Last time I didn't freeze any meals and DH said he got sick of eatting all the procesed frozen foods Id bought. So this time around I want to cook and freeze as many home cooked meals as posable before the big day. SO please share your recipes here!

Here is an idea. Make meatballs (this recipe for meatballs will make one batch of soup). I'm going to triple the recipe for meatballs. Then I can use them in spagetti sauce or in the soup recipe below.


Meatballs

1 lb ground pork, veal, beef combined
1 egg
2 minced garlic cloves
1/2 cp parmigiano
1/2 cp bread crumbs
1/2 cp minced onion

Combine and form into small meatballs. Bake for 20 mins (depending on size) at 350. Cool, then freeze.



Meatball and Macaroni Soup
(adapted from Rachel Ray’s 30 min meals)
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 chopped carrots
2 chopped celery ribs
1 med onion, chopped
2 bay leaves
6 cp chicken broth
2 cp water
1 1/2 cp dried pasta, rings, broken fettuccini or dialini (whatever you have around)
1 lb fresh spinach (or 1 box frozen spinach, thawed in micro)

In deep pot, sauté in oil the carrots, celery, onion, and bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper. Cover pot and cook veggies for 5-6 minutes. Add broth and water. Bring to boil. Add frozen meatballs. Return to boil. Add pasta cover and simmer 10 mins (depends on what type of pasta). Add spinach cook until wilted (if fresh) or until it is warm (if thawed).

(Ray's serves this soup with grilled cheese sandwhiches)

I don't have any handy, but if you do a Yahoo search for Once a Month Cooking or Freezer Cooking you should find some links to some-that's where I got mine. I like to cook in large quantities and freeze double portions for us to eat-and I just pop them out of the freezer that morning.

I did a serch and came up with 3 cassarole recipes


FROZEN HASH BROWN POTATO CASSEROLE**


2 lbs. frozen hash browns, thawed a bit
1/2 c. melted butter
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 pt. sour cream
10 oz. grated cheese
2 c. crushed corn flakes

Mix all except corn flakes. Put into 9"x13" buttered pan. Crush corn flakes and mix with butter. Cover top of casserole. Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees, uncovered.



Beef Casserole*Ingredients
1/2 to 3/4 pound leftover beef (cubed)
1 medium onion chopped
1/4 cup butter
1 (10 oz) can tomato soup
1 (19 oz) can peas and carrots
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
salt to taste *MethodBrown onion in butter, adding meat and salt; when mixture is browned add the other ingredients and heat through. Serve with mashed potatoes.Yield: 5 servings



Hamburger Noodle Casserole*Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
8 oz noodles, cooked and drained
1 cup shredded process cheese
1 (10 oz) can tomato soup
1/2 cup chili sauce
parmesan cheese *MethodBrown the beef, onion and green pepper; drain well. Add noodles, cheese, soup, chili sauce and one cup water. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle parmesan cheese over mixture. Bake in casserole dish, uncovered, at 350°F for 35 minutes or until heated through.Submitted by. B. Ha

I used to cook and freeze a lot of meals when I had freezer space. I'll have to clear some out by July ;)

Pasta dishes freeze well. I often make lasagna and freeze it in serving size pieces so we can just take out what we need to reheat (you can use any recipe, I've done meat and veggie). I can get recipes if you want.

I've also made homemade pizza pockets. I just use any bread recipe, after it's risen, I beat it down and roll it out, cut it into circles or squares, place a couple tablespoons of pizza or tomato sauce in the middle, sprinkle with favorite toppings and cheese. Fold over and pinch around the edges making sure you have a tight seal. Bake until golden brown, cool then put in a big freezer bag. Either pop in the microwave or oven to heat. They're really good with soup.

Soups freeze really good too.

I don't have any recipes handy, but I can get some if you want. I had a ton saved but I lost them :mad:

I made this. However, I froze it in 2 9' pans so that we wouldn't be overwhelmed (it serves~8). It was tasty. I recommend sprinkling some breadcrumbs the last 20 mins of baking...

Chicken Divan

4 packages frozen broccoli spears -- cooked according to -- package directions
4 cups cooked chicken -- sliced (white meat-- preferred)
3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup flour
6 cups milk
1 cup heavy cream
2 cups parmesan cheese -- shredded
2 2/3 tablespoons mustard
4 tablespoons onion -- minced
2 dashes sherry
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper -- to taste

Place cooked broccoli in two 3-quart casseroles or one 6 quart casserole. Place chicken on top of broccoli.

Melt butter over low heat. Add flour and gradually stir in milk and cook slowly, stirring, until thickened.

to sauce add: heavy cream, parmesan cheese, mustard, minced onion, sherry, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Stir over low heat until cheese is melted. Pour sauce over chicken and broccoli.

Chill quickly and freeze. When ready to serve, defrost and bake at 400 for 45 minutes. Before bringing to the table dash generously with sherry.