Cooking in Isolation, Easy Recipes the Whole Family will Enjoy!
During these times of self isolation and social distancing, trips to the supermarket should be kept to a minimum. Usually we will venture out for the weekly ‘big shop’, picking up any extra bits we may have missed or used up throughout the week if needs be. Nowadays, the big shop means the only shop. With this in mind, we’ve compiled a list of foods that have a long shelf life meaning you won’t have to risk popping out to the shops as often.
Soup
An easy no fuss dish that is filling, making it the perfect lunch for all the family. You can buy tinned soup, or you can make your own. Making your own means you cook up a good few batches and pop them in the freezer meaning you don’t have to constantly be depending on fresh ingredients. Depending on the amount you’re feeding and the size of your freezer, you can make buckets of soup in the one go, pop it into freezer bags or containers and defrost whenever it’s needed. Soup can last two to three months in your freezer. BBC Good Food has some delicious recipes for soup to suit everyone’s tastes!
Chickpeas
Chickpeas are such a versatile ingredient to have in your cupboards. They have a very long shelf life, and can be used to make a host of dishes. Switch out chickpeas for chicken in your favourite curry recipe. Toast them and add to your salads for a healthier option to croutons. Blend them with some garlic and oil to make your own hummus, or blend with spices and bake to make falafel - the options are endless.
Lentils
Similar to chickpeas, lentils have a long shelf life, whether you buy them in a tin or a packet. They’re also another great meat substitute and you can switch them out for meat in most traditional recipes such as lasagna or spaghetti bolognese. Due to fresh meat having a short life span once purchased, it’s great to have lentils or chickpeas in your cupboards to use as a replacement rather than making a non-essential trip to the shops for one item.
Pasta
As previously witnessed, pasta seems to be the thing that we panic buy at the sign of any adversity. You more than likely have a bag or two hanging around your cupboard at the moment, so why not get versatile in your pasta-orientated meals? Mac n Cheese is a delicious option that all of the family are sure to enjoy!
Pasta bakes are also a delicious dish to serve up, and most of them only require the use of 2 or 3 pots so minimum washing up.
Frozen Fruit & Veg
Heading to the supermarket only once a week or less can mean that the fresh fruit and veg we buy gets eaten or perishes fairly fast. Purchasing some frozen fruit and veg means you can still get your 5 a day. Frozen fruit is great in smoothies, or on top of yoghurt and granola as a tasty breakfast (defrost in hot water and allow to cool for a coulis type texture). Frozen veg are great to use as a side at dinner time or in dishes such as curries, stews, or soups.