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.

C

I sometimes buy bone broth rather than making stock from scratch. I also buy bread, corn tortillas and the occasional cake/bun rather than making them. Otherwise I make things from scratch and eat quite simply. I don’t make my own cheese or butter either.

Thanks. I'll give it a go. Esp now you've used the word scrummy!😃

Pastry
Stock cubes

I chop a load of veg for soffrito, cook it, divide into bags and freeze.

Is there a way to get inexpensive yet good sized containers of low sodium chicken stock or broth in the UK? Back in the US, you can buy 32oz/1L boxes like these for only $1.99. It seems to be mostly very high salt stock cubes or stock pots in the UK. The liquid variants seem to be expensive bone broth options.

I live alone! It's safer than making a batch!

(I'd eat too many! Frozen ones are ok & I can show complete restraint only putting 1 or 2 frozen ones in the air fryer on a rare occasion).

Jars of Very Lazy chopped garlic, chilli and ginger. Jars of chilli red pesto. Microwave rice pouches. Filled pasta and a stir in sauce for a 5 minute tea. Frozen curly fries! Frozen broccoli and cauliflower as kept either running out of fresh or it going mouldy. Usually emergency pizza/fish fingers in the freezer too

Stock and brownie mix.

I’m an MN frozen mash convert - it’s amazing! So good! Sainsbury’s though, Tesco’s I didn’t like - too laggy despite trying to loosen.

soffrito can be found in M&S and Tesco here - very handy.

i used to buy microwaveable rice until i made myself master it on the hob and ill never buy it again. So much nicer, cheaper and it doesn’t take ages!

Agree with those who say lasagne from scratch is definitely worth the effort - shop-bought is nowhere close but I do buy the dolmio white sauce.

Ham stock cubes for minestrone soup
Sandwich bags that go in the toaster
Ready made crumble mix and pastry

Is there a way to replicate the convenience of microwaved rice without buying packs from the store? I'm wondering if one could freeze cooked or almost cooked rice and then microwave it or boil lightly. Anyone ever tried this ? It is so handy ti have cooked rice available.

Puff pastry and stock. Life’s too bloody short.

I have thisJoseph Joseph microwave rice cooker-it’s brilliant. When I bought it it was the only one available but now there are cheaper ones on Amazon, I think. https://www.josephjoseph.com/products/m-cuisine-rice-cooker-white

Ready rolled shortcrust pastry for a pie.

Ready chopped garlic ginger and chilli’s. Stops my fingers smelling or chilli juice burning my eyes if I rub them

Oven chips. If ds needs a quick meal, I can put some oven chips in, pan fry a salmon tail and steam some veg. Relatively healthy, 20 mins max 😊

Packet cheese sauce because making it from scratch makes me cross

Stock. I also keep frozen garlic and frozen ginger cubes and frozen diced onions. Do t always use them as I have fresh but they are handy.
Ready rolled puff pastry.

Someone needs to talk me through frozen soffrito would it do for chilli's and fajitas etc or is it more bolognese? Sometimes the only thing stopping me cooking from scratch is chopping onions and peppers

I freeze leftover rice regularly.

Nits a dice so it’s more bolognaise as it contains carrot but it would add great flavour to most dishes It is onion, carrot and celery.

Gravy - I always use the granules except at Christmas. Curry sauce as a standby when pushed for time. I'm not good with managing spices.

Most supermarket sells frozen pepper slices but onion tends to be diced. Why not make a huge batch of sliced onion and pepper, probably best to cook them and freeze them?

I buy boil in the bag pouches, I just can’t get rice right any other way.

A chef friend taught us to treat rice like this and it turns out perfectly. We then freeze excess:

• wash rice
• cover with cold water to 1 knuckle depth
• cover, bring to boil, turn off heat and leave for 20 mins

This makes lovely fluffy rice

• freeze any excess as rice into portions, it can have nasty bacteria so shouldn’t be left in the fridge