Tricky one - preparing for for preggie 24 hrs in advance

[Bloom]

Hi guys,

This has me stumped so I need your help please!

It's complicated, but basically I need to prepare meals for a pregnant lady 24 hours in advance (a friend is staying with me while her DS is in hosptial so she will be there most of the time except at night) So I will cook on evening 1 and the next morning they will take it to hopsital and it will then be consumed on evening 2. They will have a fridge to store it in and a microwave to heat in.

So what can I do???

[Pandora]

Lasagne
Risotto
Stew

Anything that will still be nice after being microwave reheated.

[lissy]

Good question Bloom, sorry no answers from me coz I get stumped with this for myself sometimes coz you're not supposed to have leftovers correct? Will be interested to see what people come up with.

[Phteven]

You're allowed leftovers if they are heated enough to kill listeria bugs.
Soup can be nuked in the microwave and if you pack it with beans and veggies it's pretty hearty.
Curry.
Spag bol
Shepherd's pie

[toomanyshoes]

As long as it's cooked well to begin with, then cooled down quickly and popped in the fridge, then reheated HOT anything will be fine.

[Bloom]

Thanks guys!

Okay, will cook and cool quickly. Soups are a great idea!

But I thought you were meant to eat stuff within 12 hours of cooking it. Or 24hrs at the outside (which I guess would be just okay). What's the "rule" on leftovers?

Thanks.

[Traveller]

Depending on what it is, I would eat leftovers after 48 hours if stored correctly. If I am not going to eat it within this timescale I would freeze it, and defrost when needed. So you could do a heap of cooking now, freeze it all, and transfer into the fridge the night before you are going to deliver it to her.

[Maruschke]

Bloom, how many meals do you need to make? We have a whole stash here if the MS kicks in. We make and freeze soups, spag bol and stir fries...

As far as what to put in it... I don't love (I will eat, but don't really like) the taste of defrosted cooked rice and pasta, I'd rather potato, so curry would do it for me.

HTH, PX

[luna moth]

Re eating leftovers - I loved doing soups, because they freeze well if you have to, and I would eat soups at 24 hours because you can nuke to the point of boiling, and they still taste good. And they're so easy!
I'd offer recipes, but I know you're an awesome cook!