Slow Cooker Recipes NZ

Slow Cooker Pork | Pork and Potatoes in Sour Cream and Chive Sauce

2012-11-27T09:30:00.000+13:00

When you get home at the end of a long day, you want dinner to be on the table as quickly as possible, with this recipe the chops and potatoes are already done. So then all you need to do is finish the gravy, put some vegetables on and you’re ready to serve.

This dish makes it’s a tasty liquid which when thickened at the end of the cooking time, which makes a stunning gravy. The quality of the gravy is determined by whether or not you brown the chops and vegetables before slow cooking. For my money it’s worth the extra step and the extra pan to clean! (If you are not browning the chops, skip the 'coat in flour' and brown the vegetables steps, make stock with cubes/powder and boiling water. Add a tablespoon of Worchestershire sauce for a flavour boost.)

A perfect meal for busy families and also as a ‘company’s coming’ mid-week dinner. Let the slow cooker to do the hard work and you can sit back and enjoy the compliments.

Pork and Potatoes in Sour Cream and Chive Sauce

Cook on low for 7-9 hours
Serves 6-8

6- 8 pork chops (so they fit in your slow cooker in one layer)

¼ flour (to lightly coat chops)

Butter, oil, as you prefer to sauté vegetables

1 onion finely sliced

1 clove of garlic crushed

3-4 potatoes, peeled, cubed (quantity to match number of servings required)

2 cups hot chicken stock

1 cup sour cream (I use a 250ml tub of lite sour cream)

2 Tblsp flour

1-2 Tblsp fresh chopped chives

· Turn slow cooker onto low to start it warming up.

· Add the first measure of flour to a plate. Coat each chop lightly in the flour, stack on the side of the plate and set aside for a moment.

· Heat a small quantity of butter or oil in a large pan on the stove.

· Add onions, garlic and potato cubes and stir fry until tender and lightly coloured.

· Add vegetables to slow cooker, cover, return pan to heat and add pork chops to brown lightly.

· Add the layer of lightly browned chops to slow cooker and return pan to heat, add chicken stock and heat until boiling.

· While heating stir chicken stock, pick up as much of the pan flavors as possible, breaking up any flour lumps. You want as smoother a liquid as possible!

· Pour hot stock over pork and potato layer, season to taste, cover and cook on low for 7-9 hours.

· To make the sour cream sauce, turn the slow cooker to high.

· Remove just the chops to warm serving dish, cover and keep warm.

· In a small mixing bowl combine the sour cream and flour, once combined, add to slow cooker, stir thoroughly and gently to combine. Cover and cook sauce on high for 20-30 minutes.

· By the time you cook your side dish vegetables, (and if it’s a special occasion warm some garlic bread – the oven’s on already, keeping the chops hot!) the sauce will be ready.

To serve, add the chops, spoon over sauce, sprinkle with fresh chopped chives, (maybe a light sprinkle of paprika to add some colour) add your side dishes and get ready for a stack of cleaned plates and a round of compliments - enjoy!

Previous Post: Slow Cooker Roast Lamb | Leg of Lamb Slow Cooker Recipe

Slow Cooker Roast Lamb | Leg of Lamb Slow Cooker Recipe

2012-10-22T05:00:00.000+13:00

I had my busy Saturday morning all planned. Straight after breakfast the next thing I needed to do was get the roast lamb on. When I took it out of the freezer on Friday morning, I was already imaging sitting down to dinner on Saturday night... slow cooker roast lamb, oven baked roast veggies, broccoli, peas and gravy - and a nice glass of red. Oh, I can't wait!

I grabbed my breakfast and sat down at my computer, came to my site and searched my lamb recipes for my roast recipe and I couldn't find it! I've been holding out on you, apparently! I couldn't believe I hadn't posted this recipe - it has to be one of the simplest, tastiest, best slow cooker recipes I've come up with! So here it is, this is the best roast lamb recipe I've been making for the last 20 odd years! Enjoy!

Basically it is a rub mix that you apply to the roast before you put it in the slow cooker - too easy!

Slow Cooker Roast Lamb | Leg of Lamb Slow Cooker Recipe

1.2 to 1.5kg leg of lamb (when choosing a roast, remember the size/shape of your slow cooker!)

1 Tblsp tomato paste
2 Tblsp red wine (optional, just use water if you prefer)
water as required (see method)

2 Tblsp tomato paste
1 Tblsp Worcester Sauce
1 Tblsp Italian Herbs
1 Tblsp Garlic granules or 2 fresh cloves, crushed
freshly ground pepper to taste (I like pepper, so 40 grinds)

In the slow cooker base, add the first measure of tomato paste and the wine, stir to combine, add enough water that the liquid just covers the base.
In a small bowl (cereal size is ideal) mix the remaining herbs and sauces and apply to the roast.
Application, lay roast on a plate. I usually try to apply roughly half for the top side and then pick it up at the skinny end and hold it up and paste the remaining rub on the thick end and the back of the roast, and pop in the slow cooker. I use the metal spoon I mixed it with to apply it.
Lots of words make this look more complicated that it really is - it is very quick to assemble and apply.
Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4-5.

