If you’re a cook from scratcher….

[CurlewKate]

…What one convenience thing do you buy and love? Mine is microwave pouches of puy lentils. So quick and delicious.

I like pre-made Thai sauce bases which I order online as they are much better than the ones in the supermarket. Cost about £2-3 each and you can rustle up a green curry, masaman or whatever for a family in no time with those some meat and veg (or just veg) and a tin of coconut milk.

I’ve been pulled into an instagram hole of people making their own butter. I’m seriously considering trying it this year, even though I think it’s a bit extreme on the “I make everything from scratch” front. But I just want to try it.

frozen herbs
frozen mixed peppers

I used to enjoy those fishcakes but then discovered I have a wheat allergy and many of them have a crumb coating putting them off my menu.

But just lately remembered that mashed potato from the chill section is excellent, and spotted hot-smoked (ready to eat) salmon, so combined the two,portioned them out and stuck them in the air fryer, and presto, fishcakes. Delish.

Good thread this, taking notes.

Ooh. Adding to basket.

Sainsbury’s and Asda do it

Grated cheese - no regrets 😎

Genius

Frozen breaded fish….for fish and chips or fish tacos.
frozen oven chips
bags/tins cooked lentils and beans
pouch rice, though am going to cut down on that this year as it’s not as nice as cooked yourself rice
spice tailor curries….so easy for a Friday night.
nan bread….though hm flat breads are nicer.
gravy granules….i just can’t get the hang of it
and yes, life is too short to make lasagna

Sainsburys frozen mash: potato, milk, butter, salt and pepper in that order. So, no, no more salt than you'd add yourself. It's scrummy (add a bit of warm milk to loosen) and has converted us.

I make my own soffritto , just make a big batch of the stuff and then freeze it in bags in the quantities I would use. Same with anchovie/rosemary/chilli paste.

I don't make my own pasta or sausages, although I would quite like to give both a go. And bread that's another thing I don't make, yet.

She'll only be able to take over the world if she also cuts puff pastry to fit a pie dish and freezes it 😀.

Freezing sofrito is a great idea. I make it fresh every time but it totally makes sense to make in batches and freeze.

Hard disagree to those who say life is too short to make lasagna - there is nothing like a home made one. I do buy the fresh sheets though. I certainly don’t make my own pasta

Phew. If I don’t tell her that we’re safe!🤣

Lazy garlic / ginger / chilli paste
Frozen and chopped veg
Veetee microwavable rice

Frozen, ready chopped garlic and basil.
I use it in lots of recipes, it really saves me time peeling/crushing/chopping (and scrubbing the chopping board to get that garlic smell out!)

Puff pastry.

Stock cubes. I only ever make stock after we’ve had a chicken (or turkey), by boiling up the carcass.

And one thing I never thought I’d use - Bisto Best gravy, with e.g. the homemade burgers we had last night, or sausages - I do make proper gravy for a roast. I’ve made onion gravy more than once but it’s too much faff and never seems to taste as good as it should.

I use dried pasta. But if I have time and I’m feeding 4 people or fewer I always make fresh because it’s so quick and easy. And I think it’s nicer. And it’s fun!

@Mounjarogirl25 ·Re frozen soffrito, Aldi used to do it, think they still do and I saw it in M&S this weekend!

Garlic and ginger in a jar, couldn't be without it.

Bisto gravy
Custard
Curry pastes
Cranberry sauce - I buy at least 6 packs of cranberries at Christmas to freeze, to make fresh cranberry sauce all year. However, I can run out of the frozen cranberries before the end of the year!
Fish fingers for DGC
Charlie Bighams moussaka occasionally - for when I don’t feel like cooking
Filo pastry

Stock,soffritto,curry paste,baked beans,battered cod

I’ve done it twice but only because I over whipped some cream and that’s the only use for overwhipped cream!

1 Pizza
2 Battered fish
4 Frozen mashed potato
5 Frozen chips
6 Stock
7 Fajita seasoning
8 Curry jars - I’d like to stop this one, but am scared to try making curry from scratch!

I used to buy frozen soffritto but it is hard to find locally now so I started batch prepping and freezing my own - I am saving a fortune £2 at a time

I also used to buy lazy garlic in jars. Now I batch prep a pile of garlic bulbs and re-fill the lazy garlic jars with chopped garlic and white vinegar. This one is really fun because the garlic turns blue after a few days in the fridge and then back to beige over a few weeks! Apparently it is totally harmless to eat blue/green garlic (info here).