Re: Need Meal Ideas

Pook — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 20:58:56 GMT

Meataballs are always good and freeze well. Mac and cheese freezes well also. You could make a roasted chicken and also mashed potatoes and freeze them. What do they like to eat? I would check with them first to make sure you make something they will eat.

Re: Need Meal Ideas

Nightowlz — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 21:50:01 GMT

@LUV 2 SHOP wrote:
I freeze beef stew. I don't freeze the stew with potatoes. They turn to mush. After thawing the stew and while it heats, I cook egg noodles and serve the stew over the noodles.

Navy bean eat soup is easy to cook ahead and then freeze.

Good luck

@LUV 2 SHOP Thx for the great idea. I also don't like the mushy potatoes in beef stew that has been frozen.

I will freeze it without the potatoes and use your idea & also cook some potatoes to add to it.

It's going to get cold again next week. I bought everything I need to make beef stew & chicken noodle soup while out shopping today.

Re: Need Meal Ideas

software — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 22:30:12 GMT

Hope the surgery goes well. I had major surgery this year and I was only "down & out" for a couple of days when I got back home. It's amazing how surgery has progressed over the years. I had purchased a lot of snack type foods, cheese & crackers, canned fruit. I had also stuck a meatloaf in the freezer. I drink only bottled water & sparkling water, so I had stocked up on water, too. Don't forget her favorite drink-of-choice.

@hovis wrote:
My daughter is having sugery the end of Jan. and I want to have dinners prepared for them. I would like to start making them now. Any suggestions ? I would like meals that freeze well. Thanks.

Re: Need Meal Ideas

wildlifewitch — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 22:44:20 GMT

@hovis wrote:
My daughter is having sugery the end of Jan. and I want to have dinners prepared for them. I would like to start making them now. Any suggestions ? I would like meals that freeze well. Thanks.

Different chilis, chicken/beef.They're easy to portion/freeze and have a good ratio of macronutrients that will help her recover faster.

Re: Need Meal Ideas

DukeBlueNan — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 22:48:50 GMT

I've used many of Ree Drummond's ideas for make ahead meals. Great idea @CLHS68!

Re: Need Meal Ideas

Tigriss — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 23:03:08 GMT

Depending upon the surgery she is having, she may not feel like solids or anything above soup for a while, but the rest of the family will need to eat. Lasagna is easy to freeze and so is pasta sauce. They will only need to cook the noodles. Most soups and stews freeze well, but you can google freezer meals and come up with TONS of recipes. Find out what kinds of things get ate very well and do those things or similar.

Re: Need Meal Ideas

GenXmuse — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 23:18:17 GMT

I hope the surgery goes well. Freezer meals are so helpful during convalescence. I thought this one was good.

Honey Sesame Chicken

Ingredients:
1 lb chicken tenders
3 T olive oil
1 cup honey
2 T sesame seeds
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 t. salt
1 t. pepper

Directions:
Place all ingredients in freezer bag, toss to coat and freeze.

Write on bag:
1. When ready, place in crockpot and cook on low for 4-5 hours.
2. Remove chicken & shred, and then return to sauce.
3. Can serve over hot cooked rice or serve as lettuce wraps..

Teriyaki Chicken

Ingredients:
1 lg bag of carrots
1 red onion cut in chunks
2 lg cans of pineapple (undrained)
4 garlic cloves
4 chicken breasts
1 cup teriyaki sauce

Instructions:
Mix all items together. Split between 2 bags, lay flat and freeze

Write on bag: 1/4 cup teriyaki sauce
1. When ready to serve add ¼ cup teriyaki sauce to crock pot.
2. Cook on low 8 hours-can serve over rice or lettuce

Re: Need Meal Ideas

GenXmuse — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 23:25:27 GMT

Here's another idea for "French" chicken. I'm not sure how many are in her household but this serves about 4

4-6 Chicken Breasts (I use the Costco Pouches and generally 3 to 4 breasts is PLENTY for a family of 4)

1 can of Cranberry Sauce (I like Whole Berry best for this recipe)

8 oz of French Dressing

1 packet of Lipton Onion Soup Mix

Mix Chicken, Cranberry Sauce, French Dressing and Lipton Onion Soup Mix in a Gallon Freezer Ziplock Bag. After closing, take your hands and smash all the ingredients to combine.

