Freezer meals for first weeks

[penjo]

6 weeks to go, I'm starting to think about cooking meals to stock up the freezer so husband/I can quickly pull something out when it's been a manic day. Lacking inspiration big time, so... what would you cook? Apart from lasagne, cottage pie (already got them on the list).
Links to recipes too please if you've got a failsafe fave.

Thanks x

Slag bol, chilli con carne, pasta bake?

Spag not slag 🤣

Slow cooker currys and stews xx

Fish pie
Also stock up on part-baked bread

Chicken enchiladas is good. You can freeze them ready made and wrapped, or freeze the filling and then wrap when defrosted. My husband does a yummy Korean beef in the slow cooker that will be batch cooked and portioned for the freezer, then just need to cook rice. Homemade pasta sauces are another good thing to have in there, along with garlic bread.

You can also make and freeze some sides. Dauphinoise or gratin potatoes, and ratatouille, etc

Having some pizzas and pies in there is also handy.

Yeah definitely curries, chilli and pasta dishes like spag bol. Instant rice pouches are handy to have in, so you only need to freeze the curry/chilli.

We make a really nice curry with sweet potatoes, chopped tomatoes, chickpeas, coconut milk, balti paste (half a jar of Pataks). Bung it all in a pot with a little bit of water and simmer for about 45 mins. Add spinach near the end. You can include chicken too but we often leave it out. One pot does about 6 portions.

Do some puddings too! Fruit crumbles freeze well, you might enjoy them in a cold day when you are tired with a newborn.

We did this and it was definitely worth while and a massive help. However we did get fed up of sloppy food (stews, curry etc).

I had to wear the baby in a sling in the evenings to prevent never ending crying, and would cover his head with a muslin but was still worried about warm food dropping down and making him wet/dirty/god forbid burned.

I'd therefore recommend also making sure you've got pizza, quiche, sausages for hot dogs/burgers etc too.

If you want to treat yourself if you've got a special date to celebrate when the baby is tiny (for us it was valentine's Day when he was 2 weeks old), then Cook frozen meals are delicious. And new parents can register to get 10% off for 6 months

Here’s my list OP!

Meals to cook

• [ ] 6 x daal
• [ ] 6 x mushroom bourguignon
• [ ] 6 x Bolognese
• [ ] 6 x mattar tofu curry
• [ ] 6 x tufu ruby curry
• [ ] 6 x marinara pasta sauce
• [ ] 6 x sausage casserole
• [ ] 6 x frozen burritos
• [ ] 4 x Mac and cheese
• [ ] 6 x leek and potato soup
• [ ] 6 x pomodoro soup
• [ ] 12 half loaves of garlic bread

@Birdy1991

Spag not slag 🤣

😂😂 what a typo!

Food high in iron incase your iron levels drop after birth.

Not sure if this has been mentioned but Cook - the company the so some lovely frozen meals, have a new parent discount of 10% I think it is and you can use it for 6 months.

I've made lots of pasta dishes, mince based dishes, soups, rice dishes and curries but have also stocked up on pizzas, frozen fish, frozen veg, pies and frozen rice meals like paella and curries

I’ve got 2 weeks left and I have made a few meals but more than that, I’ve made up components of meals that can be adapted to make into different recipes.

Such as a plain tomato sauce (pasta, pizza), Mexican style mince (enchiladas, chilli, spag bol), marinated chicken / meatballs (for wraps, burgers, salads), curry bases (which then need chicken, meat, potatoes, veg etc adding in). I’ve also made a list of everything in my freezer and hung it on the kitchen wall which has made all the difference in the world! So easy to see the frozen veg bags lurking at the back and to see which meals we have. This way we can just pick a meal, grab the box and do any on-the-day prep like add in meat/veg and boil rice/pasta/potatoes etc. Thought this would be the best way to avoid eating the same thing over and over.

Fried rice with lots of veg and some protein.

If you eat meat, make up some 'pulled' type meat and freeze in batches, then you can stuff into tacos / wraps / brioche buns / fajitas etc. I'm thinking brisket, pulled pork, chicken breast cooked in some stock in the slow cooker.

@Birdy1991

Slag bol, chilli con carne, pasta bake?

Haha 😄 🤣 I call it Slag bol anyways. Xx

All the above but primarily things you can eat with one hand while balancing over baby's head... Bread for toast, frozen chips too! Also, remember treats 🙂 I'm baking fruit loaf, muffins, crumpets etc as well as meals because you will want them and it's easier to have them in! Crumble topping freezes well and you can tip it over half a bag of frozen fruit for an easy pudding.

My vote is for Cook - they deliver as well to some postcodes.

Stock up on boxes of fresh tortellini and jars of pesto. Quick to cook, easy to eat.

I made this veggie chilli recipe last night, made around 7 portions and fairly easy: www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/double-bean-roasted-pepper-chilli I agree with everyone above too, I'm planning on freezing a batch of curry and also using Cook occasionally

I don’t get the whole eating with one hand thing!

Cook! As above, but also they do a package that you can buy someone as a present. A far more useful gift that babygros in my experience.

Eating with one hand because you’re holding a baby! Mine liked to feed throughout the evening so for months I only ever had access to a fork.

Get some proper freezer bags and freeze ingredients for the slow cooker

They can go quite flat to pack more in!

I really got into the pre birth batch cooking, had loads tucked away. However once I was home from the hospital, it turned out that what I really wanted was McDonalds, Nandos, Wagamamas and most things on Deliveroo

I think meatballs (of your choice) are great. Freeze them on a baking tray and then put them in a freezer bag. Just grab how many you want and cook on baking tray in the oven.

I really liked these savory crepes and they freeze well: www.olgasflavorfactory.com/recipes/main-course/chicken-mushroom-crepes/

I would also bake and freeze some muffins and or fruit bars for one handed eating. You could also prep and freeze breakfast burritos.

I also would do some savory pastries like spanikopita which you can freeze as individual portions: www.olivetomato.com/greek-spinach-and-feta-pie-spanakopita/

soups are great too, freeze in individual portions so you don't end up defrosting a big pot and getting sick of it.