Diaper Swappers

MamaZnR · 10-03-2012, 07:41 PM

So I have looked into doing a big cooking once a month and storing in the freezer for easy mindless meals. Do you do this? Can you recommend any cook books or sites?
Also is there such a thing as BPA free bags? I avoid plastic as much as possible especially in the freezer and micro. I have Pyrex, but not enough of it or room in my freezer for Pyrex. Experiences please!

krispy79 · 10-04-2012, 09:24 AM

I tried it once, but I moved so I didn't keep doing it. I found my recipes on pintrest. Its was time consuming, not more than preparing an elaborate dish for the first time. We actually used the food that month, we didn't save any of it for furture use. I also only did 10-14 days. Would I do it again, sure. Would I do it all the time, probably not.
As far as BPA free plastic bags, I don't know. Plus I thought the threat of leaching came from heating and re-heating the plastic. I would think if it was just for storage they would be okay. Recent studies also suggest that all plastic leach chemicals into foods when.exposed to heat or repeatedly exposed to it. I think, and maybe I am wrong, that it would be safe to store your meals in regular bags so long you were not heating the foods in them.

Sent from my (not so)Smartphone using DS Forum

mel j · 10-04-2012, 09:44 AM

I don't have a lot of ideas since half the time we don't even like foods that we've tried freezing - but we have frozen some things that were ok. (Chicken parmesan w/ spaghetti, lasagna, raw frozen veggies, chili & rice) But I actually just accidentally broke a Pyrex dish after having it in the freezer, so I'd be careful w/ storing a lot of things that way.

Deanie · 10-07-2012, 06:41 PM

I have just started looking into freezer meals. As usual, some have been duds and some are keepers. Here are the ones that I really like (along w/ the websites that they came from that have other recipes as well):

1. Sausage and peppers from this page: http://www.ringaroundtherosies.net/2...r-cooking.html
Also, I tried the savory chicken and teriyaki chicken from that page also and found them just blah. She does have good ideas for toddler snacks in Part 2 of freezer cooking that I will try some day....

2. Creamy chipotle black bean chicken. To die for! I omit the cream cheese when freezing and add it when thawed and heating up, but that's just a personal preference.
http://jamiecooksitup.net/2012/03/cr...-bean-chicken/

3. Hawaiian chicken sandwiches - I really like this, but DH needs some more "kick" to it. I need to find some kind of spice or something to add... maybe a teriyaki sauce? It's still a keeper - I just need to tweak it.
http://www.six-cents.com/2012/06/cro...oking-101.html

4. I am going to try beef empanadas and Best Ever Beef Dip Sandwhiches soon. I'm buying the stuff tomorrow, putting the empanadas directly into the freezer but will have the beef sandwhiches this week for dinner and will freeze the rest for when baby comes (any day now....) This site looks really promising!
http://joelens.blogspot.com/2007/01/...ake-ahead.html

I haven't gotten to this site yet, but there are some recipes that look promising:
http://sasrecipes.blogspot.com/search/label/Freezer

I am just beginning with all of this, and I'm not an experienced cook (learning though). I think you really just have to take it one recipe at a time to see what works for you and what doesn't.

Deanie · 10-07-2012, 06:44 PM

Oh, and regarding BPA, I agree w/ pp. I think the main concern is when it's heated, OR when used for a long period of time. So, to put it in the freezer for a month or two shouldn't be an issue. I think that freezing anything makes whatever leaching or chemical reaction is going on slow down too.

Shalom · 10-07-2012, 07:02 PM

I heard Ziplock brand bags were BPA free. At least they were a few years ago.

MamaZnR · 10-08-2012, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deanie

I have just started looking into freezer meals. As usual, some have been duds and some are keepers. Here are the ones that I really like (along w/ the websites that they came from that have other recipes as well):

1. Sausage and peppers from this page: http://www.ringaroundtherosies.net/2...r-cooking.html
Also, I tried the savory chicken and teriyaki chicken from that page also and found them just blah. She does have good ideas for toddler snacks in Part 2 of freezer cooking that I will try some day....

2. Creamy chipotle black bean chicken. To die for! I omit the cream cheese when freezing and add it when thawed and heating up, but that's just a personal preference.
http://jamiecooksitup.net/2012/03/cr...-bean-chicken/

3. Hawaiian chicken sandwiches - I really like this, but DH needs some more "kick" to it. I need to find some kind of spice or something to add... maybe a teriyaki sauce? It's still a keeper - I just need to tweak it.
http://www.six-cents.com/2012/06/cro...oking-101.html

4. I am going to try beef empanadas and Best Ever Beef Dip Sandwhiches soon. I'm buying the stuff tomorrow, putting the empanadas directly into the freezer but will have the beef sandwhiches this week for dinner and will freeze the rest for when baby comes (any day now....) This site looks really promising!
http://joelens.blogspot.com/2007/01/...ake-ahead.html

I haven't gotten to this site yet, but there are some recipes that look promising:
http://sasrecipes.blogspot.com/search/label/Freezer

I am just beginning with all of this, and I'm not an experienced cook (learning though). I think you really just have to take it one recipe at a time to see what works for you and what doesn't.

Thank you for these! And thank you for all of your help

!