Serve hot with all the families favourite roast lamb trimmings, or serve cold, sliced thinly with salad, grainy breads and good quality tomato relish - which how our family enjoys roast lamb at Christmas. Enjoy!

Previous Post: Slow Cooker Curry | Slow Cooker Sausage Recipes | Slow Cooker Recipes NZ

If you are a slow cooker lamb fan, you may also enjoy having a little look through these popular and delicious Slow Cooker Lamb Recipes | Most Popular Recipes - they're sure to be popular with the family.

Slow Cooker Curry | Slow Cooker Sausage Recipes | Slow Cooker Recipes NZ

2012-09-24T05:00:00.000+12:00

I discovered my supermarket has really good quality beef sausages (who knew!) I was so surprised they don't swell up in the slow cooker or burst or do anything nasty in the pan when I'm browning them, so here's another recipe I invented on the fly this week when I felt like slow cooker curried sausages.

You know I don't normally brown anything, but these sausages seemed like they would look better on the plate if I browned them up a little before putting them in the slow cooker... so seeing as how I had the pan out, I browned the onions....well you'll see! I just want you to know, if you've not come across my blog before, I don't normally brown anything in my recipes!

Slow Cooker Curry | Slow Cooker Sausage Recipes

Slow Cooker Sausage Recipes

2 onions, peeled and chopped into large dice
2 green apples, peeled and chopped into large dice
1 Tblsp Italian or mixed herbs
1 Tblsp garlic granules (or 2 cloves fresh crushed)
1 Tblsp curry powder
1/2 cup of sultanas
440g can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
440g diced tomatoes (they had no juice)
2 Tblsp Bisto or Gravox (or plain flour)
2 tsp low sodium beef stock powder
1 to 1.5 cups of water (depends on how much juice in tomatoes)
8 low fat, low sodium beef sausages

Turn slow cooker on to low to warm up.
Add a little butter into a pan and brown the onions, add the apples once the onions are starting to change colour and just kind of stir fry to keep them from sticking - just looking for a bit of attractive colour on the onions.
To the pan add the herbs, garlic, and curry powder and give it a good stir and let it start to heat through.
Add the sultanas and beans. (My tomatoes had nearly no juice, so I needed more water in next step.)
Turn heat off but leave pan on stove.
In a jug add the gravy mix and stock powder, and 1/2 cup of the water, mix vigorously until it's a smooth paste, add water to make the mix up to one cup and stir again until smooth, add to pan.
Stir to combine and add sauce mix to slow cooker base.
Don't wash pan, just add a dash of oil, return to heat and brown up the sausages. Once browned nicely all over, add into a single layer on top of the sauce in the slow cooker, press them into the sauce.
Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.

Previous Post: Slow Cooker Beef Stew | Swiss Steak Style |Slow Cooker Recipes NZ

Find more slow cooker recipes for Kiwis, Aussies (and other cooks who use metric measurements) here at... Slow Cooker Recipes NZ - and check this out - the easiest way to see all my Slow Cooker Recipes!

Slow Cooker Beef Stew | Swiss Steak Style

2012-09-10T09:00:00.000+12:00

You can use any budget cut of beef for this, shin beef (bone in, just remove bone before serving), flank steak, gravy beef - and if your budget runs to it, cross-cut blade steak is perfect. You need nice looking meat that you can cook and serve whole - think one portion per person. So you need enough to make a layer of beef in the slow cooker and also enough to to make one piece or serving per person. Whole servings of beef are great time savers - much less prep required!

Served with roasted potatoes or over pasta with carrot rings and your choice of steamed greens should get you rave reviews and a round of cleaned plates at the end of the meal! If it's a special occasion you might even treat them to a slice or two of garlic bread each to help mop up the gravy.

If you want to stretch it a bit further, a can of sliced mushrooms in sauce near the end of the cooking time and serve with a dollop of sour cream topped with fresh chopped herbs. (If you know ahead of time that you need to stretch it, before you add the beef, add a layer of potato cut into small cubes.)

