Make-Ahead meals for college student?

13 years ago

Hi, my daughter is in college and I'd like to make some meals that she can just defrost and reheat for the days where she has class until 7:30 pm and doesn't have time to cook. She's tired of stir-frys, salads, and wraps! lol

Some stuff that I'm making and freezing for her:

-perogies

-chili

-crepes

-pre-cooked bacon she can just reheat in microwave

-homemade beans

-she has assorted veggies frozen to make soups and frozen fruits for smoothies

I'm thinking more of the lines of making her stuff like:

- chicken or beef pot pies

- homemade chicken fingers (semi-cooked?)

- sheppard's pie (with beef) but I've tried freezing this dish and it turned out all watery for some reason. Is it freezable??

- she's not a pasta/lasagna lover at all

Can you slice up and precook beef slices or chicken for stir fry where she can just take out one package of the meat to put in refrigerator in morning, then stir fry some of her frozen veggies with the meat with a sauce while rice is cooking? What type of sauce?

Can you freeze mashed potatoes without them getting too watery?

She loves Greek food (except for black olives). Can I make Greek meatballs with rice and freeze that? How would it be reheated in microwave?

Any suggestions would help! I don't really freeze ready-made foods.

Thanks!

Featured Answer

jojoco

13 years ago

These are easy and always popular:

burritos
1 can corn
1 cqn black beans
1 can diced tomatoes
2 chicken breasts, diced and cooked
1 bag shredded cheddar
1 package large size flour tortillas

In a colandar, mix together corn, beans and tomatoes. Drain well. Add the cheese and the cooled chicken. Place 1/3 (ish) cup on a warmed tortilla. Roll up. Place all rolled burritos on a cookie sheet and freeze for an hour or so. Now place semi frozen burritos in zip loc bags.
To cook, either place in 350 oven for 30 min or so, or microwave for 2 minutes. Serve with salsa or guacamole or sour cream (or all three).

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (16)

diinohio
13 years ago
I suggest

Stuffed peppers
Minestrone soup
Any sliced pre cooked meats, chicken, beef or pork- great for sandwiches, fajitas or omelets.
Twice baked potatoes made with anything she likes, onions, bacon, cheese etc.
I really like a baked potato with basically a salad on top- lettuce and tomato, add bacon, grated cheese, sausage and anything else...salad dressing and you have a meal.