QTKT · 10-09-2012, 05:13 PM

Here's a link for freezer meal recipes! And here is a recipe for delicious freezer burritos:
You will need:
1 pkg raw tortillas (I buy the 10 pack at winco)
3-4 large chicken breasts
2 cups mild salsa verde
1 cup regular salsa
pepper jack cheese, shredded
1 can black beans, drained
cilantro, chopped

Put the frozen chicken breasts in the crock pot (on high) and pour over the salsa verde. You don't need a ton. After a few hours, when the meat is cooked through, shred the chicken in the crock pot then let it absorb the rest of the salsa (about 30 min to an hour more). Then cook the tortillas in a pan. Fill the tortilla with some shredded chicken, black beans, a large spoonful of regular salsa, cilantro and pepper jack cheese. Roll up and wrap each burrito in tin foil. Freeze!

Then when you are ready to eat one, put it in the microwave for about a min (until completely thawed). Then brown it in a pan (if you are home) for a few more min. We eat these for lunch all the time. Yum!

MomtoTurk&Bean · 10-09-2012, 06:09 PM

I just wing it. Like this weekend I cooked two whole chickens and 5 lbs of ground beef then portioned and froze it. I also did a large batch of potatoes, so I can just pull them out and bake having twice baked potatoes. I canned the broth from the chicken and will use it to throw soup together. But for me as long as the meat is already cooked then the rest of the meal is easy to throw together.

MamaZnR · 10-09-2012, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MomtoTurk&Bean

I just wing it. Like this weekend I cooked two whole chickens and 5 lbs of ground beef then portioned and froze it. I also did a large batch of potatoes, so I can just pull them out and bake having twice baked potatoes. I canned the broth from the chicken and will use it to throw soup together. But for me as long as the meat is already cooked then the rest of the meal is easy to throw together.

Would love to hear more about your twice baked potatoes!

10-03-2012, 07:41 PM	#1
MamaZnR Registered Users Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 869 Ratings: 8 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Freezer cooking for a month So I have looked into doing a big cooking once a month and storing in the freezer for easy mindless meals. Do you do this? Can you recommend any cook books or sites? Also is there such a thing as BPA free bags? I avoid plastic as much as possible especially in the freezer and micro. I have Pyrex, but not enough of it or room in my freezer for Pyrex. Experiences please!

10-04-2012, 09:24 AM	#2
krispy79 Registered Users Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Bangkok, Thailand Posts: 1,825 Ratings: 68 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	I tried it once, but I moved so I didn't keep doing it. I found my recipes on pintrest. Its was time consuming, not more than preparing an elaborate dish for the first time. We actually used the food that month, we didn't save any of it for furture use. I also only did 10-14 days. Would I do it again, sure. Would I do it all the time, probably not. As far as BPA free plastic bags, I don't know. Plus I thought the threat of leaching came from heating and re-heating the plastic. I would think if it was just for storage they would be okay. Recent studies also suggest that all plastic leach chemicals into foods when.exposed to heat or repeatedly exposed to it. I think, and maybe I am wrong, that it would be safe to store your meals in regular bags so long you were not heating the foods in them. Sent from my (not so)Smartphone using DS Forum __________________ Kristy~ISO: Sleep! Is Someone Hurting you? You can talk to me 1.800.838.8238

10-04-2012, 09:44 AM	#3
mel j Registered Users Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 1,947 Ratings: 85 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: Freezer cooking for a month I don't have a lot of ideas since half the time we don't even like foods that we've tried freezing - but we have frozen some things that were ok. (Chicken parmesan w/ spaghetti, lasagna, raw frozen veggies, chili & rice) But I actually just accidentally broke a Pyrex dish after having it in the freezer, so I'd be careful w/ storing a lot of things that way.

10-07-2012, 06:41 PM	#4
Deanie Registered Users Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: PA Posts: 1,388 Ratings: 3 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: Freezer cooking for a month I have just started looking into freezer meals. As usual, some have been duds and some are keepers. Here are the ones that I really like (along w/ the websites that they came from that have other recipes as well): 1. Sausage and peppers from this page: http://www.ringaroundtherosies.net/2...r-cooking.html Also, I tried the savory chicken and teriyaki chicken from that page also and found them just blah. She does have good ideas for toddler snacks in Part 2 of freezer cooking that I will try some day.... 2. Creamy chipotle black bean chicken. To die for! I omit the cream cheese when freezing and add it when thawed and heating up, but that's just a personal preference. http://jamiecooksitup.net/2012/03/cr...-bean-chicken/ 3. Hawaiian chicken sandwiches - I really like this, but DH needs some more "kick" to it. I need to find some kind of spice or something to add... maybe a teriyaki sauce? It's still a keeper - I just need to tweak it. http://www.six-cents.com/2012/06/cro...oking-101.html 4. I am going to try beef empanadas and Best Ever Beef Dip Sandwhiches soon. I'm buying the stuff tomorrow, putting the empanadas directly into the freezer but will have the beef sandwhiches this week for dinner and will freeze the rest for when baby comes (any day now....) This site looks really promising! http://joelens.blogspot.com/2007/01/...ake-ahead.html I haven't gotten to this site yet, but there are some recipes that look promising: http://sasrecipes.blogspot.com/search/label/Freezer I am just beginning with all of this, and I'm not an experienced cook (learning though). I think you really just have to take it one recipe at a time to see what works for you and what doesn't. __________________ Eileen, wife to Ben and Mom to Estelle Marie 7-09 and a little bun that's baking.

10-07-2012, 06:44 PM	#5
Deanie Registered Users Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: PA Posts: 1,388 Ratings: 3 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: Freezer cooking for a month Oh, and regarding BPA, I agree w/ pp. I think the main concern is when it's heated, OR when used for a long period of time. So, to put it in the freezer for a month or two shouldn't be an issue. I think that freezing anything makes whatever leaching or chemical reaction is going on slow down too. __________________ Eileen, wife to Ben and Mom to Estelle Marie 7-09 and a little bun that's baking.