Can you do OS and work full time too?

Nitha

Hi I work part time and look after my 11 month old DS. I actually find the weekends the most difficult. Seeing my OH relaxing whilst I'm running around trying to get the housework done is awful. I find the most helpful thing is to write a couple of to dos down every morning. Your aim is to get them done - eg a load of laundry, or cook a lasagne. Don't forget to freeze leftovers too - godsend for lazy days!

bigsmoke

can i ask a stupid question?

i notice a lot of people bake potatoes while other things are in the over, to reheat/freeze.

i don't have a microwave, would it still be possible for me to do this? do you cook the potato completely the first time around, or just partly? and how long/on what heat would it need for me to reheat it in a normal oven? oh, and do i wrap it in foil to reheat?

sorry, i've never done it before but sounds like something i'd really like to do - i miss jacket potatoes but don't get home early enough to cook them anymore and feel like it's such a waste of power for just one or two people!

thanks very much

naturally_2

bigsmoke - I'd just have a go at reheating in the oven and see what happens! I'd cook it through in the first instance, but thats' probably just because I'm too impatient to wait long once i'm reheating something! Maybe using a little oil on the skin woudld help to keep it moist?

If it doesn't work,. cold JPs are really nice sliced up and fried on the hob - its a firm favourite of mine and my mum's with beans and bacon for a cooked brekkie!

newlywed

Yeah I'd just give it a go - just be careful to make sure the potato gets hot all the way through - I've microwaved them and had the outside hot and the middle still frozen!!! uck - so now defrost them overnight before I reheat them.

Sarahsaver

bigsmoke wrote: »

can i ask a stupid question?

i notice a lot of people bake potatoes while other things are in the over, to reheat/freeze.

i don't have a microwave, would it still be possible for me to do this? do you cook the potato completely the first time around, or just partly? and how long/on what heat would it need for me to reheat it in a normal oven? oh, and do i wrap it in foil to reheat?

sorry, i've never done it before but sounds like something i'd really like to do - i miss jacket potatoes but don't get home early enough to cook them anymore and feel like it's such a waste of power for just one or two people!

thanks very much

you can do them in the slow cooker;)

inamess200

Ok - so in the last few months I have moved to a more os way of living - now own bread maker(on daily) , slowcooker, freezing left overs, shopping bill reduced a bit. But over the weekend my husband and I split (it has been a long time coming so am more relieved than anything) but my problem is I really now need to live frugally to cover increased nursery costs (we have 3 children and I have always been main earner while stbx was at home with kids however I am expecting little help and no maintenace as he is on IB) How do I manage to do the home baking ,cook from scratch , cleaning etc live OS and work a fulltime job.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Chaos_Theory_3

Sarahsaver wrote: »

you can do them in the slow cooker;)

I've never worked out how you can do them in slow cooker. I thought you had to have liquid in the slow cooker at all times, but it seems that loads of people don't and no one's died from any explosions!

oystercatcher

bigsmoke wrote: »

can i ask a stupid question?

i notice a lot of people bake potatoes while other things are in the over, to reheat/freeze.

i don't have a microwave, would it still be possible for me to do this? do you cook the potato completely the first time around, or just partly? and how long/on what heat would it need for me to reheat it in a normal oven? oh, and do i wrap it in foil to reheat?

sorry, i've never done it before but sounds like something i'd really like to do - i miss jacket potatoes but don't get home early enough to cook them anymore and feel like it's such a waste of power for just one or two people!

thanks very much

I reheated a spud in the oven the other day as DS had it on for something else just as I was about to microwave a leftover JP.
I popped it in for 20 mins and it was lovely, probably nicer than if it had been microwaved!

Edit, sorry forgot to say, it was fully cooked but unwanted previous day. I just left it on the little oven proof dish it had been in while fridgerating, no foil or anything, think that would make them soggy.

Oystercatcher

sophiesmum_2

inamess200 wrote: »

Ok - so in the last few months I have moved to a more os way of living - now own bread maker(on daily) , slowcooker, freezing left overs, shopping bill reduced a bit. But over the weekend my husband and I split (it has been a long time coming so am more relieved than anything) but my problem is I really now need to live frugally to cover increased nursery costs (we have 3 children and I have always been main earner while stbx was at home with kids however I am expecting little help and no maintenace as he is on IB) How do I manage to do the home baking ,cook from scratch , cleaning etc live OS and work a fulltime job.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Takes a bit of organising but can be done:D I work full time and we live OS, I make my own bread, yoghurt, jams, marmalade, chutneys, pickles, bake, batch cook, use slowcooker and remoska, clean os, and grow own veg.

• menu plan for two weeks t a time
• batch cook at weekends for your plan - 7 meals - double amounts - enough for two weeks evening meals.
• set breadmaker on timer to make a loaf daily for when you get up or when you get home from work.
• put a load of washing in each night
• hang out/up in morning
• bring in/ fold up when you get home
• use slowcooker so meal ready when you come home from work or lift out batch cooked food to defrost before you go to work ready to heat up.
• clean one room in house each night then at weekend just do a quick once over right through.
• Keep a good store of food in then you don't have to shop as often
• do online shop and organise delivery for evening when you will be at home anyway
• If your kids take packed lunches make them up night before and also set out their clothes, school bags etc for next day before you go to bed, I used to even set the breakfast table so everything was set to go next morning, saves lots of time.

If you can get that lot sorted for during the week it frees up lots of time for baking, gardening and just enjoying life at weekends.Good luck, it can be done - I did it with 4 kids under five and full time job, nd still doing it now when baby is 17:)

Olliebeak

I work full-time - but luckily from home - so OS fits in around my work schedule. I think I would find it far more difficult to manage if I had to leave the house to go to work - would need to be FAR more organised than I am at the moment :rolleyes:. It also helps for keeping an eye on the SC to make sure that OH doesn't do too much 'tasting' while my back's turned .