Family Meals For Freezing - On Mat Leave Awaiting Baby!

[GinAndaDashOfLime]

Hi all,
Currently on mat leave awaiting birth of dc3 and want to stock (big) freezer with some family friendly dinners so that in the first few weeks post birth I can just whip out a tupperware box, zap in microwave and hey presto - dinner! I need to feed myself (hopefully BF by then), big appetite DH, DS (age 7), DS (age 4) and often DSS (14) and / or other family members / friends etc etc .. so meals for 5 - 6 people would be great!

We're not v fussy but I would like one pot dishes where I can just add a side of veg if not already included in the recipe ... Am not a great cook but I do have a slow cooker! Also on a v tight budget so nothing which requires strange / specialist ingredients ...

So far all I can think of are:

beef casserole
sausage casserole
lasagne
bolognese sauce for spag bol
mac cheese

any other ideas would be really appreciated! TIA!

How about
Chicken curry, just get microwave rice to keep in cupboard
Cottage pie
Chilli con carne
Fish pie

Will keep thinking, will need to do this myself in a few months!

Soups
Risottos
Meatballs
Other pasta sauces - I have basic tomato in portions in the freezer to which you can add other ingredients as needed - I add for example tuna, frozen grilled aubergine, ricotta etc
I also roast a chicken, divide into portions and then serve with pre prepared and frozen veg. Mash freezes well - I've got potato and cauliflower mash and potato and carrot
Mash on the go at the moment. Sweet potato, swede and pumpkin also a good bet.

Chicken casserole
Pies (in foil "dishes"). A basic shortcrust pastry is easy
Lots of soups

And why would you be cooking for other family members/friends, aren't they supposed to bring you food?

Cheese and potato pie with ham

Buy a slow cooker (Lidl £17.99 at the moment) then fill with root veg, chicken thighs/braising steak/stewing lamb, herbs and spices you like and a tin of tomatoes - switch on low at lunch time, eat for dinner.

For the freezer:

Thai green curry
Indian curry sauce of choice (passata+coconut milk+lots of spice works well enough for ignorant me)
Bolognaise, cheese (add chicken/mush or tuna/sweetcorn at last minute for variety) and tomato+roasted veg sauces for pasta
Stirfry veg - ready frozen bags, just add noodles and one of those sauce sachets
Risotto - leek and smoked haddock with a poached egg is my absolute favourite a the moment
Cooked mince and onions
Mashed potato
Fish pie mix - add mash and cheese sauce (above) and bung in the oven
Fresh pasta - Tesco and Waitrose both do it ready frozen, makes a nice easy lunch

I'm watching this thread as will be in the same position in the new year and want to practice some new meals.
My current favourite freezer meal is sweet and sour (chicken). We have half fresh when I make it and the rest goes in the feeezer. We have it with either rice or noodles. The sauce I use is easy peasy the juice from a small tin of pineapple chunks, mix with 1tbs of cornflour then add 1tbs tomato puree, 1tbs soy sauce. I usually add a bit of water too once in the fryingpan.

Oh that does me and. toddler dd twice so I would double that for how many people you are serving.

Thank you everyone! I'm going to start today ... Fingers crossed! Yes MrsHoarder - I often feel when i end up feeding various other waifs and strays too but too polite to say anything!!!

I'm just about to do exactly this! I'm going to do a chicken stew in my (enormous) slow cooker and do it so it's a bit runny,then freeze a wetter portion as soup and a drier one as casserole. I don't exactly have a recipe, but it will contain: chicken thighs, pearl barley, onion, garlic, celery possibly some carrot and leeks.

I'm also thinking of a white bean soup that i will mix pesto with at the end. I like chunky bean soups, but my kids don't like beans so I'll puree half. I think that will have onion, garlic, celery, dried beans (I'm in the states, so got Navy beans, but butter beans or cannelini would work fine) potato and pesto from a jar.

Another good staple is a morrocan type stew - basically any type of meat, some chick peas, carrots or squash, onions etc and a handful of raisins or chopped apricots / prunes. Tin of tomatoes, cumin and cinnamon. Cous cous doesn't really need cooking so is handy to have in the cupboard (and is super cheap, especially if you just get plain and add stock). If you're breastfeeding, you might want to avoid spicy curries (although I don't think I ever have, but obv it's a personal choice) but this ticks spiced boxes without anything to upset babies/ children/ visiting rellies.

Other things that will probably go in our freezer include: Minestrone, smoked haddock chowder and cooked mince that can be turned into bolognaise sauce with a bit of pesto / tomato, or cottage pie with baked beans.

Ooh, I'm all enthusiastic now about stocking my freezer!