**Bank Holiday Weekend Chat**

LouiseJ

Bunnyinthelights wrote: »

Lou, you are teaching them life skills that they NEED to be adults. Denying them that isn't fair and it's not doing them any favours.

I agree but I was talking about my hubby :rotfl:

ZTD

LouiseJ wrote: »

"Louise, will you flick this over for me you are so much quicker than I am":rolleyes:

"Practice makes perfect..."

scaredy_cat

Bunny, i make cheese and potato pie - basically, mashed potato with fried onions and cheese mixed in, then put into a dish, sprinkle more cheese on top and bake til the topping is browned. Serve with baked beans/tinned paghetti/peas.

You could freeze this and heat straight from the oven - making sure the dish is freezer to oven ok...

scaredy_cat

and if you have any leftover mince or stew, you can make pasties with them and freeze uncooked, then when you cook from frozen, cook at about 180 deg c for about 45 mins.....

becky_rtw

My two favourite dishes I make are:
tomato, mackerel and pasta - basically fry onions and garlic add chopped tomatoes and tomato puree and cook till soft then add chillis and mackerel and reduce till saucy then pour over cooked pasta and serve mmmm yummy

squash soup - buy squashes and chop then peel (its easier to peel in smaller bits), fry off garlic and add a bit of water then add squash and cook till soft - mash with a masher, top up with water, add chillis and herbs and cook for a few hours checking the water level as you go then blend into soup and serve with warm crusty brown rolls and butter (or swirl in creme fraise if you add too much chilli!)

Yummmmmmmy

Snaggles

I need more meal ideas too, so am reading with interest.

Bunny, my favourite slow cooker recipe for the kids is 'pork in cider' (yeah, yeah, I know, don't say it fast, lol).

Bung pork, shallots, carrots, swede, parsnips, celery, potatoes or whatever else you fancy into the slow cooker. Pour over cider and stock (I use chicken oxo to make the stock as that's usually all I have in) - I do about 50/50 cider and stock. Season, add whatever herbs you fancy (I'm never sure what goes with pork, but had a sage plant that was going mad so put some of that in and it was lovely).

You can leave that cooking all day in the slow cooker, then when you get in, add some orange juice and a little bit of flour to thicken the sauce. Leave that to cook/thicken, then serve - yummmmmmmmmmy!

Can do it with chicken or quorn too.

If you're going to freeze it, don't thicken the sauce too much, because when you defrost/reheat, the potatoes tend to 'fall' a bit (as my Mum would say), and that thickens the sauce anyway. Other than that, it freezes really well.

Gemmzie

We do spag bol / lasagne, soup, ratatouille, seafood / mushroom risotto, tuna pasta bake, tomato based throw things in the pan (with sausages / tofu / chicken), omelette, chicken in the slow cooker, curry, sausages and mash, jacket potato and various fillings.

fermi

For those that may have read their posts/threads, Red1704 and Toon_Dave are apparently getting married today.

:j:beer:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1913833

dalip wrote: »

AS MANY KNOW RED1704 & TOON_DAVE ARE GETTING MARRIED TODAY:j.

THEY MET VIA THIS VERY FORUM AND I WOULD LIKE TO WISH THEM ALL THE VERY BEST IN THEIR NEW LIFE TOGETHER.

I HAVE HAD THE PLEASEURE IN MEETING THIS WONDERFUL COUPLE. THEY ARE THE NICEST COUPLE YOU COULD EVER WISH TO MEET & THEY HAVE HAD A TOUGH FEW YEARS BUT THEIR MEETING WAS THE TURNING POINT FOR FOR BOTH OF THEM.

I WOULD LIKE TO RAISE MY GLASS TO THEM HERE


TO RED & HAIRY

ALL MY LOVE TO YOU BOTH :beer:

Buffythedebtslayer

Oh Wow that is really lovely.

Congratulations!!! Red and Dave!

xxx

LouiseJ

How lovely for them both..........wonder who will be next?:D