Tomorrow begins the batch cooking for freezer

[Fisharefriendsnotfood]

Dc3 due soonish.. Planning to fill the chest freezer as much as possible to take pressure off when baby arrives and avoid eating crap.

So far I've thought of the following, please add any suggestions

• stews/casseroles
• lasagna
• cottage/ Shepard pie
• pork in coke and BBQ sauce
• some soups

Boston Baked Beans
Chilli con (or sin) carne

...that's what is sat in pouches in my freezer waiting for DS1's arrival!

Mash potato in portions

Mince with onions and mushrooms. Great for cottage pie/spag Bol/pies

Frozen pastry

Nice sausages to go with mash

Apparently cheese can freeze well, you could always grate loads ready for when you want it

Flour tortillas, make a great cheese toastie and you can cook them from frozen. Add ham, spring onions and a bit of salad on the side, yum!

Thanks ladies, what are Boston baked beans?

www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/easy_boston_baked_beans_26627

Here is one recipe although I tend to use lots of different types of beans and do meat free. It's truly delicious.

Just cook the beans and freeze, then serve with sausages (meat or veggie) and bread... Yum yum.

Cake !

Healthy muffins or fruit cake or flapjack to keep you going at 3am.

Can I freeze pasta bakes? Also, how far in advance can mash/ cakes etc be frozen?

I freeze pasta bakes, just cook everything slightly less than normal before combining and use more sauce to make a sloppier finished product as it can be a bit stodgy otherwise.

What about chicken or similar pies and a quiche or 2? Do "mini" ones which are great when you are eating alone or in shifts! Also fish pie, sausage rolls and cupcakes, also a biscuit dough which you can just slice portions from when needed!

My staple freezer meals are:
Vegetable/chicken curry
Mince in homemade ragu - used for pasta or with mash/ sliced potatoes on top.
Soup - Butternut squash, sweet potato, onion, chinese five spice.
Frozen cauliflower/broccoli and peas - to use in soups

I also keep sausages, meat joint, chicken breasts

I was going to start the very same thread this morning! (Except its DC1 for us).

On my list is:
Lasagne/spag bol sauce
Chilli con carne
Fish pie
Quiches
Soups
Curries

Do you think risottos would freeze ok?

I've a brisket joint in the slow cooker as we speak. I know you can buy frozen risotto but have never tried to freeze myself

Freezer Burritos!! I'm only 21 weeks but am already plotting! I've made my own version of these (trial run), they are yummy!

www.raisehealthyeaters.com/2011/09/3-steps-to-the-best-freezable-bean-rice-burritos/

www.shutterbean.com/2009/make-your-own-freezer-burritos/

Oh and tried the tomato rice in my rice cooker- worked really well

Me again! Tagine is also on my list as couscous is so quick to prepare.

Lamb tagine is a great idea, thanks. Good idea of thinking of things that go with couscous. I do a sort of chickpea, chorizo and spinach stew which goes well with couscous and I think would probably freeze ok.

What are you all freezing things in? Tupperware or those foil containers?