Hope my Meatballs Last

@DianneN (246452)
United States
May 2, 2019 9:14am CST
Yesterday, I spent the day making a few hamburger patties and meatballs for the freezer. They are our go to meals when we don’t feel like cooking or going out for dinner. After they are cooked, I freeze them on wax paper or parchment paper covered trays, not touching each other. When the meatballs are as hard as my head , I put them in labeled freezer bags and place them into the freezer until ready to use. I reheat them in tomato sauce and serve the meatballs with pasta and a salad. When we have guests joining us, I make cheesy garlic bread, too. I hope I made enough meatballs to last until we fly north in just over 1 month. Do you have quick dinner ideas?
42 people like this
39 responses
• United States
2 May 19
I like to have meatballs in the freezer too for those nights when I'm looking for something quick and easy. Usually I also have a container of sauce frozen too since I make a large batch so I have leftover. Our quick dinner is pretty much a hamburger.
6 people like this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
2 May 19
Can’t go wrong with either of those.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (455013)
• Switzerland
2 May 19
TWINS! I do the same, I place the meatballs on the tray to freeze and I reheat them in tomato sauce, I serve with garlic bread.
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (455013)
• Switzerland
2 May 19
@DianneN Also my husband loves meatballs. Tomorrow I go grocery shopping, I will buy more meat.
2 people like this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
2 May 19
@LadyDuck Our husbands are twins, too!
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
2 May 19
TWINS again! Great minds think alike! My husband is dying for them, but he’s not getting meatballs for days!
3 people like this
@much2say (53699)
• Los Angeles, California
2 May 19
That's a great idea to make these ahead of time and to freeze 'em. Saves you time on a later meal! I like roasting a whole chicken or 2. One night we can eat pieces, another night can be chicken pieces in a salad, another night could be chicken in soup . . . it's handy to have cooked chicken on hand!
2 people like this
@much2say (53699)
• Los Angeles, California
2 May 19
@DianneN Tonight I'll do the soup . . . have chicken, rice, and vegetable leftovers . . . just throw it all in a pot with some broth and spices - done deal !
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
2 May 19
@much2say Excellent! Sounds delicious and easy! I'm making a dinner salad with cucumbers, olives, onion, gorgonzola cheese, chicken salad, walnuts, and hard boiled eggs. It's not as simple as it sounds. Enjoy your dinner. Hubs is still losing weight and I'm still down about 12 pounds.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
2 May 19
I love your idea, too! I roasted a chicken Monday and finished the rest in a salad for dinner yesterday. Live and learn!
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (93514)
• Marion, Ohio
2 May 19
Yes its called taco salad a lot of times.
3 people like this
@much2say (53699)
• Los Angeles, California
2 May 19
We do taco salad too!
2 people like this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
2 May 19
2 people like this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
2 May 19
I love taco salad! I should add that to my list. Thank you!
1 person likes this
@Kasjnak (4493)
• Romania
2 May 19
I usually get food and ingredients from my parents or from my in-laws once a week so I'm covered on this area . But sometimes we do need something sweet and that's when I go and make some cheesecake, pancakes or crepes. My wife is very upset, she gained weight and she says it's my fault .
2 people like this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
2 May 19
@Kasjnak I'd really love your baked goods, too. I'd gain more weight than your wife!
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
2 May 19
You are lucky to get food and ingredients from your family. Your wife is right! It is your fault for being such a good cook and baker.
1 person likes this
@Kasjnak (4493)
• Romania
2 May 19
@DianneN well, I cook because it's like therapy for me, iit's calming and a lot of fun . But someone must eat what I make and since she really loves my cakes...
1 person likes this
@Janet357 (75678)
2 May 19
Yum! My grandma loved to make meatballs too. Well in my case, im planning to make sausages and dimsums.
3 people like this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
2 May 19
I absolutely love dim sum, but only have it when we order Chinese food or eat it in restaurants. I don’t eat sausage too often, but it is delicious! Do you make your own dim sum?
1 person likes this
@Janet357 (75678)
2 May 19
@DianneN yes i do make dimsums. No, my sausage is not the commercial ones you see. It’s like this. I buy ground pork with little fat of course, i put salt, pepper, seasonings, soy sauce and some chopped chilli and corn starchm and annato powder. Though the latter is optional, this is just to color the food.I mixed them all and put it in the fridge, then. After an hour or two, roll it in plastic wrap. Fry it. Thats my sausage.you can store the uncooked rolls in the freezer,
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
2 May 19
@Janet357 Wow! I’m so impressed with how you make those from scratch! My cooking days are long over unless I have guests. You make it sound so easy, but I know it’s time consuming.
@shaggin (71572)
• United States
2 May 19
Sounds yummy. I have made them but never frozen them.
2 people like this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
2 May 19
I usually double the meatballs. I figure if I’m going to the trouble of making them, I may as well make a load for the freezer. They come in so handy and could be made in different sizes to be used in so many ways - all quick!
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (168441)
• United States
2 May 19
Meatballs are always good. I like a pasta salad as a quick dinner idea.
2 people like this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
2 May 19
I know YOU love pasta salad.
@louievill (28859)
• Philippines
2 May 19
Looks delicious but I don't think they would last long in the fridge with my kids around on summer vacation lol. My mother and my wife most of the time cooks fresh food but in case we really need a quick meal we have a commercial plaza near by, secondly if nobody wants to go out then we just open canned goods from my stash intended for emergency situations like typhoons, if they don't like canned we create something from egg and whatever is on the fridge.
