Preparing Food Ahead of Time

I would try to do it 1-2 weeks ahead of time. Also, lasagna freezes really well and if you use the oven ready noodles, it's really easy to make.

I'm doing this right now too!! From what I've read, as long as you can get an air-tight seal, most food should keep for at least a month. Meats and veggies for up to a year. One trick that I read is to line whatever pan you're using for your casserole or whatever with clear plastic wrap , then freeze. Once it's frozen, lift it out and transfer it to a freezer bag with a good seal. Then when it's time to thaw and reheat, just put it back into the same pan (without the plastic of course) and cook :)

Some of the things I'm planning to make are lasagna, chili, beef stew, tuna noodle casserole, beef stroganoff, enchiladas, cheese crepes, and then various muffins and fruit breads.

Happy cooking and congrats on your new addition!!

Maybe I'm the odd one out, but I freeze stuff forever and it still tastes ok to me. It has to be stored properly of course, but I say go ahead and make it now!

I think meatloaf would definitely be fine to make now, because you could wrap it in plastic wrap & then foil to prevent freezer burn. I wouldn't freeze the cornbread more than 2 weeks. Enchiladas would be fine now if you can find a way to package it airtight. Otherwise I would say a month max on that. You want to keep things airtight if they are going to stay longer than a month otherwise you risk freezer burn.

Here's a long list of kid friendly recipes that will hopefully help! http://weelicious.com/category/freeze-well-recipes/

I have always heard you can freeze food for about 6 months...I hope I heard correctly and don't make anyone sick. But I know for a fact that I've kept food longer and it still tastes fine to me...

Here's my recipe for the easiest lasagna ever:

Brown 1 lb ground turkey, add Italian seasonings (or use Italian ground turkey)
Add 1 container cottage cheese
Add 1 jar favorite spaghetti sauce, rinsed out with 1/2 cup of water/wine
Blend all above well. This becomes the sauce.

Alternate layers of sauce with regular lasagna noodles. The 'no bake' noodles are not necessary and the regulars don't need to be pre-cooked at all. I use both whole wheat and regular in the same pan. Turns out perfect.

Sprinkle Parmesan in with the layers.
Top w Mozzarella cheese.
Cover with foil. Bake @ 350 for 1 hr.

If you have more time, then saute onion, garlic, peppers, mushrooms, or add family favorites like olives, grated carrots, etc.

Happy cooking and parenting!

Great question and happy to be able to answer this one. I just ran into this article on Yahoo's home page yesterday (it's still there today), it's a pretty good guide on what you can freeze and for how long. The title is: How long can you freeze food? Here's the link for full details (tips and how to's)…

http://green.yahoo.com/blog/the_conscious_consumer/150/ho...

Here's "some" of the information in that link…
• Bacon: 1 to 2 months
• Breads: 2 to 3 months
• Casseroles: 2 to 3 months
• Cooked beef and pork: 2 to 3 months
• Cooked poultry: 4 months
• Cookie dough: 3 months
• Fruit: 8 to 12 months
• Frozen dinners: 3 to 4 months
• Hot dogs: 1 to 2 months
• Lunch meats: 1 to 2 months
• Sausage: 1 to 2 months
• Soups and stews: 2 to 3 months
• Uncooked chicken (parts): 9 months
• Uncooked chicken (whole): 1 year
• Uncooked steaks, chops, or roasts: 4 to 12 months
• Uncooked ground meat: 3 to 4 months
• Vegetables: 8 to 12 months

Two cookbooks that I have had GREAT success with are:
-Don't Panic - Dinner's in the Freezer: Great-Tasting Meals You Can Make Ahead
and
-Don't Panic--More Dinner's in the Freezer: A Second Helping of Tasty Meals You Can Make Ahead

I first checked them out at our local library and loved them so much I now own them.The books give great guidelines for freezing each type of food.

I think I started freezing things like meat loaf and lasagne a couple of months out and I we ate them within 6 months. If it's stored properly you should be fine.

Good luck and congratulations on your new addition!