I had a dare...

grannybroon

Storm

I tend to do the same if I am not using the steamer but do the same with steamer if you KWIM. Just keep adding layers of veg to pan or steamer depending on cooking times. Just one pan to wash sometimes and OK maybe 2 steamer baskets but not too difficult to keep clean! We often have steamed white fish with cauliflower and I just add another basket as and when. Same when pan cooking potatoes, carrots and swede. Just put in at appropriate times and howk out (Scottish expression) with slotted spoon to keep separate if mashing etc!

GB

Gingham_Ribbon

Hello, Graham.

If you have the money and the inclination, then good luck with your prepacked things. But I cook several meals a week that don't take longer than the time it takes to cook some pasta or rice.

Peeling potatoes and carrots? That sounds laboursome I agree. I wash and chop and away we go.

I'd love to see a thread by you where you agree to cook a meal from scratch. Lots of the men on here have become culinary wizards! (Pictures essential)

Penelope_Penguin

Great idea, Gingham! Go on, GD, if you dare, take a look at Mr Bad Example's Index. Which are you trying first?

Penny. x

bobbadog

Hi Graham!

I'm quite like you - I never get home from work before 7 and I work from home in the evenings and go to too many drinks, drinking whiskey 'til all hours... I cook most things from scratch though. I batch cook once a month making 2 lots of chili, bolognaise, curry, shepherds pie, lasagne etc. Rest of the time i like quick and easy things. 20 mins max. Fish, sauce, pasta, frittatta (ommellettte with pasta), HM Pizza (freeze the bases - or just buy bases and do your own)... you'll save a fortune eating this way. Best of luck! x

angelavdavis

Graham_Devon wrote: »

By 'chatta' to post this on oldstyle. So here I am

My excuse for eating yummy prepared meals...

My day today is this:

Out the house at 7.30am after getting up at 6.45. When I finish at 4.30, off to another customer for 5.15 as it's a small drive. Finish there around 6. Then off home, another hours drive. So thats 7pm.

Tonight I desperately need to go shopping, so get in maybe have a shower, then go shopping (if I can be bothered got another headache at the mo!). Another hour - hour and a half.

Get it at maybe 9.15.

..................

Not everyone is at home to be putting their dustbins out at 8 and bringing them back in at 9.

..........................

Point is, we don't all have the lifestyle or time to be creating less rubbish by simply cooking from scratch.

Lucky you for being at home Monday - Friday - home I am usually away from home 2-3 days every week so have to sort out meals for my OH else he would be buying and eating instant meals - he has lost weight since I started cooking for him because he isn't eating the hidden sugar and salt in the ready meals!!! I rarely buy packets of anything, when I have succumbed I have been so disappointed - its not just about creating less rubbish - for me its about eating less rubbish!!! My tips for Old Style for the Hectic are:

1) Shop online and get it delivered late Saturday morning, it enables you to catch up with sleep/housework/OH/gardening/washing while someone else does the shopping. It also stops you buying stuff you don't need.
2) Have one day every two months or so where you do a cook-in one Sunday. However, I enjoy cooking and love having a freezer full of delicious meals ready - shepherds pies, fisherman's pies, lasagne, spaghetti bolognaise, chilli con carne, lamb stew, curries, etc. On this day, also chop up vegetables such as peppers, mushrooms, carrots, parsnips and freeze.
3) Get a slow cooker - you can't beat a meal ready for when you get in! Before bedtime, chop an onion, a couple of lamb chops, handful of frozen carrots, a couple of potatoes, stock cube, water, dried herbs and bay leaf into slow cooker. Pop crock pot in fridge then in the morning, put crock pot back in slow cooker house, switch on low and leave - delicious meal ready for when you get home!
4) Check out meals in minutes. Typically, these are pasta dishes and there are plenty of posts here detailing these.

My favourite is pasta arrabiata which is superquick (ten minutes to cook pasta).

Put pasta onto boil in slightly salted water.

Meanwhile, fry a small chopped onion and a pinch of dried chilli flakes and dried oregano in a saucepan and add a tin of value chopped tomatoes. Bring to the boil then lower so it bubbles away happily until reduced and enriched.

Once the pasta is cooked, drain and tip sauce into the drained pasta saucepan and mix well.

If you like to have a little meat in it, microwave a couple of slices of bacon under a piece of kitchen roll for a couple of minutes, cut up and add to the sauce.

Bargain_Rzl

Graham, if you've ever seen any of my posts mentioning my work and my social life you'll know how little time I have

Top tips:
- Get organised and make a (very rough) meal plan to enable you to buy a whole week (or fortnight) worth of ingredients in one shopping session.
- Spend 20 mins (ish) 2-3 times a week preparing a LARGE bulk batch of something freezable, then leave it to cook while you do all the other things you can do whilst at home (then the leftover portions mean you won't have to cook the other evenings!) Cook at least 4 portions at a time and you'll always have a nutritious "ready meal" in the freezer.
- OK this bit isn't OS at all, but if you can afford it and have the space for it, GET A DISHWASHER. It is the perfect way to tidy your kitchen in one easy step after a big batch cooking session, and you don't have to spend time on it.

Right, I'm off home to make 6 portions of carrot and coriander soup before I head off on the bus to a concert that starts at 10:15

celyn90

Graham_Devon wrote: »

I'm only eating salads and stuff at the moment, and to be honest, chicken and fish, fruit etc, cus of the moob reduction scheme.

But when i'm not reducing them I buy everything frozen. Filled omelettes, which I must admit are rubbish, toad in the hole, everything is frozen. In fact all I have in my fridge is wine, lager and milk, jam, cheese and a couple of lonely eggs

sorry to sound thick - but what is a "moob"?

anniestar

Graham_Devon wrote: »

I promise you I won't. I will stick to my guns and gorge on pre-packed salads and pre packed other bits and pieces!

I buy ready cut up veges!

I buy mashed tatty in a frozen Aunt Bessy's bag (she makes nice food!) her roast potatoes, frozen. Stuffing balls frozen, parsnips frozen etc.

Gosh! you must be seriously rich(Lucky you!!) how much is your food budget?

Bargain_Rzl

celyn90 wrote: »

sorry to sound thick - but what is a "moob"?

I believe it is a "man boob" :rotfl:

celyn90

Bargain_Rzl wrote: »

I believe it is a "man boob" :rotfl:

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:they say you learn something new everyday!