quick meals for selective toddlers and mum to eat at the same time.

[huby]

Hi

I need some advice please ladies. I am, during the week, on my own as DH is working abroad and we have little childcare and I have a lot of deadlines (I write) and it's really tricky. Bearing in mind we don't have tonnes of money (just starting working again after three redundancies in three years) our food budget isn't huge, but it's OKayish.
We have a tiny fridge and freezer too - so can't make batches and store things really well at all.

I need to find some quick meals and with flavour (as I want to eat too with her) that my LO will eat for lunch and tea / dinner time.

The more I'm doing quick fixes like easy pasta with pesto (She doesn't like the pesto, tsk tsk or any sauce but I ask her to have some) and veggie sausages etc (we're not vegetarians but don't eat any pork) the more she's turning from a child that eats everything into a pickier eater and I can see it happening.

So please help. I am very time poor and want to make food fun, but it's boring now and dull and tasteless.

Here's what she will happily eat:

chicken, salmon and lamb (loves all of these)
wraps and chapattis
rice and rice based dishes (loves these)
Plain yogurt
Most veg - carrots, broccoli, cabbage
potatoes (mash and chipped)
cucumber and crispy lettuce
most fruits
cheerios
raisons
eggs (scrambled and fried - but not the yolk bit)
Scampi
Sausages (veggie or otherwise)

Here's what she doesn't like much:

Any and every cheese
Bread
humous
peppers etc
Mince (hates this)

Its a chore at mealtimes as I'm fed up of bland food and it's really hard to get her to eat as she's distracted all of the time, and doesn't seem that interested unless she's really hungry or loves her food.

I need some easy rice, curry, risotto, casseroles, finger foods, etc type dishes please with flavour that are QUICK to prepare.

Thanks ladies.

[creations]

I know you said she won't have pasta and pesto but it sounds like she likes the pasta?
A quick one (and easy to adapt) is to throw in to one pot the pasta, cubed chicken, fresh or frozen veg (say peas or sweetcorn, green beans cut into 3 etc), it all cooks in one go (obviously if you sue something quick cooking like asparagus add it to the pot later in the cook time).  Drain then mix in a home made dressing such as olive oil with tom puree and white wine vinegar mixed together, or garlic (I cheat and use powdered garlic for speed as it saves on the prep and washing up time!).  Once you have served hers up you could stir in some chilli or thai sweet chilli dipping sauce to yours which adds flavour in a second.

Does she eat curry?  I make a mild korma for DS but add more curry paste after serving his portion out, I also add a dollop of madras paste to DPs to heat it up and serve with chapati or naan and popadom.  DS and I will have some mint sauce and mango chutney but DP will have a really hot pickle, again it adds extra flavour for him.  So in effect three different curry strengths but only one meal so it isn't a chore to cook.
You can make a super fast dahl with a can of pre-cooked lentils in water, drained, rinsed and cooked with some curry paste and milk.  OK it doesn't have 5 different veg but it IS fast, tasty and healthy.  If you have more time cook some veg or lamb etc first before adding the lentils.

[nwmm]

I'd like to listen in.

[huby]

Creations - you are a star. I need to nip to the supermarket and get some bits tomorrow and will get some bits for a curry (she loves these and can buy boil in the bag rice for being super quick and lazy or if need to take to childminders with me - she doesn't supply meals, I have to, and it saves a lot on cost)

I will try both of those recipes. Thank you creations!

Please ladies, keep them coming as she's getting really picky as all I'm offering her and myself now is bland boring food!

[j.and.e]

Can u do things that are not quick but dont need much prep? E.g i like 2do goulash, which goes in the oven for 2.5hrs. Fry onion, stewing beef, flour and paprika (lots). Add stock and tomato puree, put in oven. Add peppers at the end (i use frozen). I stir creme freshe in 4the children and serve with either bread rolls or pasta. Its yum and 3/4 of us love it! I also do thai stirfry with strips of omlette insted of meat, veg, soy sauce, lime and noodles. I chop raw chilli up 4 me and dh to sprinkle on. Xx

[huby]

Ok Thank you! Goulash is going down on the list too. I know she likes that. I actually have a slow cooker but no idea how to use it - sounds stupid, I know or how long to put it on for or when to put things in.
But I will buy stuff for goulash tomorrow - again thank you.

