need help, work 12 hour shifts so family not eating well when im not there to cook...

Skint_Catt

food can be frozen in pretty much anything - shepherds pies/lasagnes can be made & frozen in the pyrex dishes they are to be cooked in, sauces, casseroles, currys and chillis always go in tupperware in my freezer (initial cost but they last years) or even just in freezer bags. (Labels are a big must otherwise you get dinner surprise!)

blueberrypie

ragstoricheswannabe wrote: »

Will def look into the cook for the freezer thread, thanks. one question, what do you freeze the stuff in?? them metal things with the cardboard tops??? bought the plastic tubs some time ago but found they dont fit alot in and work out pricey if doing a lot of batch cooking. Currently frozen soup in them.

When I make stuff like lasagne, I line the baking-dish with foil and make up the food in that, then cover with more foil and freeze. Once it's frozen, I can take it out of the baking dish and put it in a large freezer bag, and I get my dish back for other cooking

When it's time to cook it, I put the food, still in foil, back in the same baking dish.

The same technique works for lots of other things too.

Think about how you'll defrost/heat it and freeze in a suitable container.

TBH, not really sure why taking the food out the freezer to cook didnt work, i even bought frozen chips (shock of all horrors) may be word is needed!!!!!!! (besides, he always moans at the amount spent on the food bill)

It does cost a lot to feed everyone on convenience foods and crisps... (hint hint to blokey).

Point out to him how much a pot of spag bol costs, and its nutritional value compared to crisps!

Oh, and get him involved in the planning. Sometimes blokes like to feel in charge - and sometimes they don't like to admit they're unsure about what they're supposed to do, so make sure you leave thorough, but simple, written instructions.

Valli

Just so you know it can be done I have some pyrex dishes that I freeze in (I have two the same size and it's a cook two and freeze one session) usually shepherd's pie or fish pie. If necessary they can then be thawed in the microwave.

Another thought...have you a timer in your oven - cos you could put jacket spuds in alongside a casserole.

HTH

Bitsy_Beans

My local chinese takeaway sends stuff in plastic tubs so I've built up a good stock of those. Sainsburys and Pound shops sell cheap but servicable tupperware (Sainsburys have their own value range). I do also freeze stuff in ramekins (for child sized cottage pies etc) but mostly its in cheap plastic tubs. It's an initial expense but they stack really nicely and don't leak.

Patchwork_Quilt

I have a nice stock of those kitsch soup pots - they look like a big sturdy cup and they have a soup recipe on the side. I usually over cook and then fill one or two pots with the remnants - soup, casserole etc. I have even made little shepherd's pies in them. I then cover them with cling film and reheat straight from the freezer in the microwave to eat with a bun. Very simple. They cost 50p from charity shops and we have about 12.

Freezing singly also means that people can have different meals - if you can identify the contents. A freezer pen might be handy.

Valli

Have to say (and I hope the OP doesn't mind) but he's a bit of a plonker her OH...'eats crisps' 4 nights a week and what an example he is setting to his kids...
What a caveman. Bet she does ALL the housework too...

(I got rid of my caveman btw;))

ragstoricheswannabe

Think he is just very unorganised!!!! And have seen it first hand that he really cant multi task and cant prioritise things to be done very well. It is work in progress. And the kids never see him eating crisps for tea, he has them after washing up, doing ds2's bottles, putting them both to bed and tiding up the living room.

Time gets away from him and before he knows it it is their bedtime (gathered from our little chat) is too involved in playing with them. Suppose its not a bad thing as i wish i had more time to play with them instead of getting bogged down with other stuff (like when to do tea etc) buts another thread..........................

clutterydrawer

If he's disorganised maybe you could give him a list of exactly when and how to do things. There must be some simple meals he can get to grips with!

And I freeze my meals in cheapy tupperware boxes cos they stack nicely which saves freezer space

Butterfly_Brain

I used to work long shifts too from 5pm - 2am but I still managed to batch cook loads and freeze it.
Instant mash was my DH's lifesaver.
He got pretty good at pasta too I just made the meat sauce and he added the pasta.
Stews were also a mainstay but at least I knew they were all getting a good warming homemade meal every night.
The only thing I couldn't train him to do was Washing up I had to come home and do it - So I made him buy me my first dishwasher!

ragstoricheswannabe

That was my next plan, but wanting to get my food bills down so dont want to rely to heavily on frozen convience stuff.

But like i said, it is a work in progress........................................... treading the fine line between trying to keep family healthy and not sound like a nagging mother/girlfriend!!!!