I love a full freezer – it feels like money in the bank – and it has saved me multiple times with a quick meal.  My favorite freezer dish is my spaghetti sauce because it is fast to heat up and can be used as a sauce for pasta or lasagna, pizza sauce, or even on a baked potato.  I also always try to have an ample supply of chicken stock that can be used to create a fast soup, or as an ingredient in a number of recipes.  I like to cook large batches of beans (black, white, pinto) and freeze them in 2-cup  containers to use for burritos, chilies, or any recipe that calls for beans.  In the fall and winter, I like to have other soups and stews in the freezer for an easy and healthy meal addition.  My freezer staples include an assortment of vegetables, fruits, meats, tortillas, and rolls.  I also keep a variety of hummus and stuffed pastas (tortellini, ravioli)  for quick snacks and meals.

The things I usually have in my freezer are chicken stock, soups, and stews.  I always feel like these can be a bigger undertaking to cook — or at least require more time even if they are easy — so I always cook extra.  I love having braises or stews stocked in winter, especially Barefoot Contessa’s Beef Bourguignon.  It has a lot of ingredients and takes some time, but the payoff is so delicious, and I can stretch it into several meals.  Happily, the rest of my family likes it as much as I do!  My favorite soup to freeze is a Kale and White Bean soup from Gourmet.