Isn’t fall just so wonderful? The kiddos go back to school and you start to pull your house back together from the summer apocalypse. You sit back, take a deep breath…then choke a little because all the after school sports and activities and holidays come hurling at you without reprieve until maybe mid-January. By then, Eastern Idaho has become a frozen tundra and going anywhere or doing anything is totally unappealing.
I thought I’d offer a mom hack, so to speak, for one area of this chaotic season of life: snacks and meals on the go!
It’s not a kid chauffeur, a clone for you, or magical cleaning fairies but it’s close… how to stuff your freezer with some homemade, quick to reheat, snack and meal options. Yes, there are all kinds of freezer meal ideas out there, but this isn’t your granny’s casserole! I’m talking about frozen cubes of your favorite sauces, dips, and fruits! This is what you can use those ice cube trays for that you were about to throw out thanks to your built in ice maker.
I first put this idea to use when I had babies and I would make my own baby food but now have expanded it to snacks and meals on the go for my older kids.
While the possibilities of this concept are endless, I will share a few we use regularly.
Make your favorite Alfredo, spaghetti, or other pasta sauce. Fill your ice cube trays with the mixture making sure each compartment is filled completely but not overfilled. Set trays in freezer until frozen solid. Then, pop cubes out onto a clean cupboard or cookie sheet and place them in a labeled freezer bag or container. Voila! Pop a couple of cubes in a container of noodles for your kids lunch or for a dip with a cheese sandwich. You could also thaw a few to slather on French Bread for a quick French bread pizza with your other favorite toppings. (Great way to use up leftovers.)
This method also works great for your favorite fruit purées like applesauce or dips such as cheesy bean dip. These could be used for lunches, after school snacks, or a quick meal on the way to soccer or dance.
Other ideas for frozen food cubes include: juice, smoothies, soups, and even gravy for rice or chicken puffs.
I love how easy it is to remove as many cubes as we need quickly and reheat them faster due to their smaller size. The fruit purées and juices can thaw in your kids’ school lunches too. The possibilities are endless and works great for kids of all ages.
*Tip: Each well of the tray holds about 1 Oz. Or 2 Tbsp. While your baby or toddler might eat 1-2 cubes, your teen might eat more like 3-4, or the whole tray.
