Batch from Scratch: Cooking for Less

Guide to batch cooking, with Suzanne Mulholland and Joe Swash helping people in need of advice to stretch their food budgets. In this episode, they head to Yorkshire to help the Long family curb their food waste. With an average of £40-worth of food ending up in the bin every month, Joe and Suzanne hatch a plan to get the family's mealtimes back on track with a carrot and sweet potato dhal and a fish traybake.

Suzanne Mulholland and Joe Swash help the Burton family from Cardiff, who want to learn how batching can save the day when mum Becky goes back to work after maternity leave. From a slow-cooked buffalo chicken fake-away to homemade ice-cream, everything on the menu is gluten-free and fuss-free, helping to restore order and free up time.

In this first episode, Joe and Suzanne head to Hull to rescue the Powell family from their mealtime mayhem. Parents Clare and Richard are struggling to balance their jobs with the demands of family life with their three energetic kids. With busy schedules and after-school activities taking priority, the Powell kitchen has become a free-for-all. The kids often raid the cupboards, while Clare whips up separate meals to meet her protein goals and Richard relies on instant noodles more often than he'd like. This chaotic approach leaves them with less nutritious meals than they would like, and little quality time together as a family. Determined to turn things around, Joe and Suzanne dive into the family's eating habits and scrutinise their shopping receipts to tackle the staggering £250-a-week food bill and 50 trips to the shops each month! Suzanne revamps their kitchen, while Joe shows them some savvy shopping tips at the supermarket. With everything in order, Suzanne teaches Clare and Richard the art of batch cooking, whipping up delicious meals including a super easy lasagna, hearty Spanish-style stew, and a creamy chicken korma, all designed to save time and stress. She also leaves them with a 28-day meal plan designed to save time, cut costs and bring the family back to the dinner table. But will it work? Joe returns to see if the Powells have embraced their new routine. 

Can batch cooking truly transform our dinnertimes? In this brand-new series, Joe Swash and batch cooking expert Suzanne Mulholland, aka The Batch Lady, dish out a proper helping of inspiration as they help families with great time-saving tips and easy-to-follow recipes, and prove that anyone can make mealtimes stress-free. Joe and Suzanne head to Port Talbot to help the Oatley family reclaim their love for cooking. Parents Laura and Adam have fallen into the trap of convenience foods, relying on what they call 'the beige buffet', which is taking a toll on their family and finances, with Laura worried about their health and Adam losing his passion for cooking. Joe and Suzanne dive into their eating habits, revealing that the family's reliance on frozen meals is costing them more time and money than they realise. Determined to turn things around, Suzanne teaches Laura and Adam how to prepare easy, nutritious meals that can be frozen for later, including mince fajitas using frozen pre-chopped onions to save time and reduce waste, Mediterranean fish parcels and a delicious chicken shawarma - a tasty 'fakeaway'. With their freezer stocked full of nutritious meals, Laura and Adam are well on their way to transforming their family mealtimes, but can they make the change last and reclaim their love for cooking, one batch at a time? 

Can batch cooking truly transform our dinnertimes? In this brand-new series, Joe Swash and batch cooking expert Suzanne Mulholland, aka The Batch Lady, dish out a proper helping of inspiration as they help families with great time-saving tips and easy-to-follow recipes, and prove that anyone can make mealtimes stress-free. Joe and Suzanne help the Shah family in Potters Bar to transform their mealtime mayhem into a harmonious feast of efficiency and flavour. The family struggle to find common ground when it comes to food, with different tastes and needs - ranging from Grandma's cherished vegetarian Indian dishes to dad Bunty's dietary restrictions due to Crohn's disease - their mealtimes often become a battle of takeaways and convenience foods. This reliance on quick fixes is taking its toll on their health and on their budget too. Joe and Suzanne investigate the Shahs' cooking and shopping routines to get to the root of the problems and reveal just how much time mum Panna spends in the kitchen trying to keep everyone happy. To restore order, Suzanne introduces her batch cooking strategies, showcasing time-saving recipes such as veggie katsu curry, Mexican burritos, and three versatile chicken dishes, all ideal for preparing in advance and freezing. After four weeks, Joe returns to see whether batch cooking has restored harmony to Shah family mealtimes. 

