A Call for Recipes

Wednesday, April 22, 2009
As some of you may know, I have a local relative who has recently been diagnosed with cancer. She's a tough broad, so I'm optimistic about her outcome, and she will be starting her treatment fairly quickly.

Being who I am, I feel the need to DO SOMETHING TO HELP. And seeing as how she does most of the cooking at her house, I've decided that DOING SOMETHING will take the form of providing prepared frozen meals for her and her family.

There are some restrictions, though - she won't be able to eat anything spicy, and that presents a problem for me. Many of the casseroles and such that I like to make (and that freeze well) are spicy.

So I'm calling on my tens of readers to help me out, here: I NEED RECIPES. I don't want to just search for them on the Internet, since you never know how they'll turn out. Here's my criteria:
  • Must freeze well.
  • Must be relatively mild in terms of spices.
  • I prefer casseroles, but I'm open to other options.
  • I want personal recommendations - things you've made and enjoyed, and require very little labor to reheat.
I already have an awesome mac-n-cheese recipe, and I'm planning on making some of my from-scratch chicken-noodle soup, but I'm up for anything else.

Thanks for your help, friends. I have no homework on Saturday, the SmartMan's working, and I will be a COOKING FOOL.

12 comments:

neurondoc said...

Are you interested in recipes for things that aren't main dishes? If so, then I have a great one for cranberry-pumpkin bread that freezes bee-yoo-tifully. (Although it is totally the wrong season for it...)

Janiece said...

I'll take it, if you don't mind e:mailing me the details! Thanks, Natalie!

Random Michelle K said...

I've got some good soup recipes that freeze well. Does she have other dietary restrictions, such as corn? I've got an awesome soup that can be spiced up or toned down.

For casseroles, I have a fabulous recipe for Turkey Pie, which is one of my favorite foods *ever*.

For quick nights, Michael makes and freezes turkey burgers, which he can just pull out of the freezer and put on the skillet. (The secret here is to freeze the burgers on foil/waxed paper covered cookies trays. The next day you pull them out of the freezer, separate them with waxed paper, and put them back in the freezer in bags.)

Janiece said...

Michelle, if you wouldn't mind sending along the soup recipes, I'll see what sounds good to her.

Does the turkey pie freeze well, or does freezing make the crust soggy?

Anonymous said...

I don't know if any of my recipes freeze well. They've never lasted that long (and I don't tend to make a lot).

Are things that are heavy on tomato products okay?

WendyB_09 said...

Let me check the ole recipe file when I get home. I do believe I've got a couple to contribute. Most likely tuna casserole and zuchini bread.

The tuna casserole is very mild and not overly tuna-y. It's my comfort food I fix when my stomach's being cranky and I can't eat anything much.

Janiece said...

Carol Elaine, I think tomato-y will be okay.

Wendy, I have my Hot Mom's recipe for zucchini bread, but I'll take the tuna casserole.

Random Michelle K said...

Crust is fine. I freeze it uncooked, then bake it, so the crust bakes fine.

Cindi in CO said...

If you'll call me tonight and fill me in, I've got a pretty good casserole recipe that would work....

Janiece said...

Michelle, that sounds great. Please send it, if you would be so kind.

Cindi, will do.

Anne C. said...

I have a great lasagna recipe. It can be frozen before cooking, then unfrozen and cooked. Would be happy to send you the recipe if you like.

Steve Buchheit said...

Lasagna Wraps

Take a pound of polska kielbasa (or any large link sausage), separate links, cut links in half lengthwise. Add a slice (or two) of your favorite cheese (cheddar) on flat top, wrap in cooked lasagna noodles (should make eight pieces).

In a glass casserole dish, add some pasta sauce on bottom to lightly coat, place wrapped sausages in dish 1 deep, add any extra lasagna noodles on top (or in between). Cover with pasta sauce. Bake at 350 for an hour.

They can be as spicy or as plain as you choose the sausage links and pasta sauce. Serves well hot or cold (well, it may just be me for cold), refrigerates and freezes well. Try with sweet peas.