COOKING FROM SCRATCH. mon 8pm ch4

[Blondeshavemorefun]

This started last week. Just found e1 on demand

It's a bit like eat well for less as in the family live off connivence food and worries about health and finance

So learn to cook from fresh /scratch

Has the annoying or loveable 😂 (depending what camp you are in) Joe Swash as the host

But I do like food programmes like this

E2 is on Monday

I saw that and taped it but not watched it yet. I could do with some recipe inspiration!

started it and seems ok so far

going out in a mo so will watch the end later

I'd like to know where to source reusable freezer bags and those freezer-oven glass dishes with lids that are sealed and sturdy enough for stacking. Can anyone help please? Thanks

I got mine from Amazon

Silicone Freezer bags - https://www.amazon.co.uk/VEHHE-Reusable-Storage-Sandwich-Leakproof/dp/B08FD533H4/ref=sr_1_12?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.po5oYzReW6OSiIdjCmXiU5We766VlXqHAhaQw3x4bvLR4fUiNDpKTDTGDGd1S98GDPILktTJoyjX6WlU_j5CO0_SD84p1I5Uo2k_EOUlTzmdpLyNWJhT6z_J45wIqxMwq27f9sIHfktmJyKMDJElTFmKvezuEvSB9TNsp7vAneo1v4WiQkPpIwD4x0O6Vczg2MphtL-rVu0RAfQKqY11E0D3OG9UZzYd95yWU7eIxEXcwCCZEImr6b6ztjXDxPNOE4Bg8s3YSG-nZCOocZsMZNpAKKFymWQYIBjCxB-xfmuZozGcMJXzN96UBCysXYMicExnT0vMK1Ti_3R2BCcPWxuBb1eEsA-z1YAJQzLN4BE.EcKiZHvkDVfJICzXuFcai3ZjEjT7hvlhwBQPc0nhPAE&dib_tag=se&keywords=reusable+freezer+bags+silicone&qid=1740064442&refinements=p_72%3A419153031&rnid=419152031&s=kitchen&sr=1-12

Freezer glass storage dishes - https://www.amazon.co.uk/MCIRCO-Containers-Airtight-Microwave-Dishwasher/dp/B081JTZNRS/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3PTHPIJREY4N7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.E0Voc3kPtNcqz2ki26yL2jidRm3v_XzWNhA5rCjx1wG-aOg4JBZVBDpbp_PIsaWPnIHSUE2_zWRAU4VyoQ5CclXfODAxkTVV7BE2oxoLBfsW9BIIvUwCPM_mRueabcrlMdQIp4GHI49jsM7Snn5R14HE2m-gXAk7H7Yz_ZLPguXuU8LvW53XkRCCVlkpTuhTm5rXpsWoodkv1VXpacz0Iz6plomRP7_X5mVweR5E4MF6Ud4fNogxaNnrjYK80Np-mHG2smxU8L0AOYENXDvdM5EFRvuqDqZ6TFe0is0j7-NGPK20GCihiqcmiO7b9uI9iDSH2de0V8Re5JotmNFwLShfa8xIQNVKkkBFvN3NOrQ.ep0xtgp_-gd6diqLDOmEuckxLiFYahlDrVSbdivC2cA&dib_tag=se&keywords=glass%2Bfood%2Bcontainers%2Bwith%2Blids%2Bfor%2Bfreezer&qid=1740064683&refinements=p_n_condition-type%3A12319067031%2Cp_72%3A419153031&rnid=419152031&s=kitchen&sprefix=glass%2Bfood%2Bcontainers%2Bwith%2Blids%2Bfor%2Bfreezer%2Ckitchen%2C76&sr=1-4&th=1

I would say both are an expensive outlay.

That's really helpful. Thanks.
I hadn't thought of Amazon!

I made Spanish chicken tonight ( my own recipe, not hers) but we all enjoyed it and I bagged up (flat) enough for DH and I another night.
It was watching the programme on Tuesday afternoon that inspired me.