Can batch cooking truly transform our dinnertimes? In this brand-new series, Joe Swash and batch cooking expert Suzanne Mulholland, aka The Batch Lady, dish out a proper helping of inspiration as they help families with great time-saving tips and easy-to-follow recipes, and prove that anyone can make mealtimes stress-free. Joe and Suzanne visit Falkirk to help the Brooks family tackle their mealtime mayhem. Mum Erin, a dedicated family support coordinator, struggles to provide nutritious meals that her family actually want to eat. Despite her best efforts, her cooking often falls flat, leading to unappetising dishes that the family have nicknamed 'disaster pasta' and 'barf Bolognese'. With three teenagers - Ava, Ivy and Marshall - quick to voice their disapproval, Erin's confidence in the kitchen has taken a hit. Adding to the challenge, Erin suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome, making meal preparation even more daunting. And the family's mealtime mayhem is further exacerbated by dad Ally's long work hours and reliance on convenience foods. Joe helps Ally to break time-wasting shopping habits, while Suzanne introduces her batch-cooking strategies, including delicious recipes like veggie-packed sauces, a foolproof roast chicken dinner and hearty meals that can be frozen for later use. Can Erin transform from a frazzled cook into a confident meal planner capable of whipping up dishes that her family will love?

Can batch cooking truly transform our dinnertimes? Joe Swash and batch cooking expert Suzanne Mulholland, aka The Batch Lady, dish out a proper helping of inspiration as they help families with great time-saving tips and easy-to-follow recipes, and prove that anyone can make mealtimes stress-free. Joe and Suzanne meet the Knight family in Cambridge. Single dad Darran balances his full-time job as a teacher with looking after his two children. With so much on his plate, Darran's fallen into a cooking rut, relying heavily on the same jarred sauces and quick oven meals. Joe and Suzanne uncover Darran's habits and reveal the total time he spends in the kitchen, the number of trips he makes to the shops, and how his cooking habits are affecting his budget and the family's nutrition. To revitalise Darran's dull routine, Suzanne kicks off with a kitchen makeover, re-organising the space to make it perfect for batch cooking. She shares valuable time-saving tips and introduces delicious, batchable recipes that are perfect for his busy schedule, such as a sausage traybake, slow-cooked beef Massaman curry and pizza-flavoured stuffed chicken breasts. The kids also join in to help lighten Darran's load. When Joe returns to see how things have changed, has Darran's new batch cooking routine transformed his hectic life? 

Can batch cooking truly transform our dinnertimes? Joe Swash and batch cooking expert Suzanne Mulholland, aka The Batch Lady, dish out a proper helping of inspiration as they help families with great time-saving tips and easy-to-follow recipes, and prove that anyone can make mealtimes stress-free. This time, Joe and Suzanne help the Evans family in Bridgend reclaim their mealtimes. As parents of children with additional needs, full-time carers Kellie and Dom are struggling to find the time to provide nutritious meals for the family. Chaotic mealtimes and a disorganised kitchen have led to overwhelming stress and a reliance on convenience foods as they often resort to quick fixes like chicken nuggets and microwave burgers. Joe and Suzanne delve into the family's eating habits before offering practical solutions and brilliant hacks to simplify their cooking routine. Suzanne teaches Kellie and Dom how to prepare easy, nutritious meals that can be batch-cooked and frozen for later, including homemade burgers, vibrant stir-fries and family-friendly dishes that everyone can enjoy together. As they embark on this culinary journey, the Evans family begin to rediscover the joy of cooking. With Suzanne's bespoke meal plans and Joe's encouragement, they tackle their food challenges head-on. Can they transform their chaotic mealtimes into calm moments together as a family?