I'm making Beef Stew for dinner tonight ! (what kind of bread do you like?)
I probably don't make it as good as your mom does however..... mines in the crockpot....
White or rye bread.
Mom uses a pressure cooker and starts the day before she serves it. she cooks for ~ 8 hours, freezes it overnight then thaws and reheats it for lunch - dinner.
I freeze chili in individual portions then thaw and eat. It's so funny that it tastes better than when you eat it right out of the pot.
My mother in law used to make coney sauce for hot dogs then freeze it in ice cube trays and just throw one or two cubes in the microwave when she needed to.
freezing breaks down cell walls in the meat and veggies so that the spices and other flavors can move in.
I just don't have that kind of discipline.
cooking something for hours to freeze it then cook something else to eat.....