Batch cooking ideaa

[SamSpade]

Does anyone have any suggestions for batch cooking & freezing? I make chilli, curries, Bolognese & casseroles already. Are there any other good meals I haven't thought of?

Also, how do you get mash to taste nice when it's frozen & reheated? I made a fisherman's pie and froze it, but the mash was watery when I defrosted it. Very disappointing.

Please help me liven up dinner times!

Should be batch cooking ideas, sorry!

Lasagne
Cottage pie - never had a watery mash problem. I defrost & heat in microwave then finish off in the oven.
Cauliflower cheese- only me that eats it so I always make a batch and freeze.
Can’t think of anything else apart from curry/Bol/casserole so interested to see other suggestions too.

I would freeze the mash separately.

Can’t think of anything else useful, sorry.

I tend not to freeze mashed potato: I batch cook and freeze my veggie shepherd's pie base but then cook the mash fresh when needed.

Homity pie freezes really well and is a delicious comfort food.

I've never tried homity pie, thanks. I'll give it a go.

I batch cook Sunday dinners either as bung in the microwave for one person or cook loads of roast potatoes and vegetables and bag it up.

I tend to not over cook veg (al dente) and when reheating, I make fresh gravy (bisto) to put over the meat to save drying out in the microwave or oven.

I batch cook brown rice (it takes ages to cook so always do more than I need and freeze in portions), home made fritters (made a nice vegetarian carrot and chickpea one last weekend) and home made veggie burgers, as well as the usual curry and chilli.

You don’t mention it but I make pasta sauce and then use it as the base for quick meals when I need it.
Not just pasta but chicken in tomato sauce etc.

Our favourite batch cook round my way is the Hairy Bikers Beef and Apple Tagine which scales up and is delicious with couscous or rice or jacket potato. Dream to freeze.

Enchiladas www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/11259/chicken-and-bean-enchiladas The recipe includes freezing tips.
Moussaka www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/moussaka-with-feta-topping/
Fish cakes www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2303639/family-meals-easy-fish-cakes
Yorkshire puddings
Tagines realfood.tesco.com/recipes/moroccan-meatball-tagine-with-bulgur-wheat.html
Vegetable and bean crumbles www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1759643/wintry-vegetable-crumbles
Pasta bake realfood.tesco.com/recipes/greek-lamb-pasta-melt.html

That hairy bikers tagine sounds lovely!

I batch cook taco filling. That way when the kids want tacos it's about as fast as a takeaway.

Have you heard of dump bags? You basically get your raw ingredients and put them into a freezer bag and then freeze. You pull out when you want to cook. It's great for things like stir frys when you might make the sauce from scratch.

I’d get some store cupboard food in, Bottled peppers, chickpeas, pouches of lentils etc. Embrace an omelette for dinner. Traybakes you can make up the night before and put in oven when you get home and it’ll be ready in 30 mins. Sausage or chicken in a tray with veg.

Learn to love leftovers.

Jacket and beans isn’t an awful tea.

I batch prepare loads of slow cooker meals and freeze. Also pie fillings like ham, mushroom and leek, and a variety of pasta sauces.

Coq au vin for slow cookers freezes well, as does beef adobe. Chickpea, mushroom and kale curry is a staple that we eat weekly so I batch make that and prepare. Chicken teriyaki also freezes well.

A new favourite of mine is this. I have a big batch in my freezer.

www.recipehow.com/goan-butternut-squash-cafreal-recipe/

Ps: just Incase it wasn't clear, I only prepare the ingredients for the slow cooker and then freeze. So then you literally take it out the night before, pop in it your slow cooker et voilà!

Ps: check out mama bake. It's a wonderful project !

Thanks, lots of good ideas here. DC are fussy, so I'll weed out the recipes they wouldn't eat, and make a shopping list.

Ricekrispie & Persona great ideas thanks. Urgh I already do pasta sauce, I'd forgotten about that one thanks. Ah pie filling is a great idea, I'll definitely try that.
Thanks all.

Also if you're on FB, check out Slow cooked wonders group. Thousands of recipes there.