freezer meals

9 Make-Ahead, Freezable Hot Breakfast Recipes

Elizabeth Lang — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 10:36:42 +0000

There's nothing quite like a hot breakfast — cold cereal just doesn't cut it. Besides tasting great, a hot breakfast is more likely to keep you full until lunch. Unfortunately, preparing a hot breakfast takes longer and uses more dishes than cereal and milk. And if you buy pre-made frozen breakfast meals, they are both expensive and filled with a lot of unnatural chemicals.

Thankfully, there are many breakfast recipes that you can make ahead and freeze. When you're in the mood for a hot breakfast, you can take it out of the freezer and warm it up. I've put together my favorite make-ahead and freezable breakfast recipes below. (See also: 5 Awesome, Easy-to-Freeze Meals)

If you prefer weekend brunch to hot weekday breakfast, these recipes also can be made ahead for an upcoming brunch and frozen. The day before the brunch, let the meal defrost in the refrigerator and then reheat in the oven on brunch morning. And to make the casserole-style recipes single-serving size, cut the casserole before freezing, wrap the pieces in tinfoil, and freeze individually.

1. Baked Garlic Cheese Grits

This garlic cheese grits recipe from Paula Dean is far from healthy but is possibly one of the tastiest breakfasts you will ever make. It's simple to make and will freeze for weeks.

2. Pancakes

Pancakes are a great make-ahead dish, and everyone knows that pre-made store-bought frozen pancakes are expensive and loaded with preservatives. Instead, use this basic fluffy pancake recipe to make fluffy, delicious pancakes with just a few ingredients. Let them cool, and then put a piece of parchment paper between each serving of pancakes so you can easily take it out and put it in the microwave.

3. Breakfast Burritos

Breakfast burritos don't need a recipe. The best part about breakfast burritos is that you can add whatever you want to the eggs, mix it up, and put it in a tortilla, and it will taste wonderful. I like scrambled eggs, fried onion, and refried black beans. Wrap the burritos up, freeze them, and heat them up for a hearty breakfast. I like to add a little salsa first thing in the morning after the burrito has been warmed up, since adding it right before eating keeps the tortilla from getting too soft.

4. Waffles

Just like pancakes, pre-made frozen waffles are expensive and filled with preservatives. You can make your own waffles cheaply and easily freeze them and pull them out when you're ready. I like this recipe for easy waffles. For something a little different, add some blueberries or chocolate chips into the batter right when you put it on the waffle iron.

5. Quiche

Make your own pie crust for the best (and cheapest) quiche. Add whatever vegetables you have in the fridge along with some cheese, and you can make a large variety of quiches. Remember to cut it after the quiche has cooled and freeze in individual portions. Two of my favorite quiche recipes are spinach and bacon quiche and cheese quiche.

6. Baked French Toast

Honestly, my all-time favorite brunch recipe is this recipe for orange pecan French toast. It's just like the French toast my aunt used to make at Christmas time. This particular French toast is like the other casseroles in this post, which can be baked, cooled, and then cut into individual pieces, or made for one big brunch.

7. Breakfast Cookies

This breakfast cookie recipe from Myscha is an all-time favorite. Who doesn't love eating cookies for breakfast?

8. Breakfast Bars

They're not quite cookies, but the ingredients in these breakfast bars make them similar to cookies. They are unbelievably easy to make, cut up, and store.

9. Individual Breakfast Pies

These individual breakfast pies can be made in large or small muffin tins, then microwaved as needed. This recipe calls for breakfast sausage, onion, bell pepper, eggs, cheese, and biscuit dough. What combination could be tastier than that?

Do you make hot breakfast most days? Would you make more breakfast it was easier and less time-consuming?

Like this article? Pin it!

This article is from Elizabeth Lang of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

9 Savory Soups That Make Perfect Freezer Meals for Fall

Parenting Squad — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 10:36:41 +0000

Freezer-friendly meals are a busy parent's best friend, especially when we long for a cozy dinner at home but have no time to prepare a meal. One of the best foods to keep in your freezer for nights like these? Soup. It's healthy, hearty, and kid-friendly — and will warm you up on a chilly fall evening. (See also: How to Freeze Foods That "Don't Freeze Well")

Most soups freeze well, but some are better suited to cold autumn nights than others. Your family is sure to enjoy the following freezer-friendly soups this time of year.

1. Crockpot Pasta Fagioli

Stephanie O'Dea's Crockpot Pasta Fagioli is a fall favorite in our house. Her recipe makes quite a lot, so you'll have plenty to freeze.

