What can i feed the fussiest eater in the world?

LeeSouthEast

Search google for 'crock pot recipes'. There are millions of easy-to-follow out there. Most are 'cut up, throw in, turn on'.

mouseymousey99

Hello Jess, We have a really small kitchen too; must take a photo oneday but you'd be amazed what you can cram into it.

Throwing a spanner in the works here and suggesting something else - how about a wok? You can cook so many different things and you will also eat 'healthy'. A little bit of something goes a long way in a stir fry. One chicken breast does 2 of us very well and I am using lots of veg (you could easily buy small fresh quantites). You could add some of those 9p noodle things (they work just as well as a wok noodles). Open the pack, throw away the flavouring packet (tis rubbish) soak the noodles in boiling water for 2 mins and then add to the wok.

PasturesNew

Jess01 wrote: »

I assume ... they'll keep ok in the fridge until the morning, then last until lunchtime? I have access to a microwave at work so can heat things up quite easily.

If you make a sandwich and wrap it properly and put it in the fridge, it will last as long as the ingredients would have done ... if that makes sense. So you could make up 3-4 days' worth of cheese sandwiches if the bread and cheese are both longer than that on the Best Before dates.

Generally, I keep to a "3-4 day rule" in the fridge... after that most food is still fine, I just get iffy about it. So whatever you make will be fine kept in the fridge and nuked later. e.g. I make up a saucepan of chilli and it will do for the next 3-4 days kept in the fridge in plasticware. I have a microwave steamer (£3-4 at most supermarkets) and I cook veggies/rice in that. They make enough for 2 people, so that's 2 days. So I'll make up a big chilli (400-500g mince, 2 onions, tin of tomatoes, tin of kidney beans, maybe peppers if I have them, grated carrot if I have them), and I'll nuke some rice. One portion of rice I'd eat then, other one goes in the fridge (covered). Next day it'd be nuke chilli/rice again ... and there's still more chilli, so the next day I might nuke 2 more meals' worth of rice or I might make some wedges. To make wedges easily I will use the steamer to steam some potato wedge shapes for about 10 minutes, then I'll chuck them in the frying pan to brown off quickly... and serve with chilli; again I'd make enough wedges for 2 days' worth ... so that's 2x chilli/rice, 2x chilli/wedges.

Soup is another thing you can knock up in a saucepan (say 2 litres max) then keep in the fridge for 3-4 days without worrying.

The main thing I do with the fridge is just be careful that I am wrapping things up carefully and not being careless. I re-use plastic/lidded takeaway containers mostly.

Just don't assume that you have to instantly start cooking everything from scratch from today and always be in control.... I keep lots of 10p noodles in for those times when I really can't be bothered to cook.

When I am working I am out of the house for 12+ hours and tired from the day/commute and I come in and the last thing I want to do is start cooking stuff, then eating, washing up, opening the post, sorting out emails, paying bills, doing my washing, doing the housework, putting the bins out ... sometimes it's just nice to know I can knock up some instant custard, or a 10p pack of noodles with peas

Little_Vics

I second the one-pot strategy! another thing that I do is have a chopping spree - chop up loads of veg in one go and keep it in the fridge in tupperware - that way when I'm home late I don't have to stress about peeling onions and just shove a handful of each into a pot.

PasturesNew

mouseymousey99 wrote: »

Hello Jess, We have a really small kitchen too; must take a photo oneday but you'd be amazed what you can cram into it.

I assumed from the OP's posting that their kitchen is one of these.
http://banksiaparkestate.com/images/Rm4%20Kitchenette.jpg

I've seen these before and that is literally the whole of it. Kitchen in a cupboard.

PasturesNew

There's also a "single person/living alone" thread the runs in fits and starts
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=659091

As a single person living aloone, eating tends to be a completely different ballgame to anybody who doesn't live like that - on this thread there are all sorts of things people do/make (although a few of them have freezers, there are some that don't). I don't have a freezer either so I know where you're coming from as most recipes are big - and you have to use up everything you buy in before it goes off, which can mean eating the same thing 3-5 days in a row ... ALL the time.

lainz

some quick and easy stuff I used to use in the bad old days of tefl teaching overseas
pasta and veg, (fresh filled pasta is extra quick) , to make, put water in kettle and switch on, take coat off!, grab saucepan, switch on hob, hopefully kettle will have boiled! Add water to saucepan, chuck in some veggies, let them go for a couple of mins, depending on whether you have fresh or dried pasta - add and cook ' til ready. Drain (a sieve or colander is ideal) cos you then want to put the saucepan back on the hob - put some passatta in, add some herbs/worcester sauce, add pasta back in stir, switch off hob and if you're being polite - put on a plate Max food in 10 mins

variations are couscous - I have microwave steamer (I got my 1st from Matalan - and it' smaller replacement in theoriginalfactoryshop) and it's brilliant - you can add tuna, ham - anything else lurking in the fridge
rice
noodles ...

a lot of these I still use now - my neighbours must wonder with my microwave pinging away - but it's all really healthy

hth

merlin1

another vote for the slow cooker here and as has already been mentioned 3-4 days in the fridge for leftovers used in whatever means is usually fine! golden rule i follow - any meat already cooked gets reheated once, no more!! eat the rest cold in sarnies/salds

i'm sure you could half your food bill gal!! but you need to stop worrying about 'doing it right', that'll take the edge off any meal, just relax a bit, and you'll find yourself eatin well in no time :beer:

there's a thread here somewhere on leftovers - you'll need to read that if you do or if you dont get a slow cooker! its genious! :rotfl:

juliapenguin

mouseymousey99 mentioned a wok, and I second that, but if you get one that's non-stick and with a flat bottom like this:
http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.200-3026.aspx
you can use it for all sorts - I even do omelettes and boil things in it now that I too have a miniscule kitchen and no room to store lots of pans.

elf06

I know its been said but slow cooker slow cooker slowcooker!!! Also (going on the fussy eating bit) you could make your own pizzas etc with no need for a freezer. things like chilli are really easy and could be stretched to make chilli and rice for one meal, stuffed pittas for another, tacos or tortilla chips for another (you get the idea). Cooking can be as easy or as difficult as you make it but start with the basics until your confidence grows.
HTH

ETA - I can live off between £20 and £25 a week for myself and DS (2.5yrs) and the cat and it includes all toiletries etc so you should be able to cut a fair bit off yours xx