Batch Cooking - What do you cook?

[nannynick]

Batch cooking keeps being mentioned, so I was wondering what people cook.

What things do you cook which children eat and don't resemble mush when thawed?

Currently in the freezer at work are;

cod in cheese sauce
beef ragu
chicken supreme
butternut squash soup
mashed potato
mashed swede, carrot & potato

Sometimes I will take out one of the meat/fish dishes and cook fresh pasta or rice to go with it.

Soup - veg, carrot/sweetcorn/ginger, broccoli/spinach, lentil
Lasagne
Ratatouille
Chopped and frozen onions, herbs, ginger and carrots
White sauce

Bolognese
Chicken & veg casserole
Beef & veg stew
Chilli
Bean & sausage casserole
Lots of different types of soups

Jazz these up with freshly cooked pasta, rice, crusty bread, mash etc

Spinach and ricotta canneloni. (j Oliver)
Meatballs
Spag Bol
Shepherds pie
Fish pie?
Veg soup

Don't get much chance to batch cook: it all gets eaten - like locusts in a famine, my lot

I have noticed that components of dishes freeze better, though. For example, I can freeze the pie mixture easily enough for fish pie, but would cook fresh potatoes or at least have them par-boiled in the fridge. Some things just don't freeze very well, but will keep in the fridge much better for a few days.

I also do some cheese and spinach muffins, brilliant if we are taking a packed lunch anywhere.

Homemade burgers and chicken nuggets work well too.

I have
Fish pie
Shepherds pie
Beef lasagne
Veg lasagne
Tuna and sweet corn lasagne (charge loves lasagne!)
Salmon fishcakes
Crab cakes
Chicken and veg rissoles
Bolognese sauce
Sweet and sour pork
Moroccan lamb
Various varieties of risotto (I freeze it before it has finished cooking so the rice is still quite firm, then add an ice cube of stock and cube of risotto (both defrosted) to a pan and heat gently for about 5 mins, I add more water if it is a bit dry but it rarely is, then I add a sprinkling of Parmesan)
Chilli

For tea I have
Home made chicken nuggets
Ditto fish fingers
Ditto sausage rolls
Cauliflower and broccoli cheese
Pasta and cheese sauce
Pasta and tomato and veg sauce
Bubble and squeak cakes
Mini pizza soldiers
Chicken and apple balls
Veg rissoles
Cheesy feet (cheese straws in the shape of feet! Great for picnics)

I'm sure there is more but freezer is in an outhouse and can't be bothered to look!

Do the fish cakes cook ok after freezing? How long do u thaw them for? My first nanny did a lot of batch cooking but I am not confident with the freezer and how to safely thaw food. How did you learn?

U sound like great nannies, I am hungry now!

callaird I'm stealing your risotto method. Mine becomes mush when defrosted.

I pane (flour, egg and breadcrumb) my fish cakes and bubble and squeak cakes and the shallow fry them before freezing. I reheat in the oven can be cooked from frozen or thawed.

I get them out before we go out in the morning, put them in the oven on a baking tray and set the timer to turn on the oven and I get it to finish 10 mins before we are due home so it is not boiling hot.

Fraktal - go ahead! I was told this method by a (famous) chef! It's how they did it in his restaurant. That way, if one guest ordered something quick to cook and another ordered risotto, they wouldn't have to wait 30+ minutes for their meals.

Thanks all. Sounds like it's good to make components of meal rather than entire meal.

Love the tips - any more tips for getting the best from frozen / reheated food?