https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 09 May 2026 13:04:51 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-back-up-dinners-you-keep-on-hand#post-1466619 Tue, 04 Mar 2014 13:39:03 +0000 septca 1466619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: Sorry I just saw your question now! My preference is to buy the Whole Foods brand, but I will buy the Butoni brand at the regular grocery store if that is where I am going. My favorites are the 3- or 4-cheese tortellini or the spinach and cheese ravioli. Barillo also makes a pretty good dried 3-cheese tortellini that is sold in the same aisle as the regular dried pasta.</p> <p>The key to making it flavorful (and not too bland) is to use good pesto. My favorite is actually the Kirklands brand from Coscto (I portion it out into those little Gladware containers and freeze them so I can always have some on hand), but the Whole Foods brand is also very good. I do NOT like the Butoni brand pesto. I add a tiny bit of whole milk, and sometimes will add roasted or sundried tomatoes, spinach, leftover grilled or roasted chicken... That's a total weeknight staple in my house. :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-back-up-dinners-you-keep-on-hand#post-1459711 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 23:55:49 +0000 808love 1459711@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>frozen veggie lasagna (personal portions)<br /> ramen<br /> frozen chili </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-back-up-dinners-you-keep-on-hand#post-1459685 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 23:36:54 +0000 MediaNaranja 1459685@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like to make a big batch of meatloaf and cook it in muffin tins then freeze. They are the perfect portion size, and can be heated up in the oven in 25 mins or so, the perfect amount of time to make some rice or a salad or stream veggies to go along with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-back-up-dinners-you-keep-on-hand#post-1459639 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 23:11:37 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 1459639@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we buy this big bag of chicken tamales from costco that are our go to whenever we don't have dinner prepared. burritos and ling ling dumplings (also from costco) are great too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-back-up-dinners-you-keep-on-hand#post-1459552 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 22:03:36 +0000 Jewel664 1459552@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I recently discovered chicken bruschetta. It's essentially a casserole. Cooked cubed chicken, diced tomatoes, box of chicken stuffing mix or croutons, Italian seasoning and mozzerela cheese. Mix, bake and serve. I just added this to my dinner rotation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-back-up-dinners-you-keep-on-hand#post-1459536 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 21:54:07 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 1459536@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Grilled cheese + canned soup<br /> Mac n cheese with rotisserie chicken (or cut up chicken patties), frozen veggies<br /> Frozen lasagna<br /> Fish sticks + tater tots/fries/frozen corn on the cob/baked beans<br /> Tuna version of hamburger helper </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-back-up-dinners-you-keep-on-hand#post-1459471 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 21:25:01 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 1459471@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Stir fry is super quick. Costco sells a frozen veggie mix that's really good. So I will put on a pot of rice and while that is cooking sautée the veggies. Often times I will throw in whatever fresh veg I have as well and spices of course. You could easily add chicken, although we mostly eat vegetarian so I just add some cashews for extra protein.</p> <p>Another option is Mexican. I always have tostadas in the pantry and refried beans in the freezer (I cook the dried ones in bulk but you could do canned instead). Then making toppings is quick- chop up veggie, guac, hot sauce, whatever you like. I put everything out on the table so we make our own and my toddler loves it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-back-up-dinners-you-keep-on-hand#post-1459462 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 21:20:52 +0000 rsp213 1459462@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Usually I'll toss the chicken sausage into the fridge the night before to start the thawing process. If it's still a little frozen I'll use the defrost setting on my microwave. The one I buy is technically pre-cooked so since I usually slice into thin circles it cooks quickly even if not fully thawed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-back-up-dinners-you-keep-on-hand#post-1459436 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 21:08:42 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1459436@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rsp213: that's a great idea. Do you cook the sausage from frozen? Or dethawquickly somehow? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-back-up-dinners-you-keep-on-hand#post-1459433 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 21:07:42 +0000 rsp213 1459433@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always keep chicken sausage in the freezer and frozen onion/pepper blend. I use those with jambalaya box mix and it's a quick, warm and very filling dinner! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-back-up-dinners-you-keep-on-hand#post-1459347 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 20:26:17 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1459347@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for the breakfast idea! I do often forget about that one As an option and usually we have eggs and DH likes them! </p> <p>@septca: do you have a brand of tortolini you like? I am never sure what's a good brand and flavor. How do you prepare it so it doesn't taste bland? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-back-up-dinners-you-keep-on-hand#post-1458999 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 17:00:09 +0000 sunny 1458999@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Does he like pulled pork? I made a giant batch and froze some. It thawed and reheated well. You will also need buns and maybe some coleslaw for BBQ style or if you do Hawaiian style pulled pork, you need rice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-back-up-dinners-you-keep-on-hand#post-1458995 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 16:58:04 +0000 2PeasinaPod 1458995@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@polkadots: This...we looooove breakfast for dinner, and that's always a good "I don't know what to have tonight" dinner without having to thaw out much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-back-up-dinners-you-keep-on-hand#post-1458988 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 16:55:20 +0000 polkadots 1458988@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>breakfast foods. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-back-up-dinners-you-keep-on-hand#post-1458986 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 16:55:11 +0000 septca 1458986@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always have at least 2 boxes of fresh cheese tortellini and a container of pesto in the freezer. If I am feeling fancy, I will add tomatoes, spinach, and/or shredded chicken.</p> <p>We also always have quesadilla makings on hand. Sometimes it's just cheese, but I sometimes add cilantro, black beans, onion, tomatoes, some type of meat... depending on what we have.</p> <p>Other go-tos: Frozen gyoza from Trader Joe's, Annie's mac and cheese, breakfast for dinner, grilled cheese + soup. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-back-up-dinners-you-keep-on-hand#post-1458982 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 16:54:15 +0000 Dandelion 1458982@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I get stouffers lasangna a lot and other freezer meals for nights like those. There's a lot of dump-in-a-skillet meals in the freezer section. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-back-up-dinners-you-keep-on-hand#post-1458979 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 16:53:18 +0000 cascademom 1458979@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>-frozen pizza<br /> -chicken pot pies<br /> -fish sticks and fries (need more fish sticks, love it as a quick meal) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-back-up-dinners-you-keep-on-hand#post-1458962 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 16:48:34 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1458962@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@fancyfunction: Yes I have a list of those things I make when I have time (I'm a WOHM so its not often). I have been trying to make double batches when I do cook, but that just makes one extra meal. I need stuff I can just keep on hand for in a pinch when we run out of those meals. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-back-up-dinners-you-keep-on-hand#post-1458953 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 16:46:11 +0000 fancyfunction 1458953@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like to make things in batches, portion out and freeze. I'll make things like chicken cutlets or boneless thighs, baked ziti, stews, chili, etc. Slow cookers are great for doing stuff too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-back-up-dinners-you-keep-on-hand#post-1458938 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 16:41:57 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1458938@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm looking for dinners I can keep on hand either in the pantry or freezer for those nights we don't dethaw something or just haven't shopped. If its a frozen meal, I need something that can be taken out, cooked/heated, and on the table within about 45 minutes. </p> <p>My husband is a heavy dinner eat (steak, potato, veggie) so suggestions like a "can of soup" doesn't fly well with him. </p> <p>Currently my list includes:<br /> - Spaghetti (can of sauce, box of pasta, frozen meatballs, frozen garlic bread).<br /> - Frozen Pizza<br /> - Chicken Nuggets (plus other sides we have on hand)<br /> - Frozen burgers and buns with baked fries (DH isn't thrilled about this option). </p>