Im preparing for my post partum period and wanting to gather recipes for meals that can easily be frozen and reheated for my post partum period. I plan on cooking between now and july. Anyone have any advice?

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Formerly~Stressedmama/Amanda81~

Amanda-Happily married to James (2/01)
Mom to Sarah 5/98, Mikayla 5/01, Tyler 10/02 and Noah 10/03
and expecting a surprise August 2005.

Meatballs freeze really well and can be served a variety of ways.
Have them with spaghetti or other favorite italian pasta,
red sauce or with alfredo sauce.
They also good with gravy and egg noodles.

Meatballs:
1 lb ground beef
1 lb pork sausage
1 chopped onion
1 clove garlic chopped
salt and pepper to taste.
1 egg

Mix all ingredients and make meat ball shapes. Place in cake pan (with higher edges than cookie sheet). Bake at 450* for 15 minutes or longer depending on the size of the meatball.

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Broccoli Rice Casserole
1 small onion-chopped
1/2 c. chopped celery
1 pkg (10 oz) frozen chopped broccoli-thawed
1 T. butter
Saute in medium skillet for 3-5 minutes then stir in:
1 jar cheese whiz (8 oz)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can evaporated milk
Cook until smooth-stir in 2 c. diced ham or chicken (precooked)
Place 3. cups cooked rice in a greased 8 inch baking dish. Pour cheese mixture over. do NOT stir!!!!
(Freeze)
Bake, uncovered at 325 for 25-30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
Serves 8-10.
Tips: thaw before cooking, if frozen.
Could be halved, and frozen into 2 smaller meals to serve 4-5.

Steph's Homemade Chili
1 lb ground beef-cooked
1 lg. green pepper-chopped
1 lg onion-chopped
1 med. Tomato-chopped
1 chili seasoning packet
3 c. Tomato sauce
1/2 tsp pepper
2 cans kidney beans-rinsed and drained
2 cans chili beans
Combine all ingredients and freeze. To cook, thaw and place in a crockpot on low for at least 5 hours.
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Noodle stroganoff
** Super easy OAMC (once a month cooking) instructions...
this is how i do it for OAMC..
use a gallon freezer bag and put it in a large measuring cup to support it..
1 lb (I use 2c.) cooked ground beef seasoned with onion and garlic
1 large can (8 oz) canned mushrooms (if you use fresh sauté them some)
1 can beef broth
3 Tblsp Lemon Juice
3 Tblsp red wine

To Freeze.. bag together, label, date and freeze..

To Serve.. defrost.. add 3 cups noodles ( I add the whole bag but need to add a little liquid) cook till noodles are tender then stir in 1c. sour cream (or more if you have added extra noodles) warm slightly and serve...

My family eats this like madmen!! I have had to continually stretch this with more mushrooms and noodles to get enough for my family.. You can of course lighten this any way you like or use beef soup base or homemade broth if that is your wish..

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Pepperoni Pizza Pasta (Stephanie's favorite!)

8 oz. (2 c) uncooked ziti (long, tubular pasta) or Rotini
1 14 oz. jar pizza sauce
2 oz. sliced pepperoni, halved. (about 3/4 cup)
1/4 c. finely chopped green pepper
1/4 c. Parmesean cheese
1/2 tsp. dried Oregano leaves
1 garlic clove, minced
4 oz. (1 c. ) shredded Mozzarella cheese
Optional:
sliced mushrooms
sliced black olives
other pizza toppings you like

1. Heat oven to 375. Spray an 8 inch square (2 qt) baking dish with Pam spray.
2. Cook Ziti to desired doneness as directed on the package. Drain.
3. In large bowl, combine cooked ziti, sauce, pepperoni, bell pepper, parmesean, oregano and garlic. Mix well.
Spoon into bakign dish, sprinkle with mozzarella. Cover with foil (freeze here)
4. Bake at 375 for 30-35 minutes or until mixture is heated through and cheese is melted

Note: when freezing: take out of freezer and bake 375 for 1 hour. Uncover. Then add mozzarella and bake 10 more minutes.
(this is one of my absolute favorites!!! YUMMY!)

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Potato Cheese Casserole

2 lbs Frozen hashbrowns
1 c. sour cream
2 c. cheddar cheese-shredded
1 can cream of celery soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 med. onion-chopped
1/2 c. melted butter
2 c. chopped ham or chicken (cooked)

Mix all ingredients well. It may help to allow hashbrowns to thaw on counter for 15 minutes before mixing. Place all in a 9X13 pan. (freeze here) Bake at 350 for 1 hour.
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Sloppy Joe Meat Sauce

2 lb hamburger
1 can tomato soup
2 tsp. vinegar
2 tsp. mustard
1 onion-chopped
2 tsp. brown sugar
4 tsp. ketchup
2 tsp. worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp. garlic powder

Brown Hamb and onion, add remaining ingredients and simmer.