2. Creamy Carrot Soup

Bring your kids into the kitchen to make Creamy Carrot Soup — or make it yourself and conveniently "forget" to tell them that it's made from a vegetable.

3. Lentil Soup

Lentils are inexpensive and nutritious. Nick Jr.'s Lentil Soup is a simple, kid-friendly recipe, or if your family has a more adventurous palate, try one of these 7 Ways to Make Lentil Soup.

4. Chicken Noodle Soup

Traditional Chicken Noodle is always satisfying, but try surprising your taste buds with a spicy Sichuan-Style Chicken Noodle Soup.

5. A Hearty Stew

Beef stew is a classic hot meal for a cold autumn night, and it freezes well. Also worth trying? Chicken and Sausage Stew with Oven Roasted Potaotes.

6. Black Bean Soup

Keep a batch of Southwest Black Bean soup in your freezer for busy nights, or try Pumpkin and Black Bean Soup for a truly seasonal touch.

7. Turkey Corn Noodle Soup

Leftover turkey? Make Turkey Corn Noodle Soup. (And don't lose the recipe — you'll need it after Thanksgiving.)

8. Mini Meatball Soup

Rachael Ray's Mini Meatball Soup makes a hearty meal that is sure to be a crowd pleaser, especially with the addition of her Grilled Cheese "Sammies."

9. Butternut Squash and Apple Soup

Apples and butternut squash are both in season, so stock up now and make plenty of Butternut Squash and Apple Soup to freeze for later.

Suggestions for Serving Soup

Keep the following tips in mind when serving soup to your family.

If you've never frozen soup before, Soup Chick's advice for how to freeze and reheat soup will come in handy.
Serve soup that someone else made! By hosting a Soup Swap, you can share your own bounty and indulge in a dinner you didn't have to make.
Unless you're counting carbs, round out your meal with bread for dipping. Garlic toast, cornbread, biscuits, or beer muffins could all be the perfect side for your family's favorite soup.

What is your family's favorite fall soup? Does it freeze well?

Freezer meals are a busy parent's best friend. These nine freezer-friendly soups are perfect for keeping your family warm on those chilly fall nights.

Guest Post Blurb:

This post is by Alyssa Chirco from our sister blog, Parenting Squad. Visit Parenting Squad for more parenting tips and news:

This article is from Parenting Squad of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

5 Awesome Easy to Freeze Meals

Elizabeth Lang — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:00:10 +0000

Knowing that I'd be short on time as a first year law student, my mom offered to help me cook in bulk at the beginning of fall semester. The batch method proved to be a lifesaver by the time finals rolled around (and I'm still feasting on a few of the items).

Here are 5 of my favorite easy to freeze meals. Make these recipes ahead of time and you'll be incredibly grateful when life gets busy.

1. Meat Loaf in Muffin Tins

Use any of your favorite meat loaf recipes (mine happens to be a sweeter version with ketchup and brown sugar like this one). When you bake the meat loaf, cook it in muffin tins instead of a regular pan. Be sure to cut down on cooking time to account for the smaller portions.

2. Lasagna

Like the meat loaf, there's a great freezing trick. Cook the lasagna. Then chill it in the refrigerator overnight. Finally, cut it into individual pieces, wrap each piece in plastic wrap, and then freeze.

Make a vegetable based lasagna to even out the meat dishes. Check out these recipes: cheese vegetable lasagna or artichoke spinach lasagna.

3. Chicken Curry

Chicken curry and rice an be cooked ahead of time then packaged and stored in small containers. I save plastic parmesean cheese or salsa containers for this purpose. Just be sure to cook on a plate so that you don't melt the plastic.

My favorite chicken curry recipe happens to be this one:

4 T butter
6 T flour
2 T curry (use a gourmet curry such as one from Penzeys)
3 c chicken broth
1 c cream
1 c chutney (major grey's is good)
4 cooked chicken breasts, diced

Melt butter, add flour and cook until smooth. Add curry, broth chicken and chutney and cook until heated through. Add cream and cook until hot and thickened (do not boil).

When you put together the individual services add some toppings — raisins, peanuts, and coconut are my favorites.

4. Chili

In the middle of sub-zero January temperatures few dishes taste better than chili. Like the curry, you can freeze in smaller containers, throw on some toppings, and then when the going gets tough, dig in. For all you Purdue fans, I've made this chili and it's amazing.

5. Breakfast Muffins

Don't forget about breakfast. Make one of these healthy bran muffins or banana muffins recipes and store them in your freezer. Grab one on your way out the door and it will be thawed by the time you get to work or school.

What are your favorite easy to freeze recipes? Do you have any tips on preparing for individual size portions?

This article is from Elizabeth Lang of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: