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Mariel here. Well…our littlest addition finally made his big debut in early July. Ever since his arrival, I’ve been on baby time, feeding and sleeping in concert with Li’l Man while occasionally trying to rustle up the energy to pay a bill or write a thank you card. I can’t complain though. He’s a peaceful creature with a quiet, gentle nature despite being thrust – rather unceremoniously – into a strange, Alice-in-Wonderland-like world. My husband and I – and all eight of his grandparents – are totally smitten and we’ve been lucky enough to be on the receiving end of a lion’s share of help. My mom is actually staying with me for two full weeks and while she can’t help much with the night feedings, she’s been keeping me nourished during the day and making sure the house stays clean and fresh. In fact, it’s far fresher and cleaner than BEFORE the babe arrived. Since my schedule is so wonky at the moment and I never know when I’ll have time to eat, my mom has been focusing on making meals that are easy to prep, ready to reheat or freezer-friendly. Surely I’m not the only new mom out there, so in the spirit of community, we thought we’d share some of the recipes that have gotten us through the past week. Even if you don’t have a new baby running away with your waking hours, these will likely come in handy during those lazy summer nights when you’d rather do anything than make a meal.
Last-Minute Meals Hoisin Chicken Penne alla Vodka Rigatoni with Sundried Tomatoes, Pancetta & Fresh Mozzarella Curried Chicken Salad Stir-Fried Orange-Chili Beef Farfalle with Leeks, Fontina & Prosciutto Chipotle-Spiced Oven Tacos Veggie Soba Noodles
Freezer Friendly Meals (we recommend freezing in portion-size containers for a quicker defrost) Classic Lasagna Chicken Enchiladas Five-Minute Pesto Parmesan Meatballs Grown-Up Sloppy Joes Chipotle-Spiced Pulled Pork Pesto Plain & Simple Split Pea Soup Tuscan Sausage Soup One-Pot Chili Mac & Cheese Pear, Pancetta & Gorgonzola Quiche Savory Marsala-Infused Mushroom Pasta Sauce Baked Penne Rigate with Smoked Mozzarella and Eggplant Tomato Sauce Well-Stocked Vegetable Soup Chicken Pot Pie with Sweet Potatoes, Leeks and Portabella Mushrooms Roasted Tomato and Kalamata Olive Pasta Sauce Classic Chicken Parmesan with Crunchy Panko & Smoked Mozzarella Tomato-Braised Chicken Thighs with Olives & Capers
Congratulations on your new bundle of joy! Great list of freezer meals–keep cool during the week or for fixing to bring to a friend who might have her hands full for a while. π
Such an exciting (and exhausting) time in your life – congrats! Freezer meals are the way to go – love all these great ideas.
Congratulations on the arrival of your little dude! So lovely that you’ve got a great family to help out with the adjustment to being parents. And an amazing mama who keeps you well nourished! Enjoy this wonderful time!
Congratulations, to you and your husband on the arrival of your sweet baby boy! I’m sure your Mom is so happy to be there with you taking care of all of you. I did the same for my daughter, last year. Without a doubt, you are all being well fed! Thanks for sharing the freezer recipes, make ahead dishes make meal time so much easier.
Congratulations on the birth of your little boy. How wonderful that your mom is there to help out.
Treasured times.
π Mandy
Congrats on the new arrival. My little one arrived in February and it’s just a blast! Love being a mom. Before she arrived i had filled my freezer with ready made food, and i still have not gone through it all. My little on is such a great sleeper that i was never really sleep deprived and felt like i could still cook, but the help is always great. Congrats again!
What a wonderful time for you and your family! Congratulations on your bundle of joy π You definitely want to spend every moment with that little guy, so having meals ready to go is so wonderful!
Congratulations on the newest addition to your family! Enjoy these days while your Mom is there to help. Looking forward to photos of the baby!
Congratulations on the birth of your son…so many wonderful years to look forward to. When mom is done, do you think she could come here for a bit? π
Congratulations!!!!