Guest Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 I am going to start filling the freezer with meals so i don't have to cook every night. I can make soups, a mean bolognese sauce, chilli and variations on stews. I can also do shepherds pie, pies with stewing steak in and lasagne but I want some more ideas and preferably the recipe to go with them please. I made a big batch of scouse once but i tend to find that stews with potatoes in don't freeze very well so I need some more ideas. They need to be able to provide about 4 to 6 meals to go into the freezer at a time. Thanking you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 I batch cook virtually everything I make. To add to your list:- Cannelloni (i sprinkle more parmesan when I cook from frozen.) Sweet and sour pork, Liver and bacon, cassoulet, Boston baked beans. Recipes hmmm I have been making them all for so long I don't measure anything I can give you the ingredients for the sweet and sour sauce if you want. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 (edited) yes pls Tessa, sounds nice. Wold you have it with rice? Edited February 3, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Lamb with beans i put roasted lamb, cut into chunks (I use the cheap cuts) together with a mixture of tinned beans - chose from kidney beans / butter / flagolet / chick peas - whatever floats your boat - togethe rwith lamb stock, pepper (salt if you need) a dash of worcester sauce and stew it all up together. Chicken and bean hot pot Chicken mixed with baked beans / kidney beans and chick peas (2xbaked, 1xkidney and 1xchick peas), bacon / gammon; a splodge of ketchup and a splodge of brown sauce. When you get it out and defrost it you can heat it in an oven proof bowl and then put doritos on top with melted cheese - back into the oven for a few minutes till the cheese melts. Serve with potato wedges. As well as batch cooking - try this for a quick / easy meal (we are having it tonight) Cook some rice with a fish stock cube. Chop tomatoes and spring onions and fry with a little balsamic vinegar. Then put in the rice. Stir round and fry for a bit. Then stick on two salmon steaks. Put a lid on the pan and leave for 10 mins or so until the steaks are cooked. Serve with peas / sweetcorn / whatever you like Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Sweet and sour pork. Pork fillet 2 green peppers 2 onions. Cut the pork into cubes. De-seed the peppers and cut into slices. Chop the onions not too finely. Lightly fry all of the above until the veg are softened and the pork is sealed. Put into large casserole dish. Sauce. Pure orange juice Vinegar Tomato puree Soy sauce small amount of sugar to taste Cornflour Put orange juice, vinegar and tomato puree in a saucepan. Mix the cornflour with a little OJ or water and make into a thin paste, and pour into saucepan. Heat, stirring constantly until it starts to get thick and almost see-thru. Add a few dashes of soy sauce and sugar to taste. Pour the sauce over the pork and veg in the casserole and then put in the oven at about 200 for about half an hour. I serve it with cous cous and frozen sweetcorn, don't know why. T'was the first meal I ever cooked DH when he was a mere boyfriend (long time ago) he told me months afterwards he disliked couscous I still serve it with couscous for old time's sake Sorry I can't provide measurements, but the sauce is easily made by tasting and rectifying and if it doesn't go thick just add more cornflour. Tessa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 thanks Tessa, I always wondered what made a sweet and sour sauce. thanks for the suggestions so far, the more the merrier. I'm going to cook up a storm next week and fill the garage freezer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 interesting thread, i will be noting down recipies with interest. Question - Can you reheat all these meals in the oven as opposed to a microwave? As I dont own a microwave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 I have a good recipe for a basic savoury mince that you split 3 ways (or 6 for the 2 of you),then can make into 3 different dishes. I will type it up later whan I have some time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 I do lots too - I work full time and need to have food ready for my lunch and Rosie's supper each day - you need to be organised, but it's easy peasy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Question - Can you reheat all these meals in the oven as opposed to a microwave? As I dont own a microwave. I don't have a microwave either. If I remember to unfreeze the meals in advance I just heat them up in a saucepan. If, I heat them up from frozen I put the containers in the top of my very old steamer, belonged to my mother, and just steam them, takes longer but works brilliantly. