Preparing For Baby: Freezer Meals

There are a lot of articles and blog posts out there telling you what you do and don't need to do to prepare for a baby.  I'm going to add something to that list because, well, it was a life saver right after I had Katherine over four years ago.

Freezer meals.

I remember reading about stocking the freezer with meals that can be popped into the oven for a nice home cooked meal once the "stopping by to see the baby" meals stop. 

Last time, I headed to Sam's Club to buy frozen casseroles by the bulk to have post baby, as well as making a few of my own concoctions. 

This time, I've stocked our basement freezer with meals and desserts from recipes online.

I've used this recipe for Meat Sauce, which can be used on spaghetti or on garlic toast. 

I also made Lasagna Roll Ups, Mexican Tortilla Casserole, and Baked Ziti, all wrapped tightly in disposable pans with baking instructions written on the outside. 

After the baby has arrived, we will clearly need cookies.  So I made chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, and peanut butter oatmeal monster cookies and froze them for a quick snack or dessert.  Make sure to flash freeze the cookies before actually packing them in freezer bags.  I froze the sugar cookies in log form so they can be sliced and baked later. 

Freezing meals and cookies can also come in handy when you want to share a dish with someone in need or if you have unexpected dinner guests. 

In our upstairs freezer, I've made smoothie packs for post baby.  More about that in the last blog post. 

All was going well until Jason discovered the stash of food and snacks in the basement freezer.  It will be hard keeping him out of them for the next 8 weeks.