Look what we made

@JudyEv (364751)
Rockingham, Australia
July 20, 2025 6:45am CST
We caught the tram into the centre of Melbourne today and picked out a slow cooker for our son. He doesn’t cook much at all but I’d printed out a few recipes for him. When we got home, we went out and bought the ingredients and he’s just cooked his first batch of chilli con carne. He said it tastes good. It’s cooling now and he’s gone home but we’ll freeze it in containers tomorrow and he’ll have a few meals ready for when he doesn’t feel like cooking. The process was easy and I feel sure he’ll be able to manage to cook other recipes that he finds. Tomorrow, Vince will cook up some curries for him and they’ll be frozen too. We leave here on Tuesday morning but we’ve enjoyed our time with him. We also bought him an oil heater as his room is very cold.
26 people like this
28 responses
@garymarsh6 (23828)
• United Kingdom
21 Jul
What a lovely mum & dad you both are. I am sure he will be happy as he will have a supply of ready meals once you have gone home. It is funny what mums & dads still do for their kids. My wife cooked treats for my daughter & family to take home today. I am still a bit jet lagged so nothing from me although l bought the kids plenty of treats & gifts from Japan for them so that was my contribution today.
3 people like this
@kareng (79686)
• United States
21 Jul
@garymarsh6 Well hello there stranger! Are you back home for awhile? I have enjoyed seeing your photos on FB!
3 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23828)
• United Kingdom
21 Jul
@kareng HI there unfotunately my latest photo did not upload but I will try to upload it soon. Nice to see you still here!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (364751)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jul
Thanks for the kind words. I'm sure the kids were thrilled to get treats and gifts, as well as treats.
@Juliaacv (54790)
• Canada
20 Jul
I will say that it looks just delicious, and it being a 'winter's' day in Melbourne, I am sure that he will be hooked on this type of cooking. Enjoy.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (364751)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jul
It was very simple to do. We just put everything in the pot then pushed 'start' and later on when the beeper went, we pushed 'stop'.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (54790)
• Canada
21 Jul
@JudyEv That's right, and another benefit to cooking like that, you can eat from the leftovers for a couple of days. Even good food to begin with tastes great when reheated.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (364751)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jul
@Juliaacv He can cook enough for a couple of meals and either eat it next day or freeze it.
1 person likes this
@kareng (79686)
• United States
21 Jul
It sounds like ya'll have him all hooked up with some good meals for while! Way to go!!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (364751)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jul
Hopefully it has left him feeling a bit more optimistic too.
1 person likes this
@kareng (79686)
• United States
21 Jul
@JudyEv I bet is has and he will think of you every time he fixes one of those frozen pouches for a meal or cooks in the slow cooker!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (364751)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Jul
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (160324)
• United States
20 Jul
I'm glad you guys are there to check in on him and were able to help him out. The chili con carne looks good. I'm glad he liked it. May I ask a question, though? Is he happy living where he lives? If he's not happy there, offering to help him move somewhere else might be a better solution for him and less worry for both of you. (I know it's none of my business... It's just an idle thought.)
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (364751)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jul
Idle thoughts are always welcome. He likes living in the city and he couldn't seem to find anywhere else to live that he could afford. He can barely afford this and we've been helping out as he needs it but it's just throwing good money after bad. I can't imagine what the outcome will be. We're still trying to come up with a longer-term solution.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (160324)
• United States
21 Jul
@JudyEv As long as he's happy and you don't mind helping him out when he needs it, then I'd be worried but wouldn't want to make him unhappy by suggesting a change. If he can stand it, maybe a roommate, suitably evaluated, might be a good long-term solution... I don't know how well he might take that kind of suggestion, though. Some people MUCH prefer to live alone. (I don't want someone else as a roommate. I always liked living on my own but living with Pretty was always okay.)
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (364751)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jul
@DaddyEvil He has had a roommate up until this last change. We're trying to work out how we can possibly buy him a home and have him pay rent but there is a lot of stuff to work through before that. There is our pension and our superannuation to consider, blah, blah but we'll be researching it thoroughly.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (66477)
• Centralia, Washington
20 Jul
You are good loving parents.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (66477)
• Centralia, Washington
21 Jul
@JudyEv I still hope the best for all of you.
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@JudyEv (364751)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Jul
@sallypup Thanks.
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@JudyEv (364751)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jul
Thanks. It would be good to see him settled and in employment but I don't think it's going to happen.
