Need suggestions!!!

[Doglover61(aka Earnhardt)]

My stepson & his wife will be welcoming a new baby girl next month and already have a daughter who will turn 2 on October 13. So, I plan to make supper for them at least a few times when they get home.

Would like some good suggestions for things I could make and freeze for them. Ideas for suppers and breakfasts would be great!! Already plan a pot of chicken and dumplings and beef stew. Would like some kid-friendly breakfasts for Natalie, as well!

Thanks!!

[dianegrapegrower]

Can you tell us about their food preferences?

[Doglover61(aka Earnhardt)]

Guess that would be helpful, wouldn't it?
Nothing complicated or fancy. Chicken and noodles, soups, stews, casseroles. Son isn't HUGE on vegetables, but will eat a few. He's a farmer, so basically home cooking, I guess is the best way to describe it!

[Chocolatl]

Macaroni and cheese is kid-friendly and freezes well.

[dianegrapegrower]

Muffins are great for breakfast and can be thawed/heated in the micro. (Plus can be eaten with one hand if the other is holding a fussy baby!) Choose whatever flavor they like best.

Waffles are also great, and can be thawed/reheated in the toaster (like the commercially available ones. They can be messy for little kids to eat (sticky syrup) Consider cutting in strips to dip in jam or syrup, and eat as finger food.

I always like to keep a meal's worth of pasta sauce in the freezer - I make mine from scratch rather than buy the jarred kind. It's easy to reheat while the pasta is cooking. Our family fav is Will's Spaghetti. It makes enough to sauce 1 lb. of spaghetti, or 4-5 servings. So I would freeze in two portions, so they'd have two meals from it. Of course, if you have a family favorite sauce, it will undoubtedly freeze well too.

Mushroom Swiss Steak is easily packaged for two servings, and is comforting served over mashed potatoes, which can also be made ahead and frozen.

Baked Ziti can easily be portioned for two (as opposed to lasagna, where it can be tough to find small enough pans). No recipe to suggest, but perhaps you have a fav.

And, at least in the northern hemisphere, we're heading into cooler seasons. Soup, packaged in individual servings, can be a dinner, or a nice hot lunch. Most soups freeze well (you may want to cook/add pasta or rice at serving tine to keep in from bloating and being mushy - don't ask how I learned this!)

HTH,
Diane

[tasb]

Muffins are awesome when you have a new baby, I bought some with me to the hospital. Well I didn't wise up until the last baby, but I ate all 5 of them before I left the hospital 24 hours later. I also had some in the freezer at home for quick snacks, you are always hungry after having a baby, I don't know if you really need the extra calories, or just that you finally have the room for a big meal without heart-burn.

[Doglover61(aka Earnhardt)]

Thanks for the suggestions!! That will help alot in making my decisions!!

[JanieTeachGal]

Pancakes freeze really well, as well as French toast sticks.

[Chef1MOM~Connie]

Some great picker upper comfort food is nice like chocolate cake or muffins for the little one. Add in some applesauce to the mix and get a wee4 bit of healthy in there.


How about some crockpot meals already prepped just need to be plopped and turned on?
Chicken With Thyme and Garlic Sauce (Crock Pot) Chicken With Thyme and Garlic Sauce (Crock Pot)

Chunky Italian Sausage Stew, Cook Once, Eat Twice Category Chunky Italian Sausage Stew, Cook Once, Eat Twice

Dining on a $ With Chicken Breasts Dining on a $ With Chicken Breasts


Super Simple " Eye"talian Meatball Casserole Super Simple " Eye"talian Meatball Casserole

Standby Rigatoni With Extra Zaps Standby Rigatoni With Extra Zaps

These are a few crock and regular method cooking dishes. I just made these last week for a friend whose DH is in the hopital and she has 4 mouths to feed at home. They all froze and thawed well and came together quick for teens to heat and eat. I threw in some italian bread, rye bread, and a large chocolate bundt cake so they are set for the week in meals. This Monday I making a turkey, pot of chicken noodle soup, spaghetti sauce (adding in pasta ) and some cookies as well as blueberry muffins.

HTH