Good things to batch cook for student

[ItsOhSoQuietThisChristmas]

I want to batch cook some food for my DD who is going to Uni in a few weeks.

I’m thinking a lasagna, chilli and meatballs. I’ve got some glass Pyrex dishes for freeing and cooking. Also, I’ve got those tinfoil takeaway dishes with lids.

My DD can cook, I’m just trying to make sure they’ve got decent food for the first week whilst they get orientated.

There’s a lot if red meat there. They don’t really like veggie. What chicken dishes can I cook and freeze? Also I’d like to make and freeze some desserts.

Any recommendations?

We’ve got 1 shelf in the freezer and that’s what we’ll stick to.

She has 1 shelf in the freezer …

Really?

You take it out the freezer the day before, put it in the fridge to defrost, then put it on a plate in the microwave and press reheat.

Less faff than ordering a takeaway, and going downstairs to get it.

I’m amazed at how few life skills our DC seem to have. I remember having this Greek boy living opposite me in halls and he was always in the kitchen cooking amazing food.

You don’t suddenly learn to cook at uni. If you don’t know about these thing's before you go, you’ll probably end up having a very poor diet, and being sick a lot.

Also, I am getting stick for cooking for my kid, when mine is the only one I know of their friends who is not in fully catered/ catered weekday. How’s that building life skills?

*You take it out the freezer the day before, put it in the fridge to defrost, then put it on a plate in the microwave and press reheat.

Less faff than ordering a takeaway, and going downstairs to get it.*

It's not about not being able to defrost a lasagne, it's more about not necessarily knowing for sure you will be at home for dinner 24 hours from now to eat it if you take it out.

For a lot of students, especially first years, things are a lot more spontaneous than that. When a group of new friends say "hey let's go for a drink" or "let's check out the swing dancing/LARPing/insert your own niche interest here society" you don't want to be the person that says "actually I took out a lasagne to defrost so I need to go home now"

What about just cooking off some chicken breast portions, then she can quickly make a fajita or similar. Chicken curry would be good, or chicken in a tomato based sauce to have with pasta.

I wouldn't go too mad tho for all the reasons mentioned above. If she can cook already, maybe a decent spice selection to take, some nice pasta, olive oil, tinned tomatoes etc. I sent DD with a selection of those Simply Cook boxes and she had fun making those with her mates, and they just picked up the fresh ingredients from the local Tesco.

That's not true. Most people eat meat

Ha, I noticed this and 'we are moving in first* *. Er no.

I'd wait until she's made friends and is maybe living away from halls the following year. Then she can share the things you bring with her housemates and will be very popular! (Plus you will know if there are any vegans...) In halls the best thing would be to give her money to go out or to buy the food she wants. I think my mum just gave me tea bags and some Hobnobs.

They usually have a few BBQs and pizza nights in Freshers week then they get together with people in their halls to eat so I wouldn’t bother, it will take up too much space and probably end up in the bin. I’d just buy dry and tinned goods for their cupboard.

I wouldn't cook loads and not individual portions. Part of being at uni is looking after yourself.
Do the big shop when you arrive or order a delivery online.

Cook one large meal that can be shared with others will get off to a good start. Veggie/vegan so nobody is excluded. Much more social than an individual dish and will bring people together.

Or just a cake to be shared with their first cuppa together!

DS does batching cooking when he's there. Not sure how it will work this year though as there are 5 in the house and 4 drawers in the freezer.