Batch cooking- what do you cook and freeze?!

[ThatsNotMyPinot]

This may make me sound like a bit of a saddo, but with September nearly here and Autumn around the corner, I like to start thinking about stocking our second freezer with some home-cooked meals for DS 2.6 and DD 15 months.

At the moment I have in mini foil trays:

Cauliflower cheese
Lentil stew
Rhubarb/redcurrant crumbles

I have made previously, and probably will do again:

Cottage pie
Fish pie
Beef Bourguignon
Bolognese
Fish cakes, individually wrapped and frozen

Anyone got any other ideas of what could be batch cooked and frozen? DS and DD are pretty good eaters and will try most things.

What do you do? Would love to hear and share ideas!

[RobotHamster]

Stuff to put in pies, frozen into small portions, so all I have to do is put the filling into the pie case and top with pastry.

Cheese sauce
Chilli
Pasta sauce (freeze into muffin trays and pop out into a freezer bag)

Need some more ideas though as need to fill the freezer before this baby arrives!

[RobotHamster]

Have a look.at what Cook sells. Most of their stuff is freezable, might give you some ideas.

[itsonlysubterfuge]

I always do chilli. I also like making pulled pork/beef and then keeping that in the freezer then makes it easy to add to pasta/rice/cous cous, etc. you can also warm up for sandwiches. I also have vegetable purees when veg is going bad so I can add easily to sauces/soups.

When I do the pulled pork/beef I leave it really neutral so I can flavor however I want, for example BBQ sauce; cumin, oregano, chilli powder; basil, oregano, tomatoes, etc.

[ThatsNotMyPinot]

Cor, pulled pork sounds like a good one itsonly

Robothamster - what sort of pie fillings do you make and freeze? Really great idea!

[ThatsNotMyPinot]

Oh yes, and i've made butternut squash soup before to freeze in batches, great defrosted and warmed up with some toast and a hunk of cheese- the DCs love it!

[RobotHamster]

Chicken and ham is a good one.

Casserole with braising steak and mushrooms (and whatever else you like)

If you're feeling really organised, line the pie dish with a plastic bag, then tip in the filling then freeze. You'll have exactly the right amount and it'll already be pie shaped. :)

[21mealspluscake]

Robothamster love the idea of frozen pie shaped pie fillings - genius!

Easy to make crumble topping to freeze, as well as stewed fruits for quick desserts

[RobotHamster]

Ah.. thanks :)

People call me efficient and organised. I call myself lazy and just look for anything that'll make life easier :)

[MadMonkeys]

Lasagne
Lamb moussaka
Curry
Chicken/beef casserole
Cottage pie
Any kind of pie...

[driftwoodsands]

I get a veg box once a week and I have started chopping all the (suitable) veg and freezing it, which is a real time saver. Apparently you can freeze kale and courgettes! I love using the chopped and frozen onions, as it feels like a real short-cut. Not quite the same as batch cooking, but on the way there!

[ThatsNotMyPinot]

Driftwoodsands that is an excellent idea!

yy to curry- got a korma planned for later this week, a good portion of which will be frozen.

[BaldHedgehog]

Ragu-base for spaghetti,cottage pie and lasagne
Fried meatballs-perfect for hot sandwiches
Mince-for mince and tatties and mince pies(just add some puff pastry,freezable as well)
Shin of beef-brown the meat and simmer with bay leaf,peppercorns,a dash of wine and herbs-can be eaten with pasta,rice,barley,buckwheat,potatoes.
Stock-reduce so doesn't take a space.
Soups:lentil,butternut squash

[Drladybird]

Great ideas on here. I like the idea of freezing chopped fresh veggies for later use and freezing crumbles with seasonal fruits is genius. The only thing I really put in my freezer is this Lentil Lasagne.