Charlie Bingham ready meals

[TheGhostOfTheYearYetToCome]

£9.80 for a pasta ready meal.

I don't know quite what I was expecting but I was so disappointed. Are the curry ones any better?

(Currently looking after someone in end of life care, cooking from scratch isn't possible)

Processed crap.
Cook your own from scratch!

The point of these meals is that when cooking your own from scratch is impossible they are expensive but freshly made and tasty. Obviously some prefer less salt, bigger portions, smaller portions etc but they serve a purpose. I had chemotherapy and a broken ankle so my DH was looking after me and cooking three meals a day. CB gave him a break, was bland enough I could eat it despite a sore mouth, and were a great deal better than takeaway food. We got through a tough time and I have plenty of kindling for the log burner now!

I’d say it’s just right for 2. And the moussaka/lasagne does 3.

Put the CB Thai green curry in my basket at Sainsbury’s this evening. But then decided that making my own would be cheaper and healthier. Tough decision though as have had it in the past and is truly scrumptious!

I always want to pronounce his name as Bingham.
Anyway, they used to do a ‘big’ meal of chicken satay which then disappeared but then turned up in a standard sized box with rice - but now that has seemingly gone too.

Essentially they still taste like a ready meal even when better quality. I occasionally used to buy one for when DH was out and DC had dined pre a class in town. Only really because they were reduced in the Waitrose on the way to pick up. Generally disappointing

I think you are missing the point of the OP.

Charlie Bigham is an ex-management consultant posh boy who is laughing all the way to the bank while us time-pressed proles spend our hard-earned money on his processed shite in the hope that it’ll be better than the cheaper processed shite in the same supermarket cook-chill cabinet.

You don’t think he touches the crap that comes out of his factory himself, do you?

It's expensive but we also get once a week in place of a takeaway. The best one I've tried is the butter chicken (although I'm going to try the fish pie next after reading this thread).

I tried the 'Beef Madras' curry - it was horribly sweet, as if someone had stirred a tablespoon of sugar into it. Will not be buying anything more from the range.

It is better than the cheaper processed shite in chill cabinet that’s why I buy it.

The lasagne, cottage pie, tikka, Thai red curry, sticky toffee puddings are incredIble. We buy them full price we love them that much. Amazing if you’re ever stuck and need to buy dinner in a Tesco (their own range is terrible) and there’s no M&S or Waitrose around.

Why bother? They're over-priced and really don't save any time.
eg Fish Pie - I buy the packs of fish from Iceland so already prepped and chopped for use, add some prawns (1 minute to get out of freezer, 1 minute to put in pie dish & mix)
https://www.iceland.co.uk/p/iceland-fish-pie-mix-450g/73879.html x2
https://www.iceland.co.uk/p/iceland-cooked-and-peeled-king-prawns-250g/95318.html x 1 Total cost of 3 packs = £10 on buy 3 offer

I do make sauce from scratch (10 minutes) but you can buy a jar or pot of white sauce (1 minute), and parsley we grow ourselves.
Peel, cut cook and mash potatoes (3 mins prep + 15 mins or so cooking (I prep the fish & sauce then) + 3 mins to mash and put on top of pie)
Shove in oven for approx 40 mins to brown nicely, and go do something else while it cooks. Serve with frozen peas cooked in microwave.

Total time to prep about 17 mins. Not difficult.

Total cost £12 or so for approx 4-5 x the size of the CB one.
If I have enough fish in the freezer, I often make double and freeze the other for my own 'ready meal'

I've tried 'stocked'. Had a couple of their 'child friendly' vegan meals. Had the child friendly as reduced salt, although they do contain salt substitute which I wasn't sure about.

They aren't full meals, more bolognese/casserole type meals you have to add your own pasta/rice too. I liked the idea of them as you can have a small or large portion depending on if it's a jacket potato topping for lunch or a main meal, their had the appearance of home made and seem better environmentally without plastic containers.

That said, they are for convenience rather than a treat. More like getting a 'made this one earlier' from the freezer.

The chicken jalfrezi is brilliant

Which had less UPF?

Piss off.

The OP clearly says she's providing end of life care for someone. Show a shred of compassion.

I like the chicken in white wine with mash - although they only sell it in the massive Waitrose and I've not seen it for while so it could have been discontinued. I buy it and eat it without any extenuating circumstances so put that in your pipe @NoNoNona

I agree that the Cook range are very good. Also, the supermarket premium ready meals.

I'm sorry you are going through this @TheGhostOfTheYearYetToCome

I havnt read the whole thread but in case it hasn’t been mentioned before Cook can issue you with a care card giving 30% off their meals in situations such as yours. You have to message them and ask but they were lovely and sent mine out straight away.

I like the lasagne and the moussaka. I only buy them on a lazy day when I can’t be bothered to cook.

Like the curries but - as many others have said- only buy them on offer.

We have them for CBA nights. They’re for 2 people so about a fiver each, which isn’t bad. They’ve helped us cut down on takeaways. We do get the M and S ones too and their Gastro range.

I'm on a limited medical diet, very fed up. I hadn't looked at the CB meals before, but realised I could have the macaroni cheese and it was on Clubcard, so I gave it a go. It was lovely, really rich, lots of cheese and despite looking small it was really satisfying. If I could eat veg I'd probably have made a meal with half of it and usually I roll my eyes at those MNers who claim portions are far too big for them, but this was filling.

I also like the fish pie -all the supermarket own brand versions have prawn in which I hate so have to spend 5 mins going ythough mine to dig out 5 prawns.

CB Fish pie plus cheap garlic bread is a winner!

They are ok for ready meals but i prefer the Waitrose ones to be honest.