Food ideas-- new baby coming next week

[ThriftoRama]

Hi Y'all. I'm due to have a baby next week. I want to do some bulk cooking this week so I can stash some ready to eat but healthy meals in the fridge and freezer. Hopefully enough to last us up to 3 weeks after we get home from the hospital. Do you have any ideas or recipes for what to make and what kind of things I should have on hand?

[sweeps]

Sorry, I don't have any recipes... but wanted to say good luck and that is a great idea having meals ready-made for when the baby comes.

By the way, this is a great frugal-but-priceless gift idea for someone who has just had a baby... bring them ready-made meals!

[PennyPrincess]

Congratulations!

Not sure how healthy it is, but I am a fan of the old stand by: casseroles.
My sister just came home from the hospital from surgery, and we are making shepherd's pie, lasagna, and pre made breakfast sandwiches that can be popped in the microwave (def beats stopping at Dunkin Donuts)

I've heard the hillbilly housewife website has some frugal and healthy recipes.

Good luck

[PrincessPerky]

I am a picky freezer eater, but before having a kid, I always think it would be mart to stock up on meatloaf (served with a side of veggies and bread, or potatoes it is a meal any one can fix..well anyone tall enough to use the microwave)

And spaghetti sauce..again pasta is easy to cook..the sauce is the work part.

Course I never do...but I always think it would be nice

[korin101]

No I'm sorry too. No really good ideas. Casseroles maybe. But. Congratulations & Good Luck. I'm so happy for you ( A New Baby) I love it...

[ThriftoRama]

Sadly, I'm not sure I know how to make a casserole! Sounds like I need to bring in my super mom for help.

[CouponAddict]

You should google Once a month cooking! They have ideas on how to make up a bunch of different foods and receipes ahead of time so you are just reheating. That sounds like what you are trying to do....Which is a great idea of something to do prior to the delivery.

[kork13]

I love to cook...

When you pre-prepare meals, ingredients, and sauces for storage, it's all about creativity... Using frozen ground beef for pasta one night, then tacos another, then sloppy joes another, and such like that... Also, I'm a HUGE proponent of seasoning--if you can season a meal well, it'll make even the most boring casserole a lip-smacking meal.

My recommendations for pre-prepared frozen dinners would be the oft-mentioned casseroles, meatloaf, etc., and I think I saw someone mention shepard's pie, that's good too. However, soups/stews, fruit salads, ground beef/turkey, sauteed vegetables, and sauces also make great freezer meals which can easily last 3-4 weeks frozen.

You can also prepare other dishes, like chicken, beef, pork, turkey, even pastas and stir-fry's for storage in the fridge. These will last about 1 week, maybe 2.

I'm not sure if this will work, but I've attached my list of recipes on a pair of text documents (only way I could get them to upload...) Some of them are great and I love, others I've only found recently and haven't been able to try yet.

Long response short: I recommend you pre-prepare and freeze a bunch of soups/stews, ground beef/turkey, sauteed vegetables, sauces, meatloaf, and anything else you think would be good.

Also, you should prepare some chicken, beef, pork, and pasta dishes which can be refrigerated and warm up very nicely. Just make sure you store everything well... Ziploc freezer bags are great, as are tupperware containers. Air-tight is the key.

Congratulations on the new baby!

EDIT: I don't think the attachments are working... if you PM or email me an email address, I can send them to you that way.

[Compulsive Debtor]

I am not a fan of freezer food, but I will make things like spaghetti sauce and freeze it. Then all I have to do it make some pasta and throw together a salad. (Good luck on the new baby!)

[LuxLiving]

Spiral cut ham.

Sliced w/bag salad & side veggie. Dinner.
Chopped w/canned brown beans (throw in some seasonings) & corn bread. Dinner.
Chopped w/eggs & toast. Breakfast Omelet.
Chopped w/eggs & burrito shell. Breakfast Burritos.
Sliced w/some cheese & mustard. Sandwich.
Chopped w/frozen potatoes & cream soup. Casserole.
Chopped w/frozen veggies. Stir-fry.
Chopped w/potatoes & cabbage. Bubble N' Squeak.

Good luck with the babykins!!!! Now, go get some sleep while the gettings good!

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Any day now?

[ThriftoRama]

Yep. Any day. It's very scary...

[marvholly]

My DD is due in mid May. I talked to her last week about my making some heat & serve meals for her freezer. She already has mad: lasagne, speghetti sauce and an enchilada cassarole.

I plan to make for her:
chicken fajitas
shicken stroganoff (do NOT put in the sour cream until you reheat)
meat loaf
taco meat ready to reheat
veggie/pasta mixture containers that she can just throw shrimp into

I may make:
Turkey breast & sweet potato cassarole
mousaka (greek eggplant)
pasticcio (greek maccaroni cassarole)
sweet & sour meat balls

Additional ideas that can be cooked ahead are:
roast chicken
chicken breasts
roast beef (have for dinner this week & freeze in serving portions for later)
any family favorites/traditional dishes (DD has asked for 2)

[garilon]

homemade soup is another good one - always perks me up when I am exhausted and if you're breastfeeding its more liquid in your diet to help with milk production.