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (21035)
• London, England
20 Jul
That's what I use my slow cooker for, chili, curry and chicken casseroles.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (364751)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jul
Vince made him lamb and beef curry today and there are six portions freezing now. I feel quite sure he'll use the cooker once we've gone.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (364751)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Jul
@Ronrybs For him at the moment, it needs to be simple and this is. Once he gets the hang of it he might try some other dishes using his stove, etc.
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (21035)
• London, England
21 Jul
@JudyEv They are handy. Bung the stuff in and go away for a couple of hours and then dine!
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (48543)
• India
20 Jul
That is very nice of you ! Surely, the recipes would help your son. I see some Indian Vloggers based in Canada and US using something known as Hot Pot which can help in cooking many dishes. The above item has Kidney Beans as well?
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (48543)
• India
22 Jul
@JudyEv Quite some delicacy !!
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@JudyEv (364751)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jul
Quite possibly a Hot Pot is similar. It sounds like it would be. Yes, there was mince, kidney beans, chopped tomatoes and a few herbs and spices.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (38614)
• Toccoa, Georgia
21 Jul
That's a nice gift for your son. I really like my slow cooker.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (364751)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Jul
It needs to be simple or he'll be too intimidated to use it. I'm sure he'll be fine with this.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (485725)
• Italy
20 Jul
Your chili con carne looks good and I am sure your son will love it. You are so nice to prepare food for him. If he feels down and not in the mood of cooking, he only has to take the food out of the freezer and re-heat.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (485725)
• Italy
21 Jul
@JudyEv I am sure he appreciated your visit.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (364751)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jul
He is doing it tough at the moment so it's nice to think that at least he'll have some food for a while if he needs it.
1 person likes this
@antonbunot (11143)
• Calgary, Alberta
22 Jul
Loving mom and dad, you are! I have 3 sons; they are good cook. They are better than me.
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@JudyEv (364751)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Jul
Thanks for the kind words. I wish our son cooked more as he'd save money by doing so.
@Deepizzaguy (115435)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
21 Jul
You and Vince had a great time visiting your son.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (364751)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jul
Yes, we did. It was good to see him again after such a long time apart.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (115435)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
21 Jul
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@brokenbee (11920)
• Philippines
20 Jul
That looks delicious... Mmmmm! I am sure he also enjoyed your visit.
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@JudyEv (364751)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jul
He will be pleased to have some meals in the freezer.
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@brokenbee (11920)
• Philippines
22 Jul
@JudyEv yes that's true....
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@LindaOHio (204307)
• United States
21 Jul
That was really nice of you to buy him the slow cooker and heater. Safe travels tomorrow!
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@JudyEv (364751)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jul
Thanks. This time tomorrow we'll be in our own bed again.
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@LindaOHio (204307)
• United States
22 Jul
@JudyEv You're welcome. Traveling is nice; but your own bed is better!
1 person likes this
@porwest (109948)
• United States
20 Jul
You can never go wrong with chili, and if one doesn't cook much, a slow cooker can be a real life saver.
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@JudyEv (364751)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jul
I think this might actually make a difference to the amount of money he spends on food.
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@JudyEv (364751)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Jul
@porwest I agree with all that. And there is so much information and so many recipes on the web for him to tap into.
1 person likes this
@porwest (109948)
• United States
22 Jul
@JudyEv Cooking at home is ALWAYS cheaper, and I would say...better eats.
1 person likes this
@youless (113837)
• Guangzhou, China
21 Jul
Mother is always very considerate I think your recipes will help your son a lot
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@JudyEv (364751)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jul
Thanks. He seems keen to try out some more recipes for himself.
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@RasmaSandra (90195)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 Jul
Slow coolers are great when you just throw stuff together and your meal cooks on its own
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (364751)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jul
I think this will be ideal for our son. He seems very happy to have it.
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@1creekgirl (44170)
• United States
21 Jul
He'll enjoy being able to eat some home cooked meals.
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@JudyEv (364751)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jul
We've done similar before - cooked some meals and frozen them. He was very appreciative.
1 person likes this
21 Jul
the food is really awesome. the cooker is lovely
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@JudyEv (364751)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Jul
Thanks. He's probably eating some of it now.
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
21 Jul
I'm wokrin gon a slow cooker recipe cook bok, I'll have to send you the digital copy when its done so you can give it to him.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (364751)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jul
That would be lovely. He is going to research some recipes.
@Neil43 (4203)
21 Jul
It is really good to just have food that you can easily get anytime you are hungry. I am not used to doing this though. I felt it is unhealthy.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (364751)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jul
If you have cooked it yourself, I don't think it can be unhealthy if you eat it on the same day or freeze it for later.