Cooking for the freezer at the weekend...

[Podrick]

I usually cook in bulk on a Saturday and freeze some food for the weekdays - like making my own ready meals

I am a bit bored with making the same things at the moment...I regularly make shepherds' pie, chilli, lasagne, spaghetti sauce, pork cassoulet and lamb stew.

Can anyone suggest any other good meals to cook and freeze?

[lucamom]

I do the same - here are some of the things I cook and freeze. I usually serve them with rice/pasta/cous cous or potatoes

Chicken and squash tagine

4-6 chicken thighs (bone removed) or 4 chicken breasts
Butternut squash
Onion
4 large tomatoes
Can chickpeas
Approx. Litre chicken stock
1/2 tsp chilli flakes
Approx 6 dried apricots
1 star anise
Cinnamon stick

Place chicken, onion, squash and chopped tomatoes in pan. Cook for a couple of mins with the lid on, then add the apricots (chopped), cinnamon, chilli, and star anise. Pour over the hot stock and add chick peas and cook until the squash is soft.

Beef 'stifado':

1lb stewing beef
2 tins toms
2 bay leaves
large onion
3 cloves garlic
3 fl oz red wine
1/2 pint beef stock

Brown the meat and remove from pan. Add a little more oil and add the onions wine and garlic, and cook for 5 mins. Add tomatoes and bay leaves, stock and beef. Cook at gas mark 6 for approx 1 hour.

Quick beef Stroganoff:

Large onion
500g rump steak (in strips)
2 tbsp plain flour
2 tbsp paprika
9oz mushrooms (chestnut)
7 fl oz beef stock
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
284ml soured cream

Mix the flour and paprika, and toss the steak in it until coated.
Meanwhile, fry an onion until softened and add the steak.
Add the mushrooms to the pan, cook for a couple of mins. Add the stock and wine vinegar. Bring to the boil and simmer for 5 mins. Stir in the soured cream and cook gently for 1 min. Season to taste.

[Podrick]

Lucamom - THANK YOU!!!

Not one but 3 new recipes to try for next weekend! That is brilliant

[Poledra]

Try this one Podrick - it's delicious, and actually is better when it's had time for the flavours to develop. I don't have a slow cooker, I just pop it into the oven for about 4 hours at a low heat.

[Podrick]

Thank you Poledra - can't wait to try it!

I bought a slow cooker a couple of months ago

[naomi83]

Quiche freezes nicely. I made pastry for two and divide them up into halves- that's 4 meals for the freezer with salads/garlic bread/new potatoes

[Podrick]

I don't know how to make quiche - need to learn!

I did Poledra's lamb recipe yesterday - very nice!

Today I am going to try lucamom's quick beef stroganoff!