What is your ultimate lazy food shortcut?

[HopelesslyHopeful87]

I have just discovered frozen mashed potato and it's revolutionary!

I was dubious and thought surely it's full of added crap but it's not. It comes out so creamy and fluffy and tastes lush. No more peeling potatoes for me! I bought a bag from Iceland for about 90p. There may be some fancier versions and mash made from actual potatoes may be more cost effective but I don't care!

What's your ultimate lazy food shortcut?

Frozen everything!
I make a rather passable veg stew using butchers meat and frozen veg. Massive batch for freezing.

In terms of adding benefit to modern life, I think a freezer is up there with indoor plumbing!

Oh, and mushroom soup over chicken, broccoli and mushrooms =instant chicken pie mix.

Frozen med veg, frozen Quinn chicken pieces ... in a pan, add curry sauce, microwave rice .... boom

Potato waffles cooked in the toaster', I discovered them at Uni and still sometimes cook them this way (if no one is watching)

Frozen jacket spuds, why haven’t I heard of these 😳 please where are they to be found? No cooker for the last two weeks & not being fixed until Thursday.

Am also a convert to the freezing ‘’fresh’ food revolution so interested to see what else I can through in the freezer!

I've just caught on to tinned potatoes; good chucked in stews and casseroles, sliced in a tortilla, fried with Indian spices or in home made pasties.

Frozen chopped onions, frozen risotto base and frozen spinach.

Soup as a sauce! Half a tin of mushroom soup with a bit of gussying up - lovely sauce for chicken of pork.

Also, when I can be bothered - batch cooking.

Frozen aubergine slices. So easy to make parmagiana or moussakka without all the faff of salting, patting and frying.

Microwave rice and frozen baked potatoes.

Also frozen cauliflower cheese is a recent discovery.

Chopped frozen onions for me..... I fear it may be a long time before my ds realises that onions are actually round!!

Don't know if this counts but...
I once went to a nice 60th wedding anniversary tea with my grandmother. It was catered by a local lady and she made an amazing veg pie. When I asked her how she made it she said that she just chucked the veg in then added cupasoup pouches and mixed in - the water of the veg plus the cupasoup made it solidify to a quiche consistency.

Also useful for adding herbs to bolognese (tomato and basil soup) and thickening it quickly...

I melt a large scoop of sainsburys basics cream cheese in the pan instead of faffing making a roux for white sauce. Yes, I am pure filth, but it takes a good 20 minutes off a batch of macaroni cheese.

Rice in pouches and bags of ready grated cheese.

Squeezy chilli. I'm perfectly capable of chopping a chilli or two if needed, but I do love the easy of chilli in a tube.

See also, squeezy garlic

Thanks Chicken, will have to try them!

Very lazy Scottish Stovies when you don’t have a left over roast...
Tinned beef stew from M&S - two or three. Pour into a pan. Add sliced potatoes...tinned now they’ve been mentioned, heat and serve with oatcakes. Yum.
If you can really be bothered fry an onion before adding meat and pots.

Great thread.

Tin of cream of mushroom soup and pasta with a bit of water. Add some grated cheese and put in oven.

2 min prep pasta bake

I'm not sure if this counts but literally dumping a packet of mince and bolognaise sauce in the slow cooker. Leaving it and mashing it. I read on here that it works and it actually does.

Frozen mash - had it last night.
Pouches of microwave rice (Asda own, 49p, two packs serve 3 of us generously).
My best tip....bags of frozen spinach and cauliflower - I add a handful of each to most of my curries (especially cauliflower).

Frozen puff pastry too, my chicken, sliced pepper and pesto puff pastry slice is a really quick meal.

Frozen risotto from Aldi. There's tomato and balsamic or butternut squash. Just stir fry for 8 mins, it's lovely.

Microwave rice makes for great fried rice - just tip the packet into a bowl and break up the lumps with your hands, then fry with whatever leftover meat you've got (or bacon/hotdogs), cupful of frozen veg and a bit of soy sauce. Serve with a fried egg on top.

I buy the huge tubs of minced garlic and minced ginger from the Asian supermarket. Lasts ages and in terms of flavour has no real difference in taste.

Im also not above buying all the predone mash and cut up veg from the fresh aisle. I especially love the casserole mix dumped in a pan with some stewing steak and an Oxo or 2 for a easy beef stew.

Soffrito mix from the supermarket, fresh or frozen. Ready chopped carrots, onions and celery. The easiest base ever for anything mince, stew or casserole based - and saves 20 minutes of chopping.

I’m also quite partial to an Iceland chicken tikka biryiani which comes frozen and you stir fry it.

Yes yes yes to soffrito mix. That stuff is a bloody lifesaver and you've reminded me I need to stock up.

@PelvicFloorClenchReminder Oh. My. God. That's GENIUS