Friday, September 23, 2011

Freezer Cooking for One

I am mostly putting this here for my reference - so I can remember what I did and how it worked for the next time! But, David recently asked me to help a family member with meals for the freezer. And, here is what we came up with together.

I found some great divided containers at the grocery store that worked well for smoked sausage and veggies. Two bags of fresh veggies steamed in the microwave and two packages of sausage cooked on the griddle divided up to be enough for six meals.


One batch of Pasta Fagioli soup made eight containers. And, I made Southwest Chicken Salad. One package of fresh chicken breasts and a can of black beans made six portions that I froze in ziploc bags.

I sliced, buttered and sprinkled with garlic one loaf of french bread. And, made individual chicken pot pies. By making this recipe, I was able to make eight mini pies and then one big one for our family.

Hopefully this will help remind me and maybe even help someone else who has the opportunity to serve another this way! I thought it was very affordable too as I spent about $60 total which included the containers I bought this time and food for dinners for one month!

24 comments:

Mary Ann said...

This is great and an awesome way to reach out to someone else! Reminds me of when my sister and I were single. We'd portion out lasagna and soups and freeze them. A pan or pot of food lasted so long in those days! :-)

I use your recipe whenever I make Chicken Pot Pie. It's so good! I served it to my brother once when he visited and he raved about it! Haven't made it in a while but I think I usually get 2 larger and 1 smaller from one recipe of filling, so it's well worth the time spent!

Mom said...

Well done! What a blessing for your family member :)
Love you, Mom

Peggy said...

What a wonderful idea!! At this point in time we are not in need of meals to feed one on a regular basis but do need individual servings. I am definitely going to ear mark this post as there will come a time it will be needed... whether for us or a friend in need.

Thank you! And I am sure this was a blessing to the family member!!

Suze said...

Oh I just love this. I often cook for some family members. I think I might just give some of your recipes a try. Thanks,

angie said...

And if the recipient saves the containers for you, your costs will be even less next month. What a blessing this will be for your family member. Where else would they get a wholesome, home-cooked meal for $2?

Wendi said...

My parents provide hot and freezer meals for a home bound neighbor. I know this person you have reached out to will feel so blessed!

Your mini pot pies are super cute!

Amy said...

I love this idea and can think of so many people in my community in very different walks of life who could benefit from this! Thank you for sharing!

Blissful & Domestic said...

Thanks so much for sharing!

Jthemilker said...

Your pot-pies look DELICIOUS!!! Where can I find your recipe?

Monica Wilkinson said...

Jthemilker: if you click the recipe link above it should take you to the Pot Pie recipe! :) Enjoy!

Sarah Belle said...

Excellent ideas! Thank you. tammyp

Elise said...

I was thinking about doing something similar for my Dad last Christmas. LOVE that idea!!
Elise

Devon said...

awesome! those pies look great... and i'm sure they will be raved over!

Angel said...

What a great idea! It has inspired me to feed my bachelor father more often! I only see him once every couple weeks, and I had not thought to freeze meals for him!

Unknown said...

How did the meals keep in the freezer in those divided containers with the extra space? Would you change how you stored them? 😁

Monica Wilkinson said...

Hi Jessica,

Those divided containers worked out great and we are still using them! I would not change that up - a great solution!

Thanks,
Monica

Sherie said...

Read your post today. What fantastic ideas. My mom passed last year and I am thinking of doing this for my dad. He eats the same thing over and over(hot dogs...blech). I know I can do it now with minimum expenditure and creative meals. Thanks!

Unknown said...

Do you remember what the name/brand the containers were? And do you have a suggestion for a recipient without microwave? Any containers good for transferring from freezer directly to oven for reheating?
Thanks in advance!!

Monica Wilkinson said...

Hi Stephanie!

I'm pretty sure they were just Ziploc brand. For no microwave, two ideas: one to put the food in Ziplocs and have them transfer to a plate to heat in the oven or two to watch thrift stores for glass containers. When I put something from freezer to oven, I put the item in the oven from the freezer and THEN I turn it on to pre-heat so that the glass heats with the oven and I don't put it directly into a hot oven. Some people have not had good success with this but it has worked for me. Have a great weekend!

Anonymous said...

Did you have to defrost before microwaving?

Monica Wilkinson said...

You don't have to defrost the mini pot pies before baking - they go great from freezer to oven. I think that on the containers it would be best to set the dish in the fridge overnight and then heat in the microwave but I think in a pinch you could heat it on the defrost setting first and then heat it if needed. Enjoy!

Anonymous said...

Do you bake the meat pies before freeezing? I'm scared the pastry might burn when mom bakes from frozen if I pre-bake. She's in her 90s and can't cook for herself anymore. Lately she's had to cut some foods out of her diet because they bother her stomach now -- like tomatoes (no tomato-based pasta sauces or chili allowed these days). I'm running out of suitable meal ideas for her.
Idea for anyone else cooking for the elderly -- I make a pot of rice and a pot of noodles (neither of us like potatoes after they've been frozen) and freeze single portions in small ziplock freezer bags. So, when she pulls out a frozen portion of potato-less stew or meatballs in gravy, for example, she can take out noodles or rice to go with it. Sometimes I mix some frozen peas in with some of the rice in case she needs a vegetable too like when she chooses a piece of frozen battered fish or spareribs for dinner. I cut them into individual ribs for her before freezing. Since she has very little freezer space, I even freeze soup in small freezer bags -- get as much air out as I can and freeze the bags "flat" on cookie sheets first to save freezer space. I can stack many bags in her freezer that way, freezing as flat as I can. They also thaw a lot faster that way.

Monica Wilkinson said...

I would suggest not baking the pies before freezing. As you said, the pastry will not turn out as well if pre-baked. You can put the unbaked pie right in the oven from the freezer to bake. Hope that helps!

Unknown said...

The separated meal containers are what I use to make-ahead and freeze my work lunches. Thanks for even more great ideas!