Slow Cooker Beef Stew | Swiss Steak Style

1/4 cup Bisto, Gravox (or flour, if using flour also add 2 tsp beef stock powder)
1 Tblsp Italian or Mixed Herbs
1 Tblsp garlic granules or 2 cloves peeled and crushed
freshly ground salt and pepper to taste (I use lots of pepper!)
1/2 cup water (maybe with a little bit of red wine in it!)
4-6 servings of beef (as required, see above)
1 medium onion peeled and finely chopped
440g can crushed tomatoes in juice, tomato puree or similar

Add the dry ingredients (the first four ingredients) directly into the base of the slow cooker, mix to combine.
Add the water and give it a quick whisk to combine.
Add the beef in one layer and top with the onions.
Pour over the tomatoes, use a fork to 'push the meat around' to gently get the tomato to blend in with the gravy a little bit.
Pop the lid on, set to cook on low for 7-8 hours or until the meat is tender.

Enjoy!

Did you catch this recent post, the recipe for Slow Cooker Lasagna? Oh my goodness, it sure is becoming popular! Perfect comfort food at any time of the year.

Previous Post: Slow Cooker Sausage Recipes

Find more slow cooker recipes for Kiwis, Aussies (and other cooks who use metric measurements) here at... Slow Cooker Recipes NZ - and check this out - the easiest way to see all my Slow Cooker Recipes!

Slow Cooker Sausage Recipes | Italian Beef Sausage Casserole

2012-09-03T08:00:00.000+12:00

Today seemed like the perfect day to create a new slow cooker sausage casserole. It was cool and dark rain clouds were gathering on the horizon when I was out walking this morning.

You may have noticed, but I pretty much don't use packets of this and cans of that in my recipes, unless the ingredient list is simple stuff like "tomatoes, water" and not much else! I try to keep our diet free from preservatives and additives - within reason! It takes a bit longer to put stuff together, but for my money, it's worth it.

Also, I know you noticed I almost never brown anything before I put it in the crock pot, except the onions in my primo Pumpkin Soup recipe. But the beef sausages looked like they would be better browned and then that gave me the excuse to brown the onions and deglaze the pan with balsamic vinegar and a tiny bit of stock - anyway, let's get into it!

Italian Beef Sausage Casserole | Slow Cooker Recipes NZ
2 x 440g cans Cannellini beans, drained and rinsed (or red kidney beans if preferred)
700g jar ready made pasta sauce (or 2 x 440ml cans tomato paste)
2 onions chopped finely
1 Tblsp balsamic vinegar
1 Tblsp low beef stock (yay, I found a low-sodium one this week!)
1/3 cup water
500-600g low fat, low sodium all beef sausages (my pack had 8)
1 Tblsp garlic granules
1 Tblsp Italian herbs
2 bay leaves

Put the beans and tomato into the crockpot base and set to low to warm up.
Fire up the stove and brown the onions, when done add the balsamic vinegar and stir to coat.
Add the beef stock and water to the onions and stir to combine in the pan.
Add the onion mix to the slow cooker, stir to combine.
Brown sausages lightly in the pan.
While the sausages do their thing, keep an eye on them, making sure they brown all over and add the herbs and spices to the slow cooker. Give it a good stir.
Add the sausages in one layer and press them into the tomato sauce.
Cover and cook on low for 7 hours.

To serve, thicken*with a sprinkling of 1-2 tablespoons for Gravox or Bisto, if necessary.
Taste and adjust seasonings.
I took the sausages out and cut them up into fine rings before returning them to the thickened sauce.
Remember to find and discard the two bay leaves.

Serve with creamy mash - or over pasta, with seasonal steam veggies and or salad.

*I would not have thickened the sauce if I was serving over pasta.

A perfect meal on a cooler evening. Enjoy!

Previous Post: Slow Cooker Lasagna| Slow Cooker Recipes NZ

Slow Cooker Lasagne | Slow Cooker Recipes NZ

2012-08-27T05:30:00.000+12:00

I love it when my supermarket has best quality mince on sale, I only have a little freezer, but I always stock up! When you have a slow cooker, you can make the most amazing dinners with mince - all while you do something else all day. If you haven't tried the Porcupine Meatballs yet, do give that a go, I am still making it once a week - by popular request - we really love it!

Another soon to be popular, I'm sure is this super easy slow cooker lasagna. Tip - check the ready made pasta sauce in jar area of your supermarket, on the bottom shelf do they have a cheap as chips 'own brand' tomato, onion type of basic pasta sauce in a 700-800ml tall glass jar? That's what you need, grab it - actually grab two! It's perfect for the Porcupine Meatballs and also for this dish.

