Best Freezer Meals( to MAKE ) and to Take to a New Mother

I always do lasagna, they can cook it once and then freeze the rest into portions and eat for some time.

I have in the past have bought gift card for food. I have made lasagna, calzones, a pot of meatballs and rolls. I am sure anything you all do will be appreciated!

Alot of people think of dinner recipes to freeze. When I had my babies I had more time to cook dinner (when my hubby could help with the kids) then breakfast. Mornings are always hectic. Make muffins, pancakes, waffles. All work great in the freezer and thaw quick in the microwave.

Lasagne, manicotti, stuffed shells. I make homemade marinara sauce.. I'd send a jar of it plus it freezes well.

Everytime I make stuffed shells, I double my batch and put 1/2 of them in the freezer at 2/pack. My daughter will eat them when she gets in from school or after cheer practice, etc..

Homemade chicken pot pie... super easy to make and freezes well.

How about Schwan's delivery service? I never would use something like that until the school had it as a fundraiser and we got some good food from them. Everything is frozen so straight to the freezer it went.. I am in Allen/Plano as well and Schwans does deliver here.

You are being very kind to your friend. Good luck.

Porcupine Meatballs:

1 box Chicken Rice A Roni (regular size --if family size add 1/4 # more meat)
1 & 1/4 lb ground beef (can add 1/4 pound sausage and take 1/4 beef out)
1 small onion diced, sauteed (OPTIONAL) We like red onions.
1-2 eggs

Mix meat, rice from box, eggs, and onions together, and form 1 inch meatballs. Makes about 20 ish.

Brown meatballs in deep skillet.

Add suggested water from Roni box with seasoning from Roni box. Pour over meatball, and heat on medium until liquid is hot.

Cover skillet, and simmer for 35 minutes. Most of the liquid will absorb into the rice.

Baggie up into half portions (half feeds our family of 4 --but, we have 2 littles), and freeze.

To heat up, thaw & put in microwave dish, add about 1/4 cup water, and cover. Nuke for about 2 minutes at a time until hot. If frozen, put in microwave and defrost first. Can also reheat in a deep skillet with a little bit of water, covered. Or, in a covered dish in the oven with a little water added.

Don't forget to do veggie and fruit *trays*. I wouldn't spend the money on paying for a tray at the store, and it takes up too much room in the refrigerator. I'd chop some stuff up, put it in baggies, and send some over now, and again next week. Also would do some cut-up cheese and crackers. Nuts?? Some healthy snack foods for everyone.

A gift card to the local pizza place? or other delivery place?

Great job taking care of your friend!!!

I would make several different kinds. My family liked the following

Baked Mosticcoli
1 box mosticolli cooked according to directions
1 lb ground beef, or ground chicken or ground turkey, browned and drained
1 large jar of pasta sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
I always use foil baking pan w/ foil lid and she can bake and throw away no need to track down who owns the dish later.

put pasta in bottom of a baking dish, layer ground beef and pasta sauce on top and then cover with shredded cheese. bake and 350 for about an hour from frozen state.

baked chicken and rice or noodles
1 lb diced cooked chicken
1 bag egg noodles or 2 cups white rice cooked according to directions
1 large can cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup
1 bag frozen corn
2 cups crushed ritz crackers
mix all of above except ritz crackers in large pan
pour into baking dish and cover with ritz crackers bake at 350 till warmed thru (about 45 mins or so)

also wasn't sure if you had this website or not but something to think about doing.
http://www.takethemameal.com/index.php

Soups
Chili
Meatloaf
Meatballs & sauce & buns
Breads

Don't forget desserts! Cookies!

The new mom I am about to cook for -

She's from Africa and I'm trying to make something familiar so maybe
a big bowl of white rice, a big bowl of black beans, I'm thinking of roasting a couple of whole cut up chickens. That can be made into several meals and snacks over a couple of days.

I also thought about making a couple pounds of taco meat and taking tortillas, taco shells, salsa, cheese, sour cream and refried beans. The meat will freeze and everything else will keep until they are ready to eat it.

This is one of my favorite recipes for new mothers or anyone recovering from illness or surgery. It is a good comfort food. I try to avoid spicy foods for new mothers since they are usually breast feeding.

Homemade Chicken Pot Pie

Filling:
2-3 cups chopped cooked chicken (I like to use the packaged grilled chicken strips or rotisserie chicken.)
1 package frozen mixed vegetables, can vegetables or fresh of your choice
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup grated cheese
1 T garlic salt
1 T pepper
1 T marjoram

Mix together and pour in a baking dish.

Crust:
1 stick melted margarine or butter
1 cup milk
1 cup self-rising flour

Mix crust ingredients together and pour over other ingredients. Bake at 400 for 35 to 45 minutes. May be reheated in a 300 oven or warm individual servings in the microwave. May also be frozen for up to six months.

I got this recipe off of here about a month ago, another mom posted it. It was easy to make and freezes and refrigerates well and reheats in the microwave without a glitch.
My only suggestion is to make it only with beef, we didnt care for the saugsage (might of just been the brand I got, but it was overwhelming to me) other than that this is a great lasagna recipe.
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/06/the_best_lasagn/