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Food/Recipes

Any favourite 'one pot' recipes to share?

22 replies

pontificationcentral · 29/08/2016 20:46

I'm trying to expand our family menu with things that the kids can get out of the freezer and put into the oven/ onto the hob. We have got into an awful rut with no meal planning and little time or enthusiasm, so end up knocking up dinner by whatever is going to be fastest and require minimal effort... Looking at our diet over the last couple of weeks, veg has all but disappeared and I am craving a change. I'm changing my schedule and so will end up leaving earlier and getting home later, but it does mean that I should have some extra time on a couple of days a week that I could use to get a bit more organized and introduce some actual food preparation!!

We are effectively feeding six adults so it would also help if it was filling and cheap...

Any ideas or websites you have found helpful? Both dh and I love to cook, but we are currently in a massive rut...

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pontificationcentral · 29/08/2016 20:48
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RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 29/08/2016 20:49

Huge pots of veggie soup? Our favourites are spiced lentil with coconut milk, and black bean soup.

Assume you've thought of chilli/curry/sausage casserole type stuff already?

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thegoodnameshadgone · 29/08/2016 20:50

Have you got a slow cooker? I find beef or lamb with a generous pour of red wine, potatoes and veg always turns out nice. I just brown off and throw it all in. Never failed me yet.

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pontificationcentral · 29/08/2016 20:56

Oho Remus, funny you should mention black bean soup - I was just fantasizing yesterday about a black bean soup recipe that we used to make, and dh pulled a face and said 'it takes ages.....' It's a sign, I'm going to dig out the recipe.
I hadn't thought of a sausage casserole actually - that's a good idea, too.

I do have a slow cooker. I am randomly scared of the damned thing though I have a few days off this week before we are totally back to chaos next week, so maybe I should get the thing out in order to convince me it's going to both a- cook, and b-not set the house alight.
Do you do your prep in the mornings goodname?

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Chiliprepper · 29/08/2016 21:02

We love this one with crusty bread www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/spanish-meatball-butter-bean-stew especially quick if using pre-made meatballs

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RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 29/08/2016 21:07

We use tinned beans for ours. It still takes a while but most of it is just chopping and simmering.

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pontificationcentral · 29/08/2016 21:12

That's a good one chili - I could rope in a kid and make a huge batch of the meatballs and freeze some separately too... I haven't had butter beans for about twenty years.....! Thanks!

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pontificationcentral · 29/08/2016 21:15

Has anyone frozen chow mein? I was wondering about cooking it all except the noodles and adding them in for a few minutes at the reheat - would that work?

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thegoodnameshadgone · 29/08/2016 21:20

I do a bit of both if it's a weekend I do it all n the morning as I am generally in but if it's through the week when I work I prep mornings and leave it on low. So long as when you turn it on the meat and veg are covered in liquid or at the same level it's fine.

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thegoodnameshadgone · 29/08/2016 21:22

I need this recipe for black bean soup! Grin

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thegoodnameshadgone · 29/08/2016 21:23

I do a lot of curry in mine. Everything works better with the cheaper joints or packs of meat. If you use the god stuff it never turns out as well

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Optimist1 · 29/08/2016 21:28

I sometimes do a tuna bake which is basically a quantity of mashed potato with drained tuna (1 can would be OK for two hungry adults or three people with delicate appetites), drained canned sweetcorn (1 small can for each tin of tuna you've used) and diced peppers added. A grind or three of black pepper, mix it all together and put in an ovenproof dish, cover with grated Cheddar and cook for about 25 mins at 175 degrees in a fan oven. It freezes really well, but I up the temperature to 180 to re-heat and give it 30 minutes.

Cheap, filling and I guess you could up the quantities of veg if you felt like it.

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RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 29/08/2016 21:53

Black bean soup -

fry a diced onion, diced red pepper,some garlic, a chopped red chilli and a diced sweet potato. Add paprika, cumin seeds and a splash of red wine. Add some water.

Meanwhile mash two drained tins/cartons black beans (I use a potato masher and a lot of elbow grease!). Add this rather revolting looking mix to the soup.

I then stick the stock pot in the oven for an hour or so, until everything all melts together. I find this easier than faffing around on the hob but it does work on the hob too. Add salt and pepper to taste and mash a bit more as you go along.

We serve it with nachos, soured cream and guacamole.

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pontificationcentral · 29/08/2016 23:08

I really want that right now, Remus.....
Curry is a good idea, too.
Optimist, I just mentioned tuna in passing to the one kid living here who isn't mine - she claims never to have had tuna in her life. She's 17. Clearly I need to introduce her to the stuff before next year when she has to fend for herself in halls. Is it even possible for a student to exist without baked potato and tuna?
I've just found three tins of butter beans in the larder but can't see any dates - do these things go off??

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Amalfimamma · 30/08/2016 20:27

Lasagne, ratatouille, pasta sauces so they only need to reheat the sauce and cook the pasta, chicken cutlets, meatballs, curries, pot pies (chicken, pork, beef) twice baked potatoes, fried rice, home made burger patties, stirfry, sweet and sour chicken. As for veg, buy fresh, prepare and freezero.

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pontificationcentral · 30/08/2016 20:56

Pot pies! Thanks amalfi - we usually do this at Christmas with the leftovers and I hadn't thought to do it now. Great idea.

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Amalfimamma · 30/08/2016 21:00

pontificationcentral

You're welcome, before the births of both DC I did the '50 freezer meals in one day' cook out and potpies were featured heavily lol

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pontificationcentral · 30/08/2016 21:07

I have never heard of that!! I must Google...

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Amalfimamma · 30/08/2016 21:10

pontificationcentral

If you have pinterest there are millions of links for freezer meals. It seems thereally are those who cook once a month /every two months and freeze everything

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helenatroy · 30/08/2016 21:14

Watching. Need to do some major batch cooking soon.

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Ooogetyooo · 30/08/2016 21:20

Moroccan chicken can be done in slow cooker or on hob.
Left over chicken
2 tins chick peas
Butternut squash in small chunks
Onion
Garlic
Tin of chopped toms
Morroccan mixed spices ( cumin cinnamon ginger turmeric)
Splash red wine vinegar
Chicken stock cube
Even better heated up next day we have ours with either rice or some pittas

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pontificationcentral · 30/08/2016 21:28

I hadn't thought of checking pinterest Blush I think the only stuff I have pinned is hair stuff when I was growing mine out!! Time to revisit. Great idea.
I love Moroccan flavours. Thanks ooooo!

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