Slow Cooking Mama by Rosie Kennedy

SLOW COOKING MAMA

Tried and tested recipes for busy mums, by busy mumsÂ

BY NURTURE THE BORDERS C.I.C

CONTENT

FAMILY FRIENDLY TIPS

MEAT

SOUPS

POULTRY

MEAT FREE

PUDDINGS

FAMILY FRIENDLY TIPS Our top tips for making time saving tasty meals for the whole family.

SALT Children should have a low sodium diet. Replace normal stock cubes for baby stock cubes or bullion. Also don't add your seasoning until the end, that way you can remove the children's portions first.

HIDE VEGETABLES If you have a fussy eater, you can hide extra vegetables and fruit within most recipes by simply finely chopping them. The slow cooking process breaks them down and turns them into part of the sauce so your fussy eater will never know!

BATCH COOK Double your recipe and pop half in the freezer for a quick meal on another day!

LOVELY LENTIL SOUP

STEP

INGREDIENTS Carrots grated Onions Leeks Dry Red Lentils Vegetable Stock cube

STEP

WHAT TO DO “I don’t tend to weigh out or count the veg or lentils, I just peel, chop and throw in. I use 1 pint of stock and just top the slow-cooker up with boiling water until all veg is covered. I cook on high for around 68 hours.

STEP

TOP TIPS I sometimes add bacon or chicken for a wee change

CARROT & CORRIANDER SOUP

STEP

INGEDIENTS Six/Eight carrots Two onions A fistful of parsley (or 2 table spoons of the dried stuff) A fistful or coriander (or 2 table spoons of the dried stuff) Veg bullion or veg stock cubeÂ

STEP

WHAT TO DO Chop the veg and add them aong with the rest of the ingredients to the slow cooker. Add a cup or two water. Cook on slow for at least 4hrs to infuse the herbs

STEP

TOP TIPS Blitz the soup with a hand blender for a smooth soup. Add additional water until the soup is your desired consistency.

BBQ CHICKEN

STEP

INGREDIENTS Breast of chicken diced 1/2 a bottle bought smokey bbq sauce tinned tomatoes onions some paprika some wostershire sauce and a little brown sugar is good

WHAT TO DO Put the ingredients in the slow cooker and cook on high for 3.5hrs and low for 8hrs. .

STEP

TOP TIPS You can also do this with pork or beef. To make pulled meats simply use two forks to shred the meat at the end of cooking.

SLOW ROAST CHICKEN

STEP

INGREDIENTS 1 large chicken

STEP

WHAT TO DO Heat the slow cooker if necessary and add a splash of water to the base. Scrunch up some foil to make a trivet to sit in the base of the bowl to rest the chicken on. Put the chicken into the pot and season the skin. Cover and cook on Low for 5 hours or until the leg or wing feels very loose when you wiggle it. Tip the juices inside the chicken out as you lift it out.

STEP

TOP TIPS Brown the chicken skin under the grill or carve the chicken before anyone sees it. Spoon the liquid out of the base of the pan to use as gravy, there won't be much but it will have a good flavour

SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN

STEP

INGREDIENTS 500g chicken cubed 1x 440g can pineapple Pieces with unsweetened juice (Don’t drain) 1 onion, quartered 1 carrot, peeled & sliced 1 large red pepper, chopped ½ tsp. ginger, chopped 3 Tbsp. brown sugar 4 Tbsp. ketchup 2 Tbsp. soy sauce ¼ cup apple cider vinegar 2 Tbsp. cornflour 2 Tbsp. water

STEP

WHAT TO DO

TIPS

add the chicken, pineapple, onion, carrot, red bell pepper, ginger, brown sugar, ketchup, soy sauce and lastly the apple cider vinegar. Mix together until combined. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or 4 hours on high.

There are quite a few different types of vegetables that you can add to this dish. For example, something like water chestnuts or even some baby corn will go well in it. You can add these vegetables at the start of cooking

In a small bowl, mix together the cornstarch and the water. Once well combined, pour into the slow cooker and mix well. Cook for a further 15 minutes with the lid on or off. Serve & Enjoy

A COSY BOWL OF CHILLI

STEP

INGREDIENTS 1x Kidney beans drained 1x Tinned chopped tomatoes 500g passata Peppers Onion Mushrooms Chilli sauce or powder 5% fat Mince 250g

STEP

WHAT TO DO Add all of the ingredients to the slow-cooker except the mince. Once I’ve browned the mince on the hob I add that too. I tend to cook on high for up-to 6 hours.