I tried her on noodles and she keeps gagging on them, but I love them. May try again and chop them smaller for her. So in the stir fry - what do you put in? I can imagine she'll be picky a wee bit but I want to eat it so will try her with a bit when she's hungry. I'm not sure if I'm giving her too many snacks but she does also seem to be losing weight too and looking a lot thinner than she does usually :-( and I kind of think it's the lack of proper meals I'm preparing.

[j.and.e]

Think this is the original recipe for the thai noodles http://www3.sainsburys.co.uk/littleones/newborn/recipes/item/family-pad-thai-noodles

Fraid I don't know anything about slow-cooking as I've never tried it, I usually put the goulash in the oven while I'm at home with the kids (I only work part time)

Have had a quick google for goulash and there are LOADS of recipes! The way I do it is really simple though, and I don't measure stuff out or anything, it always seems to work! The flour and paprika are of the order of a tablespoon (although I have let my 3year old pour both into the <cold> pan whilst "helping" and it has still worked!)
The stock is probably about 1 pint (1 stock cube's worth).

I would have thought if you have a recipe for beefstew in the slow cooker it would only need a slight modification to make the goulash, but you might need to experiment.

Stirring in the creme fresh after it's cooked takes the heat out for the little ones, but I think you could use sour cream or greek yoghurt instead.

I liked the lentil curry idea. I only did curry once for mine, and DS1 hated it. But then he's incredibly picky....

hth!

[huby]

Yes, have done goulash before just didn't think of it...thanks. Will do tomorrow while LO at nursery and will have as evening meal before doing some work, thanks.
Will check out noodles too - look yummy. And love the norma idea too so there's three meals already. Oh yes, and the pasta too...Great, thank you ladies! All really helpful that it's around the house stuff too.
I had a look at the toddler recipes that had on sainsburys website and must say - I didn't rate them. Boiled egg and solders!? come on, even I could do better than that and that's saying something.

[Buntybear]

I need to nip to the supermarket and get some bits tomorrow and will get some bits for a curry (she loves these and can buy boil in the bag rice for being super quick and lazy or if need to take to childminders with me - she doesn't supply meals, I have to, and it saves a lot on cost)

Even quicker is frozen white rice - 3 mins in the microwave - or even easier are those pouches - maybe 2 mins and even more transportable!

On the rice thing - a chicken stir fried rice. I make one with chicken and mushrooms stir fried in soy sauce, fry some bacon, scramble some egg, bung in cooked rice and frozen peas. Delish!

[Buntybear]

Olly has just got into jacket potatos - does she like them?

A sausage and bean casserole?

[creations]

I actually have a slow cooker but no idea how to use it

I think there is a thread on recipes for slow cooker on the recipes board?
I've been thinking of buying a slow cooker but haven't got around to it yet.  I remember reading some people prep lots of meals in advance (poss not ideal for you with limited freezer space, but you may still be able to do 2 or 3 in one go) and chuck all the veg for each meal in separate bags and stash in the freezer so when it comes time to cook you just empty a bag out into the slow cooker.  Sounds like time saving.

[huby]

Yes stir fry sounds nice - we don't eat bacon, but the chicken will be enough and sweetcorn, scrambled eggs and ready made rice - perfect thanks. I have currently a goulash cooking in the slow cooker right now and microwave rice
Can try sausage and bean casserole too - how do you make the sauce, please? She's not a huge pulses fan, but I'm going to serve it anyway, as she needs to get used to things and is actually loosing weight :-(

[creations]

I know we all worry about our LOs weight but unless it is long term or a doctor has said her weight is of concern I would really try not to worry about her weight.  LOs tend not to starve themselves.

For casseroles I usually chop some veg really small so it mushes down into 'nothing' and becomes the sauce and other veg I keep in big chunks.  I also add either some low salt stock powder or a half teaspoon of marmite and some herbs or spices.

[Buntybear]

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/3949/toulouse-sausage-and-butter-bean-casserole

I have made before and it was gorgeous! you could swap wine for stock.