To cook: Take the Freezer Meal out of the Freezer and hour before starting or run it under some room temperature water for about 30 seconds. Dump meal in the a Crockpot and cook on Low for 4-6 hours!

Re: Need Meal Ideas

Tigriss — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 00:07:29 GMT

@bonanzajellybean Super thanks for the recipes. I wrote them down. They all sound delicious and easy!

Re: Need Meal Ideas

Allegheny — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 02:07:07 GMT

If the family likes stuffed peppers, they freeze well. I do not cook/bake them prior to freezing. I do this a lot in summer when there is an abundance of fresh peppers. Then I just pull them out of the freezer, add tomato soup plus water and either cook (covered) on top of stove, sometimes I bake (covered) in the oven.

Re: Need Meal Ideas

GenXmuse — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 02:07:34 GMT

@Tigriss wrote:
@bonanzajellybean Super thanks for the recipes. I wrote them down. They all sound delicious and easy!

Aww, you're so welcome! I hope you enjoy them! Thanks for letting me know. 😊

Re: Need Meal Ideas

Mom2Dogs — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 02:08:26 GMT

I always try to have fried ground chuck in the freezer...I can make quick meals with the pre cooked meat...goulash, taco salad, sloppy joes.

Re: Need Meal Ideas

Eileen in Virginia — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 02:37:48 GMT

@Bonanzajellybean wrote:
Here's another idea for "French" chicken. I'm not sure how many are in her household but this serves about 4

4-6 Chicken Breasts (I use the Costco Pouches and generally 3 to 4 breasts is PLENTY for a family of 4)
1 can of Cranberry Sauce (I like Whole Berry best for this recipe)
8 oz of French Dressing
1 packet of Lipton Onion Soup Mix
Mix Chicken, Cranberry Sauce, French Dressing and Lipton Onion Soup Mix in a Gallon Freezer Ziplock Bag. After closing, take your hands and smash all the ingredients to combine.
To cook: Take the Freezer Meal out of the Freezer and hour before starting or run it under some room temperature water for about 30 seconds. Dump meal in the a Crockpot and cook on Low for 4-6 hours!

My friend makes this, but she calls it Cranberry Chicken. It's really tasty! I've made this (without freezing it) in my electric frying pan and serve it over rice. It only takes about a half hour. I bet it would freeze really well without the rice. However you choose to make it, this is really good - we never have leftovers!

Re: Need Meal Ideas

peachesncream — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 05:28:07 GMT

Meatloaf freezes well. (I have a couple of recipes if you need one.) Mini-meatloaves would also be good; kids like them.

Mashed potatoes freeze fine. (You need to stir them after they defrost, as the milk in them separates in the freezer. But they taste great once they're and reheated and stirred.) Mashed sweet potatoes also freeze great.

Soup, and frozen bread/rolls

Chili and cornbread

Taco meat, and a package of taco shells, or tortillas to make burritos with

Hamburger stroganoff, and a package of noodles

Turkey or chicken tetrazzini

Baked ziti or stuffed shells

For vegetables, you can buy packages of frozen peas, green beans, corn, etc. that you cook in the bag (Birds Eye, for example).

Does she live close enough that you can drop off a meal? A box of fried chicken hits the spot. A small pre-cooked ham can provide a number of meals (with homemade potato salad or baked beans).

Re: Need Meal Ideas

LizzieInSRQ — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 07:50:45 GMT

My new obsession is slow cooker Korean beef, can be served with lettuce wraps, corn or flour tortillas or over rice. Has sweet and mild heat taste with the umami factor. Yum. Just found recipes on the Internet. Using a chuck Rast, ginger ( I used ground as that is what I had), sesame oil, brown sugar, onion and chili paste as I didn't have a jalapeno. I made a quick easy Asian slaw to top it. Omg can't wait to make again. SUPER eady.

Re: Need Meal Ideas

hovis — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 13:45:35 GMT

Thank you all for your ideas and recipes. They all sound so good.