ISO: ISO Recipe ideas for freezer meals - I am having surgery next month and want to do some

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heather_in_sf

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cooking ahead of time for the freezer. Ironically my beau is also having surgery a week before me, so I thought it would be good to batch up a few things for the freezer. Some friends are going to cook for me as well.

When I had ankle and shoulder surgeries I remember my appetite was finicky and my stomach was a bit off for quite a while I made a batch of beef stew, a chicken stew (artichoke hearts and onion), and a pork and posole. I remember the pork did not appeal to me at all but the beef and chicken were great for weeks 2+ and I just nuked them. Maybe chicken soup would be good - the broth.

Any suggestions you have would be most welcome - for some reason this surgery is really getting to me stress-wise but at least I have a month to prep, and I will be home only 4-6 weeks.

Thanks in advance...

 
Chicken soup is a great idea- lots of veggies in it will be so good and good for you

Meatball and spaghetti - you can do the meatballs and sauce only and then add the spaghetti or freeze with the spaghetti.
Ron's meatball ministrone soup - actually any hearty(but not Heavy) soup that you like.

 
Orange lentil (masoor dal) stews freeze really well and you can

chock them full of veggies.

Maybe your friends can bring fresh condiments, like limes, lemons, cilantro, fresh basil, fresh bread...things that will perk up whatever frozen items you defrost.

Love those days when you find something packed away that was completely forgotten. It's like the Cracker Jack prize of the freezer community. I recently excavated a frozen block that could have repaired my retaining wall. It was an Indian cauliflower/potato dish and microwaved beautifully.

Make a list of what's in the freezer and keep it on the outside of the refrigerator in case a friend wants to help and heat things up. LABEL the items INSIDE the freezer so you don't end up wondering what the heck this unidentifiable retaining wall block is.

(Full Disclosure Note: Oh hell no, I don't actually do this myself. THAT would make too much sense.)

PS: BEST OF LUCK to both of you! Speedy recovery.

 
Just about anything you make as a casserole will freeze. Soups and stews (I'd leave out

potatoes) work. A nice go-to meal might be big twice stuffed potatoes with veggies (spinach or broccoli) and meat (ham, sausage) in them. They freeze really well on a cookie sheet and then drop in plastic bags.
Chicken tetrazini, lasagna, quiche, fritattas, pasta casseroles
Don't overlook what's in the freezer case at the supermarket for meals.

 
Frozen bagels and steel cut oatmeal

In addition to the Aunt Jemima Frozen Breakfasts, I love half a bagel with cream cheese or peanut butter!

And I make a large batch of crockpot steel cut oatmeal (Marilyn's recipe) and freeze individual portions. I think Trader Joe's has frozen steel cut portions smileys/wink.gif Colleen

 
NOT FROZEN under-the-weather favorites

We love Quaker Instant Oatmeal packages and Lipton Noodle Soup (box mix) with a beaten egg stirred in, in the last 2-3 minutes - think egg drop soup.

Yogurt! We find it a great medicine for dicey stomachs.

Favorite comfort food: Costco's Snapdragon Instant Pho Bowls. We find them "too hot/spicy" so we only use part of the enclosed oil package. Look for them in-warehouse or on Amazon. Colleen

https://www.costcobusinessdelivery.com/Snapdragon-Vietnamese-Pho-Rice-Noodles-%2526-Seasoning%2C-2.1-oz%2C-6-ct-.product.100318565.html

 
2 rotisserie chickens

1. Make stock from the skin, bones and other "extra parts." Make (and then freeze) chicken noodle, chicken with rice or chicken vegetable soup (I always poach a non-rotisserie breast to use in soup and save rotisserie chicken breast for sandwiches and salads).
2. Slice breast meat and freeze flat for quick sandwiches. Buy plain bread and ciabatta rolls - freeze.
3. Make Indian, Thai, Mexican and/or favorite chicken casseroles with dark and other pieces of chicken pulled from the bones. Or freeze chicken pieces in large portions to make casseroles later when your appetite returns.

 
Butternut squash soup is good if you aren't feeling up to meat dishes...

Arroz con Pollo, home-braised short ribs with TJ's pappardelle, veggie chili.

How able to get around are you? When I was bedrridden, DH put a cooler with bottled water, a sandwich and fruit each day while he went to work. I moved the computer in there, too. Good luck!

 
Here's what I froze before my surgery when I knew I wouldn't be able to cook for extended period

BREAKFAST SAUSAGE
BACON
ENGLISH MUFFINS
PILLSBURY BISCUITS
CHEESE FOR CASSEROLES
SMALL HAM STEAKS
PORK STIR FRY MEAT
BONELESS SKINLESS CHICKEN THIGHS
COLLARD GREENS
OKRA
PINTO BEANS
PT. BEAN SOUP
PT. CHILI
TOMATO BISQUE BASE (NEEDS HALF-AND-HALF)
SPAGHETTI SAUCE WITH CHICKEN & MUSHROOMS
KING RANCH CASSEROLE
MAC & CHEESE
CHICKEN CURRY
BEEF STEW
COTTAGE PIE
CHICKEN SOUP
2 WHOLE COOKED BONED CHICKENS (CHICKEN SALAD, ETC)
ECKRICH SAUSAGE

IN FRIDGE

TUNA
SALMON
CANNED PEARS, PINEAPPLE, MANDARIN ORANGES
APPLE SAUCE
BOOST

 
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