Last month, as I gave my neighbor and co-worker Myron Madden a cooking lesson, he said what so many people say as an excuse for their canned or frozen dinners: “I just don’t have time.”
The trick, I told him, is to prepare – in quantities – the same simple comfort foods he would crave and then freeze some for later.
The stroganoff we made that evening is creamy and keeps well frozen, making it perfect to pop in the microwave for a much tastier option than the pre-packaged version that would come loaded with much more sodium.
Make-ahead meals to freeze aren’t just for harried millennials who don’t want to eat the same leftovers day in and day out. They’re for the parent whose kiddos don’t want a peanut butter sandwich, or those who want to pack their kids something healthier but just as simple during those rushed school day mornings.
The following three recipes are tried-and-true comfort food staples that can easily be tweaked with substitutes for any taste preferences or dietary requirements (Greek yogurt for sour cream, more veggies instead of meat, etc.).