Q: My friend just lost her mother and will be coming back home after the funeral in a few days. I'd like to stock her freezer with some single-serving meals so she doesn't need to think about cooking when she gets back. Vegetarian options would be preferable and definitely no cheese.
Sent by Kim
Editor: Kim, our readers always have such great suggestions for situations like these! Here's a good post to start with, too:
• Help Me Fill My Freezer With Nourishing Goodies Before My Baby Comes!
Personally, I'm a big fan of simple soups, like the Zucchini Garlic Soup pictured above. Readers, what else would you suggest?
Related: Hospitality: What Meals Do You Take to Friends?
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Straw Mat from The ...

Chana masala - it's easy to cook in a crock pot and you can even get some mini naan breads to go with it. Or ratatouille, your friend can add it to pasta or have it with a poached egg or on toast.
Veggie bean chili
this amazing chickpea stew: http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2012/01/vegan-garbanzos-con-espinacas-jengibre-spinach-chickpea-stew-ginger-spanish.html
Green soup: http://www.publicradio.org/columns/splendid-table/recipes/basic_green_soup.html
These black bean burgers from skinny taste look great! http://www.skinnytaste.com/2012/06/spicy-black-bean-burgers-with-chipotle.html
Lasagna (cheese-less?), packed in freezer bags as individual servings. Chicken (or veggie) pot pies in ramekins or foil tins. Calzones or pasties. Fritatta or quiche, cut and bagged as individual servings. Homemade pasta sauces (marinara, alfredo).
I also second the chili!
Breakfast burritos with beans, scrambled eggs, onions and peppers.
Cream of cauliflower soup (http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/cream-of-cauliflower-soup-ii/detail.aspx) with some crusty bread. It's easy to make, freezes wonderfully and is very filling and soothing.
along the same lines as the soup above, cauliflower soup (this is simple, easy and amazing)
http://www.food52.com/recipes/15247_paul_bertollis_cauliflower_soup
and this one too with asparagus
http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2012/05/asparagus-and-ramp-soup-with-yogurt-recipe.html
maybe frozen servings of pesto to throw into pasta?
Minestrone soup is one of my favorites, precisely because my mother made it often when I was a child, and a vegetarian Jambalaya is another favorite for the freezer. Here's a recipe with a bunch of other vegetarian freezer-worthy recipes:
http://busycooks.about.com/od/meatlessentreerecipes/r/veggiejambalaya.htm
Sorry to hear about your friend's loss. Here's a recipie I made just yesterday:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/French-Lentil-Soup-236772
This French lentil soup is yummy, easy to make, and soups/stews freeze beautifully. You are a good friend for stocking her freezer for her.
If you can find "Slow Cooking for Yourself" by Catherine Atkinson in a bookstore it's amazing! I prepared a lot of these meals for my mom and put them in her freezer and all she had to do was add the liquids. There's a vegetarian section but you can also substitute the meat with tofu.
This is a really great thing that you are doing for your friend.
What a wonderful way to support your friend. Beyond the meals, I would suggest bringing over some light snacks. She may not even feel like reheating anything but a quick treat may be a nice alternative.
Thank you thank you thank you for all the suggestions! I will get cooking tonight!
I would like to have friends like you! Sorry about the loss of your friend but lucky for having you.