Good ideas for freezer food?

[HolidaysQueen]

I'm expecting a baby in 7 weeks and finish on mat leave next week. We've had an extension built so have just been able to buy a bigger freezer so that we can fill it with lots of lovely food to tide us over the first few weeks so I want to spend a good part of mat leave getting that all in order.

We love cooking, but with regards to freezer food we always tend to just do soup plus one of 5 things: bolognese, veg chilli, meat chilli, ratatouille and goulash. I'll get very bored very quickly if we're having those each night, so I'm looking for some ideas on good freezer food, ideally something I can make in a big batch and freeze tonnes of.

We're not fussy, and we like veggie as well as meat dishes. Plus I'd be happy to cook up some side dishes or something like that so that if we do brave say a roast then we don't have to worry about making all the trimmings from scratch as well.

Any suggestions?

fish pie
lasagne - mince, chicken or veggie ones
fish cakes

food uou can eat one handed is usually a good idea, cos inevitably you will have a hungry baby the same time as you are hungry!

baked potoates are another good idea

Risottos (I have heard some people say you can't freeze them, but I always have and they just need a bit of stock when re-heating to stop them being dry)

Cauliflower Cheese

Curries

Moussaka

Cheesy Mash or Dauphinoise (to go with sausages or chicken etc.)

Sausage Casserole

Pasta Sauces (Ricotta & Spinach, Chicken & Leek, Spicy Tomato etc)

Soups (always good for a quick lunch)

Agree with one handed snack food as well - I got through loads of bananas, granola bars, dried fruit and nuts etc. when bf'ing)

you cant freeze baked pots though

i just put them in cos they are easy to cook and eat when you ahve a newborn and not much time

Lots of ideas already - and all stuff I love (but then I'm not hard to please!)

I'll definitely try freezing potato stuff. Should I cook dauphinoise before freezing so just needs reheating or just prepare it ready for oven before freezing?

Lasagne, moussaka and curries will definitely be on the list.

Thank you

tip on one handed food is great! i hadn't thought about that.

You can do either with the dauphinoise... I usually just prepare and then cook when needed (same with fish pie etc)

I had little bowls of cashews, brazils and dried fruit dotted around the kitchen so I could grab a handful throughout the day (bf'ing can be so exhausting and my dd didn't like not being held !). Scotch eggs were my other one handed food - they were my craving in pg and never went away. DP thought I was mega gross

Along with what everyone has said.

I also freezer cooked and sliced roast Beef and Pork in dinner size portions and reheat in gravy for a quick roast dinner. I also freeze homemade Yorkshire puddings.

Can you really freeze and reheat cooked Pork, are you sure.

Yes i do all the time as long as it is heated through its ok.

Cor, I didn't know that, thanks lizziemun.