Freezer is as stocked as I could get it without going too crazy!
...okay, I may have gone a little crazy...
...okay, I may have gone a little crazy...
I love Let's Dish! However, this time around, I was disappointed in the Let's Dish menus for May/June, so I didn't order any Let's Dish prepackaged meals like I did in preparation for Branko's birth...but if July has a better menu, I'll probably place an order for a late July delivery.
Here's what I made...for future reference for me, and hopefully helpful for some of you!!
Baby or not, having these meals in the freezer is a huge timesaver and guarantees dinner on those busy days (or days when your kid won't let you stay inside long enough to make dinner!).
When we actually eat them, I'll have to update this post with how they actually came out after being frozen (although I've had the manicotti, pasta shells & lasagna from frozen before and know those turn out great!). Please note that most freezer meals should be eaten within 3 months of preparing so that's the rule I'm going by with most of these meals.
Also: to be helpful, I made a word document with a numbered list of all the meals I had in the freezer & the time it takes to bake them (frozen or thawed)--I taped this to the inside of one of my cupboards so I would remember what I had in my basement freezer & can cross it off after we've eaten a pan!
Because it's just Joe & I (with Branko not being counted as a whole serving yet!), I was able to make 2 8x8 pans of each of the recipes--so one recipe made two meals for us.
Baby or not, having these meals in the freezer is a huge timesaver and guarantees dinner on those busy days (or days when your kid won't let you stay inside long enough to make dinner!).
When we actually eat them, I'll have to update this post with how they actually came out after being frozen (although I've had the manicotti, pasta shells & lasagna from frozen before and know those turn out great!). Please note that most freezer meals should be eaten within 3 months of preparing so that's the rule I'm going by with most of these meals.
Also: to be helpful, I made a word document with a numbered list of all the meals I had in the freezer & the time it takes to bake them (frozen or thawed)--I taped this to the inside of one of my cupboards so I would remember what I had in my basement freezer & can cross it off after we've eaten a pan!
Because it's just Joe & I (with Branko not being counted as a whole serving yet!), I was able to make 2 8x8 pans of each of the recipes--so one recipe made two meals for us.
Do you have a tried & true freezer meal? I'd love to add it to my list!! Let me know!
FREEZER MEALS
Makes two 8x8 pans and doesn't need to be thawed, just take out 30 minutes before baking--bake at 350 degrees for 90-105 minutes.
VERDICT: Was okay. Would make again but if I find better freezer meals, I won't miss this one.
Chicken Cordon Bleu
VERDICT: Was okay. Would make again but if I find better freezer meals, I won't miss this one.
Chicken Cordon Bleu
Thaw in fridge.
Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 45-60 minutes.
VERDICT: Joe said this dish was just "okay", but I really liked it! Whether Joe likes it or not, I will make again...and I would freeze again!
Manicotti -or- Pasta Shells
*They recommend eating within 2 months of freezing*
From FROZEN: Bake covered w/ tinfoil at 350 degrees for 2 hours or until hot & bubbly.
When THAWED: Bake covered w/ tinfoil at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes or until hot & bubbly.
VERDICT: Delicious!
Weight Watchers Lasagna
Eat within 2 to 3 months of freezing--I put 10 weeks on my lasagna frozen dishes just to be safe!
From FROZEN: Bake covered w/ tinfoil at 350 degrees for 2 hours then add cheese and bake additional 15 minutes or until done.
When THAWED: Bake covered w/ tinfoil at 350 degrees for 1 hour, then add cheese and bake additional 15 minutes or until done.
VERDICT: I knew these freeze well and it did. Will always have in my freezer!
Teriyaki Chicken
Recipe serves 2--two chicken breasts in each bag--makes two bags
Put in fridge to thaw overnight.
Put in crockpot, add 1/4 cup teriyaki sauce in crockpot--on HIGH for 4 hours, on LOW for 8 hours
Serve over Rice.
VERDICT: Did not like. Will not make again.
Cheese Chicken & Wild Rice Casserole
Eat within 3 months of making.
THAW.
Bake 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees until cheese is melted on top.
VERDICT: I don't think this meal was worth it--wasn't spectacular--to make & freeze again.
Chicken and Wild Rice Freezer Meal
(I used two chicken breasts in each pan instead of the chicken thighs called for in the recipe)
THAW.
Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 1 hour until chicken juices run clear and rice is tender.
Dish can be served with broccoli & fruit.
VERDICT: Will make & freeze again. Was good!
Baked Cheesy Chicken Penne
(Smelled & tasted delish as I was preparing--love the mushrooms & sun-dried tomatoes combination! I sure hope this freezes well! I made 2- 8x8 pans)
Freeze for up to 3 months.
From FROZEN: Bake covered with tinfoil in 400 degree oven for 1 1/2 hours.
Remove foil, stir pasta and top with your saved parmesan cheese baggie (1/2 cup if an 8x8 pan--1 cup if a 9x13 pan).
Return pan to oven and bake an additional 15 minutes or until mixture is hot and bubbly throughout.
Serve with bread, broccoli & a fruit.
VERDICT: LOVED IT! Even frozen for almost 3 months--delicious! Will definitely make & freeze again!!
~
I didn't want to overdo the freezer meals, and with the manicotti/pasta shells & lasagna, I also didn't want to overdo the tomato recipes...so I didn't make this goulash recipe but it is a good contender for freezer meals too.
