Ready meals

Moo pies, Binghams are excellent and also M &S curries although I usually add more chili.

When eating out at an Indian I often take half my food home and freeze it for eating with a few weeks. I am losing weight slowly and this helps!

I started to have Cook delivered to have something ready throughout the summer after walking all day or whatever.

I’m not desperately keen, a couple of things are not bad, like their chicken korma, but overall I think I prefer Marks.

Great idea Granarchist!

I’ve decided to have a ready meal today, as I was out very early with the dog (still dark), been helping DH with putting up a new shower, now going to mums to sort her out and also feeling a bit jaded even now.
So make life easy I say?

My daughter had Pieminister pies for her (winter) wedding - it was genius - WFF were brilliant with my mother and the delivery people were fantastic - my mother had been a excellent cook in her day and had no complaints at all.

I am reminded that a few weeks ago I visited a newly opened The Range near us and they have a small Iceland in it.
I bought an individual Fish Pie and it was quite nice.
I may look at other ready meals from them to keep in as an emergency.
I know they do lots of Indian meals but I don’t eat them as I don’t like spices at all.

One thing about Wiltshire FF though is that they do not have all the sometimes indigestible spices in them.

Yes, exactly joggingirl. Wiltshire FF are perfect for really old people, but not sure I would recommend them for anyone on here.

Gonegirl My mum was old ??

I agree that Wiltshire Farm food looks 'old people' - sloppy easily digestible mush (haven't tasted them) in comparison to Cook which are 'gourmet' in appearance and quality.

Cook isn't aimed at the older market so they have a wider variety of interesting food.

I saw a range of Gino D’Campo meals at Iceland and picked a seafood one, mussels and peppers in a spicy sauce. Only £3. It was delicious! Plenty for two. Heat the mussels and sauce for 7 minutes, stir in some pre cooked pasta and voila! I would like to try the meatballs next.

I know someone who relies on deliveries of Cook products - she's very pleased with the food and the service.

I suppose they would be relatively expensive if you relied solely on them for each meal but I don't think many people would do that.

As they're delivered frozen and recommended to be microwaved you are saving on fuel, time, shopping, and no wastage. I've tasted a few and they are really quite tasty.

My mum had Wiltshire farm foods. She was blind and could manage to microwave them. The delivery men were very helpful and cheerful. My mum enjoyed the meals. Plenty of choice from a catalogue.

I have just checked the Cook range (can’t sleep) and I am so thankful that I can still have the health and energy to cook most days .
They are so expensive to me.
They have their uses obviously in times of illness, very busy lives etc but for regular and long term use I think they are very expensive for people who need to watch the pennies.
I hope you are soon better Grannyactivist and back to looking after yourself.

The 'Cook' range is lovely and I'm a great fan of their ethics, worth taking a look: www.cookfood.net/info/bcorp/

I found Wiltshire Farm Foods to be very much "old people's" food.

Keeper1 I used Wiltshire Farm Foods for my mum - they were surprisingly good! When she could no longer manage whole foods we changed to ‘soft’ foods. That way we ensured she still ate each and every day. The delivery and support we received from the local Wiltshire team was second to none! The delivery man was lovely and used to pop the food into mum’s freezer ❤️

I do have a lasagne once in a while when I need a quick meal but I find most ready meals I’ve tried are far too salty for my taste.

My favourite ready meal is M&S Chicken Provencale. Chicken breast in a lovely tomato sauce, smells delicious while cooking; I always add extra red wine to it before putting in the oven. Serve it with crushed and roasted new potatoes.

Has anyone used the Wiltshire Foods? I am thinking of organising some for my FIL.

I treated myself to a Charlie Bigham fish pie today. It was delicious - very similar to my own recipe and I am now determined to batch cook several for the freezer.

M&S Indian meals are very good indeed. As authentic as an Indian takeaway, I think. Often they have meal deals on where you can get 2 mains and 2 sides for £10.

I think Charlie Bingham is overpriced but I am not keen on ready meals.

Thank you Grannyactivist your research has not been in vain.
My one gripe with the majority of ready meals is that the photograph on the packaging so often promises much more than it delivers. Even M&S although their Bistro range is better than most.
I do like most things from Cook! and will give Charlie Bigham a go too.
Often when I have a ready meal I find myself wishing I had made the effort as I (hope) think I could do better if I had the energy.

We have at least one readymeal every week, as we do so much with the DGC and it’s tiring.
So, a pizza or pasta meal, sometimes Chinese themed, either from Tesco finest or Sainsbury range, all good.