Di
lindac
13 years ago
Is this stuff at your house or are you taking it to her dorm/apartment for her to cook?
If at your home, why not let her just eat what you eat? but later and warmed up?
Doesn't she have options for a meal plan? Two of my 3 college grand kids do....the 3rd one cooks for himself or eats out. He has learned to be a pretty darn good cook....cooks burgers fish shrimp etc on the grill and stir fries assorted veggies.
How about instead of heat and eat meals 6you just make sure she has a freezer full of stuff that is easy to cook? I keep individually frozen chicken tenders, small packages of salmon fillet, little skinny loin pork chops, hamburgers....and frozen shrimp. You could make some home made seasoned bread crumbs and she could roll the meat in that and pop into a hot fry pan. A salad or some frozen veggies and she will have a meal faster than heating up something like a frozen pot pie
Related Discussions
Parents of college students -- what did you buy for dorm life?
Q
Comments (35)
A jug of Febreeze. I'm quite sure the guys in my son's dorm never did laundry the way you and I think of laundry...they Febreezed--EVERYTHING--shirts, jeans, sheets, towels, probably their armpits...lol I second the OTC med/first aid kit. Send the minimum until you know the kiddoes your son will be rooming with. Things like Sudafed can be abused. Still...I wish we'd done this. There was one very miserable night when my son (no longer in the dorm) called to tell me he was sick. Based on past experience, I knew immediately he had strep...probably 103 fever, raging sore throat, chills, in short he was alone, several miles from a store and miserable. I can guarantee you I spent a miserable night as well. While he was at the pharmacy the next day, I made him stock up on Tylenol and such. Extention cords and power strips. My son's dorm room had two outlets. Boys seem to need their electronics...Xbox, DVD players, Speakers system. Hopefully you can coordinate with the roomie so they don't overlap too much. Personally, I'd love to see game systems banned for dorms, but I'm sure schools fear no young men would come to school. lol Remember, you can't prepare for every instance. What you hope to see when your son or daughter goes away to school is some of the resourcefulness you've taught over the years. Do they know how to find information? Do they seek out the best way to do things? Can they face a challenge and deal with it? (Like getting a ride to the store when they don't drive. It's perfectly do-able.) Have fun and remember to enjoy these next few months.
...See More
make ahead buffet dishes
Q
Comments (7)
I've posted this recipe many times. It's a great make ahead and can be served hot or at room temp. A bit different. Chicken Marbella 9 pounds chicken - either whole birds quartered or a combo of thighs and breasts (If-using breasts be sure not to overcook) 1 head garlic peeled and chopped 1/4 cup dried oregano salt and pepper to taste 1/2 cup red wine vinegar 1/2 cup olive oil 1 cup pitted prunes 1/2 cup pitted Spanish olives 1/2 cup capers and a bit of the juice 6 Bay leaves 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup white wine 1/4 cup Italian parsley -- chopped Combine chicken garlic, oregano,salt,vinegar, oil, prunes, olives. capers and bay leaves. Marinate & refrigerate overnight. Arrange chicken in a single layer in one or two large baking dishes. Spoon marinade over evenly. Sprinkle chicken evenly with brown sugar and pour white wine around them. Bake in a for 50 minutes to 1 hour at 350. Do not over cook. Transfer chicken and prunes etc to a serving platter. Moisten with a few spoonfuls of the sauce. Sprinkle with chopped parsley. Pass the remaining sauce in a sauce boat. If preparing a few days in advance refrigerate cooked chicken in the sauce and allow to come to room temp before reheating, just until warmed through. If serving cold allow to come to room temp before serving. This pasta salad posted by Woodie is always a big hit. It makes a lot! Pasta Salad - Woodie 1 lb small shell macaroni,cooked and drained 1/2 lb provolone cheese,diced 1/2 lb salami,diced 1/2 lb pepperoni,cut in half lengthwise then slice into cubes 3 lb tomatoes,seeded and diced 3 ribs celery,diced 1 green or red pepper,diced 1 can black olives 1 jar pimento stuffed green olives 1 red onion,diced DRESSING 3/4 cup oil 1/2 cup vinegar 1-1/2 teaspoon salt fresh ground pepper 1 tsp dried oregano 1 tsp basil celery salt to taste Mix dressing and pour over pasta, refrigerate until serving This one can be made up to 8 hours in advance and makes a nice addition to a buffet. Nice change up from pinwheels. Stuffed Baguettes 1 Baguette or French stick 2 cups spinach leaves, chopped and packed 4 oz cream cheese, room temp 1/4 cup fresh dill, chopped 1 TBSP milk 4 cups minced ham 1/3 cup toasted pistachios, chopped 1 TBSP Dijon mustard 1/3 cup mayonnaise Slice the baguette lengthwise. Hollow out the bread leaving the shell about 1/2 inch thick. Rinse spinach and shake off excess moisture cook in just a bit of water until the leaves are wilted. Drain and squeeze dry and chopp in the food processor ( I just use frozen and ensure it is well drained). Combine cream cheese , dill , milk, and spinach until spreadable. Combine ham, nuts, mustard and enough mayo to make a moist filling. Spread cream cheese all over the inside of the shells. Spoon the ham mixture into the bottom shell, mounding slightly. Place top of loaf back over the filling. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours and as long as 8. Serve cut in slices. let us know what you decide on for a menu!
...See More
Necessary Cold weather gear for college student?
Q
Comments (33)
I work at a college in the frozen north, and my office window looks out on a path that gads of students (mostly girls) walk by every day to get from dorm to class. They are from all over the country. I have to laugh when every year, at least once, the whole campus gets a cautionary note from the campus safety office warning people to dress properly, particularly with footwear for icy conditions. I've seen the gamut, from dorky-warm to stylish-warm to ridiculously-under-dressed IMHO and mostly looking miserable under those conditions. So a lot depends on your daughter and her approach. Also her personal sense of style and frankly, her major! I was a natural resources major as an undergrad and now work in the biology dept. The clothing ethos in NR has always been focus on the practical. The uniform was hiking boots, plaid shirt with probably waffle weave long underwear underneath, jeans and a down coat or vest. Wool hat, scarf and mittens and windproof down or polartec coat for outside. No one would look askance at you and think you were a dork around the NR building and in class, in fact if you dressed in heels and a thin coat, then you would be labeled a dork! In the biology dept. most students are pre med/vet/dentistry, and their minds are on their books, comfort is the main concern because you'll need to be studying for long hours and you don't want to be distracted by clothing items or lack thereof. For other majors, all bets are off. Popular and sensible items seem to be stylish boots, which almost all gals here wear, either with pants or leggings, and some kind of head covering that doesn't give you hat hair! Cute hoods, cowl scarves, earmuffs and headbands are popular. Nice wool socks will never be a bad item to have around. The rest is personal style. The coat style Tibbrix posted is popular around here, but not to everyone's taste. I have a waterproof, windproof jacket that is my absolute go-to item to wear, either on iffy warmer days, or over a winter jacket to provide extra protection. It is expensive but good ones can wear like iron. Can be folded up into little sacks and stashed to have with you just in case. Oh, and the day they dropped me off to college, my folks got me a long cardigan/coat sweater. I loved it, wore it all the time, and still have it! Oh, and I've always been a long underwear devotee, but I'm always cold. You might discuss with your daughter getting a kind of long underwear that she can wear under most of her clothing, something stretchy and close fitting if she goes for a more form fitting look. When I was in college, I wore a lot of men's clothes, although now the lumberjack look is available for both sexes, having gone in and out of style for youth during the "grunge" era. Maybe that's why I never got married, lol! My current SO likes what he calls a "sporty" look, so I guess I am OK.
...See More
David Austin Recommendation for student?
Q
Comments (27)
Hi Moses, The bags have woven handles attached, so I think I may be able to move them around (only if wind and rain are too harsh) and when I put them in the car for move-out! I reckon I'll have to prune them and wrap them in plastic for the duration of the car ride. The pot dollies seem like such a good investment in the future for convenience, thank you for your continuous advice. Karen, As a short person, perhaps I will have to use QoS blossoms as cut flowers and snip them with long stems so that I can enjoy them lol! I've been planning on using the flowers in float-bowls, too. I'll keep in mind that a lot of DAs tend to get blackspot, thank you for the knowledge. Bummer, I guess we pay a price for beauty.
...See More
oilpainter
13 years ago
Mashed potatoes don't freeze well. They become watery. Hence your watery shepherds pie. Whole baked potatoes are all right though.

