Take part in the Colman's cook once eat twice challenge - £150 voucher to be won! NOW CLOSED

[AngelieMumsnet]

We're looking for 20 Mumsnetters to take part in a 2 week 'cook once eat twice' challenge.

Here's what Colman's say about the challenge:
"Wasting food costs families up and down the country money and has an impact on the environment too. Bulk cooking is a simple way to reduce this, as it can help with meal planning and provides a solution for those mealtimes when you just don't have the time or inspiration to cook. So join us in making your family's favourite dishes go further and save yourself time and money in the process!"

The aim of this challenge is to encourage MNers who don't often cook in batches, to try some of the Colman's recipes to make enough meals to last for the week by freezing and reheating when needed.

Those selected to take part will be sent a selection of Colman's packet mixes including:

• Colman's Chilli Con Carne Casserole (suitable for vegetarians)

• Colman's Chicken Casserole

• Colman's Beef Casserole

• Colman's Sausage Casserole (suitable for vegetarians)

You'll also receive Colman's recipe cards, information on food waste as well as some tips for freezing meals from Love Food Hate Waste.

Testers will then need to cook a couple of the recipes in one go and freeze into portion sizes for use over the 2 weeks.

You'll then need to add feedback to a thread on MN about how you found the recipes and whether or not you saved time and money and reduced the amount of food you usually waste.

Everyone who adds their feedback to the thread will be entered into a prize draw where one winner will receive a £150 M&S voucher.

We know many MNers are seasoned pros at cooking in bulk and freezing leftovers and we'd like those of you who have top tips to share to help the testers out on the feedback thread so do keep a look out for this - there'll be an extra prize to win .

If you'd like to take part, please sign up here.

Thanks and good luck,
MNHQ

[Thatsinteresting]

Try to freeze things in individual portions. That way if only one of you needs a meal you are only defrosting what you need.

[TheSkiingGardener]

Have a list and label everything. Our food plan is a list of meals I could make tonight, I always have between 5 and 14 meals on the list and as soon as something is frozen it goes on there. It is all too easy to end p with a freezer of food that time forgot.

[Tee2072]

On the feedback thread, you doilies, not here!

Me Me Pick Me!!!!

[Puppypoppet]

Done - really should get into the habit of batch cooking!!

[TheSkiingGardener]

Bum

[Carriepreston]

Done - would be great for me. Back to work soon after a year at home so really need to learn how to batch cook.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Would love to, if only I could afford a freezer big enough to hold family meals. Are they providing that too?

[aristocat]

:)

[Bloodsocks]

Done. I love chicken casserole.

[GladbagsGold]

I was quite excited about this then remembered I hate packet mix!

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Me to glad. We used a spag Bol when camping last year because I didn't want to pack the herbs. Tasted like salty cornflour. Now I always pack the herbs . Not sure if it was a Colemans one though to be fair.

[AngelsWithSilverWings]

I can't stay packet mixes either! They remind me of that fairy tale where the hungry man turns up at the women's house with a " magic" stone which he claims will make a hearty soup!

They don't provide anything that some dried herbs and a tin of chopped tomatoes won't.

[LackaDAISYcal]

Me too, got all excited and then saw packet mixes mentioned. They usually contain wheat flour and I'm coeliac. I would love Coleman's to prove me wrong though and say they are GF.

[sydlexic]

I find packet mixes hilarious;

Pork in cider, just add pork and cider.
Yorkshire pudding mix, just add milk and egg, so that is £1 for 3 oz of flour.

[afromom]

DS is playing a lot of sport after school this year and with that and me working everyday, I really want to try to make meal times less time consuming this year. I am also trying to get DS to branch out and try new things, to keep him fit and healthy for all the sport! (I can always hope!). So this would be great for us!

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

afro can you just double up when you make things like lasagne? Has your cooker got a timer? Great for things like jacket spuds. Slow cookers are really good for the winter, especially if you've been out watching sport on a freezing field. Have you got a stash of quick recipes too like carbonara?

[YourHandInMyHand]

If these help me get organised and waste less food then I'm all for it.

For me packet mixes mean I don't have to buy several different herbs and spices!

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

syd my bil turned up with a packet of pancake mix one shrove Tuesday and was met with everyone laughing at him. Eventually my DSister kindly explained that he'd just spent £2 on about 50p's worth of flour, bless him

[hunhun007]

We aren't freezing as much as we should :-(

[afromom]

Jilted I've been thinking of a slow cooker for a while, I think I might add it to my Christmas list!

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Our local co-OP has got an offer on the crock pot, been thinking of upgrading my slow cooker...

If you search Mn recipes there are lots for the slow cooker

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

For me packet mixes mean I don't have to buy several different herbs and spices! for what you spend on 3 or 4 packets you could probably buy all of the herbs and spices you need for a whole year, especially if you buy them from a cheapy Asian shop. Fine if you like the convenience but I just can't afford to shop that way.

[littlemisswise]

There's no point I never get picked DH is going away for four months in 2 weeks and the kids hate chillis and casseroles!

[colette]

Wondering if packet mixes got a lot of 'e' numbers in ?

Haven't used any for years - willing to try if they don't have too many additives in . Need to save cooking time

[orangepudding]

Put the food want to freeze away from your family (and yourself) so it doesn't get eaten before going in the freezer!