Freezer Meals 101

We always like to include a few salmon recipes every time we make freezer meals. Salmon is high in Omega-3 fatty acids. It’s good for brain health. This maple dijon salmon takes just minutes to prepare. There are two salmon recipes that we alternate between and then we always try out one new one. We usually just invent something based on the ingredients we have on hand or what season it is.

That was the case with this recipe invention. We happened to have maple syrup and dijon mustard. We thought it sounded like a nice Fall meal.

Maple Dijon Salmon Recipe:

• 1 1/2 lbs. salmon fillets
• 1 tsp. olive oil
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 3 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
• 1/4 tsp. pepper

Place the salmon in a large resealable freezer bag. Add the other ingredients. Give it a bit of a mix (squish or shake) before taking out the excess air and sealing. Freeze.

On cooking day, thaw.

BBQ Directions: Create a foil packet using enough tin foil to cover and seal. Cook in the barbeque on high for 7-10 minutes per side until the salmon flakes easily with a fork.

Oven Instructions: Place salmon on a foil lined baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes.

Serve with green beans, asparagus, or brussels sprouts and rice pilaf.

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Maple Dijon Salmon Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lbs. salmon fillets
• 1 tsp. olive oil
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 3 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
• 1/4 tsp. pepper

Instructions

1. Place the salmon in a large resealable freezer bag. Add the other ingredients. Give it a bit of a mix (squish or shake) before taking out the excess air and sealing. Freeze.
2. On cooking day, thaw.

BBQ Directions:

1. Create a foil packet using enough tin foil to cover and seal. Cook in the barbeque on high for 7-10 minutes per side until the salmon flakes easily with a fork.

Oven Instructions:

1. Place salmon on a foil lined baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes.

I love soups. I know that not everyone does, but they are like comfort food for me. This spinach and sausage white bean soup is a nice cold weather meal. Of course having soups made ahead and in the freezer means that this can be an “any weather” soup. I don’t put the spinach in until the day of cooking because I find it has the wrong texture if it is frozen with the rest of the ingredients first.

Spinach and Sausage White Bean Soup:

• 14 oz. smoked sausage
• 8 cups vegetable broth
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• ½ medium onion, diced
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 19 oz. can cannellini beans, undrained
• ¼ tsp. salt
• ½ tsp. pepper
• 1 tsp. oregano
• 1 tsp. thyme

For cooking day:

• 2 cups rotini pasta
• 2 cups spinach, roughly chopped

In a skillet, heat 2 Tbsp. olive oil over medium heat. Chop the smoked sausage into ½-1 inch thick slices. Cook the sausage over medium heat, 6-7 minutes, stirring frequently, until they are cooked through and beginning to crisp on all sides.

When they have cooled slightly, place the cooked sausage pieces in a large resealable freezer bag. Add chopped onions and minced garlic. Pour in vegetable broth, and add cannellini beans and their liquid. Add in the seasonings. Remove excess air from the bag, seal and freeze.

On the day you want to eat this, take the bag out of the freezer to thaw. Place the bag contents in a large pot. Bring it to a boil on the stovetop.

Add in pasta. Boil for another 5-7 minutes, until pasta is al dente. Add the spinach and cook for 1-2 minutes more. Serve hot.

If you want, you can sprinkle with some shredded Parmesan cheese and a bit of freshly ground pepper.

Check out some of our other favourite make ahead soups:

Italian Wedding Soup 

Hearty Sausage and Zucchini Soup 

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Spinach and Sausage White Bean Soup

Course: Soup

Keyword: spinach and sausage white bean soup

Ingredients

• 14 oz. smoked sausage
• 8 cups vegetable broth
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• ½ medium onion diced
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 19 oz. can cannellini beans undrained
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ tsp pepper
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp thyme

For cooking day:

• 2 cups rotini pasta
• 2 cups spinach roughly chopped

Instructions

1. In a skillet, heat 2 Tbsp. olive oil over medium heat. Chop the smoked sausage into ½-1 inch thick slices. Cook the sausage over medium heat, 6-7 minutes, stirring frequently, until they are cooked through and beginning to crisp on all sides.
2. When they have cooled slightly, place the cooked sausage pieces in a large resealable freezer bag.
3. Add chopped onions and minced garlic. Pour in vegetable broth, and add cannellini beans and their liquid. Add in the seasonings. Remove excess air from the bag, seal and freeze.
4. On the day you want to eat this, take the bag out of the freezer to thaw. Place the bag contents in a large pot. Bring it to a boil on the stovetop.
5. Add in pasta. Boil for another 5-7 minutes, until pasta is al dente. Add the spinach and cook for 1-2 minutes more. Serve hot.

Recipe Notes

If you want, you can sprinkle with some shredded Parmesan cheese and a bit of freshly ground pepper.