Or something like this...

http://www.goodtoknow.co.uk/recipes/284431/Quorn-sausage-casserole

[skatty]

Does she like soups? We eat a lot of soup now, I love how most of it is put in one pan and then blitzed at the end if you wnat it smooth. I make a tomato and red lentil one nice and thick and sometimes I will put in little cubes of cheese and tortilla chips, other times I serve with garlic bread and then another day I use it as a pasta sauce! I also make a basic veg soup with whatever frozen veg I have and then add chicken or spicey beef sausages or mix in garlic cream cheese for a creamy soup. If the soup has a lot of green veg in it I call it Shrek soup  Mealtimes have become so much easier since my dd started to like soup!!

[huby]

Yes, I like quern sausage one and will try that out, thank you.

Yes, she does like soup. I made pearl barley and chicken one but the stock vibe made it v salty, but it was still nice if not so healthy. I think I need to do more soups, that's an idea and serve with crusty breads....she may eat that.

Yesterday at her childminders i packed her a home made lamb and veg pasty (She rejected it) and then her childminder tried her on mince and rice and veg mixed together (she rejected it) and finally she gave her some plain pasta with no sauce and she wolfed it down :-(

She's definitely getting MUCH worse. Having gone from a baby and young toddler who ate everything to one who won't feed herself or eat hardly anything...ah well, have to keep trying otherwise I'll be hungry too.

Thanks ladies, you are keeping me sane in all of this. It's hard without DH around, even though he can't cook for toffee

[creations]

Do you think maybe she doesn't like things 'mixed up'?
When I make a stew DS eats lots and enjoys it (not the meat though) BUT after a while of him picking or not eating I separate all the different veg out into piles for him so he can see these are mushrooms, these are courgettes etc.  He then eats each pile one at a time so eats just about all of it.  It just occurred to me with you saying she wolfed down the dry pasta.  It sounds picky to have to have foods in different piles but I think I was a bit like this as a child and it didn't have a big effect on my diet as an adult.  I still don't like fruit yoghurt, you know yoghurt with lumps in but otherwise I do now eat mixed up food like anyone else.

[huby]

LOL, didn't think of that. It's funny as with the goulash, she did eat the cous cous and the meat but picked out the veg and left that.

If I separate stuff, she just eats the meat, generally, not sure it makes a huge difference....I think she's just really bored of the same old stuff I'm giving her. She ate the goulash for lunch and asked for it again for dinner today so it was a winner.

The one thing that really helped was - me sitting down with her and eating a meal with her and us just talking. Sounds obvious, but I'm usually so busy and tired I don't have chance to do this, and the kitchen is separate from the dining room which is a pain so can't do the million and one things I need to usually and get her to eat. I did end up feeding her a bit, but not as much as usual. She still didn't eat huge amounts, but then she had half a banana at bedtime so I think she's ok now. I also tried to move all the distractions from the table - fruit bowl, extra utensils etc, pen and paper - anything that might be there (the blooming cat is another story, but wish she wouldn't sit on the table!)

Hmmm, the joys of having a spirited LO and a spirited cat.

I wonder if I should try a toasted sandwich of some kind - egg maybe for nursery on monday otherwise she comes back home on lunch club day with a full lunch box, every single time.

I may just try wholegrain crackers, some fruit - and any one know any decent protein that does well in lunch boxes (she's sick to death of me giving her chicken now)

MAy try the sausages tomorrow - sound easy and quick. Gosh she's just humming in her bed now and talking to her toys. I though having been swimming this morning she might be tired by now - I know I am. Ugh, but now have to start to work again ....booo.

[creations]

me sitting down with her and eating a meal with her and us just talking

This is very very important IMO.
I've watched other people's kids spin the food guilt web all day long ("I'm hungry," then refuse to eat, then 5 min later "I'm hungry" again) when all they really wanted was someone to go sit with them and keep them company whilst they ate or even better eat with them.
Good for you making a lovely goulash and clearing the table up.  Occasionally I am tempted to 'just do this' at meal time and I almost stand up and then I remember that we are eating and that DS deserves to have that time of the day totally dedicated to attention and the meal.

If she likes egg an omelet travels well cut into strips (but I think you said she only likes scrambled). eggy-bread travels pretty well.

I remember you said she doesn't like pulses but I find bean and lentil burgers are brilliant for lunch box food (made in little patties and fried or baked in a mini muffin tray in the oven), a batch of 24 can be made in one go and doesn't take up a lot of freezer space at all, serve 2 for lunch.  Have you tried with different flavours added, like falafel?  chilli bean burger (can be mild), tom puree added, and tried different range of beans?  I was surprised my DS even noticed the different beans, but he does and there are some he doesn't see to like.  When I make these the oven bake way I find them very time effective because it's just whizz the beans with a few other flavours and an egg thrown in and fill the baking tray.

[huby]

Thank you :-)
The said cat is now sitting next to me, while I type. I think she's feeling neglected.

Could you tell me what you put in the bean burgers, please? Sound yummy. I could serve with ketchup initially and see how we go.

She asked for lettuce today! BUT I have no shopping in at all today so will have to make some pennies really stretch this week and get cheap things in. The bean and sausage casserole, the curry and the bean burgers could all be great.

What a great idea - eggy toast for lunch boxes, or an omelette - could try this too. Great idea! Thanks.

[creations]

Mostly I make it up as I go along but something along the lines of
A can of beans in water (because I am too lazy to soak and cook beans) the ones that have no added salt or sugar. Drain and rinse them and drain well.
Then either whizz half and mash half or use a potato masher to mush them all up a bit (this only changes the texture, she might like it with them completely whizzed better, this makes a wetter mix so account for that in the later stages).
Add seasoning, for example a spoon of curry paste, or mustard, or tom puree and worcester sauce, or low salt seasoning powder, or pesto, or whatever herbs/spices you have in the cupboard, or even just a dollop of ketchup or bbq sauce!
Egg to bind it all together
whizzed breadcrumbs or couple of spoons of flour (optional but it's good to grains with pulses)
plus any additional veg you fancy (either whizzed so it cooks quickly in the burger or pre-coooked, could be left overs from the day before, mush up and add)
Once I've mixed it all together I either dollop tablespoons of it into a frying pan like a small pancake or form it into patty shapes (pretty random shapes here) and fry.  If you want to change the consistency you can add extra bread or flour to thicken and just a bit of water to loosen.  And if you don't want to stand over the frying pan as this takes longer then shove them in the oven.

Here's one were I actually took the time to write down what I did:
2" cube of mature cheese, grated (this added seasoning and some flavour but leave it out if you think it will put her off)
1 medium courgette de-seeded (to reduce the wetness of the mix)
1 can lentils, drained, rinsed drained (could be beans though)
1 spring onion chopped
3 mushrooms
2 tsp ketchup or bbq sauce
1 egg
0.5 pitta (can be any bread, I just had pitta left over)
low salt vegetable bullion

oven 200c
WHIZZ courgette, mushrooms, spring onion and bread
ADD to lentils, egg ketchup, seasoning and cheese
MIX well
GREASE mini muffin tray (or whatever you have)
BAKE 20 min.

I served some similar to this with flatbread, chili mayo (mayo with a dollop of thai sweet chilli added for me and DP) and mint mayo (mayo with a little mint jelly added for all of us) and a salad.
Mostly I put them in the freezer to use for DS's out and about snack/lunch.
Some little plastic tubs of dip would make it more appealing for a LO.

If you put the oven on for the beans you could put in an individual fritatta for her next day lunch box.  Basically just an egg beaten in a ramekin, add a few bits like a sliced tomato, grated cheese if she will accept it mixed inside things, spring onion, or mushroom... and just let it cook and rise in the oven.  It's like a quiche but without the pastry, stays firm enough to pick up as finger food.

Beans are SO great if you can get her to like them, really cheap (esp kidney beans although these are not DS's fav unfortunately).  I used a can of mexican mix beans yesterday and it fed DS and I for 2 days, one day with tortilla wrap and one day with garlic bread.
I made ours with half can coconut milk, half aubergine, a courgette, an onion and a dollop of tom puree and threw in some spices, ground coriander, cumin, tumeric. Really cheap tasty easy meal and healthy too.

[huby]

Creations, you really are one impressive woman. Blimey. I'm humbled. I am gonna try those sound absolutely delicious and cheap as chips, so am a happy lady.
I love the fact a lot of those ingredients you have in the cupboard too. Fantastic. And thank you for taking the time to do this swell. Don't know how women like you do it....I only have one and struggle to keep it all going!
I don't have a food processor, but do own a masher so will try it. Really stupid question, but how do you make breadcrumbs without one?

[creations]

Hmmm, I don't think you can make breadcrumbs without a whizzer.  If you end up making these regularly (and other things for the lunch box etc too) then maybe invest in a small chopper/whizzer.  Mine really is not big or expensive.  It's so old that I can't find one on-line but having a very quick look I saw something similar for under £20.  I know the thought of buying a food processor sounds expensive, in the hundreds, but it doesn't need to be big, fancy or do loads of different things.

Meanwhile though, you could just add a few spoons of flour which (with the egg) will hold everything together and also add a bit of the grain/carbs aspect to the food.  You don't even HAVE TO add the egg or flour tbh I've done some just mushing the beans and seasoning together and then forming them in my hands and frying but they are more tricky and a bit crumbly to eat (cheese helps to bind too but you mind find she rejects if she tastes it?).

tbh lots of the ones I make are a bit bland, I certainly wouldn't serve them up for a dinner party but DS likes them and I'm glad he gets some protein and healthy foods.  I did make some lovely falafel once which was a baby recipe but I really enjoyed them too, not sure what I've done with the recipe for that though.  If I find it I'll post for you.  I think if you were to have these together you'd want to add some more flavour to the mix, you could cook half with an added chilli mixed in for example and then yours would be tastier.
She might like them popped inside one of those mini pitta breads or mini naan, kids seem to like small foods.

And haha, I am not impressive, I just chuck stuff together.  I too struggle to keep things going and I don't work so all my time is for DS.  I do find having that little mixer helps a lot, I can literally throw in egg milk flour and 30 seconds later I have a thick american/scotch pancake batter, I can then add grated carrot, apple, courgette or whatever (even beans!) and fry up about 30 little pancakes.  It's the frying that takes time but sometimes I do it whilst we eat breakfast, always ensuring we eat dinner together as a proper sit down meal.

[huby]

Gosh, that sounds good.
Not had a great day - boiler broke and is emitting strange gaseous smell which is worrying. British Gas are on their way as an emergency case.
My childminder cancelled because of a virus and i had to file something for deadline thins morning so had to ask my retired neighbours (while I was in my PJs) to have her for a couple of hours while I worked....I tried just putting her in front of the TV but she was having none of it. She wanted to speak and play with me. Thank God for my neighbours though, I would have been lost without them!
Anyway, back to food.....so today, was caught really short! I had no food in as wanted to go food shopping today too and DD just doesn't supermarkets, so had to rush in and out and use ready made chicken from fridge, ready made rice bought and yogurt and chucked some cucumber to the side, and melon for desert. She actually ate it and fed herself!
Now there's progress. I just kept saying, 'wow, super girl is feeding herself' and also gave her some choice (though it wasn't really a choice in the end) over what she wanted for dinner 'this' or 'that'.
Anyway, will probably all be different again tomorrow. God, I wish I had some money and a decent fridge, but it'll get better with time. In the meantime, I will keep on going with the recipes.
Oh tried her on falafel today - she agreed to try it and spat it out saying 'mummy, I think it's horrible'...she ate a quorn sausage instead....(that's the only two things i had in the fridge - shameful!)
xx

[creations]

Oh my, what an awful day!

Was the falafel home made or bought in?  If home made you can try reducing the spice and also mushing the chickpeas much more so the texture is smoother, if she doesn't like the texture of beans this may help, but if she REALLY doesn't like them then no amount of mushing or home made bean burgers etc are going to be of any use to you.  I really hated the texture of beans when I was a kid and I wasn't a 'fussy eater'.

[huby]

I know! The boiler is now condemned....no hot water or heating or anything now! The joys.
The falafels were shop bought, and she just hated the taste, not a fan at all. She said they tasted horrible. ....they were oK.
We literally have NO food in the house today, and the supermarkets are a bit of a drive and get absolutely hectic in London...it once took me an hour to get out of the car park once on a Sat morning. ...I need to be so much more organised than I am

[Buntybear]

aNOTHER THOUGHT FOR YOU IS THAT I DO A HONEY AND MUSTARD SLAMON. REALLY TASTY AND QUICK!

^^ Sorry!!

I have only made it once but I think it was basically honey and wholegrain mustard mixed, cover the salmon with it and then eithee oven based or fried. Either way would be OK for 10 mins ish. Yummy! Not cheap though with salmon 

[huby]

Hmm, we like Salmon. It's yummy. We use frozen salmon which is much cheaper and wrap it up in foil to retain the moisture. Could always add honey and mustard in it at a later stage.
Thanks. Salmon is nice, for sure.
Thanks

[Lemonthyme]

I just reckon you will find some meals that are absolutely loved and then you can either always have the stuff in or make some for the freezer.

I think you've been on my blog before but I did a 10 minute meals post this weekend:  http://mamacook.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/only-10-minutes-to-cook-for-your.html

I think our favourite fall back meal is the fried rice.

[j.and.e]

What bout an online shop? I do it 2save hassle of shopping with kids and is defo cheaper as i dont buy the 'temptation' foods! Xx

[Lemonthyme]

I see the theory with online shopping but I never found it to be true.  I used to easily get to £90-100 because I'd remember everything for a start (lol) but also I didn't see all of the offers.  I know the theory is offers actually make you spend more but when I go myself I can keep it below £70. 

I also found that whichever supermarket I tried, there would be something wrong.  Now that's ok, they generally are fairly flexible about refunding you but I'd find I'd spend an hour on the computer putting it all together, another 15 mins checking things and another 10 mins complaining.  They'd also often be out of stock on something fairly fundamental, e.g. I'd buy all the ingredients to do a lamb curry and then they'd have no lamb but I'd get all of the other ingredients!  Or once Asda tried to claim that there was no suitable alternative to size 3 simply dry pampers; I mean really?  NO other size three nappies in the shop then?  So then add on another half an hour getting the things they'd missed and you really need or at least reworking what you were going to cook that week!

Generally I find there are a few key things I always have in the house, onions, tinned tomatoes, garlic and lentils for example.  They all keep for ages and that could be a jumping off point for a soup or curry.  I think it's always worth looking through when the cupboards seem bare and think "what can I cook here?"  I bet there's something.

[huby]

Am heading towards mamacook blog later today when I get five mins.

I literally had bare cupboards, haha. No tins, to onions, no potatoes, no nothing...oh dear. But that was an exception, usually there's something.

I find I can do a pretty good shop at Aldi's - and the quality is actually very good and I can buy a £70 worth shop for about £45 / 50.

I have packed eggy / french toast for her sandwiches today cut into hippo shapes, and some sandwiches rolled up into spirals, some cucumber, raisons, a banana and we'll see how it comes back.

I agree about online shops but if you really are time starved, they can be great, but you do need to know everything you want and then ave it in one of those favourite lists - but yes, inevitably they always run out of what you need and substitute it with something you don't!

Better go, but thanks ladies...i will keep on checking. I have a horrible virus brewing and DH has gone back to work in Ireland now so quick meals will be tested out this week, I think!

[huby]

Oh, sorry...am back before going off again....

DH gets paid on Wednesday so I need to go shopping asap. Can anyone recommend a good shopping list - I always end up with not enough, and too much of this and that.
I just need a good solid shop and never seem to have the correct ingredients - so I'm thinking what's the good basics to have in all the time. The rest I can just add to?

Thanks

[Buntybear]

I feel like i need a shop when i am running out if the following.... My basics are;

Fruit
Veg/salad
Potatoes/onions
tins of toms and baked beans
Pasta
Rice
Chicken pieces
Pork chops
Beef mince
Eggs
Cheese
Ham
Bready products
Butter
Milk

All the meat goes in the freezer.

[creations]

Pretty much the same for my shop, minus the pork, beef, ham...for me it's turkey thigh pieces (for stews and curries etc), turkey mince (for burgers, meatballs, bolognaise) , turkey drumstick or thigh roll (for a Sunday roast). I'm turkey mad.  It's mega cheap and really healthy low fat.
I also always get some fresh fish, mackerel is usually cheap and then there are other specials on which I look out for.

I also have to have flour, self raising, plain and cornflour.  I'm lost without them.
Jars of herbs and spices.  I know fresh taste better but I can't be bothered.  Garlic powder is one of my most loved jars because I can just shake it into or onto anything and don't have the extra minutes of peeling or pressing (and i hate washing the garlic press for some reason).
Plus always some curry paste, I usually have 2 or 3 different ones in the fridge as they last a long time.
Tom puree in tubes.

A space saving tip for fridges.  Recycle any punnets or plastic cartons that fruit/veg come in and use them for other fruit/veg that needs to be in the fridge.  I find I can store a lot more this way.

[huby]

Thank you ladies. I will be on the case soon...Wednesday is shopping day x