It’s almost suppertime and at a loss for ideas? That’s when my freezer becomes my best friend. Here are a few frozen meal ideas that will save your sanity when you have nothing planned for supper and the fridge is bare.
1– Simple reheatable meals
It’s the quickest type of meal to prepare. One simple step: pop it in a preheated oven. The idea is to do most of your cooking when you have more time on your hands. For example, if you prepare lasagna on the weekend, why not make two and put the second one in the freezer? You will thank yourself later. Here are some ideas for a meals that freeze well.
2– Half and half
In this category, I include meals you can prepare with foods you had previously frozen and those that cook quickly. For evenings when we are short on time, these foods are a good option.
Foods to freeze:
- Pasta sauce (spaghetti, bolognaise, etc.)—simply cook the pasta and heat up the sauce.
- Falafels—serve in a pita with yogurt sauce or add to a one-bowl meal.
- Pie dough—whip up a quiche with whatever you’ve got in the fridge.
- Pizza dough—all you need are the toppings.
- Meat strips—add them to tacos or a sandwich.
- Fish cakes—all you need is a side salad.
- Marinated chicken, beef, pork and tofu. Take it out of the freezer and add to a stir-fry, bake in the oven or grill on the BBQ. All that’s left to do is make a side dish.
3– For those with a sweet tooth
Why not freeze a few sweet treats while you’re at it? I always make extra cookie dough that I shape into balls and freeze. Once they are frozen, I put them in a bag with the baking instructions on the front.. All that’s left to do is to bake them when the time comes. What could be better than always having a batch of freshly baked cookies ready and waiting?
Muffins and pancakes also freeze well. I take them out in the morning so that they are thawed by snack time.
