Unexpected maternity leave

[MrsD0147]

So with Corona etc I have found myself unexpectedly on maternity leave a couple of months earlier than planned. Originally planned to start my leave a couple of weeks before my due date and spend my time doing not a great deal really, just lazing around and getting my hair done etc but obviously this isn’t the case now however I now have another 7 weeks until my due date so would like to do something constructive with my time. I am waiting on plasterers etc for getting the room ready so can’t do anything decorating wise but thought might be useful to spend some days cooking some food for the freezer - any suggestions what freezes well etc. I am quite a good cook but never really batch cooked. Or any suggestions for any other useful activities before baby is here? Not relaxing/ sleeping as I am already doing so much of that I am about 50% sloth

Has work actually made you start official mat leave? Or are you on furlough?

Batch cook-
Chilli (esp if slow cooked)
Lasagne
Stews

Another tip I saw (and wish I did) was buy up a years worth of birthday cards, write them, and stack in order. Post a week before their birthday.

Watch the first video from here, wish I did when pregnant. Shows exercises to do in preparation for labour m.facebook.com/DurhamRdSW20/

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz Sorry yes I’m on furlough and although they’ve slowly re started this week they have different teams coming back at different times depending on when our customers restart and my team is due about 3 weeks after my mat leave starts so they’ve said it’s highly unlikely I’ll be back so not actually on mat leave just meant I have a few weeks to get stuff done I wasn’t expecting.
Would never have thought of the birthday cards- what a good idea!

If you are freezing stuff use a gallon zip lock bag, fill with lovely chilli and then lay it flat, seal the bag. Don't freeze it in a lump. If you freeze it flat it defrosts much quicker and stacks really well in the freezer.

Batch cooking is literally just multiplying the recipe. I use a food processor to chop onions ie just whizz them up until you get the right consistency, same with grating carrots, food processor with the grating blade on. I sadly cut a carrot in 4 length ways so that when I put it in the feed tube the carrots are in small pieces. Ds2 used to be very fussy.

I also bliz tins of plum tomatoes in the food processor to get a lovely smooth texture.

There are loads of videos online about freezing food but I think the batch lady is the best, full of really great ideas plus she has a lovely accent I could listen to all day.

Enjoy your maternity leave, I had 6 weeks before Ds1 was born due to holidays I remember it really fondly, lots of little naps and listening to Norah Jones. That was 17 years ago!

www.youtube.com/channel/UCvXSXS_pSElJH-4n2BsXpag