Make ahead and/or idiot-proof suggestions for meals

[aome]

I recently learned that I'll be having shoulder surgery in May. (Yes, I know, that's 3 months hence, but I'm thinking about it now.) My dominant arm will be in a sling for 4 weeks, so I'm looking for suggestions of dishes I could make in advance with the crock and freeze so my family (husband and two school-age kids) will have something to eat

Comments

[leatherfemme]

Chili and lentil stew both freze well

[aome]

Do you have a favorite chili recipe, preferably not super-hot?

[cornmouse]

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/its-chili-by-george/

Sorry to butt in, but I love this recipe! It's a fantastic base recipe and is beyond easy to make. It's also easy to customize to whatever you're in the mood for, and it freezes well. I add corn, mushrooms, cinnamon, wine, and fresh green beans if they're in season. Basically, it's delicious and easy to cater to your personal tastes, and isn't hot (unless you want it to be, but the base recipe that is linked isn't hot at all).

I hope your surgery goes well and that you recover swiftly.

[komickrazi]

I can't do spicy foods, so I make a bland chili and provide hot sauce for people to add if they want to make a spicy chili.

The recipe is:
-Can of kidney beans
-can of black beans
-can of chick peas
-can of brown beas
-ground beef/pork/chicken/turkey or crumbled tofu (Pick your fave!)
-can of corn
-can of diced tomatoes
-chopped up bell peppers (your favorite color, or a mix of colors)
-handful of peppercorns (the only really spicy thing I add)
-pinch of salt
-garlic (to your liking...)

Dump everything in the crock, mix and turn on!
Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or high for 4-6 hours.
No need to add water, the juices from the canned items and meat fat are enough to keep the chili moist.

I usually make 3 or 4 meals out of this. I will divide the chili into containers to freeze for individual meals.

[mywishfulthnkng]

When I make salsa chicken in the crock pot (with black beans, corn, and cream cheese), I always freeze half of it for later, and it thaws well.

[aome]

Oooh, that sounds delicious. Recipe?

[mywishfulthnkng]

Here ya go! This was the recipe I used when I first made it. I love it with verde (green) salsa the best! The chicken just shreds apart when it's done cooking. This is my hubby's favorite meal that I make!

http://www.food.com/recipe/crock-pot-chicken-w-black-beans-and-cream-cheese-yum-89204

[blueyz72]

I've made similar but without the cream cheese(sometimes I throw in cut up green peppers instead of canned corn - or us frozen corn, just tastes different).

That being said I'm hoping can get to store today, just found a large container of salsa I forgot I have but out of chicken.

[neptunia67]

Chicken, vegetable & rice soup freezes well. Noodle soups, not so much.

I also sometimes do a roast or pork chops in the crock and freeze the leftovers into lunch-size portions. You could freeze the cooked meat and mashed potatoes and they could reheat and add a veggie on the side.

[aome]

I don't have a good chicken/veggie/rice soup recipe for the crock (only for the stove). Do you have one you could share?

[neptunia67]

Sure. Put a whole chicken into the crock with a couple stalks of celery, a couple of carrots, an onion (all chopped roughly), half a dozen peppercorns, and a couple of bay leaves. Add a couple sprigs of fresh thyme if you have some on hand. Cook until the chicken is tender (5 hours on high, 8 hour on low). Remove the chicken to a plate and strain the broth. Discard the vegetables and herbs/spices.

At this point I'll often finish the soup off on the stove.

Otherwise you can put the broth back into the pot and add the rice, chopped carrots, celery and onion. While that's cooking, remove the chicken from the bones. After about an hour, add other veggies such as frozen peas, fresh or frozen green beans, corn, lima beans. Add some chopped fresh parsley, too, about 1/4 cup. Also add the meat back in. Cook on high for another 30-60 minutes or until the veggies are tender.

If you finish it off on the stovetop, cut the times above in half.

[mywishfulthnkng]

Beef stew freezes/thaws well too

[neptunia67]

Oh! Also pulled pork and/or chicken freezes really well.