When you hear the phrase ‘frozen food’ you are likely to think of mushy, poor quality and nutrient void food that you hate having to serve to your family. However, there are many homemade meals that you can make with ease and in bulk that freeze well and also reheat with ease.
Chilli con Carne
This family favourite makes for a midweek supper and is really easy to make in bulk. This is also a great meal to make in your slow cooker. Start by frying onions, peppers and garlic together until they are soft and translucent. Add minced beef and lamb together with canned tomatoes and some fresh herbs. Add enough beef stock to cover the meat and bring to the boil. Once the pot has boiled, turn it down to a slow simmer and leave until the stock has all but boiled off. Once the chilli is cold, split it into portions and put into containers before freezing.
Chicken Curry
Chicken curry is another dish that is easy to make in a large scale. It freezes well and is even better days after it has been made as the spices and flavours develop. You can buy a jar of curry sauce, or make your own from fresh herbs and spices, tomatoes, yogurt and stock. Making your own sauce means that you can achieve the level of spice that suits your family. I have also found that making the sauce more mild than the adults in your family might like allows you to add some spice when it is served. Cook chicken and onion together until cooked through before adding the sauce and simmering. Freeze the curry in portions once it has cooled.
Sausage Casserole
Sausage casserole is a easy dish to make and can be frozen well if you leave out the potatoes. It is easy to cook potatoes to go with the casserole and mix them in once the rest of the casserole has been warmed up. Put diced carrots, peas, onions in a frying pan with some flour and salt and pepper. Cook until the ingredients are browned. Take out of the pan and put into a large casserole dish. Heat the pan on a high heat before adding good quality sausages to the pan and browning them. This is an important step in the process because the browning of the sausages is what ensures that they are tasty and moreish. If you are making the casserole for adults or older children, you might also like to add some onion chutney and stir in. Add stock and water until the ingredients are covered with liquid. Bake on low in the oven, checking regularly and adding some water if needed. Once cooked and then cooled, distribute the casserole into containers before popping in the freezer.
When you are ready to eat these meals, you can defrost them in the fridge before heating them in the microwave or oven. Served with fresh rice, vegetables and warm bread will make these meals great mid-week meals that are low on prep time and high taste!