I half watched this while I was cooking and thought that the sentiment was great - surely better to batch cook than buy lots of takeaways and ready meals, excellent tips on bulking up with lentils etc but didn't seem to be much going on in the way of veg, and topping the cottage pie with bought mash was odd.

I watched it, but felt it was a poor version of Eat Well for Less. And maybe just a promotional Ad for LidL.

There was very little 'help' given to the family to improve there diets. They were basically shown how to make 2 dishes x 2 and freeze one, and don't go shopping 17 times a week, oh and don't let your kids eat 2 massive bowls of cereal after school so they are not hungry for dinner.

At least with Eat Well for Less had a lot more help and advice on how to improve both diet and spending habits.

I'll watch the next one and see if it's any better, if not then I'll probably not bother from there.

They have them a full 28 days of dishes with recipes and weekly shopping lists: all including at least 5 of their 5 a day.
TBF I've meal planned and batch cooked for years and I didn't live her recipes, but the principle is excellent and it made a huge difference to them.

I already batch cook so didn't learn anything. Couldn't understand why she used bought mash to top the cottage pie as she said if you use your own mashed potato it goes watery after freezing. Well none of my cottage pies have gone watery after freezing and home made mash tastes much nicer than bought mash

Anyone else batch cook but then never ever fancy it again?

I would just freeze the mince and make the mash fresh..

I will have to take a look at this. We always cook from stratch and always meal plan for the week but I have never batch cooked before. Most of the things I cook only take around an hour anyway apart from stews.

Finally seen the end - agree seems re to show how to make lasagne and shep pie - which tbh most people know how to make

be good to see other more complex meals but easy to cook

frozen chopped onion. That saves 15m - it takes me a minute to chop an onion 😂

but good they give a months meal planner

thr pre made mash was weird as well but if saving time I can understand why show it

Poor program. Very little cooking involved. Lack of credibility being fronted by that well-known chef, Joe Swash. I doubt I will watch the rest.

E2 tonight

oatley family use connivence foods and want to cook healthily

I didn't see episode 1 but I did see tonight's. I see that the programme is sponsored by Lidl so that might explain why the families are offered frozen mashed potato and onions. I have a friend who is a very good cook but she swears by it, especially in things like fish pie. When I went shopping with her I was amazed to see so much mashed potato in the frozen food section. Morrison's own brand is £1.60 and you could probably make two meals for 3-4 people from one packet. I also think it might be easier to persuade families to change their habits if they can save time on washing and peeling potatoes.

I thought the Oatley family were very brave to allow such high levels of scrutiny. I certainly wouldn't want to appear on TV in my nightie nipping to the fridge for midnight snack!

Overall, it's definitely not up to the standard of Eat Well for Less but I quite enjoyed it.

I think the time it takes to peel and cook potatoes is well worth it for potatoes that taste so much nicer than frozen mash. I have tried a few as know a few people that use it but I just don't like it.

I was so impressed with the Daughter on the programme last night. Taking it upon herself to prepare a healthy salad, as her Mother was not really doing so. I hope that they change their eating habits, especially for the children's sake. They need to eat better than what they have been. The Daughter is a little star.

The daughter was so sweet. Thing is they had the food in the fridge so why didn’t they use it

Agree @nettie434 iata not eat more for less standard

but not bad for ch 4

It is funny watching Joe cock up cooking 😂

Lovely people but I'd be embarrassed to go on a show like this and highlight my lack of knowledge about basic food cooking/storing/freezing. Imagine going into work the next day.

How could they not know they had eaten 7 pizzas in 7 days? That's just ridiculous.

I really hope they stick to healthy cooking and eating for their and their childrens' sake.

The impression that I got from watching the programme, was the Mother's lack of confidence. The Husband commented on it, and it would seem that it was affecting her performance in the kitchen, and the food choices that were being made, which were poor. I guess that by being on the programme, they have reached a point where they need help. I think that is a good thing, because it would be a shame to let embarrassment keep them in the situation that they were in.