Make ahead meals to stock your freezer

Make ahead meals to stock your freezer

As September rolls in and the family is back to school, the pace in the household inevitably gets a whole lot more hectic. Spend an afternoon before things get in full swing and stock your freezer. You’ll be eternally grateful when, in a moment of meal panic, you open the freezer to see that you’ve got it all covered.

Cooking at home is a great way to stay on budget during expensive September as well.

Breakfast burritos

No time for breakfast? Yes you do. Freeze handheld breakfast burritos that can easily (and quickly) be microwaved for a hearty on-the-go meal.

Fill a 9 inch tortilla with scrambled eggs, shredded cheese and diced peppers and onions. Wrap tightly in saran wrap. Remove from freezer, unwrap and rewrap in paper towels. Microwave for 60 seconds. Breakfast is served.

Chicken Parmesan Casserole

This is a quick and easy version of the comfort favourite.

Fill a 9×13 greased baking pan with 4 cups of cooked chopped chicken. Keep the pieces fairly large. Cover the chicken with 2 cups of your favourite pasta sauce. Sprinkle liberally with ½ cup to a cup of mozzarella cheese. Cover with 2 tbsp. of Italian breadcrumbs. Wrap tightly and store in the freezer.

To reheat, put thawed casserole in 375°F oven for about 30 minutes, or until sauce is bubbling.

Chicken pot pie

Speaking of comfort foods, this one is a great staple.

Fill a 9×13 greased baking pan with 2 cups of chopped chicken. Mix in 1 cup each of the following: celery, carrots, onions and potatoes. Mix a can of cream of mushroom soup with 3tbsp milk and salt and pepper to taste. Add soup to chicken and vegetable mixture, stirring well.

For the topping, unroll a piece of thawed puff pastry. Pierce in several locations to allow for steam to escape. Wrap tightly and store in the freezer.

To reheat, bake thawed at 425°F for about 45 minutes, or until crust is brown and soup sauce is bubbling.