Freeze

To heat-thaw partially, and place in crockpot on low for 4 hours. Serve with buns.
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Steph's Lasagne

1 lb ground beef
1/4 tsp. thyme
1 bay leaf-crushed
1 T. basil
1/4 tsp. oregano
1 clove garlic-minced
Brown hamb, with these spices, then add in:
2 cans tomato soup
2 (6oz.) cans tomato paste
1 c. water

In a separate bowl mix:
3 c. cottage cheese
2 beaten eggs
1/2 tsp pepper 2 T. parsley flakes
1/2 c. parmesean cheese

Other Ingredients:
10 oz. Lasagne Noodles (uncooked)
1 lb. Mozzarella

Method:
Layer in a large baking dish:
Noodles
Cottage Cheese mix
Mozzarella
Meat mix
Repeat for second layer

Freeze.
To bake: Thaw then add 1/2 cup warm water, to soften noodles, and bake at 350 for 45 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
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Sweet -N- Sour Meatloaf

3/4 c. oatmeal
3/4 c. milk
1 lb hamburger
1 1/2 tsp. salt
7 t. chopped onion (divided)
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 T. worcestershire sauce
3 T. Vinegar
3 T. brown Sugar
1 c. ketchup
Method: Soak oatmeal in milk. In seperate bowl, compine hamburger, salt, 1 T. onion, pepper and then add oatmeal mixture. Mix well. Put in baking dish. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Combine worcestershire sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup, 1/2 c. water adn the 6 T. onion. Mix well. Pour over meat. Poke holes in meat to allow sauce to penetrate. Bake at 320 for 1 hour uncovered.
If freezing: Make meat mix, place in loaf pan, pour sauce over, poke holes. Freeze. When cooking, let thaw for 1 hour, then bake at 320 for 1 hour, or until done.

People say oatmeal helps on milk supply for breastfeeding, I have been making these weekly ... YumCity!!!!!!!!
VANISHING OATMEAL BARS
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup raisins
1 cup walnuts, coarsely ground
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cinnamon
3 cups rolled oats (instant or old fashion)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Beat butter or margarine and sugars, until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and spices. Add to the egg mixture. Stir well.
Stir in oats, nuts, raisins and mix well. Pour and spread evenly into ungreased 9x13 dark pan (not clear glass). Bake 30-35 minutes. Cool 1 minute and remove to wire rack. When cool store in airtight container.
NOTE: You can add butterscotch or chocolate pieces in place of the raisins.

I cut these up into bar size, wrapped in saran wrap, and froze. Grabbed one as I needed, great for on the go!

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HOUSEPLANTGIRL
Wife to my highschool sweetie for 12 years
Mommy to "Little Man" (10-my Tween!)
"Angel Amanda" (stillborn)
"Baby Bean" (miscarried)
"Lil Miss Sassy Pants" (now in the Terrific 3's!!!!!)
"Mr. Squishey" (is now ONE!!! )

Hey Stephanie! You Have Some Wonderfil Recipes, What Happend To The Post On Our Snowbabies Board????? Shame Shame Shame...lol

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Yeah, I dunno, maybe not enough people interested in recipes??!?!
Oh well, I guess it's you and me here!! LOL!
S

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HOUSEPLANTGIRL
Wife to my highschool sweetie for 12 years
Mommy to "Little Man" (10-my Tween!)
"Angel Amanda" (stillborn)
"Baby Bean" (miscarried)
"Lil Miss Sassy Pants" (now in the Terrific 3's!!!!!)
"Mr. Squishey" (is now ONE!!! )

If you get some foil containers from the grocery store (or Walmart!) you can make lasagnes...cover with saran, then foil, and freeze. To cook, just remove coverings, and cook at a low temp with new (puffy) foil on top for a couple of hours if it's still frozen, or an hour or so at about 400F if you've had a chance to thaw it. When I make a batch for the freezer (I usually make 10 small and 4 medium-sized) I make the sauce a bit more watery than usual so the edges don't burn on reheating.

You can also make a couple of huge lasagnes, bake them, then once cooled, cut into pieces to be wrapped in saranwrap for the freezer, if it's easier to microwave the pieces.

Have fun cooking!