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Just remember not to reheat in plastic containers - they give off toxic thingies when food is heated in them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Just remember not to reheat in plastic containers - they give off toxic thingies when food is heated in them. Really? I have been eating toxic thingies for years then Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Me too Tessa , but since I found out, I've been reheating in a Pyrex dish with a glass lid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 If you do it gently, you can defrost stews soups and mince sauces in a solid saucepan over a low heat. Have you tried fish pie Poet, if you barely cook the fish let it cool and then mix it with a cooled parsley/butter sauce then pile on mashed potato. Then freeze. Great comfort food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 That's one of my faces too - I make it up in foil dishes and freeze it for later use. Mine is slightly different - white wine sauce and cheesy mash. Shame that I only have a diddy freezer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 right, made a start on filling the freezer Tuesday I made chilli for tea and froze 6 portions Weds i made morrocan lamb for tea and froze 5 portions Thurs i made chicken chasseur and froze 1 portion (the chicken thighs were smaller than i thought they were so what i thought would make 6 meals, only made 3 ) Tonight i made cottage pie and froze 2 portions plus some of the mince mixture (I didn't have enough potatoe to make 3 pies so will freeze the filling and make one another time) Tomorrow i'm doing pizza so will do extra topping and freeze that, the dough is easy as it's done in my breadmaker. i'm going to try lasagne next week with homemade pasta as i managed to get the 00 flour chickencam- unfortunately the only fish DH will eat is tuna mayo on a sandwich or chip shop style fish, he hates other fish. My special treat is peppered mackerel as the only time I can have it is when he's at work and I have to wash all dishes and utensils and open all the windows before he comes home or he complains about the smell! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 I do soups and stews and also basic mince with onion, celery and tomatoes and tom puree and use this for spag bol, adding to make cottage pies etc and everything I make I make at least double so loads in freezer - only prob is now I am trying to down the freezer to clear it out and its difficult to do as take out 2lbs mince and cook it and put back 5 tubs of various stuff - takes up more room!! So its a never ending job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 i can see it being a hard habit to break I'm looking forward to not having to cook every night from scratch though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Welcome to my army catering corps kitchen! As well as my own family, I cook for my Mother. This has to be in batches or I'd never have time to take her out etc as well. Her meals have to be stored in lock & locks ( ) then heated by her in a casserole dish in the oven, she can't stand & stir. She has to have measured carbohydrates (diabetic) so I do a lot of meals which use 2oz of uncooked rice as this is a handy base ingredient for me. I don't use a recipe but mix & match 3 or 4 ingredients, which I chop & fry; onions, peppers, courgettes, mushrooms, bacon or slice & boil; carrots, celery or add rinsed from a can (quick method ); chickpeas, red kidney beans, mixed beans! lentils etc So, you get the idea, choose 3 or 4 & then add a carton of passata (sieved tomatoes) and several dashes of Worcester sauce. I often cook 8 oz rice & divide equally between 4 boxes, then stir in a portion from the mix, making one theme of ingredients, perhaps onions, carrots, mixed beans, then do another batch with a different combination. Sometimes she adds a bit of water for reheating if it needs. Probably about half the meals are this one method , but I call them different things; mushroom surprise, bean feast, carrot surprise (the surprise here is if it has no carrots that day ) Er, it's no good if you don't like or can't eat tomatoes! Hope this gives you some ideas, of course you'll be doubling up the rice for each box. PS...for a bit of protein I sometimes make it chicken surprise, adding a portion of chopped & fried chicken breast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 Sheila you are a marvel to do all that - must be difficult too - I take my hat off to you and hope my youngsters would do the same for me!!! ( i had my mother stay with us for 11 years) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 I do love the 'surprise' meals Sheila Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clash City Rocker Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 We've got a large quantity of leftover Haddock Rissotto, can I portion it up for the freezer, or having rice in it does it become a "no no" for reheating? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 try it clash although I re-heated risotto once and it went all gloopy, I still ate it though, I hate waste! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 We've got a large quantity of leftover Haddock Rissotto, can I portion it up for the freezer, or having rice in it does it become a "no no" for reheating? Rice can be dodgy for reheating. Do make sure it is kept chilled until the last minute then heat it very thoroughly. One of the worst culprits for food poisoning! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 thats interesting to know even though I dont eat rice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...