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Ideas for dishes which can be prepared in advance and frozen
Hugh Jboobs
01-11-2012
My wife had a baby just over a week ago and we also have a 20 month old toddler. As you may imagine, evening meal times are a fraught affair, with neither of us having much time to cook anything decent!

We do have a bit of a stock of things which I've already prepared, but these are running out. Plus I'm a little bored of the same usual suspects which make up my repertoire! I therefore wanted some ideas for other dishes which can be prepared in advance, frozen and just cooked in the oven on the day required.

Things I have already done (or have already thought of doing) are: Fish Pie, Shepherd's Pie, Bolgnaise, Chilli and Lasagne. Apart from the Fish Pie, you may spot a general theme of mince and onions there!

So, does anyone have any good ideas for other stuff which may fit the bill?

Many thanks in advance
unclekevo
01-11-2012
You could make chicken curry and freeze portions of it so you just have to cook some rice and defrost it.
Abriel
01-11-2012
Beef stew, I just bring to the boil and add dumplings on the day of eating
jojo01
01-11-2012
Two chicken dishes that I cook and freeze into portions:

Japanese curry

French chicken

With the latter, I also shove in a can of butter beans to make it go further. And when freezing it, the only thing I don't do is add the lettuce, I add that when re-heating. I also use Philiadephia extra light instead of creme fraiche.
cdtaylor_nats
01-11-2012
I found this book very useful - Make Ahead Meals and atb less than £4 not too expensive.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_...ead+%2Caps%2C0
Babycakes15
01-11-2012
Congratulations

I always have sweet potato wedges in the freezer, can either be cooked from frozen or defrosted, they taste lovely.
A basic tomato sauce (tinned toms, garlic, onion, herbs) freezes really well and doesn't just go with pasta. I put it on fish or use it on chicken. It's lovely put on chicken, baked with melted cheese on top.
It's mince and onions again, but meatballs and burgers freeze well too.
Breadcrumbs on chicken work well too and you can flavour the breadcrumbs if you like with garlic, paprika etc
RAINBOWGIRL22
01-11-2012
It's still a variation on the mince theme but meatballs freeze up well.

Curry is another one.

Do you have a slow cooker? I personally don't but they are meant to be fab and very time saving.

Batches of soups and stews will also work.

Also don't be afraid to cheat - an oven pizza and garlic bread [with salad] will fill a hole and is OK every now and then?

M&S do excellent stuff you can bung in oven - my fave is their paprika chicken breasts they go in the oven for 25 mins and you just serve them with whatever you fancy!
Hugh Jboobs
09-11-2012
Some great suggestions here. How silly of me to forget chicken curry!

Thanks people!
Granny Weatherwax
10-11-2012
I make b-b-q'd beans in the slow cooker. Lots of chilli, onions, spices, tomatoes, different varieties of beans. If using dried beans soak for approx 12 hours, bring to the boil and boil vigorously for 10 minutes removing any scum once the beans have boiled for 10 minutes I normally give them 20 minutes of simmering . While the bean are cooking I fry off onions with garlic and chilli, add spices, a pinch of english mustard powder, vinegar, passatta (?sp) and some brown sugar. Put everything into a slow cooker and leave for about 6-8 hours. A very filling and healthy meal. Make loads and it can be frozen. Served on toast with grated cheese on top or on a baked potato.
NIKKID
10-11-2012
Soups - wouldnt freeze ones with cream in but that can be added after defrosting.

My mum always fills an extra plate when making a roast dinner and just covers in foil and freezes the whole thing on the plate then cooks in the microwave. Havent tried it myself but it hasnt done her any harm in all these years!
MarzBar85
11-11-2012
I tend to cook in bulk and freeze - it works with most things. Pasta is best left to be cooked on the day, if you don't have 20 mins, then use fresh pasta instead - 2 mins in boiling water and job done. I've started making my own sauces, and freezing them too - like cheese sauce, if you can't be bothered its just a case of whacking in the microwave and blasting it (defrost, then cook!)

Chicken works well when frozen, there's curries, casseroles (though carrots don't work!) Mum used to freeze her home made steak pie for me - that didn't get to touch the sides! Or what about investing in a slow cooker - prep everything the night before, switch it on in the morning and forget about it till tea time? My friend cooked an awesome belly of pork that way.

Finally pasta bakes - whether out a jar or packet are brilliant, particularly if you like cold pasta as a quick lunch! Its a case of pouring it all in one dish and cooking - minimal effort.
Smokeychan1
11-11-2012
When I am making rice I often do double the quantity and freeze half to be used with/as a stir-fry. As long as someone is around to take the rice out for defrosting, you have a great home-cooked meal in a matter of minutes.

You could also cook up a large pan of mainstay savoury mince and freeze in batches to be defrosted and used when needed. It can be spiced up for chilli or curried mince, or used as it comes for stuffed veg, Italian dishes, moussaka, cottage pie, pie filling (use ready-made pastry to save even more time) etc.

I also make stock from chicken carcases and freeze in various size cartons ready for soups, stews, sauces, risottos and gravy. I know it may sound like more work, but a homemade stock can lift the simplest of dishes.
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