Freezer stashes are amazing.

The term “freezer stash” is applied to a surplus collection of frozen breastmilk. The stash can be used in all sorts of ways: returning to work, running errands without your baby, letting a partner or caregiver give a bottle, etc. It can also be used to describe the stockpile of ready-made meals to be consumed in the early postpartum period when time and energy are hard to come by.

Some people choose to make these themselves during the last few weeks of pregnancy. Others have friends and family that offer to lend a helping hand in getting the freezer stocked. No matter who puts it there, opening your freezer door and knowing all you have to do is pick one tin and get it in a hot oven for dinner to be ready is a massive relief.

Time for a truth:

Sometimes newly postpartum parents want to make dinner themselves.

Not all the time, and generally not even most of the time. For a woman who’s spent her whole day holding and fixating on one thing, it can be refreshing to do something normal and mindless and that requires two hands and no baby – like making dinner.

Here’s one of our go-to quick and easy recipes that’s perfect for brisk Northern Virginia weather.