Feeding a Large Family

[Hedwig06]

I am struggling just lately with meal ideas. I doesn't help that I really hate cooking and all that it in-tales

I have to cook for 6, DH, Myself, DD 16, DD12, DS10 & DS5.

Nobody like the same things, apart from a cooked dinner, but I'm sick to death of doing this.

I've just bought a Tefal Actifry & a Tefal Shredder, I also have a slow cooker as well, not that I use it.

Does anyone have any meal ideas for us all? I need simple easy meals, as I have NO cookery skills at all.

No mince please, as no-one like it

[MUM2BLESS]

wow Vickles love your input. How many kids do you have? if I may ask, you seem really organised.

[Vickles]

Hi, you're welcome. I've got three kids under 7yrs, and would like one more!
I get a real buzz from keeping my weekly asda bill down! I just go through my favourites section, and kind of put similar things in every week, but just jig it about a bit. Sometimes it goes a bit pete tong, like today, kids had scrambled egg on toast and me and hubby had chicken Kiev, mash and green beans! Kids had eaten out for lunch. I'm kind of organised most the time, but other times, it's shambles! Typical Gemini. But also, don't forget my kids are younger, 7, 4 and 18 months, so they don't really have much input, yet. My older one is a bit, and is a tad fussier than the others. I'm very good at hiding things, and whizz ing sweet corn and onions in the mini chopper! I want taught to cook, just learnt. Lots of mistakes along the way, and I do tend to over cook things a lot!

[IDismyname]

Hedwig -
Some thoughts....

Hamburgers? (I know they're mince, but....) Just add grated onion, an egg and (trust me) a grated apple. Makes them really juicy. Make into patties and into the fridge.

Someone posted nice recipe for basically a cheesy bread and butter pudding. It's delishhh. (Check out Nigellas 'Three Cheese Strata')

What about soup when its colder? You can add pasta, meat, veg - recipes are endless.

[accessorizequeen]

Hello, just coming on because I have 4 dc and tips on feeding them always needed! I am 1 of 4 and remember my mum getting fed up because nothing suited everyone. My dc are only 8.7, 5.7 and 3.10 dts but have noticed that they're more receptive if they have a say or help or even get the spuds from the garden.

We have a lot of Spanish omlette with chorizo & potatoes as it's filling. Also recent discoveries are chicken jambalaya and sausage stew (chorizo, lentils & butter beans too). They all like cheesy beany tortillas which are easy and cheap - tins of butter/kidney/refried beans with tin of tomatoes, onion garlic. Whizz up if preferred. Spoon into wraps, fold, sprinkle cheese and bake. Yummy, healthy and no complaints!
Really must make an effort to do roast chickens, that sounds great!

[Vickles]

You can buy these baking bags from supermarkets, that are in the food bag aisle. You bung a whole chicken in, and tie it, and the chicken comes out mega moist, and the major bonus is no hot chicken fat splatters all in the oven!

[Northernlurker]

I think if your family will not eat : mince, pasta, sauces (seriously? all sauces?), cheese, bacon, spicy food and sausages then your options are critically limited.
I think you need to instruct dc and dh to get a grip and eat what you put in front of them! Good luck!