STEP

TOP TIPS “I don’t measure the veg or chilli sauce/powder, I just throw it in, it always tastes good and I normally get decent portions for my family of four”.

MELT IN YOUR MOUTH BEEF STEW

STEP

INGREDIENTS

STEP

THE TOPPING

STEP

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1 onion, chopped 2 celery sticks, finely chopped 2 tbsp veg oil 3 carrots, cut into chunks 2 bay leaves sprinkle of thyme 2 tbsp tomato purÃ©e 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 2 tsp cornflour (optional)

Add all the ingredients to the slow cooker and stir thoroughly. Cook on low for 810hrs or high for 4hrs.

This is even more delicious the day after cooking it!

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EASY BOLOGNESE

STEP

INGREDIENTS

WHAT TO DO

1 handful of frozen chopped onion

Bung it all in the slow cooker if using fresh mince break it up a bit with a spoon.

(or 1 fresh onion chopped). 500g pack of mince fresh or frozen Squirt of easy garlic or 1 fresh garlic clove chopped Big squirt of tomato puree (roughly 2 tblsp) 1 tin of chopped tomatoes Fill the empty tin from the

Stir then cook on high for 3.5hrs or low for 8hrs.

tomatoes 2/3 full with boiling water and poor in. 1 veg or chicken stock cube Dash of Worcestershire sauce. 1 Bay leaf. Salt and pepper

Serve with pasta, rice, potatoes - whatever you fancy!

STEP

TOP TIPS You can also add any veg you have lying about. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I whizz the veg in the food processor first which means my fussy daughter has no idea she is eating six different vegâ&#x20AC;?

EASY PULLED PORK

STEP

INGREDIENTS 1 tbs salt 1 tbs paprika 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp packed brown sugar 1kg pork loin roast 1 cup water 1 cup barbecue sauce

STEP

WHAT TO DO In small bowl, stir together salt, paprika, garlic powder and brown sugar. Rinse pork roast under cool water. Rub salt mixture on pork to cover completely. Place pork in slow cooker. Add water to side of pork. Cover; cook on High heat setting 5 to 6 hours. In slow cooker, use 2 forks to shred pork. Stir in barbecue sauce until well mixed

STEP

TOP TIPS For a spicier pulled pork, stir 1 teaspoon finely chopped chiles into the barbecue sauce before mixing with the pork. The spice rub can be made in advance and stored in an airtight container.

MAC & CHEESE

STEP

INGREDIENTS 1 l (1 Âž pint) whole milk, plus extra if needed 1/2 tsp english mustard powder 250 g (9oz) mature Cheddar, grated 50 g (2oz) parmesan 100 g (3 Â˝oz) cream cheese 400 g (14oz) macaroni

STEP

WHAT TO DO

TOP TIP

Put the milk, all the cheeses, mustard powder, a generous pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper into a slow cooker. Stir well, then add the macaroni and mix again. Cook on low for 1 1/2- 2 1/2 hours until the pasta is cooked and the sauce is creamy. Stir in a splash of milk if the mixture is a little stiff.

Try this with your favourite cheese. I sometimes replace the cheddar for Emmental or Gruyere or yoou could crumble in some blue cheese.

USE ME FOR ANYTHING TOMATO SAUCE

STEP

INGREDIENTS Two tins of chopped tomatoes Two carrots chopped (or tinned carrots drained and washed) Two Garlic clove’s crushed or chopped One Veg stock cube

STEP

WHAT TO DO

TOP TIPS

Cook on slow or high depending on what you are doing that day.

“I always blend this sauce to hide the veg, I have a fussy eater , and I use it for a pizza base for the whole family, its also lovely as a pasta sauce or as a soup”

Slow 7hrs High 3hrs

dissolved in 200ml water

STEP

Blend with a hand blender

PERFECT PEA RISOTTO

STEP

INGREDIENTS 25g butter 1 medium onion, finely chopped 1 clove garlic, finely chopped zest of half a lemon 300g arborio risotto rice 800 ml chicken or vegetable stock 115g frozen peas 15g parmesan cheese, grated

STEP

WHAT TO Melt the butter in a pan and cook the onion and garlic gently until translucent and softened but not browned. Add the rice and stir to coat in the butter mixture. Add the stock and lemon zest. Add the mixture to the slow cooker and cook on high for 1 hour and 30 minutes or until the rice is cooked and all the stock has been absorbed. Once cooked, add the peas and the parmesan cheese and mix well.

