Hey everyone!
As you know, I’ve been trying harder and harder to cook for myself at home and avoid eating out on the go. Over the last week or so, I’ve made some bulk meals that I can throw in the freezer and have on hand for those crazy days when I don’t have a lot of time to prepare a healthy meal. A couple of people have asked what my go-to, make-ahead meals are, so I want to share with you the last couple of things I’ve cooked up!
First, there was soup…
This big pot of soup is just a modified version of the Weight Watchers garden vegetable soup. A whole head of cabbage and kale, lots of zucchini, carrots, onion, green beans and peas with vegetable or chicken broth, some different seasonings…this pot made almost 25 cups of soup! I divided it into 2-1/2 cup containers and put a couple in the fridge for the next couple of days and the rest in the freezer. On days when I know that I will be busy, I can take a container out of the freezer before I go to the gym in the morning and leave it out to thaw until lunchtime.
Another thing I made last week to stock up my freezer with is a big batch of slow cooker black beans. Again, this is a super simple and easy recipe that is healthy too! I soaked 5 cups of dry black beans overnight in the fridge, then in the morning put them in my slow cooker and covered them with fresh water. I added a medium sized onion (about 2 cups, chopped), 2 jalapeno peppers (deseeded and diced) and a couple teaspoons of salt. I cooked them on low for 8 hours, adding a couple of handfuls of cilantro leaves, roughly chopped, right before the end of cooking.
The batch made 10 cups of beans! I divided them into 10 containers of 1 cup each. Each container is good for a serving or two of beans…delicious with a little brown rice and avocado!
Here is my freezer today…a nice stack of soup and beans just waiting for a busy day! (Or just a day when I’m craving something light, healthy and homemade!)
Some other great things to make ahead are chili, some casseroles or lasagna. In individual containers, they would make a super easy and healthy meal on the go!
How about you? Do you cook ahead and freeze for later? What are some of your favorite things to have on hand for those busy days?
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for the ideas. Black beans are delish, and can make so many different meals.
I heart them bunches.
I use to make recipes that called for 9×13 pans and separate them into two 8×3 pans. My friend taught me to spray the pan, line it with heavy duty aluminum foil. Then you dump in the casserole/food item and freeze it. After it’s frozen solid, pull the entire aluminum foil-covered dish out. Wrap in another layer of foil and all your pans needed for cooking aren’t stored away in the freezer. I was so glad she told me that because I just kept going out buying more expensive 8×8′s. LOL. It also took less room in my freezer. But then I did a dumb thing and tried lining a big bowl with foil and pouring my soup in it. I pulled the frozen soup clump out. This was fine until it was time to heat the soup. The foil got stuck all in crevices of the soup. Haha. Oh well, live and learn.
Staci recently posted..An Early Post and the Rest of the Week
Great ideas!!! I think I know what I’ll be doing this weekend
Jen@FoodFamilyFitness recently posted..Cold Turkey