What are good dishes that I can freeze ahead and defrost for company that come over?

[Anonymous]

So we are having a large number of out-of-town guests during a week that is going to be busy all of a sudden. I'd like to avoid the expense of going out for multiple meals and would like to freeze ahead some entrees that can feed a crowd (i.e., a dozen people). If it was just for our immediate family, there woudl be a lower bar but since these are people traveling to town for a family event, I want the food to be a little (just a tad) nicer but still low maintenance (easy for me to cook and also easy to defrost and serve).

[Anonymous]

Costco has a nice selection of frozen family size meals.

[Anonymous]

I always do a big crockpot of pulled pork BBQ and then freeze it. Use a Boston Butt pork roast, lots of onions and bell peppers if you like, and some jarred BBQ sauce. Cook on low for about 8 hours, pull the pork, remove meat and onions, and defat the liquid. Add enough liquid back to make it juicy. Let it cool and freeze. Delicious reheated (I add some more BBQ sauce as I reheat it) and served with a simple side like pasta salad, bean salad, or just salad.
Chicken pot pie freezes very nicely and is easy to make for a crowd. You can assemble and then freeze or just make the filling and freeze that, then assemble when you are ready to cook.
Also a beef stew is good.
Finally, there is always lasagna.

[Anonymous]

I thing PP has some great ideas. I would add meatloaf and mini meatballs. If I were you I would have 2 crockpots going during your visitors stay. The cooking does itself...you could have a chicken in one and a soup or chili in the other.

You can also cook a big brisket in the crockpot with no fuss. And, I do a meatloaf with no fuss. I only cook once a week for my husband and daughter.

On Sundays, I cut up a ton of veges and keep them in an airtight container. We use them throughout the week for salads, stirfries, tacos, tostados, and over noodles. We keep an airtight container of noodles for spaghettis, pasta salads, peanut noodles and stir fries.

We keep lettuce in an airtight container for salads.

[Anonymous]

Hi PP -- what do you mean by brisket -- do you mean brisket and can you recommend a receipe?

also, what airtight containers do you use to store ur veggies?

[Anonymous]

Nothing.

Frozen and then defrosted home meals taste pretty bad in my experience.

I would go with the PP's suggestion of Costco or even Trader Joes frozen food.

[Anonymous]

Lasagne & garlic bread.
Eggplant parmigiana.
Chilli.
Hearty soup (lentil, stew.)
Lamb casserole (layered sliced lamb/orzo/tomato sauce.)
Spaghetti & meatballs.
Raviois (pumpkin, meat, vegetarian, etc.)

[Anonymous]

Pp again,

Mini hotdogs& baked beans.
Pan of homemade mac & cheese.

[Anonymous]

Grill! Marinate flank steak and freeze - grill it. Marinate whole cut up chicken and roast it. Chicken enchiladas. Baked ziti. Meatballs and sausage.

[Anonymous]

brisket is a great idea. I don't have a recipe, but there are tons online. It's a jewish holiday staple, like honey baked ham on easter

[Anonymous]

I wanted to add, brisket will work great because it's just as good reheated as when it's first made. it takes hours to make, but if u can do it before they get here it will be great.

[Anonymous]

My parents made brisket whenever we had a family gathering because it's so easy, just season it with onion soup mix and seal it (fold over the edges for a very tight seal) in tin foil before you bake it - it takes a long time but you just leave it in the oven. Serve with boiled or baked potatoes and some veggies or salad.

Last time we came over they heated up a couple of large, gourmet chicken pot pies, which turned out to be great for the kids because they liked the yummy chicken and carrots that were in it.

When we have people over we usually BBQ but in the winter it's Italian or baked chicken, ham or turkey with traditional sides.

[Anonymous]

stouffer's lasagna and family size mac n' cheese - put it in a home serving dish and no one can tell the difference...

[Anonymous]

you can make a homemade lasagna- freeze it and then cook it after it's defrosted.. there is this one fine cooking recipe that is SO good- we had people asking for the recipe..

then- make ahead a salad- add dressing last minute to toss

french bread with garlic butter- 15 minutes

then some dessert

here's the recipe

http://www.finecooking.com/recipes/beef-pork-ragu-lasagne.aspx

we made the paste by hand and made thinner layers- doubled the batch of the ragu since a ragu does take more time.. (and we froze it for another time)

[Anonymous]

pp here- i mean we made the pasta from scratch though not necessary