Stocking the freezer...

[frida75]

Got a few weeks left yet but remember that after my other 2 dcs births that all the frozen food I'd made beforehand was a godsend. They were both winter babies so I made loads of comfort food like lasagne, shep pie, spag bol etc.

Any one got any more summery suggestions please?

tia

Argh!
This is why I regret that we only have a small fridge with a TINY freezer compartment...

Not too sure how to get around that one without just eating jar pasta sauces....

Anyone got any ideas?

Thanks for the inspiration on this thread: I found loads of things on the BBC Good Food magazine page plus some Leon meatballs and a massive bolog/"Italian magic mince" (my usual batch cook standby).

Renaissance: I freeze mine in 1-or-2 portion freezer bags (the tie handled sort you can write on panels of) - I used to put the bag in an open box, freeze it, then take the bag out of the box and return to the freezer, but (touch wood) didn't have any leaks so now just put the bags directly into the freezer on top of something flat. To defrost, I prop up the bag in the jug I'll use to reheat in the microwave. If I forget to get it out, I dunk the bag in hot water for a min or so to defrost round the edges, then carefully peel the iced dinner off into a big saucepan, which I then put on a low ring with a lid until it's boiling.

Bartimaeus: guess it depends on what you want to eat, jar pasta sauces are good, what about things like packet risotto someone could spruce up with some fresh veg? Also, a takeaway isn't so bad if you just buy the meat part, eg chicken and cashew nuts with plain rice and again, put some fresh cooked steamed/microwave cabbage or brocolli with it.

I second the quiche suggestion. You could make loads and fill with different fillings. I had loads of eggs to use up last week and had a quiche making session and froze six. The DCs kept asking for quiche after trying the first one because they enjoyed them so much. Pesto, cheese and sundried tomato was the biggest hit. The bets thing is that you can literally take out of the tin, wrap in foil and freeze and then when you want to reheat you can put the whole thing straight into the oven from frozen. No need even to open the foil.

takeway tubs or ice cream tubs are good for freezing things like cooked and dices chicken, bolognese sauce, chilli etc

Thanks for the advice x