In some seasons life moves at a frantic pace. For some, time lends itself to enjoy the seasons. Today I am sharing some frozen foods/meals you can make ahead for those in the busy season of life. Meals and Recipes for college students, elderly and families.
A few Saturdays ago I spent the day visiting my college students. One of them lives in an apartment and the other is eating a variety of foods in the campus dining center. To help out the one busily going from class and internship, to work, I brought her some foods I froze she could eat on a busy day.
The ideas I will share are not only for college students but are great to bring to the elderly, a family with a chronic illness or maybe for your family in a busy season. Plan ahead, make and freeze a meal for later.
I loaded my daughter’s freezer with pre-made sandwiches, pancakes and of course a treat of monster bars. I also could have made some soups for her to defrost the day before and heat up for a meal. Instead, I made the soups for myself for this busy week of mine. I am enjoying the soups now.
Frozen Turkey Cheese Sandwiches with Pesto
Ingredients purchased at Costco
- 1 slice Kirkland Turkey Deli Meat (They come in 3 packages connected together.)
- 1 slice Cojack or Cheddar Cheese (Finlandia multi-pack of cheese)
- ½ tsp pesto
- 1 french roll- 18 rectangular rolls per pack
Assemble sandwiches: pesto on a roll, 1 sliced turkey folded to fit, and 1 slice cheese folded in half to fit. Make 18 sandwiches and place them back in bag and freeze for future use.
Our family calls these graduation sandwiches since we made them for our daughter’s graduation party. The recipe is also posted on the Graduation party blog.
What makes these so good is the pesto spread on the roll/bun. When its time for a sandwich take one out of the freezer, wrap in a paper towel to absorb moisture and microwave for 50 seconds. It is optional to add a tomato or avocado slices to a sandwich after heating. If you like it plain, it’s just as good.
I brought these sandwiches to a family whose mom was going through chemo and the kids ate them all in 24 hours and they never made it to the freezer. The next time, I brought the sandwiches frozen for their future busy days.
Frozen Pancakes
Make a double batch of pancakes: plain, blueberry, pumpkin chocolate chip, or chocolate banana pancake with mini chips with the recipe below. Freeze cooled pancakes on parchment paper in Ziplocs. At breakfast time microwave a pancake for one minute and eat. No need for syrup when you add the maple syrup or mini chocolate chips to the recipe. Quick and easy. I love eating a pancake for breakfast.
Chocolate Banana Pancake Recipe
- 10 TBSP Cocoa powder
- 6 TBSP Maple Syrup
- ½ cup Mini Chocolate Chips
- 2 ½ cups Flour
- 1 1/3 cups Quick Oatmeal
- 4 tsp Baking powder
- 2 tsp Baking Soda
- 1 cup Mashed Banana (I use 4 frozen Bananas- defrosted and unpeeled)
- 4 TBSP Melted Butter
- 2 Eggs
- 2 tsp Vanilla
- 4 Cups Buttermilk
Add all ingredients to a large bowl except mini chips and mix with an immersion blender. (See blog on 12 Immersion Blender uses let me count the ways for more ideas.) Stir mini chips into the batter. Ladle batter onto griddle and cook pancakes until bubbly, and flip. Cool when done and freeze as instructed above. Eat the pancake with whipped cream on top or plain.
This is a larger recipe since I usually make and freeze them. If you want a smaller recipe, cut the recipe in half.
Frozen Monster Bars
These are quick and easy to make and are gluten-free. These are only a treat, but who doesn’t bring cookies to their kids or grandkids. The recipe for Monster Bars was previously posted on the blog, Raising kids and Baking Cookies.
Freeze Soup and Lasagna
Make a list of family favorite soups and when you make soup at home and have extras freeze some for future use or to send home with college students. If you need some soup recipes you can find some soup recipes at previous blogs: Soups on the Table, and More Soups on the Table. These would be good soups to freeze.
Make lasagna and freeze in individual containers and microwave before eating. There are always extra pieces of lasagna after a meal when you cook for two. In fact this week in our moving we ate frozen lasagna for supper.
Quick food ideas college students can make: Not just for Breakfast
- Breakfast burritos: Make with scrambled eggs, tortillas, cheese, and salsa.
- Eggs sandwich: Make with
a bashed yolk- fried egg, bread, cheese or guacamole fold the bread around the egg or use two slices of bread to make a sandwich. - Bean burrito: Make with a tortilla, refried beans, shredded cheese and roll up and microwave to 45 seconds. Top with salsa.
- Make Omelette with veggies, cheese, and or meat.
- Frozen veggies can always be microwaved and for flavor use spices, onions, garlic or 1-2 TBSP Balsamic vinegar on top.
- Make up a lettuce salad with veggies and add chicken or canned salmon to it to make a meal with meat. Store salads in jars or plastic bags or containers to eat and grab quickly.
A George Foreman grill is also wonderful to make paninis, grilled salmon or chicken patties, chicken brats, and quesadillas.
A freezer, microwave and a George Foreman grill and who needs a kitchen to survive the busy season of life. Plan and make ahead for your family to simplify your life. If you have time, freeze meals for college students, elderly or your busy season.
Any foods you like to freeze to eat later? please comment below
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Love these ideas Anna!
Glad I can help you make life easier for yourself or others. Enjoy good food!