I’m at the point where keeping a stockpile of essentials feels less like overdoing it and more like being prepared. Especially as winter approaches, with snow days and inevitable colds.

I’m gathering and organizing my essentials now, including stocking up my second freezer. I focus mostly on mains, with some Shabbos staples for those Fridays when getting everything on the table feels like a bigger challenge. I also make room for baked goods, because sometimes having something homemade ready to pull out of the freezer is just what you need.

Savory Meals:

1. Pizza Quiche by Chayie Schlisselfeld

Who says being a grown-up means you can never eat pizza? Enjoy this delicious “crossover” dish guilt-free, as it is also low in fat.

2. Stuffed Jumbo Pasta Shells from the Nitra Cookbook

3. Garlic Baked Chicken from the Dining In Cookbook

A perfect balance of fresh flavors. Very enjoyable!

4. Beef Stew by Rivky Kleiman

There’s nothing that compares to a warm, hearty stew to keep the cold outside!

5. Sweet and Sour Meatballs from the Dining In Cookbook

The perfect combination of sweet and sour, these meatballs are tender yet firm, holding their shape beautifully. Feel free to shape the meatballs as big or small as you like. This recipe will become a staple on your dinner rotation, because they’re that good!

6. Classic Potato Leek Soup by Elizabeth Kurtz

This hearty soup can be made dairy or parve. To make it parve, use margarine in place of the butter and use non-dairy sour cream. It can be made a few days ahead of time. Keep it chilled in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

7. Best Meatloaf by Sara Goldstein

Meatloaf was a dish I didn’t enjoy very much growing up. On a whim, I decided to try it my own way one night. Turns out, it’s delicious! Especially when served with a side of fluffy mashed potatoes and some crispy sautéed green beans. Weeknight meatloaf has now been added to the Goldstein dinner rotation. I hope you enjoy this easy meal as much as we do!

8. Coffee-Rubbed London Broil by Daniella Silver

In this recipe, London broil beef cuts are rubbed with a simple coffee, cocoa, and spice blend, then slathered in barbecue sauce and cooked quickly over high heat.

9. Meaty Red Lentil Soup by Yehudis Mann

While prepping this soup for the Whisk photo shoot, I doubled the recipe, feeling very accomplished as I planned to freeze the extras for Yom Tov. However, as each eager member of my family started helping themselves to bowl after bowl, my feeling of satisfaction was really short-lived, as none of it actually made its way to the freezer!

10. Mushroom Barley Soup Done Right by Renee Muller

I know what you are thinking. Really? Mushroom Barley? Hold it, hold it. This is no ordinary Mushroom Barley Soup. This is Mushroom Barley Soup, done right. This is the kind of soup that will sit in my freezer all winter long, divided into small portions, so that Child A will be able to have some any time she wants, without having to wait too long for it to defrost. It’s the perfect Motza’ei Shabbos, Erev Shabbos, before supper is ready, once supper is done, after homework, before bedtime, Sunday lunch, anytime really kinda soul food. Yes. Now you understand.

11. Healing Bone Broth by Riqi Schonbrun

Bone broth is extremely nutritious. Animal bones contain an array of different vitamins and minerals (calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A, zinc, omega 3, omega 6, collagen) depending on the bones you use. Turning them into a broth allows the body to absorb these minerals easily. Try to add a variety of bones into your bone broth to cook up the most nutrient-dense broth! Other benefits of drinking bone broth include: reduction in inflammation, improved joint health and better digestive health.

Baked Goods:

12. Oatmeal Muffins by Brynie Greisman

Everyone knows that nothing beats a bowl of hot oatmeal for breakfast. These muffins are a close second, and you can just pop one in a bag to take along to school. Whether you decide to make them as I did with carrots or personalize them with zucchini or other ingredients you favor, these are a storehouse of nutrition. Believe it or not, they taste delicious, even low-fat!

13. Basic Muffins by Estee Kafra

These are my go-to muffins for keeping in the freezer to grab and go whenever you need. You can easily customize them with your favorite mix-ins. Some suggestions are included below.

14. Perfect-for-Your-Coffee Cinnamon Swirl Muffins by Pessi Piller

What I love most about muffins is that they’re single serve. I’ll bake a batch, stick it in the freezer, and pull them out as needed. These pair perfectly with coffee or on their own as an instant pick-me-up.

15. Jumbo Dairy Peanut Butter Cookies by Chavi Feldman

Chocolate and peanut butter are definitely one of my favorite combos, and blending them together in a dairy version really ups the yum factor. These cookies are absolutely irresistible, even straight from the freezer… Trust me, I would know! Guilty as charged!

16. Lemon Rugelach by Faigy Grossmann

When I was a newlywed, these rugelach were a staple in my freezer. I kept them there because they were inhaled if left out on the counter. Truthfully, they were just as delicious from the freezer, so it didn’t help much. What’s magical about this recipe is that although it’s pareve, it somehow ends up tasting dairy.

17. Zucchini Muffins from the Nitra Cookbook

Looking for a healthier zucchini muffin? Look no further! These zucchini muffins pack a punch with their array of healthy ingredients and great taste! Very easy to make by hand or using a mixer, this recipe will yield two dozen muffins that also happen to freeze beautifully. Enjoy them all now or stick them in the freezer to grab for an easy snack on the go!

18. Fudge Cookies by Brynie Greisman

I recently made these for my son’s aufruf and they have the perfect consistency — chewy and crispy at the same time. They taste great straight from the freezer. I’m so glad there are none left!

About the author

Rachel Kor

269 articles • 19 recipes

The Rachel Kor blog offers delicious recipes, classic yet stylish holiday table settings, impressive centerpieces, and chic gift ideas.

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