What shall I batch cook?

[MeanMrsMustard]

Baby due in 2.5 weeks and I want to start prepping some meals but my mind has gone blank. I've got a slow cooker so will get a stew or 2 going.

What did you appreciate eating in the early days? I don't want to be living solely on takeaways!

I never bothered. (My freezer is always full of stuff I don't really want!) stuff that reheats well will be the best.

Bolognese sauce.

Curries and lentil dhal.

Pies and pasties.

I've been making this a lot. It freezes beautifully and you can reheat it from frozen. I serve it with crumbled feta and a splodge of natural yogurt on top, and (highly inauthentic) naan bread.

mrsmustard you are due the same time as me! What's your due date?

Ive just stocked up in preparation too. I have kept it simple and done chilli, bolognaise, veggie sauce to have with gnocchi, chicken and veggie mixes that we can just chuck a jar of curry sauce on, portions of mash to have with sausages. Then ive bought fish portions, pizzas, oven chips, frozen veggies, lots of bread, bacon, chicken thighs - all in freezer. And stocked the cupboard with pasta, rice, tinned potatoes/veggies/fruit, soups, baked beans, breakfast cereal etc. Im also making sure we always have plenty of cheese, butter, eggs, milk, fruit juice etc in the fridge.

I remember the most grateful I have ever been in my life was when sil turned up with 5 days worth of M&S meals the day after dd was born ... I could have kissed her! (Not overly helpful but bringing back happy memories)

Mmm, that Chilli Marrakech looks lovely! Will be making that for sure! And bolognese. How did I forget that?!
I hadn't thought about freezing semi prepped meals. That's a good idea. I will get chicken, onions, garlic etc and make a pre-sauce mix.

Have also added long life milk to my list of store cupboard essentials. I live 5 mins walk from 3 24 hr shops so am not used to having to think in advance about things like that but I guess there will be times I can't get out. I think not being able to get a cup of tea could really push me over the edge!

JR - I'm due on the 27th. How about you? Is this your first? I swing between excitement, panic and denial at the moment!

It really is lovely. And you can make it as spicy as you like.

Freeze things like crumpets, bagels and English muffins, so you can have something toasted quickly whenever you want. That and scrambled egg will only take 5 minutes and is pretty healthy with plenty of protein.

If you feel like it, make some cakes. This is the best lemon drizzle recipe I've found, and it freezes really nicely. You could even freeze it in slices, so you can defrost them individually.

Oh and Mash! I love my mash, but I am very very picky about it and spend a silly amount of time perfecting it. I might have to dedicate a freezer draw to mash!

If you feel like splashing out, Sainsbury's Taste The Difference mash is absolutely gorgeous.

Im Due on 26th but am hoping i am a bit early as im soooo uncomfortable. Yes its my first but im surprisingly calm about it at the moment. I think im as prepared as i can be though, think ive done everything apart from buy nursing bras which im going to get next week.

Oh and ive also got a HUGE supply of biscuits that im pretending ive bought for visitors

Cross post.
I was thinking about freezing a carrot cake. Lemon drizzle cake sounds lush too.

I will def freeze some bagels and muffins. That's a good idea. Thanks.

I'm bulk cooking this week too!

We have/will have by tomorrow: Chicken and veg risotto, 5 bean chilli, bolognese sauce, sausage casserole, root veg mash, shepherds pie and a creamy mushroom and chicken pasta bake. Plus sweet potato pancakes, homemade tortillas and granola bars for breastfeeding snacks!

I was hoping I could last until sept for school year purposes but right now I just want her out. My bump is surprisingly compact, but it's getting quite painful now.
I think nursing bras (and the food of course) are the only thing left on my list too.

Oh, and I stocked the pantry with pasta, whole grain rice, spelt lasagne sheets, some microwave rice for tough days, beans (5 types!), lentils, bread flour, frozen fruit and ice cream for making smoothies... And have got fish fingers, homemade salmon bites and veggie bites and frozen veggies in one drawer of the freezer for visiting kids!

Pasta sauces with lots of vegetables. If you're bf you will crave carbs like nobody's business, but at least you will have vitamins.

I love rissoto but DH won't eat it so I guess it defeats the object a little if he's getting his own dinner anyway!
Maybe Ill make a small batch for lunches?

You sound the same as me mustard! Small bump but feels like it is going to explode at times?

If I have frozen (raw) salmon in the freezer already, can i defrost it, cook it and make fish cakes, then refreeze them?

I have to admit, I am quite worried about getting enough veg in the early days.

Yes. If you're changing the state of something (ie from raw to cooked), it's ok to freeze it again.

That's it JR! Lots of BH and shooting pains too, but I don't think they're a sign of anything about to happen... Just more things to make me uncomfortable!

Thanks Toby.

Christal - freezer is just average sized. I'm going to pack it tightly! I was hoping to make a big batch of plum compote to add to yogurt and porridge, but there is no my plum fruit will ripen in time so apple sauce might well be my alternative.

Do you have a recipe for choc/zucchini muffins you could post?

Lots of good ideas. I'd suggest anything you don't need a knife to eat. You might find yourself eating onehanded for the next few years months. Babies seem to know when it's dinnertime and insist on being cuddled throughout. My DH had to cut my food up for me so I could eat onehanded.