Delivered frozen ready meals

I did some simple leek and potatoe soup the other day, really delicious and warming. Lasted 3 days, but I like the tip about the margarine containers for freezing, thanks Mrs Mopp.

Sorry to go off track a bit - but I also have a really useful emergency store cupboard soup recipe which was from Weightwatchers I think. Seems weird but tastes nice ...very similar to a famous tomatoe soup (think its the pickled onion)

2 cans tinned tomatoes
1 can Baked Beans
1 small can carrots (supermarket cheapest version)
2 small or 1 large pickled onion
Teasp Marigold Bouillon stock. Blend them all together until smooth and then simmer to warm through. Can add chillies to it for an extra spicy taste too.

Both these soups would be easy to drink (no lumps to choke on)

A nice addition to a pot of pumpkin soup is a tin of coconut milk - delicious - or sometimes I add a spoonful of cinnamon for a change.

The French do a lot of bean soups - the type similar to haricot beans. I buy them in jars with goose fat and use this as a base to add vegetables and lardons etc. I reserve some of the beans till about half an hour before the soup is cooked or they can disappear into nothing and just thicken the soup. When I have any cooked chicken or ham over I cut it into small pieces and freeze in bags and the pop one into a pot of hot soup to add a bit more to it. Makes a good lunch with crusty bread.

I save the empty margarine cartons with lids and find they are ideal for freezing individual portions of soup, stews, chilli con or spaghetti Bol.
When I am cooking its easy to make a bit extra to pop in the freezer.

I haven't found any frozen ready meals that I like. The picture on the box looks very enticing but bears no relation to the meal inside which I have always found disappointing and full of additives.

hmm well by weight no, I think more pumpkin than onion. 2/3 or 3/4

JessM. Loving the sound of that. Would the Pumpkin and Onions be in equal proportions.

My DS1's wife is no cook. Fortunately he is an ex chef. DS2 is a good cook but his partner is also pretty good too. She made both meat and veggie lasagnes for us at the weekend and I really enjoyed my veggie one - had a second portion!

Do DDs like to cook or are they too busy? Something they could do for their dad? (pumpkins available now make lovely soup as long as you don't buy the halloween monster kind - roast pumpkin and roast onion. add stock. liquidise. bliss.)

Please don't worry Ariadne - I knew what you were saying and took no offense!

I will try and get my act together and freeze some soups - he finds those easier to swallow. I think that part of the reluctance to eat is because he fears he will choke.

The other option is to get one of the DDs to go to M&S with me and fill up with some really good meals.

Thanks to all for ideas - I will follow them all up.

A portion of lentil soup is warming on a cold day and so easy to microwave. If you DH isn't very hungry, the smell alone might encourage him to eat. It is so easy to make big pots of soup and freeze them - wee square boxes from Lakeland with lids fit well in the freezer. It must be so difficult to find things to tempt him. My DH doesn't seem to get bored with soup and a roll for lunch, especially in the winter! Hope you can sort something out Mishap. I am all for making life as easy as possible.

Thank you Lona

Mishap I know that you and Dh have particular problems, and anything I said was a generalisation and not aimed at you, I promise. sorry to be thoughtless!

Hannoona You have to tick the link box below

www.cookfood.net

http://www.cookfood.net

trying the link again.

http://www.cookfood.net/

This company seemingly delivers all over the UK

My OH has PD and we live a long way from civilization - I try to make life as easy as I can for him. Also, if it wasn't made easy, he would not bother to eat, as the PD has affected his digestive system and he never feels hungry - he is under 8 stone!

Crossing gout didn't work! But you get the gist.

If I'm out Theseus wouldn't expect me to provide something to cook! He is a grown up, after all. --knows where the pub/ chippie--is. He can look after himself. Not as well as I do, though!

Tesco's "Low Choices" frozen ready meals suit my low fat diet and are
quite tasty and good. It's handy to have 2 or 3 in the freezer for the odd occasion when I don't feel like cooking.

Have you tried the Aldi range. I can see some of you squirming, lol. But believe me they are very good. This is from someone who HATED ready meals. We have tried the Chicken Korma and the Pasta with Salmon and Spinach. The Pasta was the best.

Ooohhh! And Iceland sell Gregg's pies!!

Iceland have a good range of ready meals and buffet/party snacks.-and vegetarian foods.I always keep in some mini veg.spring rolls- 16 for £1 cok from frozen in 12 mins.
They have an excellent delivery service for orders of £25 and over (Waitrose minimum is £50 )
PLUS I've this week had a leaflet to say I can now order on line.!!

Mishap I looked up the Cook foods and they did look good. I thought it a bit odd that the recipes changed depending on which area one lives in. I live in London and even I was limited so heaven help you in the sticks.

I unfortunately have no space for a conventional freezer, mine is 50/50 f/f which does not store much. I normally store a couple of ready meals to go into the microwave but the remainder, fish and meat are easy to cook.

A year ago I was incapacitated using crutches and all I could do with difficulty was pop a tray into the microwave. I acquired these trays, mainly curries via Amazon and they did not have to be stored in a fridge or freezer. The food was nothing to write about but it filled a gap, was easy to heat and I did not starve.

Waitrose do their own brands and also some more expensive brands by small producers. A vast choice. They also do ones in sachets that do not need to be frozen e.g. "Look what we found" range

www.waitrose.com/shop/HeaderSearchCmd?searchTerm=ready+meals&defaultSearch=GR&search=#_

if I have any bolognaise left...the day after I add red kidney beans and chilli and make it into a little chilli con carne for topping a jacket pot or with rice.. that's my donation lol........