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Freezer Cooking - Make Ahead!


So I've been reading a lot about freezer cooking & decided to give it a go. Its gotta be a more cost effective way of cooking and preparing meals. Im always on the look out for new recipes and ideas . Freezer cooking is preparing and cooking meals in large quantities and freezing into batches - basically making your family a whole load of healthy preservative free ready meals! Please take a look at the list below f recommended blogs I used for inspiration. Last night, armed with pen & paper I made lists of what recipes I wanted to do & what ingredients I needed. I already quite a lot of meat & vegetables in the freezer a quick trip to sainsburys last night to get a few extras. Remember to take meat out of the freezer to defrost over night.

My ingredients last night came to £58 plus the chicken, mince & vegetables I already had I estimate total cost £65

First job is to get the potatoes in the oven for twice cooked jacket potatoes. These will take about 90 mins so get them in the oven first. I cooked 8 potatoes.

I made 7 meals - 3 mince - basic bologanise, chilli and chinese spicy mince. 3 chicken -BBQ chicken, spicy chicken & italian creamy chicken plus stuffed jacket potatoes.

No. 1 BASIC BOLOGNAISE/CHILLI


In a large pan add 750g extra lean mince, tbsp garlic, 3 large carrots grated, half bag of frozen peppers & equal amount of chopped onion.
Cook until mince is brown & mixture has reduced. Add 200ml of beef oxo stock & mix well. Taste and add seasoning if required. Distribute mixture into zip freezer bags & leave to cool. (Mine are from Ikea)
This mixture makes basic cooked mince
To use, defrost over night
- add chopped tomatoes for a bolognese sauce
- add chilli & beans for chilli
- top with mash for cottage pie
Etc.
I used exactly the same recipe to make Chilli & Chinese mince. I cooked the same quantities adding mushrooms this time but instead of freezing when cooked I divided into 2 halves.

No. 2 CHILLI


Add 2 tins baked beans, 1 tin chilli beans, more garlic & 2tbsps frozen chilli flakes. Heat and taste, add more chilli if required. 
Defrost overnight, reheat & serve with rice or over jacket potato etc.

No. 3 CHINESE SPICY MINCE AKA YUK SUNG


Add 1 beef oxo. 1 veg oxo, 1 beef stockpot, 1 tbsp Cranberry jelly, 1 tbsp tomato purée, splash of soy sauce, 1 tbsp of curry powder & 1 tbsp chilli powder. Heat & season to taste. 
Defrost overnight, reheat & serve on lettuce leaves aka yuk sung!

No 4. SPICY CHICKEN


In a bowl mix together teaspoon each of paprika, salt, pepper & arromat. place chicken breasts on a fry lighted tray, spray chicken and sprinkle on seasoning. Spray again with frylight and bake in oven until chicken cooked. 
Add each cooked chicken breast to a freezer bag.

No. 5 BBQ CHICKEN

Simply spray chicken breasts with BBQ frylight & roast in the oven. Slice into small strips & freeze. 

No. 6 ITALIAN CREAMY CHICKEN

Chop 4 chicken breasts into small chunks. Add tin of reduced fat chicken soup & small pot of Philadelphia extra light cheese. Add Italian chopped herbs. Bring to boil & let simmer until chicken cooked. Distribute into zip freezer bags.

When ready to eat, defrost over night. Reheat and add cooked pasta. 2

No. 7 STUFFED JACKET POTATOES
By this time jacket spuds should be cooked so remove from oven & leave to cool. Meanwhile grill a few rashers of bacon. (rind & fat removed)
Slice cooled potatoes in half & scoop out the middle. Mash potato, add cooked chopped bacon & half pot of Philadelphia cheese. Mix well together and refill potato skins. Sandwich 2 halves together & freeze in zip freezer bags. 
To reheat- cook for aprox 20 mins on 180c
And that’s it! I could have made so much more, I only have a small freezer and was worried I wouldn’t have enough room for these dinners but I only filled one drawer 3/4s so room for more next time! I’ve still got a load of veggies left so will make a curry tomorrow & freeze the left overs.

I made 25 meals which works out to £2.60 per meal which will feed 2 adults and a toddler. Extra costs will be salad, pasta and rice.
It was hard work & I spent about 3 hours in the kitchen but the satisfaction if knowing these meals are prepared & cooked all ready is fantastic. :)


For more batch cooking ideas please click the links below:

Freezer time again

More Batch Cooking





Comments

Unknown said…
Oh my goodness, this is just the thing I've been after! Just started slimming world 5 weeks ago and work 12 hour shifts and have a 20 month old toddler so having meals ready prepared will be a godsend! Now to organise a day in the kitchen child free!
One question, do you defrost the potatoes before opening them again?
Thanks so much for posting this, looks fab!
Kies World said…
Hi, thanks for the lovely comment. Batch freezer cooking really can help you get organised and save money and lose weight :)
Yes I always defrost the potatoes
Good luck with your weight loss journey :)