Trying to start over

Lje87

Hope this may help... my partner and I wanted to cook more fresh food without breaking the bank and I discovered NOSH Cookbooks. Super easy to follow as everything is measured with a mug and there’s even a picture of one in the book to show what size everything has pictures and super easy to follow (I’m a rubbish cook) it has shopping lists and also each recipe tells you if it’s freezer suitable so I batch cook and freeze ready for the next week. Really really useful and the recipes are super yummy quick and easy to make. Oh and it also has the average cost per meal too and fun ideas for the kids too.

BubblesandPop

Brambling - those ideas sound great. I really wouldn't know how to make a risotto though, let alone microwave cooking one. I will look online. Wont I need a microwave steamer or similar to do this too?

I feel that my list is very misleading in regards to my cooking skills. I really don't have any! A lot of the packets of food are in unopened, and I have no idea what to do with them.

BubblesandPop

janb5 - My husband works, I stay home.

Lje87 - Those books sound amazing! Is there a website online for that? I can't buy any right now, but it does sound great

Islandmaid

Bubbles- list what you have and we’ll help form a menu x

BubblesandPop

Islandmaid - thank you I have just posted the list up.

Bigjenny

BubblesandPop here is the website for the NOSH Books, there are several books, I have the Student one and I am an OAP. There are also recipes on there.


http://www.noshbooks.com/category/our-books/

BubblesandPop

Thank you Bigjenny - I've followed the link and seen that they've got some recipes on the site that look good.

Brambling

BubblesandPop wrote: »

Brambling - those ideas sound great. I really wouldn't know how to make a risotto though, let alone microwave cooking one. I will look online. Wont I need a microwave steamer or similar to do this too?

I feel that my list is very misleading in regards to my cooking skills. I really don't have any! A lot of the packets of food are in unopened, and I have no idea what to do with them.

The below link is a simple recipe and will give the basic method and timings, there's no need to follow it completely use it as a guide. No fancy equipment required, I use a glass casserole dish . For example skip the fennel and follow the instructions to just soften the onion and rather than adding the seafood serve with either sausages or fish or just as a vegetarian meal. Cook the sausages separately

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1822/easiestever-seafood-risotto

If you're not sure before you start reread the recipe and then prepared everything before cooking I chop everything first and measure out any herbs or spices this avoids you getting too panicked when cooking. No need for fancy bowls you can use cups or mugs.

Just remember we all have to start from somewhere and even more experience cooks find things go wrong sometimes so don't beat yourself up if things don't work out. Google and you tube are your friends and the BBC good food website gives lots of easy ideas as do some of the supermarket sites like Tesco

janb5

Hiya..first of all I looked at the Nosh books and they seem to be on Ebay so maybe you could get one for a couple of pounds and see if they appeal:)

What about chilli con carne with the Quorn mince....I can post a recipe if you`d like it. Quorn mince seems always better if extra flavouring is added. Or how about a spag bol.

Another meal could be the sausages and maybe toad in the hole with baked beans. Really simple and again can supply recipe.

You have beef stew- is that a ready meal or a tin or already cooked?

Meatballs could be with pasta or potatoes and some veg.

Lots of good recipes with the chicken wings too.

Did you get any suggestions from the children as to meals they like?

Legittrying

From a quick read this is what I would think of first to make. You might not have enough of each ingredient as don’t know how much you have of certain things but this give you a rough ideas and few different meals. Even if your family would eat one of them or even if you and OH could eat a few might help.


Meal 1 - lasagne - quorn mince, mushrooms, peppers, onions, garlic, tinned tomatoes, lasagne sheets and for sauce butter/spread, flour, milk and Parmesan. Maybe get some garlic bread. Use appropriate herbs you have
Meal 2 - sausage casserole (x 2) make a base and split into one veggie and one meat - chicken sausage, butternut squash sausage, onions, haricot beans, peas and green beans. Get some potatoes to serve with.
Meal 3 - beef stew - beef stew and bake at home rolls. If need to bulk out make a salad with grilled halloumi and salad leaves to start. Veggie to have pita bread pizza with cheese, salad and some chips.
Meal 4 - curry - Quorn pieces with tikka masala sauce and Naan and rice
Meal 5 - steak/salmon and fries - use rump and sirloin and salmon fillets depending how many you have of each. Sever with fries. Veggie to have quarter pounder. Sever with any leftover green beans/peas
Meal 6 - corn beef hash - left over bought potatoes, corned beef and serve with baked beans. Veggie to have mash pots, beans and sausage roll
Meal 7 - sausage and chips - use pepper and butternut squash sausage (and Quorn if need more) use sweet potatoes to make fries and sever with peas/sweet corn

This should mean you are only buying a bag of potatoes or two plus a garlic bread. You may also need to buy an additional bag of frozen veg. But this will use a lot of what you have already.

Hope this helps.
Will take a look and see if I can see anymore that jump out at me