Condo Blues: Holiday Helper: Making Quick Meals From Scratch

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Holiday Helper: Making Quick Meals From Scratch

I'm so excited that my friend Lisa from RetroHousewife Goes Green offered to do a Guest Post on Condo Blues. Take it away Lisa!

Thanks to Lisa for letting me do a guest post for her! Her blog is one of the first blogs I started reading and I have gotten to know her from the Green Moms Carnival. Be sure to check out my blog Retro Housewife Goes Green as well.

We all know there are days you just don't want to cook. While most of America would just go get some fast food or call for take out, that is often not so green and not very healthy.

A great way to still have quick meals but stay healthy and green is to make some meals you can freeze and heat later. It's like making your own frozen dinners.


I like to take a day that I have very little else going on and make a lot of meals at once. The favorite in our house is pizza. It's super easy! All you need to do to make your own frozen pizzas is take your favorite dough recipe and make enough for however many you want to freeze.


Precook the dough enough they just starting to get a bit darker (not brown yet) and are firm. Let cool then top however you like. Stick them on a cookie sheet with a piece of wax paper between each crust and put them in the freezer for a few hours. Once totally frozen pull out and wrap in foil or however you choice, put back in freezer until you need them.

When you are ready to eat them just cook at the temp your dough calls for, it should take around 12-15 minutes or so. Just watch it the first time to be sure. It is done when the crust starts browning and the cheese starts to brown on the edges and is all the way melted. It's just like cooking a store bought frozen pizza.

Other great meals for the freezer include soups, chicken cannelloni, lasagna, most casseroles, mac & cheese, and so many others. You can also freeze side dishes like Italian or French bread, potato skins, and twice baked potatoes. I even like to make up cookie dough, scoop it in to balls, flash freeze and then I can just pull out a few at a time to bake so we don't over eat them. The ideas are endless.

There are so many recipes out there for freezer meals. A quick search for 'once a month cooking' on most recipe sites will give you lots of ideas. Making your own quick food will save you money and save on waste!


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4 comments :

Deanna said...

Great ideas! You've inspired me to get some things cooked up for the freezer.

Susie Buetow said...

I love Lisa's Pizzas! Do you want to come link this up with my Holiday Recipe Exchange? Great idea to make around the holidays!!! Thanks!
http://bit.ly/cOOkBook

Robj98168 said...

I got three words for you- Tuna, Noodle and casserole. Best thing ever. Freezes well. And if you want a crunchy topping on it you got the choice of potatoe chips or crackers!

Lisa said...

Susie: Thanks. :) I'm going to check it out.

Rob: I gave up tuna due to mercury but most casseroles freeze very well. :)

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