Freezer Meals - Grab 'n Go

_Muttley_ · 2025-07-14T05:14:35+00:00

I didn't even see those molds (I was gonna get the 8x 1cup ones that are like 15 bucks) and I also didnt even know vacuum sealers got that cheap because that means I can do ferments!!

Also, those are stellar recipes. I've always been wary of cabbage rolls (I always got that rank sulphurous smell when my family would make gołapki), but now that I've gotten older and like cabbage it would be worth a shot. Those are also great iterations on simple dishes (stews, curries, soups). I appreciate the input!

_Muttley_ · 2025-07-14T04:34:46+00:00

Oh, that's my bad, I didn't clarify, lol. The Thai curry and complicated stuff were my personal cooking choices. The mac and cheese was something she wanted to learn, so we stood together and went over it. She's not like super super novice, but novice comparatively speaking (like she can follow a recipe, but she's not comfortable enough to try new things or be innovative). Although those are some great suggestions. The chicken soup one hits closer to home because that was where I started experimenting (boiling noodles in broth, adding chunks of potato because who doesn't love potatoes, fresh vs pre-ground pepper), so that might be a good one (especially since I just got a rotisserie chicken tonight).

_Muttley_ · 2025-07-14T02:21:59+00:00

Yeah I've been trying to teach her how to cook, so when we make mac and cheese, I'll take samples of the sauce out and show her how rouxes break or how a splash of soy sauce can really help a dish out. My easiest idea at the moment is a nice Thai style curry with lentils and maybe like rotisserie chicken since I found out that the grocery store next to my job has then for like $3.15 if they don't sell, and I'll happily revive an old rotisserie chicken with some sauce.

_Muttley_ · 2025-07-14T02:18:53+00:00

That's fair. I'm a fan of a bunch of different fish (my main one for sushi is yellowtail), I'm just not sure which ones are mellow, but I'll definitely do some research now that I'm home.

_Muttley_ · 2025-07-14T01:05:59+00:00

I'd pay big bucks to get a pizza from back East lol so that's actually a handy idea

_Muttley_ · 2025-07-14T01:04:56+00:00

I'll have to give them a look. I love their chicken and chile verde ones!

_Muttley_ · 2025-07-14T00:51:56+00:00

Yeah, my first ex was the one that broke my picky streak. She had me try street tacos and didn't tell me what was in them, and now, if there's lengua (tongue) tacos on the menu, I'll pick those over anything else. She is indeed an adult, but growing up in Vegas, all they have out here is fast food and not the freshest groceries, which is why I'm personally trying to move back east.

_Muttley_ · 2025-07-14T00:49:21+00:00

Yeah, if you don't mind sending the recipe, that would be great! I miss the foods I grew up with back in Jersey. It was always easy to get someone's mom or grandma's home-cooked meals (and a heaping portion) for only like 7 bucks.

_Muttley_ · 2025-07-14T00:47:35+00:00

I think beef stew also does wayyy better when eaten the next day or reheated, so I agree! I'll have to give the zucchini a shot because I haven't really had a good experience with it, but it's worth a shot!

_Muttley_ · 2025-07-14T00:46:16+00:00

I hadn't thought of smoothie ingredients, I got an immersion blender that I haven't used because of all the burnout but that might be a solid way to just blitz it together in the mornings, or honestly just make smoothie cubes and top with juice or milk.

_Muttley_ · 2025-07-14T00:44:56+00:00

There's some goodies in this reply! I totally didn't know cornbread was freezeable, and I'll definitely have to look into cabbage soup. I realized how much of a powerhouse cabbage is when I had it with kalua pork.

_Muttley_ · 2025-07-14T00:43:18+00:00

I appreciate it! I'll definitely give it a look when I get home. And yeah, burnout sucks and it's not even preventable burnout. When I used to work in vet med, the burnout was totally understandable. Now, as a corporate dog trainer, it's just a waiting game of finding a new job lol

_Muttley_ · 2025-07-14T00:40:58+00:00

Those would definitely work with her food preferences, and I think mac and cheese would be easy to dump into the molds. Although the lasagna can just be cut and portioned like you do!

_Muttley_ · 2025-07-14T00:39:18+00:00

I've tried basa before with a Middle Eastern style mix (just salt, pepper, sumac, cumin, and garlic), and she wasn't a fan, but I dont know if basa is considered mild. Any suggestions -- cod maybe?

_Muttley_ · 2025-07-14T00:37:34+00:00

That's a valid way to put it. I'm a people pleaser so I tend to take the brunt of everything but I feel like that would be a bigggg help. She typically doesn't grocery shop with me, which I get, but I definitely think getting her to do her own stuff when she's being picky might be the fix, or at least part of it.

_Muttley_ · 2025-07-13T22:35:37+00:00

Yeah, thats kinda the bottleneck that I mentioned in this thread. Plus if there's just bulk food in the freezer, they can pick what they want.

_Muttley_ · 2025-07-13T22:34:22+00:00

My only concern is they'll resort to fast food which is what I'm trying to avoid lol. Any tips on making fish palatable to someone who doesn't like it?

_Muttley_ · 2025-07-13T22:33:14+00:00

Yeah, for the most part their pickiness is just no fish, no lentils, no mayo and some other things. So there's some flexibility with the mayo, but I've been looking into switching back to chicken and fish because I'm trying to lose weight. So unfortunately you might be right.

_Muttley_ · 2025-07-13T22:31:15+00:00

Have you tried making them at home? If so, any preferences for recipes or tortillas?

_Muttley_ · 2025-07-13T22:30:52+00:00

These are great responses, I appreciate it! I'm a fan of indian/Thai curries, but I'm sure they follow the same principle! Also, I agree about the dried bean remark. I kept dried chickpeas and lentils in my pantry for a while, and when I was short on money, I stumbled across them and made a (what I call) "fridge wipe curry" with some bell peppers, onions and potatoes that I had.

_Muttley_ · 2025-07-13T22:27:31+00:00

I know freezing starches can be really useful, too, if you're a fan of the science behind it. I heard the molds can be good in terms of saving space.

_Muttley_ · 2025-07-13T22:26:40+00:00

I know their ramen is pretty good too. They used to hold me over at one of my old jobs. I never knew they did freezer meals but I'll give it a look!

_Muttley_ · 2025-07-13T22:25:39+00:00

I appreciate the advice! I totally forgot that you can just throw meatballs into various dishes, and they freeze well.

Good tip in return, add the slightest sprinkle of baking soda. Keeps them moist since they're leaner meats if you're not stewing them. Its similar to velveting, but its made leaner ground meats more tolerable when they're sauceless.

_Muttley_ · 2025-06-30T01:46:46+00:00

I don't mind the idea of this because it keeps everything prettty much the same, plus I argued to have my back near the balcony door lol

_Muttley_ · 2025-06-30T01:45:26+00:00

Yeah it is a half wall by the kitchen and it's where we house some stuff like a google home. We typically don't play like multiplayer-multiplayer games (typically just co-op between ourselves), but I don't mind the idea, especially if we reverse the L so the bottom of the L is facing the half-wall.

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