2 people like this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
2 May 19
Our son used to eat my meatballs as they were cooling. Now he’s a vegetarian, so they are all for us! We often make omelettes or frittatas for easy dinners, too, or order food for delivery.
1 person likes this
@marlina (154183)
• Canada
2 May 19
Hope that your food last until it's time for you to go North.
2 people like this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
2 May 19
Thank you! Lol! I don’t plan on making anymore meatballs here until next December.
@Tampa_girl7 (48855)
• United States
2 May 19
I cooked for a family of six before I left home and now that I am married and we are a family of three I still cook enough for six or more. I freeze what we don't eat.
2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (48855)
• United States
2 May 19
@DianneN we may be in the Tampa and Orlando area this summer.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
2 May 19
@Tampa_girl7 I know Tampa is a dream come true for you. Are you going to Disney World?
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
2 May 19
That is wise and certainly saves time when you want a quick and delicious dinner. I usually double that amount of meatballs, but we won't be here much longer.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116876)
• Anniston, Alabama
2 May 19
I do, but you already know that. I home can meals and have beans and meats cooked and ready in the freezer.
2 people like this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
2 May 19
I do know that.
@arunima25 (84944)
• Bangalore, India
2 May 19
That sounds good!! I am sure you have spent enough time and effort. We also keep few things ready and stored which just come handy for quick meal.
2 people like this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
2 May 19
Thank you! I’m sure I would love some of your quick meals!
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
2 May 19
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (84944)
• Bangalore, India
2 May 19
@DianneN We roast a few herbs, pulses and spices. Then we grind and make powder and store it in air tight containers. They come handy to mix with curd and eat with rice or chappati. It is tasty and healthy too. We have variety of combinations to give different flavor and taste.
1 person likes this
• United States
2 May 19
mmm those looks delicious not exactly a meal, but I freeze ice trays of chicken broth for any time I want soup/pasta/etc. just let it melt in the pan and add in my ingredients
2 people like this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
2 May 19
Oh, thanks for that idea! Great one! I do freeze containers of chicken soup, but small amounts can be great for seasoning, too.
1 person likes this
@wanghui (894)
• China
7 May 19
wow,it is wonderful,and must be yummy,i like meat too much,so i will try do it ~~a month later,the north will be warm and comfortable~
1 person likes this
@wanghui (894)
• China
8 May 19
@DianneN i will~~
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
8 May 19
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
7 May 19
They are so convenient and do taste delicious. I hope you do try to make some to freeze, too.
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17100)
• New Zealand
10 May 19
Like you homemade meatballs and burger patties are always good for a quick go to. I also always have jars of pasta sauce or cans of tomatoes on hand.
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17100)
• New Zealand
10 May 19
@DianneN while I've been absent from here I've missed that news. Are you returning permanently or just for the summer?
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
10 May 19
@valmnz We are now residents of Florida for 6 months and 1 day, the time needed to be considered residents. We will live at our house in Connecticut for 6 months, then return to live in Florida. We decided to do that due to the extremely high income taxes in Connecticut. Since January 1st, our income has grown by leaps and bounds without the taxes in Florida. We should have considered it sooner.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
10 May 19
I used to keep a meatloaf or two frozen and soup as well, but don't have the freezer space in Florida as I do up north. It's good to keep those quick meals on hand. I guess I'll be doing that again next month when we return to Connecticut.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54192)
• Louisville, Kentucky
4 May 19
We do the same with meatballs. C always makes too much so we freeze what's left over. We have a small freezer we bought last year and it's full right now of leftovers. We are going to have to have some meals of leftover food soon.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54192)
• Louisville, Kentucky
9 May 19
@DianneN yes it is. I don't think we can put much more in there... lol. We have spaghetti, chili, chicken noodle soup, chicken and dumplings, veggie soup, meatballs and meatloaf just to name a few.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
9 May 19
@simone10 Wow! I will have to do that once we return up north next month. We don't have too many freezers in FL.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
8 May 19
It’s always good to have quick meals ready to go any time,
1 person likes this
@JustBhem (70601)
• Davao, Philippines
3 May 19
Yes, like eggs and meatloaf. It’s easier. And your meatballs Miss D look so tasty, for sure it will last.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
8 May 19
Thank you. Meatloaf is great, too.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
10 May 19
@JustBhem Delicious, of course. lol
1 person likes this
@JustBhem (70601)
• Davao, Philippines
8 May 19
@DianneN I agree. And how was it?
1 person likes this
@resukill22 (25054)
• Las Pinas City, Philippines
3 May 19
I feel hungry now hehe
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
3 May 19
We still haven’t eaten any, but they are good!
1 person likes this
@resukill22 (25054)
• Las Pinas City, Philippines
3 May 19
@DianneN hope I can have one hehe
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
3 May 19
@resukill22 I’ll mail you a few. Keep an eye on the postman. I wouldn’t want him to eat any.
1 person likes this
@LowRiderX (22912)
• Serbia
6 May 19
This works very tasty. I love meatballs. In my country, the meatballs are called - cufte
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
7 May 19
I will remember cufte when I come and visit!
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
8 May 19
@LowRiderX By the time you finish teaching me all these Serbian words, I'll speak like a native!
1 person likes this
@LowRiderX (22912)
• Serbia
8 May 19
@DianneN I'm always surprised to hear that strangers speak Serbian (even in a written form)If you decide to come to Serbia, welcome!
1 person likes this