TV Dinners in Their Purest Form

There are times when a pre-cooked meal is the best option for dinner. A family with a busy week, a smart dieter's lunch plan, a neighbor convalescing can all use something pure and good standing by in the freezer.

There are more choices that are natural and a bit more exotic than the ones we ate on TV dinner folding tables.  There are also easy ones you can put together while you are cooking dinner by doubling your recipe.  These have the advantage of simplicity, customization and minimal processing. 

The dinners pictured here were made from 4 pounded chicken breasts braised in a light broth, 2 cups of cooked rice and 2 large heads of broccoli cut in florets an lightly steamed.  The rice and chicken nestle with a bit of pan gravy and the broccoli got a squirt of soy sauce.

Cool complete in the refrigerator before freezing to prevent condensation forming.  Freeze in plastic containers to reheat in the microwave or aluminum ones to reheat in the oven (generally 325˚F for half hour).  Avoid tomato based sauces if freezing in plastic since the sauce will stain and damage the container when reheated.