Thursday, March 25, 2010

Calling all Cooks!

I know that I've been a wee bit needy lately; taking more than I've been giving in terms of advice or inspiration, and as much as I'd like to promise you that this is the last time that I will try to wrench feedback or advice out of you, my friends, we both know that there is zero chance of that being the case. At any rate, I need the help of you, my fellow foodies, moms and creative cooks to assist me in helping someone else.

As some of you might already know, my brother-in-law, Jim, just deployed (again) to Afghanistan, leaving his wonderful wife, Jen, back home in Tennessee with their two beautiful little boys, a very precocious 4-year-old, and a 3-month old sweet baby boy. In what has become a family vacation/mission of mercy, my husband, kids and I are flying out to Tennessee over spring break to give Jen a little breather after a month home alone with the boys. Job #1 is to kick Jen out and send her butt to the spa for a day, and get me some serious baby/toddler snuggle time with my nephews. Job #2 is to cook a big old mess of freezer dinners for Jen & her oldest to eat for the next month or so to give Jen a little break from cooking. And so I look to you. Do you have any kid-friendly, freezes-well, healthy freezer meal recipe ideas to share?

The only parameters here are that it can't include any seafood (fish are friends, not food, so says Jen), that it look and taste yummy once it's been thawed and reheated and that it be relatively healthful. You can leave your recipe in a comment, leave me a link or send me an email at pisceschick 99 @ gmail dot com. I appreciate you all so much and I can't wait to see what you've got for me!

P.S. - If you email me your address, I'll send y'all a postcard from Tennessee, and maybe bring back a goody or two for a giveaway offering. ;)


Jim, Jen, Me, Bill and the kiddos, last year at Disney World. P.P.S. - I've lost 70 pounds since then! :)

3 comments:

  1. Off the top of my head I think of enchiladas and lasagna. And chicken pot pie :) I know its getting to be warmer weather but what about soups/stews? Those freeze well and are nice for lunches and fast dinners, something a busy mom needs. I'll put my thinking cap on and come up with some more ideas :) I love a good challenge!

    Congrats Michelle on your weight loss!!! You should be very very proud of yourself!! I'm proud of you :) I too have been on a weight loss journey - I've lost about 70 lbs as well :) Go us!

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  2. Great minds... :) Enchiladas and lasagna were two of my must-make entrees! I'm also thinking mini-meatloaves and/or meatballs. Something quick and satisfying, you know?

    I might also need to introduce her to the joy known as "breakfast for dinner". Always a winner with the kiddos.

    And congrats on your weight loss too! Holy mackerel, what a difference a few dozen pounds make! ;)

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  3. This is easy! Baked spaghetti - bake your spaghetti, cook your meat, add sauce, dump in casserole dish, top with cheese and pop in the freezer covered with foil. Thaw in fridge and heat. I always make triple batches of this for us to have on hand. Sausage sandwiches are another one that sausage can be cooked and mixed with sauce and frozen. Homemade mac n cheese freezes well. Brown some ground beef and freeze it - can mix tacco seasoning with it so all she has to do is thaw it. Enchiladas are good too. Meatloaf freezes well (I never cook mine before freezing though). Good luck!
    Kris

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