Missy’s Surviving the storm so we can dance in the rain.

joedenise

I would suggest you do lots of batch cooking and freezing in portions.  The slow cooker is good for this as is a pressure cooker if you have one.

Things like cooking a whole chicken in the SC and then taking all the meat off.  You should be able to get at least 2 or 3 meals off a chicken and can chuck the carcass back in the SC with veg peelings and make stock to use as a basis for soups, risottos etc.

Not sure if you children will eat curry but if they do then that's another good option for the SC, vegetable ones are really cheap to make.

missymoo81

Hey @RelievedSheff.

The article linked above actually says this:

‘But then the other day, I read an article in the Daily Telegraph which suggested that if electricity costs approximately 15p per kWh (I’ll take their word for it ;-)) then this would mean that using your oven for an hour to cook your casserole will set you back around 30p (presuming that you’re cooking it on a low heat). If you were to use your slow cooker, which uses around 0.7kWh over an eight hour period (on the low setting) then cooking your tea in the slow cooker will cost no more than 10.5p.’

Hence the thought to use the slow cooker more. 

@joedenise thank you so much, you always come up with great cooking ideas. I think I’m going to try and do what I keep saying I’ll do and never do and just cook veggie for me and the children and maybe cook a whole chicken in the slow cooker so that I can take all the meat off and freeze it in portions to add in to OH’s dinners. I’m not training anywhere near as much now, so don’t necessarily need the high protein diet. We do all eat curry I love making one with sweet potato, chick peas and spinach, I love anything with rice! 

Going to see if I can make some rice pudding in the slow cooker as Roo loves it. 

Thanks Sarah, I do love having the time to write lists and get organised. 

joedenise

Thanks @missymoo81.  You can certainly make rice pudding in the slow cooker - just chuck everything in, give it a stir and cook on low for 3 hours.  I like to make it with Almond milk as it gives a lovely flavour.  You can also make it really creamy by using some evaporated milk.

It's really worth googling Slow Cooker recipes.  There's loads online.  Might also be worth checking out your local library to see what cookery books they've got.

Enjoy your holiday.

dawnybabes

Oat milk makes it creamy as well - or for a vegan version coconut milk 

missymoo81

Oooh thanks, I’m wondering whether soya milk would too. I’m going to use ordinary rice as want to make it as cheaply as possible. 

jwil

I've never tried this but love the idea and keep meaning to!

Rather than batch cooking, you prep all the ingredients for meals in the week, and then bag them up and store them in the fridge or freeze them.  Then on that day, all you've got to do is throw everything together with no prepping.

in_need_of_direction

One of my very organised friends roasts a tray of veg at the start of the week.  This is then heated to accompany meals and/or turned into soup that can be frozen if it’s not likely to be used.

missymoo81

Hey @jwil and @in_need_of_direction they sound like great prep ideas. I do have time on a Sunday, it’s just being organised. I wonder if I could set aside an hour or so after I go shopping to prep and sort things.

i found a post I wrote last year with a long meal plan on it for a month, I might try that. It was:

Week 1

Carbonara = bacon, eggs, mushrooms, peas, spaghetti

SC Chilli & rice x 2 = mince, peppers, sweetcorn, onions, oats, chilli jar, 1 x tinned tomatoes, kidney beans, baked beans, lentils (leave enough for nachos and burritos and freeze in 2 batches)

SC Chicken Stew x 2 = 600g chicken, carrots, swede, potatoes, onions, broccoli, dumplings, gravy, stock cubes 

Taeriyaki chicken & rice = chicken, onions, teriyaki hm sauce, broccoli, sweetcorn

Omelette = bacon, eggs, cheese

Week 2

Sausage and mash and spring greens

Spaghetti bolognese make 2 batches and freeze for messy  lasagne x 2 = mince, mushrooms, carrots, oats, spaghetti sauce, chopped tomatoes, spaghetti 

Fajitas = wraps, fajita mix, salsa, chicken, onions, peppers, lettuce, cheese 

Jackets = potatoes, beans, cheese / Tuna Mayo

SC pasta bake = creamy sauce pasta, chicken, spinach sweet potato.

Week 3

Enchilada = chicken, wraps, seasoning, chopped tomatoes, cheese, salad

Tuna pasta = pasta, tuna, Mayo, sweetcorn

Pizza & wedges = flour, yeast, tomato purée, cheese, ham, pineapple. Potatoes

SC Beef stew x 2 = beef, carrots, swede, potatoes, peas, onions, broccoli stalk, dumplings 

Omelette = bacon, eggs, cheese 

Burritos = left over chilli, rice, salad. Cheese, yoghurt

Week 4

Nachos = tortillas, cheese, salsa, sour cream left over chilli. Poss avocado 

Messy Lasagne = as bolognese, add mozzarella and broken lasagne and salad

Chicken pasta = 600g chicken, pasta, broccoli, chopped tomatoes, pasta sauce x 2

SC Shep pie x 2 = mince, peas, carrots, stock, chop potatoes thinly and have as a kid on sc.

Curry and rice or ham egg and chips = chicken, chickpeas, spinach and sauce 

missymoo81

Need to put all of this into Tesco and see how much it is and then see how it compares to lidl and add in lunches and breakfasts etc. i always find lunch hard, breakfast is either toast, cereal or porridge. 

missymoo81

I need to also see how many of these I can do in the slow cooker etc.