it was my monthly cook up this weekend, i still have some to do but so far ive made,

Mixed paella (prawn and chicken), mini cottage pies, macaroni cheese, lovely lentils, lasagne, lamb and aubergine bolognese, multicoloured caserole, butternut squash risotto, tomato and courgette pasta, and chicken sweet potatoe and apple.  all from scratch!

Ive really enjoyed it and the kids have loved tasting while i cooked, lola sat playing in the highchair and everytime i turned round her mouth was open like a baby bird, she really liked the macaroni cheese, first time id made it and it was gorgeous, jacks favourites been cottage pie i altered the recipe and added mushrooms and beans to the meat and mashed carrot with the potatoe topping and he kept saying, more! 

Good grief-that's good! I usually just make extra at mealtimes and freeze bits left-have to have lists of what's been frozen so I don't double up.

I adore cooking,cos big fella loves eating and everything is so gratefully received! Every time Tom walks into dining room he looks on his plate and says'lovely jubbly mummabear'! It's obviously catching!

Love doing cottage pies,like you I put alsorts in that's the beauty of them! Made enchiladas last night went down a storm!

andrews favourite meal is enchiladas, and all things mexican were always having tacos and fajhitas in the hot weather!

 id never cooked until jack needed weaning and found i could actually do it, granted i just follow ak books but still it taste good and aint burnt lol! kids love there grub which makes it more satisfying!

Sounds yummy.Lo,Tom,that's cute

I used to batch cook when Harry was a baby and for the others as babies less.I tend to just feed them all together now a day at a time.Sometimes freeze leftovers,always good to have something to pull out the freezer if you're in a hurry that's not brown crispy stuff

I do like cooking when I have time but ATM everythings so busy.Should calm down in the holidays,hoping to have more time for it

i usually make extra with the normal meals but me and andrew havent really been eating tea so had to do something plus it gives him and jack some man time, and lolas never happier than when foods flying about lol, its so much nicer now lola can eat the same, we all sat eating lasagne and jack kept pointing at each of us clapping (its rare we eat together and the same thing is unheard of lol)

really need a highchair for little miss. shes getting to crazy for the bumbo and doing lunch in shifts with finger foods is driving me nuts as i cant trust jack at his table anymore since he got his toy kitchen, found icky banana

I love to cook but my two dont eat many of my homemade meals even though I've been told they're delicious.  Only thing they're pretty much guaranteed to eat is spag bol.  Means I dont batch cook just for me and hubby. I have done when pregnant before so it was easier after, maybe should do some again so some tastey dinners just need defrosting

thats really good hun. I sometimes batch cook - just depends but I do cook my own bread and barms and any cakes and biscuits we have are all home baked.

ooh i havent had home made bread in years, does anyone think the breadmakers are any good?? only time ive had bread from one it seemed to sweet for a sandwich?

I would love a breadmaker but am scared of putting even more weight on!!! The smell of freshly baked bread to wake up to must be heaven! But alas I'd eat the entire loaf! I'm sure they're a lot cheaper now than when they first came out.

Yes I love to cook mainly for the praise I get,I must be a bit needy!

i just do it by hand, i dont think it is worth paying out for them. I spent £3.50 the other day in asda and made 7 loaves for the family with it. defo cheaper

I bought a bread maker recently and the bread is fab. It does require a bit of will power though to not eat it all warm   I make a loaf every couple of days and it does my hubby and brother (who lives with us) for sandwiches for work. The ingredients are definitely cheaper than buying nice bread all the time. I just never had much success with loaves in the past.

I do batch cook for my wee one. I've got a selection different types of frozen cubes and I pull some out each morning. Two weekends ago I stood and made up 6 or 7 different ones over the course and froze them up. I have got the Annabel Karmel book and I think that's really geared towards batch cooking and portioning. I like using the ice cube trays too because if my daughter's appetite increases then I can just add another cube the next day!  

We have a breadmaker,but we haven't used it for ages.Did make lovely bread.We tried different herby ones or sweet ones.Lovely smell to wake up to too.

I used to do ice cube trays.It works well for portions,like you say,Gemma.Did have trouble tipping the cubes out without breaking the trays .Sticks more than ice cubes but I didn't like to defrost it any to get it out.I have about 50 small pots with lids for a big cook up.

Annabel has really good recipes.I tarted  few up for grown ups

i swear by annabel karmel books and her website, im making me and andrew her paella and mac and cheese, theyre yummy!!

I used to do ice cubes but now lolas older i do a set size meal and by the time i think she needs a larger amount its tim to cook again, and she can have some finger foods to bulk a meal out too,

We have rubber ice cube trays and theyre brill makes it soo easy getting them out, boots stopped doing the ak range here and sold them for £2.50 for 4 trays with lids, theyre fab!

quite fancy a bread maker, not sure i have the space though.... hmm..... my grandma just brought me a HUGE slow cooker ready for winter always wanted one, and i really want a tefal egg and toaster. I love kitchen stuff loL!

Yeah,wish I had bigger kitchen for gadgets!!!! Alas I dont Linz pls message me your simplist ever hand made recipe so I can have a go-or post so we can all have bash!!!!

Love my bread,carb junkie me!!!!!

jacks godfather works in gregs and uses our street to park, free bread sausage rolls and cakes, no wonder were fat!