Slip however many pieces of cooked meat(roast, chicken etc.) she needs for a meal into a sandwich bag and then put the bags in a plastic container and seal with a lid. She can take out a package and defrost for a meal and leave the rest.

Yes you can freeze meatballs with rice or without. I make my meatballs in large batches on a cookie sheet in the oven and freeze what I need for a meal in individual freezer bags. Then put the bags in a container. They can be used several ways. In sweet and sour sauce, gravy or pasta sauce.

When my son went to University and was rooming with a bunch of guys, I made him a recipe book with a binder and page protectors that I slipped the recipes in. They were easy recipes that I knew he'd like. Most were ones I had made at home, but others were ones I had given to me. All the guys used that book at some time or other.

I also sent with him a few basic spices. If she likes stir fry don't forget to add some soy sauce.
khandi
Original Author
13 years ago
She lives in residence townhouse with 5 other girls.
She has her own fridge in her bedroom and shares the freezer section of the big fridge in the kitchen.
Saw her Wednesday and couldn't believe the food that the girls had in the big fridge and on the counter...baskets of fruits, veggies, etc. So much so that there was no room on counter to cook...not to mention sink full of dirty dishes! It's 10-minute walk to grocery store so there really is no need for so much food at once. My daughter will buy lets say 2 apples and 3 bananas for the week. I understand though that u would need a little more during those very cold winter days! When I opened the big fridge door, I was shocked to see it so full and nothing falling out. It's a shame there will be so much food waste. The kitchen is SO CLUTTERED with food all over the place, it's actually gross. My daughter said they filled the cupboards with food, the freezer, and the fridge that's it's too out of hand. You'd think they'd know to respect the others' need for food storage/space since this isn't their first time living in residence. (My daughter is first year living with older girls that are in their 2nd and 3rd year.)

My daughter and one of the girls have agreed to share certain things like stir fry ingredients and take turns cooking it to avoid spoilage, etc.

For a week, there was only my daughter and 2 other girls living there and everything was working out great. They worked as a team to keep the place clean and respected that there was only so much room for food and stuff. Now that the other 3 girls showed up, she said everything is out of hand. They don't care and it's getting out of control. Now she only washes her dishes and keeps her food in her fridge in her room. So I don't blame her for wanting ready made foods she can just heat up because of the kitchen issues!

Her and another girl are also the only ones that have bought cleaning supplies. She said she wouldn't live in residence again because she just can't live like that! LOL Oh well...she's having a life experience! I told her to give it time. Maybe dishes will get done when they run out of clean ones..hahaha... and wait to see what happens when the Residence Advisor makes their monthly cleaning inspections.

I gave her a whole bunch of spices and stuff for her to cook with that she's experimented with the first week and found out she actually enjoys cooking...even with tofu! And she loves her smoothies!
khandi
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks Oilpainter!

