Stocking up the freezer with meals before arrival of DC2

[Alicetheinvisible]

Hello.

I am only 24weeks currently, but mentally need to be organised well ahead

What sort of things can i stock my freezer with for once DC2 is here.

They need to be;

a)Suitable for Dh, myself and 2.9yr toddler
b)Not contain lentils (DH is very against!)
c)Can be reheated in an oven (no microwave)
d)Lunch, snack and dinner recipes required.

So far i have thought of (and written down)

Pasta sauces
Lasagne
Stew (beef, chicken, sausage)
Bolognese
Shephereds pie - can i freeze with potato on top?
Soup
Cakes
Crumbles/stewed fruit

And obvious things like fishfingers, frozen pizza etc.

Is there anything i have missed?

Thanks

Cheese sauce is always handy as you can use it for things like macaroni cheese/ any veg you fancy. You can defrost it in a lidded pan.

Does it freeze ok?

I make huge batches of mashed potato and freeze in boxes because I hate making it so I get it all over and done with in one go. Always comes in handy for a side dish, and solves any potential problem with shepherds pie.

What about chilli too? That's always good to freeze.

Can confirm cheese sauce is fine to freeze btw.

Most things freeze well once they are cooked. I had to fill up the freezer for someone else recently and I found the quickest way was just to cook double of whatever we had for dinner and freeze half.

Also curries freeze really well - My two (4 and 15m) both love a curry as long as it is spicy rather than hot.

How about fishcakes too - I freeze these for my 2yo DS once they are cooked so I can quickly re-heat in microwave if we are late home but I am sure you could freeze before you cook them, then defrost before frying.

I sometimes add veg such as mashed carrot or peas too so its pretty much a complete meal with some bread, and have used fresh tuna and white fish and tinned salmon and mackeral.

Very handy about the mash - thanks

Might try out the fishcakes too, and a couple of curry recipes (although i can't even think about spicy food atm due to heartburn!)

Sorry - went away! Yes cheese sauce freezes pretty well. It's a bit thicker when defrosted (some would say even more delicious).

Lovely, thank you

Someone has just mentioned quiches too, so i thought i had better add it onto here before i forget and in case anyone else is looking for ideas.

chilli definitely
With the packet rice -as long as you remember to defrost it it can be ready in 5 mins

I'm 19 weeks with DC2 so shall be watching with interest!

My list includes what you've said plus:

Ratatouille - goes with pasta, couscous, rice, baked potato and even in an omelette, plus great alone or with meat/fish

Lots of different soups

Chilli - both veg and meat

Chickpea stew (onions, tomatoes, chickpeas essentially, with a bit of cumin/coriander/chilli if you want) - as versatile as ratatouille (apart from omelette!)

Fish pie

Chocolate brownies

Biscuit dough - can then slice off and cook from freezer so you have fresh biscuits.

Keep stewed fruit and crumble topping separate - both freeze well alone - so you can do crumbles, but can just defrost the fruit if you want that with icecream.

I also buy in ice cream and a few packets of fruit and veg so I have those as quick accompaniments/puds. Peas, cauliflower, broad beans and spinach are all good frozen and then tinned sweetcorn too. Frozen raspberries and blueberries are good - can stew them or blitz them as well as just defrost.

Oh yes - sliced bread freezes pretty well and can be toasted straight from freezer. In early days it was good to know that toast was always available as a quick snack if all else failed!

well if we're getting in the realms of toast then cereal's always good too

If you're going to make a bolognaise sauce, make loads of it and freeze in protions.

I use it for making cottage pie, lasagne, and anything else really!