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!

Ooh, I just batch cooked a tonne of stuff (I work back shifts and sleepovers, so it's helpful to just be able to defrost something the night before). Here's what I cooked yesterday (I'm currently 21+1, so my feet were incredibly swollen by the end of it!)

Steak Pie (you just make the steak stew filling then freeze it into individual portions, it tastes AMAZING.

Sweet Potato Dhal (Good with garlic and coriander mini naans, which you can also freeze and stick in the toaster as needed).

Tomato Soup (DP says this tastes like "the sort of soup you'd have on bonfire night")

Bacon, Bean and Pasta Soup (The pasta and beans make it very filling).

Spiced Cauliflower and Almond Soup (goes a bit of an odd colour, but tastes lovely).

Hope that helps!

Blackholes I've done so a lot of time, never had an issue. Leave it slightly under and then nuke in microwave so it is properly hot (and cooked!) Easy as pie. Not had a negative effect on DD yet (and she started eating it 3.5 years ago...)

The Uncle Bens 2mib whole grain rice is on sale at the moment, so I might get some for the pantry for super lazy days!!!

Wow, great ideas, thanks!! Will def try risotto then as kids love it

I don't find that risotto freezes well - unless you want to make risotto cakes with it.

I just made lots of chilli and going to make a fish pie. My freezer is tiny tho!

I'm in 1st trimester, will-eat-anything-not-moving phase, and just reading this thread has made me ravenous again! You clever lot...I'm not much of a cook and I'm wondering how you all make it sound so easy?!
I think my 12month old DD would appreciate trying a few of these ideas before DC2 turns up. Thank you for your inspiration....I hope my new cheffy intention makes it from my brain, into the kitchen and onto the plates!

I love this thread, it's giving me loads of ideas, I'm 35 weeks and have started a shopping list for batch cooking but not done any yet! I'm also planning on freezing it all in those foil trays with cardboard lids so it can go straight in the oven and won't need washing up. I know this is lazy but I'd rather be cuddling my new baby

JRMumma MrsMustard Same here. 2 1/2 weeks to go!

I've been making shortbread and freezing it. Casseroles and vege chilli. DM is also coming over to batch took for us.

Don't think DH knows what is going on in this house. More cooking and cleaning has happened the last few weeks than our entire marriage!

Sorry for asking what is probably a really stupid question, but if you freeze things in those foil containers, how long and at what kind of temperature do you need to put them in the oven at? And do you defrost first or put them in from frozen?

I'm sure it'll vary from meal to meal, but any rough rules of thumb to help a very clueless batch cooker?

Good question sephy! I'm interested too. I've been using those plastic ones and nuking but actually it'll be less effort just to bung in the oven for a bit

Sephy Casseroles etc I tend to put in for 40-45mins at 200, but check after half an hour or so. Lasagne I defrost and do 20-30 mins at 180. Things like risotto I put in plastic and nuke as appropriate to get hot, same for mash. Pasta bakes go in as lasagne does.

Oh, and casseroles I do from frozen (like you would a container of mrs Brain's faggots), then pasta/rice based I defrost.

I did lots of Thai red and green curry and chicken curries etc as well as spag Bol but found that spicy food did not suit baby! Just something to think about if you want to breast feed!

I saw a tip on a different thread here the other day. It went something like:

If it had 4 legs, you can cook it from frozen.
Any fewer than 4 legs, defrost first.

Marking my place for ideas!