What about a lasagna or other pasta meals? You can easily prepare some pasta sause and freeze it. It only takes 10 minutes to cook the pasta!
I was going to suggest pasta sauce (maybe a marnira or a meat sauce), chili, soups, or even those big bags of frozen chicken breasts that are individually frozen - just take out the number you need and throw on the grill and make a big salad or something to go with it.
A new popular idea around here is those dinner places - like My Delicious Dinners or Dinner My Way - not sure if they are everywhere or not, but they popped up all over my town. They are places you go and put together your own meals that they have prepared all the ingredients for ahead of time - so no cooking or cleaning for you. Just throw everything together, as much spices as you want, extra cheese or less sauce, etc - then freeze them at home. Put them in the fridge to defrost a day ahead and then throw them in the oven and dinner is ready!
Search the web for recipes + freezer or something like that - I found a few so far that look like they may be good:
http://www.dinnersinthefreezer.com/
http://organizedhome.com/freezer-cookbook-recipes-freezer-cooking
http://www.recipelink.com/rcpmenus.html
oh goosh... She use to come and stay soo much if she were to stay just alittle longer I could of claimed her on my taxes!! She would stay at 3/4 weeks at a time, and the worse of it would never tell you the day she plans to leave. so you just never knew! and if you were to ask her she would just go huh? eeeeeek!
I think she has slowed down some in her age now... atleast with the mind games and all. I dont think she will get to me this time just because I will be busy with my little angle.
but yea.. company does break the bank. my mother tells me all the time Im doing way too much and need to stop. they are having way too good of a time and dont want to leave. smile
but yea.. If I dont prepare some... they will do pick up foods and I will be stuck with all the bills when they leave. and I fill you there! eeeeek... thats baby toy money...lol
You can make large pots of spaghetti sauce and chili and put them in the freezer.
Oh sweetie! you poor thing... Im in the (sort of) same situation... i'll be having my parents here... thankfully they cook! but! my mother is a 'spender'! and she would go out and spend so much damn money on food it's not even funny! we always end up in debt when they leave! hence, we are hurting for money right now...., plus paying for my mom's hospital bill has been a huge dent on our economy too!... i mean, it was all timing! =S
Anyway, im planning on just buying cans of food, like mushroom cream, or potato soup... tomato pasta and shells... buy frozen chicken and have lotsa cheese (you can't go wrong with that!)... also buy frozen or canned veggies (cheaper than fresh) and hand them on to them so they can prepare meals with that! im sure i'll be swamped with Maddie and house and myself (trying to recover) that the last thing i'd wanna do is cook for me and others!!!! =S
You're gonna have your MIL for a week? wow! girl! you're my hero! lol..... then again... poor dh sucks up my mother for 3 months straight! lol.... now talk about having patience!!! lol
;)
Well, I'm with jbrooks, I was going to say stuffed shells. They freeze beautifully and just use the recipe on the back of the box!
Lasagna, chicken and rice casserole, tator tot casserole, chicken enchilada filling, all worked great for us. Another month or so and I'll have to start making some freezer meals too. We have a delicious local bistro that occasionally sells pre-made, pre-frozen lasagna that is absolutely yummy. I might pick up one of theirs instead of making one.
Make some beans and cornbread.. cheap.. easy.. and if that doesn't *fuel* some people.. what will!.... hehehe.. just kidding.. but I LOVE beans and cornbread!! with Lots-O-Butta!! Lasagna is a good choice! Quiche is also a good one.. ummm yummmmmy!
Your recipe sounds good to.. going to have to try that one! Love anything with CHEESE!!
you can make stuffed shells,i make them all up put them in the freezer and when i want to eat them i put the sauce on and pop them in the oven.
ugh... this isnt a freezer thing but really good and you can do ahead of time. morning just pop in the oven. saves time for baby... smile
1/3 C. Smoked Ham
1 Slice Sour Dough Bread (remove crust and cut to fit bottom of casserole dish)
4 - 5 Eggs (beaten, one cup)
1/4 C. Evaporated Milk
1/4 tsp. Salt
1/4 tsp. Ground Black Pepper
1/2 C. Shredded Mild Cheddar Cheese
Spray casserole dish with a none stick spray and place sour dough bread on the bottom of casserole dish. Beat eggs, add salt, pepper, evaporated milk and mix until completely. Pour egg mixture over bread. Sprinkle diced ham over egg mixture and cover.
refridg over night or atleat 5 hours.
when ready to bake shredded cheddar cheese on to the top of eggs.
Place casserole in a preheated oven at 375 for 20 - 22 minutes depending on the depth of the casserole dish. this is a freezer thing but really good and you can do ahead of time. morning just pop in the oven.. and its wonderful!!
oh yes.. sorry should of explaned myself better. somthing that you have had that is good. and want to share ...the recipe. you know like a special hash brown casarole recipe you just loved and it freezes well.. I would be more likely to take your word then just out of a book or on the net. heee heee
love the idea of the secret is to add more liquid type of thing and to under cook the pasta.. thanks..Ill keep that in mind.
I'm interested too! I know my DH's family will be coming and I'm sure I'll need something to get together really quick although DH is quiet handy in the kitchen! But we eat organic food and his parents think it's alien food..so they probably won't like the "idea" of eating here... a well.. they can go to a restaurant! But would be nice to have something easy to make anyways. I can make everything *normal people* make organically...lol
I spent the last month and a half of my first pregnancy cooking things for the feezer so that I would be able to put things on the table without my dh going for take-away. I found that most casserole things work well like lasagne or sheppard's pie or chicken pot pie and chicken and dumplings. The real secret is to add more liquid than you normally would because it seems to evaporate or something in the freezer. Also, slightly under cook any pasta otherwise it gets a bit mushy. Stew works well. It can go straight to the slow cooker from the freezer. There are books about cooking once a month and freezing. I'll bet there are websites, too.