Today’s Ask the Readers question is all about freezer meals. I love freezer cooking and have been doing it on and off for years. I recently received this question about freezer meals and knew it would make a great Ask the Readers question. I am hoping all of you can help give suggestions.
My baby is due in three months so I’m starting to put together a list of freezer meals I want to make for after the birth. What are your favorite GF freezer meals? I want to have breakfasts and dinners stocked up.
This is a great question. Freezer meals are perfect for after having a baby, after having surgery, or just during those times that life is busy.
When you deal with food issues cooking can be challenging at times. It can also be hard for others to bring you meals that are safe for your family. Freezing meals ahead makes it so much easier and gives you food that is safe to feed your family.
Here are a few of my favorite freezer meals that are easy to make gluten free.
- Taco meat– Use gluten free or homemade taco seasoning. I love freezing taco meat because you can use it for tacos, taco salad, burritos, nachos, taco fries, etc.
- BBQ Pork– Using gluten free bbq sauce.
- Baked Oatmeal– Use gluten free oats.
- Homemade Breakfast Bowls– Use gluten free sausage, bacon, or ham.
- Homemade Meatballs- You can freeze these either cooked or uncooked.
- Homemade Meatloaf- Use can freezer these either cooked or uncooked.
- Chili– Chili freezes great.
Now I would love to hear what your favorite gluten free freezer meals and foods are that you stock your freezer with. Do you have some favorites that you can share?
Homemade pancakes and waffles. Also, I freeze spaghetti sauce with fried meat in it, and chicken that’s been cooked in the crock pot with seasonings for chicken quesadillas.
Mexican lasagne is one of our staples. You layer tortillas, beans, corn, peppers, onions, cheese, tomatoes, salsa, spices, whatever, and you bake at 350 for 40 minutes. It freezes wonderfully and is a great way to use up odds and ends.
I forgot about Mexican lasagna. You are right it freezes great and I use corn tortillas to make it gluten free. Thanks for the reminder!
For first time moms, having one hands free will be a challenge, let alone two hands. Bringing a fork to their faces while nursing can pose a challenge for first-timers. I recommend one handed meals…any meal in a bun stuffed with say… meat and cabbage.
Examples…
Mexican burritos stuffed with choice of chicken chile verde and peppers…or cheese and corn tamales. Russian baked beef, cheese, grilled onions, and cabbage peroskis. Chinese steamed chicken and cabbage buns…or baked BBQ pork and grilled onion buns…or chicken and cabbage potstickers…or variety of dim sums. Japanese gyozas. Indian meat, potatoes, and peas samosas.
Before my son was born I made up main courses for meals but found that if veggies were not cooked ahead I only ended up eating them raw if I had them. So I would recommend having some precooked so you only need to warm them up.
Also, I would set up like a calendar of meals. If I didn’t already have a plan for what I was going to eat each day, my mind would just blank on putting a meal together to eat.
Lack of sleep in the beginning can really take a toll on brain functioning!
I love doing GF lasagna in the small foil pans I can get 3/$1 at my Dollar Tree. I make about 8-9 pans worth at one time. I make up about a gallon of meat sauce (on the thin side, but not too thin), have all of my cheeses (about 3 pounds total of ricotta, parmesan, mozz,. etc.) and herbs mixed and use 2 boxes of Tinkyada GF lasagna noodles raw (without cooking them). Layer sauce, noodles, cheese, repeat and freeze. I cook them at 350 F for about 1 hr 15 minutes and my little 3 member family devours a whole pan! I posted my recipe on my (part-time) blog if anyone is interested. These are WONDERFUL for gift giving as well and a good size for a little family.