Cooking Ahead Before Surgery

My ACL repair surgery is coming up next Thursday, so I have been in my nesting phase in the few days I have left at home.  Aside from cleaning (and finally taking down the basement Christmas tree!!) I have been cooking meals to store in my freezer for days when I don't feel like getting up to hobble around the kitchen!

I bought a bunch of aluminum pans and gallon sized ziploc bags to store the meals in the freezer.

Rigatoni with Meat Sauce - I think we all know how to make this?

Alice Springs Chicken Casserole



BBQ Crockpot Pulled Pork:



Cheesy Enchilada Bake with Quinoa:



Betty Crocker's Chili: (I always add 1 tsp of Cumin and 1/2 cup diced carrots)




Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches:

 

French Toast Casserole:

Meal Swap!

 (layered burrito casserole)

The main purpose for our Soul Sister's get together last week was for our first Meal Swap!

I saw a story about Meal Ku, a NYC based meal co-op that helps members exchange homemade meals.  I was inspired!  I popped off an email to my girls that very morning and our first Meal Swap was born!

 (homemade meatballs and sauce with frozen cookie dough balls!)

We agreed upon a date and time and everyone arrived with meals packaged to share.

 (white chicken chili with grainy cornbread)

We had great variety and everything was ready top pop into the freezer...Easy Peasy!

 (turkey and stuffing dinner with homemade cranberry relish!)

Some girls even included sides or dessert items to complete the meal.  We had lunch together, worked on a few craft projects, then loaded up our meals and headed home relieved to know that dinner was taken care of tonight...and for a few more nights!

If you would like to organize a Meal Swap among your friends or co-workers, try some of these websites for recipe inspiration: 

Make Ahead Recipes - Food Network

40+ Make Ahead Meals - Mel's Kitchen

Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms