I have long been an exponent of make, freeze and bake, especially for things like cookies. This book, Freeze and Easy, is about applying that same theory to other meals.

We all like the convenience of a ready meal, but unfortunately, that convenience comes along with hydrogenated fats, preservatives and too much salt. This book will point you along the path to creating your own ready meals, so at the end of a busy day, you have a great home prepared meal to throw in the oven.

I would like to think that this isn’t a completely new concept for most people, but it does seem to be gaining in popularity. I even saw a piece on the Pioneer Woman’s website this week on exactly this kind of cooking.

Some of the recipes are quite unusual, but a lot will be familiar. However, I feel the main purpose of the book is to make you realise just how much you are under using your freezer as a way to save time and money. It takes out some of the mystery surrounding which foods are suitable for freezing.  Some things, such as Yorkshire Pudding or Pancake batter I would never have thought of freezing.

Most of the dishes can be prepped then frozen, then either defrosted first or cooked direct from frozen. Others, you are also given the choice of freezing after cooking, so that all you need to do is defrost and warm up.

There are few photos, but what is there is well staged. There is a nice balance of mid-week meals, Sunday roasts, and even desserts and snacks. My favourites were Chicken and Wild Mushroom Lasagne, Peach and Mascarpone Crumble Cake, and Raspberry Ripple Ice Cream.  There is approximately 100 recipes, and this is broken down into 8 chapters, each covering a different food type, such as meat, fish or veg etc. The recipes are easy to follow, and the ingredients are in grams, ounces and cups, which I like.

This is exactly the kind of book I needed to help make the most of the chest freezer I bought last year. If you have a freezer that largely remains empty or under used, then this is the recipe book for you.

Freeze and Easy is available now from Pavilion Books

ISBN: 1909108022