MaryAnderson60 wrote:
> Hi. I'm Mary and have a cooking question.
>
> My parents are elderly and unwell. I live a few hundred miles away.
> They eat well when I am right there and cooking meals fresh for them,
> but otherwise they tend not to eat much of the time and both have
> become quite thin.
>
> I am thinking of preparing a bunch of meals in advance and freezing
> them for my parents. I plan to use all disposable containers/pans
> and keep preparation/cleanup for my parents to a minimum. I don't
> know that they will eat homemade frozen any better than they eat
> commerically prepared frozen dinners but figure it's worth a shot. I
> also don't have much time to experiment and am hoping someone here
> has some experience freezing meals.
>
> They like lasagne, casseroles, stews, etc. In the case of
> casseroles, would they be tastier prepared and frozen but not cooked
> until ready to eat as opposed to cooking them through so portions
> just need to be reheated? My mother loves New England boiled dinners
> and I'm thinking it should work frozen if I cut the meat thick,
> undercook the veggies and include lots of broth in the portions (?).
> Can anyone tell me if homemade mashed potatos are still good after
> freezing? How about good frozen sweets/dessert recipes?
>
> I would appreciate anyone sharing recipes that freeze well. Any
> hints about preparing complete frozen meals, as opposed to just
> entrees, would also be most welcome.
>
> Meals on Wheels would be ideal for my parents but they won't consider
> it. I even looked at "personal chefs" to cook for them every week
> but price is prohibitive.
>
> Thanks in advance for any advice.
>
> Mary

I feel for you. My grandmother refused to let the "meals on wheels" people
into her home. She said she didn't like their "looks" (whatever that
meant). My parents are elderly but thankfully still able to fend for
themselves.

To answer your questions: If you don't have a Tilia food sealer, now might
be the time to invest in one. Do your parents have a microwave oven?

Lasagna freezes very well. So does beef stew, creamed chicken, pot roast
with potatoes and carrots. Look around in the freezer section at your
grocery store... almost anything you can buy there can be frozen at home.
This includes all veggies, soups and mashed potatoes.

Noodles and rice freeze well in individual packets. So does baked or
grilled chicken breast. Tons of pre-cooked veggies freeze well. I'm not
much for offering dessert/sweets recipes so I can't help with that.
Although my Dad does love Archway cookies.

Good luck with your parents; I understand how hard that can be.

Jill