I am so tired, I feel as though my legs might vomit. I am on auto-pilot. My 17-month old seems to be in month 2 or 3 of a sleep regression, a period in which normally bad sleep becomes maddeningly awful, and he has a cold that won’t shift and results in him coughing himself awake at night. Just to make it even better. We have too much to do and to sort as a family, too many issues pulling at our attention, and we’re all very tired. Did I mention being tired? As such, I’d like to talk to you, ever so briefly, about bacon.
If, like me, you’re cash-strapped, time-strapped, energy-strapped, and you still need to call the doctors about that mystery pain you’ve had for months, meal-prep is a very useful thing to do in the few spare minutes you have here or there. It means when things get REALLY AWFUL, as they do some days, you’ve made it that bit easier for you to feed yourself and your loved/tolerated ones a decent, healthy, cheap meal.
Please allow me to share with you one such meal I enjoyed on a terribly hectic day last week after digging it out of the freezer earlier that day. This is not a precise recipe, more an idea. I do not measure, I eyeball, guess, chuck, and get on with it.
Cook Method
In a bloody big pot, on the hob. Could be done in the slow cooker too, although the bacon would be a bit tricky. In theory, could be cooked in a roasting tin in the oven, but I haven’t done that. Too much bringing it out to stir it, too much opportunity for my son to lurch forward and try to jump in the hot oven like a leprechaun that’s spotted its lost gold (what is wrong with him, why is he like this? How did I create such a danger-seeker? Are they all like this?). Hob is good. Hob is out of reach. Hob is friend.
Ingredients
Bacon - at least one rasher per person if you can. I use proper, English bacon, with more meat than fat. Gammon would work beautifully too.
Lentils - I prefer the little red ones.
Onions
Garlic
Herbs - something vaguely Italian works well, I use marjoram, oregano and basil
Stock - any, but not fish.
Tomatoes - passata is m favourite thing to use, but chunks will be fine
Vegetables - whatever else you want to chuck in. I used cabbage last time and it was lovely.
Cut the bacon into chunks and fry it. Once nearly done, add onions. Once they are slightly softened, add garlic for a couple of minutes. Throw in your stock, tomatoes, herbs, vegetables, and lentils. Simmer for as long as you like. Keep it in the fridge or freezer and re-heat when needed. Serve on its own or with whatever carb you like - I try to avoid lots of carbs, so I usually have it plain.
I didn’t photograph my food, because although I’m a Millenial, I do have some dignity. You’ll just have to imagine a lovely, thick, ochre-red stew in which everything tastes mostly of bacon. It is filling, rich, cheap and easy to make. Without additional bread/mash to serve it with, it is low-medium carb (lentils mean it definitely isn’t keto, but neither am I). Most of the ingredients are store-cupboard basics, with just the bacon being a bit special.
I hope I haven’t bored you too much, but I do love cooking, eating, and thinking about these things. I would be thrilled if you could share your go-to cook-ahead meals in the comments.
Okay then, 10 lemons and 12 heads of garlic into a pan with about a litre and a bit of water. Smash each garlic clove and chop the lemons into small pieces and in two of them scape rinds and add everything into the pot with water . Bring to boil and let it seamer for 40 minutes. Drain and dispose of lemons and garlic. You should have about a litre of liquid. For adults is 50 ml a day, about 30 min before breakfast . Not sure for children. Keep it in the fridge . Should last 20 days 50ml x20days = 1 litre. Whatever you decide to give your child don’t go over 20 days. Discard what is left. Hope it helps. I have done it a couple of times and there is nothing better to dry out the lungs. Hope it works .
I loved the recipe being and feeling alike yourself apart from the boy, but my mom also erratic sleep patterns . Sorry to hear your boy is still under the weather. Would a old Tibetan recipe for pneumonia (just garlic and lemons ) natural remedy help do you think?