Jeesh...in looking back at everything I made...we may eat better with a newborn than we do normally! :-)
Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 45-60 minutes.
VERDICT: Joe said this dish was just "okay", but I really liked it! Whether Joe likes it or not, I will make again...and I would freeze again!
Manicotti -or- Pasta Shells
*They recommend eating within 2 months of freezing*
From FROZEN: Bake covered w/ tinfoil at 350 degrees for 2 hours or until hot & bubbly.
When THAWED: Bake covered w/ tinfoil at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes or until hot & bubbly.
VERDICT: Delicious!
Weight Watchers Lasagna
Eat within 2 to 3 months of freezing--I put 10 weeks on my lasagna frozen dishes just to be safe!
From FROZEN: Bake covered w/ tinfoil at 350 degrees for 2 hours then add cheese and bake additional 15 minutes or until done.
When THAWED: Bake covered w/ tinfoil at 350 degrees for 1 hour, then add cheese and bake additional 15 minutes or until done.
VERDICT: I knew these freeze well and it did. Will always have in my freezer!
Teriyaki Chicken
Recipe serves 2--two chicken breasts in each bag--makes two bags
Put in fridge to thaw overnight.
Put in crockpot, add 1/4 cup teriyaki sauce in crockpot--on HIGH for 4 hours, on LOW for 8 hours
Serve over Rice.
VERDICT: Did not like. Will not make again.
Cheese Chicken & Wild Rice Casserole
Eat within 3 months of making.
THAW.
Bake 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees until cheese is melted on top.
VERDICT: I don't think this meal was worth it--wasn't spectacular--to make & freeze again.
Chicken and Wild Rice Freezer Meal
(I used two chicken breasts in each pan instead of the chicken thighs called for in the recipe)
THAW.
Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 1 hour until chicken juices run clear and rice is tender.
Dish can be served with broccoli & fruit.
VERDICT: Will make & freeze again. Was good!
Baked Cheesy Chicken Penne
(Smelled & tasted delish as I was preparing--love the mushrooms & sun-dried tomatoes combination! I sure hope this freezes well! I made 2- 8x8 pans)
Freeze for up to 3 months.
From FROZEN: Bake covered with tinfoil in 400 degree oven for 1 1/2 hours.
Remove foil, stir pasta and top with your saved parmesan cheese baggie (1/2 cup if an 8x8 pan--1 cup if a 9x13 pan).
Return pan to oven and bake an additional 15 minutes or until mixture is hot and bubbly throughout.
Serve with bread, broccoli & a fruit.
VERDICT: LOVED IT! Even frozen for almost 3 months--delicious! Will definitely make & freeze again!!
~
I didn't want to overdo the freezer meals, and with the manicotti/pasta shells & lasagna, I also didn't want to overdo the tomato recipes...so I didn't make this goulash recipe but it is a good contender for freezer meals too.
Jeesh...in looking back at everything I made...we may eat better with a newborn than we do normally! :-)
Depending on if you use freezer bags or foodsaver ... these are good guides for how long your freezer meals can be in the freezer & still be safe to eat:
Item Months
Bacon and Sausage 1 to 2
Casseroles 2 to 3
Egg whites or egg substitutes 12
Frozen Dinners and Entrees 3 to 4
Gravy, meat or poultry 2 to 3
Ham, Hotdogs and Lunchmeats 1 to 2
Meat, uncooked roasts 4 to 12
Meat, uncooked steaks or chops 4 to 12
Meat, uncooked ground 3 to 4
Meat, cooked 2 to 3
Poultry, uncooked whole 12
Poultry, uncooked parts 9
Poultry, uncooked giblets 3 to 4
Poultry, cooked 4
Soups and Stews 2 to 3
Wild game, uncooked 8 to 1
Cooking Pans Guides & Substitutions
Information found here.
In the midst of cooking or freezing but don't have the right pan size?
You can substitute one size for another, keeping in mind that when you change the pan size, you must sometimes change the cooking time.
| PAN SIZE | VOLUME | SUBSTITUTE |
|---|---|---|
| 9-inch pie pan | 4 cups | 8-inch round cake pan |
| 8x4x2-1/2-inch loaf pan | 6 cups | Three 5x2-inch loaf pans Two 3x1–1/4-inch muffin tins 12x8x2-inch cake pan |
| 9x5x3-inch loaf pan | 8 cups | 8-inch square cake pan 9-inch round cake pan |
| 15x10x1-inch jelly-roll pan | 10 cups | 9-inch square cake pan Two 8-inch round cake pans 8x3-inch springform pan |
| 10x3-inch Bundt pan | 12 cups | Two 8x4x2–1/2-inch loaf pans 9x3-inch angel food cake pan 9x3-inch springform pan |
| 13x9x2-inch cake pan | 14-15 cups | Two 9-inch round cake pans Two 8-inch square cake pans |
If you are cooking a casserole and don't have the correct size dish, here are some baking-pan substitutions. Again, think about the depth of the ingredients in the dish and lengthen or shorten the baking time accordingly.
| CASSEROLE SIZE | BAKING-PAN SUBSTITUTE |
|---|---|
| 1–1/2 quarts | 9x5x3-inch loaf pan |
| 2 quarts | 8-inch square cake pan |
| 2–1/2 quarts | 9-inch square cake pan |
| 3 quarts | 13x9x2-inch cake pan |
| 4 quarts | 14x10x2-inch cake pan |
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