Life is busy, we totally, totally hear you. It can feel like we rush from one of the week to the other, barely taking a breath before Friday night. And then before we know it, it’s Monday morning again and we’re left wondering where on earth the weekend went.

When life is like this (when isn’t it?!), the things that we want to do, can often be pushed out by the things we need to do. That also often means that our healthy eating plans also take a tumble. 

But we can help you remedy that, with our winter warming recipes that are simply made for batch cooking! Cooking up large batches of food might seem like a chore at the time, but making double or treble of these fab recipes takes little extra prep and planning – but will save you time the following week when you have it again! 

Batch cooked food can be frozen in portions (there IS a use for all those annoying plastic takeaway tubs and lids, quietly multiplying at the back of the cupboard!) and then pulled out of the freezer the night before and left in the fridge ready for reheating. (Or on the morning that you want to eat them, and left out on the kitchen top.)

The only thing to be mindful of is proper reheating. We’d advise transferring to a stock pot or casserole dish when defrosted, covering with a lid or foil and putting in a low oven for half an hour or so. This will help to prevent the food from drying out and will ensure it’s heated all the way through. Give it a stir after 15 minutes and add a splash of hot water from the kettle if it’s looking a bit dry. 

Serve with some fresh veg that only takes a few minutes to cook, and away you go. 

So, here you go, home cooked winter warmers, in a flash! 

• If this Corned Beef Hash isn’t a blast from the past, we don’t know what is! Made with cost effective ingredients and super quick and easy to make, it makes a healthy, filling meal.
• Satisfyingly creamy, our Parmesan and Broccoli Gnocchi isn’t just satisfying to say, it’s satisfying to eat, especially on a chilly evening. Gnocchi freezes surprisingly well, and you don’t have to make your own – this recipe uses shop bought gnocchi. 
• Halloumi cheese, also known in many families as squeaky cheese, pairs really well with the rich tomato sauce in this Mixed Bean and Halloumi Stew recipe. You can make up batches of the stew, then add the halloumi fresh when you’ve reheated it. 
• The filling in these Vegan Burritos is deliciously smoky thanks to the chipotle paste. It can be made into batches and frozen, ready for meat free Mondays or as a firm plant based family favourite. The wraps can be frozen separately (just like bread can) and defrosted on a flat surface, or used fresh when your filling is ready to go. 

Enjoy!