Last week it was too hot to cook, and this week we're watching the rain lash against the windows and wondering whether it's too soon to put the heating back on.
While the weather might be crying out for comfort food, we're not quite ready to dust off the slow cooker just yet. Instead, we've rounded up the speedy supermarket shortcuts that are currently getting the Good Housekeeping office through this gloomy spell – from two-minute noodle bowls and no-cook tacos to clever cupboard staples that can transform dinner in minutes.
We promise not to moan about the heatwave again!
M&S Microwave Chilli and Sesame Noodle Box
M&S Microwave Chilli and Sesame Noodle Box
"These noodle boxes cook in the microwave in literally two minutes. I can have tea ready, feet up, TV on and bra off in well under 10 minutes. If I'm feeling fancy, I'll fry an egg to go on top, but they're perfectly good straight from the microwave too."
"I love pasta as much as the next person, but some days it feels like I'm codependent on penne. That's where this sauce comes in. I use it to make a cheat's shakshuka: add a couple of sliced roasted red peppers from a jar, a handful of spinach if I have some, crack in a few eggs and let it bubble away for a few minutes. Finish with feta and that’s dinner, sorted. The hidden veg is a bonus too – my four-year-old devours it, blissfully unaware of all the goodness lurking inside."
“Rainy day food doesn’t have to be beige. When it’s miserable outside, something bright and colourful on my plate really cheers me up, and these no-cook chicken tacos tend to do the trick. They're more assembly job than recipe: the kit comes with corn taco shells, tomato salsa and a spice mix that I stir through drained sweetcorn. Then I add cooked chicken – the Fajita British Chicken Slices are ideal – along with the Tex Mex Dip Selection, Cold Brined Pickled Red Onions and a handful of shredded iceberg lettuce. It’s exactly what I need when it’s grey outside."
“As GH kitchen manager, I’m cooking all day. So when I get in, I want dinner on the table at speed and packet rice is my favourite shortcut. While it's doing its thing in the microwave, I'll throw some chicken nuggets into the air fryer and quickly stir-fry whatever veg I have to hand – tenderstem broccoli, a julienned carrot. Pile everything into a bowl and finish with a generous spoonful of this spicy mango chutney. It instantly makes the whole thing taste more considered than the five-minute fridge raid it actually is."
Itsu King Prawn Gyoza Dinner Dumplings
"Eggs are one of my favourite shortcuts for speedy midweek meals, but with a couple of clever ingredients, you can do so much better than scrambled eggs for the third night running. These frozen prawn gyoza cook in just two minutes and completely transform a simple omelette. I fry the gyoza until the bottoms are crisp, add a splash of water and a lid to steam the tops, then let the water evaporate before pouring over beaten egg. Once it's set, dinner is done. Who needs a takeaway?"
"This lives in my cupboard for those evenings when dinner is looking a bit beige and uninspiring. It's great with chicken, but if you're after something even speedier, halloumi is the way to go. Grill until golden and scatter over the crunchy topper. Stuff into a flatbread with a yoghurt dip. Better still, it costs two quid"
"This cooking paste is the reason I've made Emily English’s speedy tacos more times than I care to admit. It's one of those products that does all the heavy lifting for you. Add cooked, shredded chicken, plenty of cheese (pre-grated, obviously) and you've got a weeknight dinner that tastes like you've put in far more effort than you actually have."
“I’m obsessed with everything from Bold Bean Co and will happily eat it straight from the jar. But on a grey Wednesday evening, these baked beans on toast, topped with copious amounts of cheddar, can’t be beaten.”
Waitrose Cooks' Ingredients Tom Yum Soup Paste180g
Waitrose Cooks' Ingredients Tom Yum Soup Paste180g
"Soup doesn't have to be reserved for freezing January evenings. This tom yum paste is one of my favourite ways to make it feel a bit fresher and more summery. In fact, Waitrose's Cooks' Ingredients range is responsible for rescuing a lot of my weeknight dinners. I coat tofu – the kind that goes nice and crispy – with a spoonful of the paste and fry until golden. Then I add a little more paste to a pan with some tomato purée, pour in bone broth and throw in whatever veg needs using up – cherry tomatoes work well – and top with the crispy tofu."
"I keep a couple of STOCKED meals in the freezer for evenings when I've forgotten to plan ahead. They cook straight from frozen, you can easily just make what you need and they're surprisingly versatile too. This sausage arrabbiata works stirred through pasta, spooned over rice, tucked into a wrap or even piled onto a baked potato."
M&S British Roast in the Bag Rotisserie Chicken
M&S British Roast in the Bag Rotisserie Chicken
"It's not always guaranteed, but I tend to pop into M&S between 5pm and 6.30pm to snap up the yellow stickers. I recently scored a whole rotisserie chicken for just £3.50! Okay, it still takes around 40 minutes to cook, but then I can shred it into salads or add it to soups throughout the week for meals in minutes. Another win was a delicious stir-fry pack with veg and noodles for only £2.38. To be fair, it's only around £8 full price, so it's still a great shout for a speedy, low-effort meal, but it tastes even better when you've bagged a bargain."
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
