Mince quantity question (stretching and portion sizes)?

Steve059

I pad minced meat out with finely chopped mushrooms. 1 medium mushroom is about 50g. Even I can't tell if and when I've done it.

Farmers' wives traditionally used grated carrot to pad out the meat in cottage/shepherds' pies to maintain their culinary reputations. I always like to add one to mine to preserve the tradition.

joedenise

I use loads of red lentils for bulking dishes. I add them to the SC when I make a stew; into soups when I make them - have just finished a pepper & lentil one for my lunch - a couple of peppers, an onion, stick of celery and a couple of handfuls of lentils & some stock just boiled up together and then blitzed.

Next lot of soup with be carrot & coriander as I got some reduced yesterday; but will also add a few lentils to that as well.

Denise

krustylouise

Thanks guys you are all amazing!!! I'm also looking into getting a bread maker too, I honestly can't wait! I love having food in my slow cooker and some baking in the oven - a bread maker too would just make me so happy! Simple things...

maman

Sorry I can't check this online but I've been buying frozen mushrooms at £1 per kg at Farmfoods and also their fantastic frozen leeks. Much cheaper than fresh for bulking out. I don't bother grating carrots, just chop. I suppose it depends whether you want to 'hide' the veg.


Unless you have masses of freezer space, I'd recommend portioning up the sauce and then making up the meals afterwards otherwise you'll have your lasagne/pie dishes tied up in the freezer. I use those 'take away' type plastic boxes from the £ shop as they stack beautifully. They take two portions well but could manage three if you filled them up.

krustylouise

I have quite a large freezer, which ATM is only occupied by some stray pizzas and some ood bread for the ducks!

I've bought some foil trays to get me started and some freezer bags. I've a chicken curry in the sc now, but tomorrow the cooking for the freezer is on!!! am I sad for being excited?

joedenise

Not at all! It's great that you're excited about batch cooking.

It's a great idea for filling your freezer. Once you've done the batch cooking to get loads of meals/basis for meals into the freezer you just need to do double cooks, ie make one/freeze one of various meals like shepherds pie, curry etc.

Denise

maman

Foil trays are fine but no use for the microwave.

**purpleprincess**

Not sad at all! I love batch cooking for my freezer and have done since I joined MSE! I love it when I get extra portions and I can freeze some. Best bit is having enough that we have a whole week of no cooking, just reheating!

krustylouise

I'm so glad I'm in good company and don't feel so silly about being excited about cooking lots! I'm struggling to sleep after a bad dream and have just laid here thinking of getting started soon! I'm even going to make se dauphinois potatoes and freeze them too plus I'll make a lasagne for dinner tonight so that's done too

Oh yes I'd never put foil in the microwave - I very rarely use my microwave to be honest!

I kind of do double cooking now but always eats the second batch before I have time to freeze it lol.

Thank you all again for the tips and advice it is greatly appreciated x

nanto3girls

Not sad at all for being excited about batch cooking.I make cottage/shepherds pies for the freezer.Also make steak and onion pies,and chicken and ham pies.Some of the pies have mushrooms in,some without.Youngest granddaughter doesn't like them.