Help me batch cook and freeze please! Ideas thread.

[fuzzpig]

It's for the sake of my health as well as my wallet!

I am RIDICULOUSLY disorganised and I am totally sick and ashamed of wasting food because I don't get round to using it, and of never having anything to cook easily when I'm ill, and therefore relying too much on junk food... or not finding the time or energy to make sandwiches before we rush off to wherever, which results in the same. Endless Happy Meals anyone?

So today we will be ordering a massive Tesco delivery so we can batch cook and stock the freezer. Planning to do this on the first shop after payday, spend the first week cooking in bulk and then just top up on fresh stuff for the rest of the month.

So I'm looking for ideas, please - maybe this could be a helpful thread to others planning the same too.

Annoyingly our oven doesn't work so can only grill/use the hob at the moment, so can't do lasagne/shepherds pie all in one (but freezing the separate elements works well as I can reheat in microwave, then assemble and grill). I also really need to learn to love my slow cooker. I've used it once and not successfully so it's languished in the cupboard! But it's massive (6.5l) so I could cook much bigger batches of stuff in there which would presumably make it more worthwhile.

Here's what I've batch cooked successfully in the past:

Tomato sauce - I make a lovely one with heaps of veg, then blend it.
Cheese sauce - separates and looks really gross during reheating, but it does come back together and works brilliantly.
Bolognese - I add lentils and grated veg to bulk it out.
Marinated chicken - for stir fries
Shepherds pie base
Leek and potato soup
Lentil stew
Burgers
Mash
Pesto

Here's what else I'm thinking of freezing:
Sandwiches
Potato wedges (especially sweet potato)
Muffin pizza
Lamb burgers stuffed with feta
Pancake batter (I do peanut butter/banana ones)
Chicken curry (I'm no good at making my own but really want to learn)
Chili con carne (as above)
Casseroles/stews

I'm hoping the above would work! If anyone has any advice or ideas, please share! :)

[frangipani13]

Spicy red lentil and veg soup- this would be great for your slow cooker. Chicken curry, potato cauliflower and pea curry, paneer (with either peas or spinach or peppers) curry, mung bean curry are all meals we tend to cook and freeze (well my darling mum makes for our freezer! ) if you Google those dishes you'll find some simple recipes. Good luck!

[fuzzpig]

Wow thanks for all the new replies!

Since the other day I've made more stuff:

Chicken curry - not too bad, but think I made it too liquidy and could've been braver with the spices!
Bolognese (more veg/lentil than beef - worked pretty well in the SC)
Pesto
Cheese sauce (although only managed to freeze enough for one meal - I never cook enough!)
Mini beef burgers
Quesadilla (for me - going to make plainer ones for DCs with tuna/cream cheese and cheddar)

I've not frozen sandwiches yet as we don't really need them ATM but before term starts again I definitely will.

Pretty much run out of room now as there's also some regular frozen veg in there. But still on the hunt for ideas so all posts much appreciated!

[NeuNewNouveau]

As an aside, a replacement oven element only costs £15-20 on the Internet and can usually be fitted within 30mins following a YouTube video. I have replaced ours twice.

I know you mentioned waiting for the landlord but if you're in a hurry see if he'll pay you back for doing it?

[NeuNewNouveau]

Just realised you may have it fixed by now, didn't spot the post was a week old.

[MiaWalker]

Our oven element broke last month and dh bought a new one for £20 quid and fitted it himself if that was an option to get your oven working again :)

[fuzzpig]

Thank you I'll definitely look into that! TBH our house is a bit of a state ATM (not structurally, just clutter) so not too keen on having LLs round right now

Another question - just read about mashing cauliflower in with mash, I'd love to try that, would it freeze ok do you think? (half cauli half spud)

[AdoraBell]

Fuzz if the curry isn't spicy enough you could add some Chilli powder when you reheat it.

Afriad I can't add to these fab ideas, sorry.

[decisionsdecisions123]

Haven't read all the messages so perhaps someone has written this but you can get tin foil disposable food trays like you get from an Indian/Chinese takeaway from the poundshop in a few different sizes. I recently discovered them and find them really good. Maybe not so helpful for a non working oven. I have found them particularly helpful for making a lasagna straight into one and then being able to just throw the packaging away once it has been reheated and eaten.