I think that I will do what u said about small meat packages in container. Would save her time and would also help her with her "uneasiness" about handling raw chicken/meat LOL
rachelellen
13 years ago
For one thing, how about a pack of decent quality paper plates? Then she doesn't need to get near the sink full of other people's dirty dishes! :D Yeah, it's wasteful, but might help her keep her temper with the other girls she must live with.

Hearty soups are great quick meals for students. Healthy, and all you need are some crackers or bread and a salad if you're feeling like you've got more time. Split pea, Minestrone, chunky chicken, vegetable beef, etc. If you put single servings in zip lock bags (freeze them flat, with all the air pushed out) or those stacking freezer containers, they can be left out to defrost or just zapped in a microwave. A lot better than much of the carp I ate in college from vending machines!
nandina
13 years ago
Squares of polenta wrapped in individual serving sizes to be browned in a bit of butter straight from the freezer. (Note: Alton Brown's polenta recipe is the best!) Stuffed green peppers. Mashed potatoes made from a recipe which includes cream cheese, milk, a bit of butter and sour cream freeze well and do not become watery. All types of soup, of course. Sliced meats for stir fry. Homemade pot pies. Quiche can be frozen in individual servings. Stews of all types.
lindac
13 years ago
Get her a couple of giant packages of ramen noodles.
And know that part of the college education is learning how to get along with others.
I suggest that the older students are the ones who have learned how to manage....they fill the place with fruits, grab an apple for breakfast and put a banana in your pocket for lunch...have a carrot or 2 after classes and munch on crackers and apples until about 10 PM when you run out and grab a burger!

Mom's are not meant to be looking at their college kid's kitchens!
ann_t
13 years ago
I was thinking the same thing.

Khandi, I'm assuming that your daughter is not really "Away" at college but living close enough to home that you can still look out for her?

As much as I understand wanting to look after your baby, I'd pretend that she left home and went to a Unversity in another province. Maybe one in Montreal or even Halifax. To far a way for you to see what goes on on a daily basis. My guess is she won't starve. Rather than make-ahead-meals, send her some of your/her favourite easy recipes.

Ann
Ideefixe
13 years ago
I'm glad my kid is in Florida and I'm in Southern California. Khandi--you're a sweetheart, but she can figure out her own meals.
centralcacyclist
13 years ago
Alice, 18, leaves for college in three days. She will live in a dorm and has a meal plan (mandatory for freshmen) so she won't starve. She chose a plan with some discretionary dollars for her own grocery shopping. There is a kitchen down the hall and they have a small frig in the room. Alice has been ferreting out her own meals for a while anyway. She likes to cook for herself and is the queen of eggs with stuff. She often does her own grocery shopping even while still at home.

(She likes it when I cook and leave things in the frig like hard boiled eggs, sliced up grilled steak or chicken, and poached salmon. She adds these to salads. Easy, fast. But I won't be doing that from 4 hours away!)
Tammi Schmelzer
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Guess I am with you Khandi. My son is used to having home cooked meals. He actually doesn't care to eat out. And college meal plans are rather expensive. He is trying to get by without any college debt. Yes, he has learned to cook and shop for himself. But, I know he'll be busy with tough classes, working and having some fun in college clubs (running, hiking, climbing, etc). I am planning to put together some simple recipes in a book. I will also be going up once in a while (3 hours away) and when I do, I'll be throwing together a few freezer meals for him to dump in a crock pot. I don't think there is any shame in that. It means you love your child and want them to eat healthy meals. I have always cooked at home, he has always seen me cook and I know he's learned the value in that to carry on for himself. Home cooking teaches them the value of a dollar and a healthy lifestyle. Good luck to your daughter and I'm so glad there are caring parents out there :)
lindac92
7 years ago
Uh... Tammi....this thread is 6 years old....likely Khandi's daughter has graduated, is married and perhaps had a child of her own.
anoriginal
7 years ago
Wouldn't "semi-cook" anything chicken... no matter how old the post is?!?
telesaps
6 years ago
This thread is still relevant to those of us who have kids currently in college. Thanks for the tips.

Make-Ahead meals for college student?

jojoco

Comments (16)

diinohio

lindac

Related Discussions

oilpainter

khandi
Original Author

khandi
Original Author

rachelellen

nandina

lindac

ann_t

Ideefixe

centralcacyclist

Tammi Schmelzer

lindac92

anoriginal

telesaps

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Make-Ahead meals for college student?

Comments (16)

Related Discussions

khandiOriginal Author

khandiOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

khandi
Original Author

khandi
Original Author