STEP

TOP TIPS This risotto is a great base, I added some cooked flaked salmon but you could add extra vegetables, or cooked chicken, bacon or ham would also work really well.

SYRUPY SPONGE PUDDING

STEP

INGREDIENTS 2 beaten eggs 4 tbsp of golden syrup 100g self raising flour 50g caster sugar 50g shredded suet 2 tbsp milk A pinch of salt

STEP

WHAT TO DO Preheat the slow cooker to high whilst you make the pudding. Butter a 600ml pudding bowl, spoon the syrup into the bottom of the bowl. Mix together the flour, salt and sugar in a mixing bowl, add the suet and rub in lightly with your fingertips to incorporate into the flour slightly. Gradually mix in the beaten egg and milk until well combined and the mixture is nice and smooth.

STEP

NEXT Spoon the mixture into the pudding bowl, and cover it with a double layer of parchment paper and foil, leaving lots of room for the pudding to rise. Make sure the foil is nicely secured around the edge of the pudding bowl. Place the pudding bowl into the slow cooker, and pour enough boiling water around the outside to come about half way up the sides of the dish. Cover with the lid and cook for 3 - 4 hours, or until it's springs back when you touch it. Remove from the slow cooker and leave to cool for 5 minutes or so before unwrapping it. Use a sharp knife to loosen the edges of the pudding, then turn it out onto a plate. Be careful, the syrup will be hotter than the sun!

DREAMY RICE PUDDING

STEP

INGREDIENTS 110g (4 oz) pudding rice 25g (1 oz) granulated sugar 25g (1 oz) margarine or butter 1.2L (2 pt) milk ground cinnamon, nutmeg or vanilla extract (optional)

STEP

WHAT TO DO Use some of the butter to grease the bowl of the slow cooker. Add the milk, sugar and remaining butter and either ground cinnamon, nutmeg or vanilla extract. Give the contents a stir and replace the lid Turn the slow cooker onto high and cook for 4 hours or until the rice as absorbed the liquid Stirring halfway through.

STEP

TOP TIPS This is such a homely treat. We enjoy it with a dollop of jam or to be a bit more indulgent: - you can drop some chocolate into the cooker 30mins before the end.

WARMING APPLE CRUMBLE

STEP

FOR THE APPLE 8 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and cut into thick slices ½ cup light brown sugar 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 2 teaspoons cinnamon ¼ teaspoon nutmeg ¼ teaspoon salt

STEP

THE TOPPING

WHAT TO DO

1 cup rolled oats ¾ cup flour ¼ cup light brown sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon ¼ teaspoon salt ½ cup cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes

Add the apple mix to the slow cooker and stir. In a bowl combine the topping ingredients. Rub the butter into the mixture using your fingers until the mixture starts to clump. Then sprinkle over the apple mix. Cook on high for 2 hours or on low for 33½ hours, until apples are soft

BREAD & BUTTER PUDDING

STEP

INGREDIENTS 8 cups of cubed sliced bread ½ cup butter, melted ½ cup brown sugar 2 cups milk 2 eggs ½ cup raisins or dried cranberries ½ tsp. cinnamon, ground ½ tsp. nutmeg, ground

STEP

WHAT TO DO In a bowl, beat together the brown sugar, eggs, and butter. Whisk in the nutmeg and cinnamon until well combined. Lastly, whisk in the milk. In a greased slow cooker, mix together the cubed sliced bread, cranberries, cinnamon and nutmeg. Pour in the milk, stir slightly to help ensure that the bread is well coated. Cook on low for 3-4 hours or until cooked.

STEP

TOP TIPS Avoid cooking this on the high setting as it’s likely to burn the egg mix. Older bread tends to work best as it will absorb the egg mixture a lot faster leaving you with a much better tasting bread pudding. If you don’t like raisins or cranberries, then these can be left out completely or swapped for another type of fruit.

SLOW COOKING MAMA

NURTURE THE BORDERS C.I.C.