Slow Cooker Lasagne

Serves 4-6
Cooks on low in 8-9 hours

Beef Layers

500g best quality mince
700-800ml glass jar of pre-made pasta sauce
2 tsp mixed or Italian herbs
freshly ground pepper to taste
1 Tblsp garlic granules or 2 cloves, crushed
2 Tblsp Worcester sauce

250g dried (uncooked) lasagne shapes or strips

Cheese Sauce Layer
2 tsp cornflour
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1 cup grated cheese
paprika to dust top with

Spray slow cooker base and turn on to high to start it heating up.
Add the 6 items in the beef layer to a large mixing bowl and mix until thoroughly combined.
Add one third of the beef layer to the slow cooker base.
Top with half of the broken up lasagne pieces.
Add the second third of the beef layer.
Top with the remaining pasta shapes.
Add final third of the beef layer.
Make the cheese sauce layer by mixing the cornflour, egg and milk together, whisk while heating over a medium heat until it's a smooth sauce, add the cheese and stir/whisk until cheese has melted and the sauce is a smooth consistency. Pour over meat layer and sprinkle with a light dusting of paprika.
Cover, turn the slow cooker down to low and cook for 8 to 9 hours.

A simple, budget friendly, family friendly recipe that is easily made for a wonderful mid-week meal. Serve with salad and garlic bread.

Lasagna, like meatloaf, is a great base to sneak extra veggies into too. Add a finely grated carrot or courgette to the meat - finely chopped celery and or green pepper works well too. You could even add another layer, try tinned or fresh sliced mushrooms or a layer of baby spinach leaves. Each variation adds a new dimension, new flavours and adds extra nutrition for your family. I have not added a layer of cheese or cheese sauce with each meat layer to keep the cost and the fat down. Cheese has become so expensive, I find it is better for the budget and the arteries to add a little of the quality stuff, than use more of the cheaper stuff, but that's entirely your call. Make it how you think your family will enjoy it best!

Previous Post: Spiced Apricot Chicken

Find more slow cooker recipes for Kiwis, Aussies (and other cooks who use metric measurements) here at... Slow Cooker Recipes NZ - and check this out - the easiest way to see all my Slow Cooker Recipes!

Spiced Apricot Chicken | Slow Cooker Recipes NZ

2012-08-20T06:00:00.000+12:00

It's like the old fashioned apricot chicken we all love, but this one is a little bit more special! This recipe came about one week when the 'supermarket brand' of dried apricots was on special for an amazingly good price. I grabbed them and started thinking about how I could make a slow cooker apricot chicken recipe without the packet mix. Then as I didn't have any chicken in the freezer, I waited for a bargain to come around on that, and the stage was set! Hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

Tip: Are you wondering why I put Worcester sauce in everything? America's Test Kitchen taught me that trick - if you are not browning anything before popping it in the slow cooker, just add a bit of Worcester sauce and it pumps up the flavour.

Spiced Apricot Chicken

Serves 4
Cook on low for 8 hours

2 tsp cornflour
2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp chilli flakes
2 tsp garlic granules
freshly ground salt and pepper to taste
440g can apricot nectar
1 onion quartered and thinly sliced
100g dried apricots (14 as it turns out)
2 tsp Worcester sauce
1kg skinless drumsticks

In the base of the slow cooker add the list of dry ingredients, stir in about a third of the apricot nectar, stir or whisk to make a smooth sauce. Add the remainder of the nectar, stir/whisk to combine.
Add in the onions, the dried apricots and Worcester sauce and stir to combine.
Add the drumsticks, cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

There was only two of us for dinner that night, so I took the left over chicken off the bones, added it back into the sauce and then reheated it the next night - it was even better than the first night! It would have been easy to stretch two drum sticks to feed three people just by adding a can of chickpeas. Funny how storing overnight (or freezing) and then reheating improves the flavour. Enjoy!

Previous Post: Chicken, Chickpeas and Tomato Casserole | Slow Cooker Chicken

Find more slow cooker recipes for Kiwis, Aussies (and other cooks who use metric measurements) here at... Slow Cooker Recipes NZ - and check this out - the easiest way to see all my Slow Cooker Recipes!

Chicken, Chickpeas and Tomato Casserole | Slow Cooker Chicken | Slow Cooker Recipes NZ

2012-08-13T05:30:00.000+12:00

Sometimes you just got to go with what is in your pantry - and this beautiful, tasty and easy slow cooker meal is one such creation! My family loved it, so I hope yours will too.

I always take the skin off chicken cooked in the slow cooker now, it lets the flavours get in and also cuts down the amount of fat in the dish - so it's more appealing visually, and it's better for us. But if you are in a hurry, don't worry, you can skip it. Use the amount of chicken you need to serve 4.

If you think it's best, thicken by mixing 1 Tblsp of cornflour into 2 Tblsps of water, turn the crock pot up to high for the last 10-20 minutes, while you get the rest of the meal ready. Otherwise, enjoy the tomato gravy with lots of mash, a crusty bread and with lots of fresh steamed greens.

Chicken, Chickpeas and Tomato Casserole

Serves 4
Cooks on low in 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours

About 1kg of either drumsticks or legs (skinless but with bones in, preferably)
1 onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 Tblsp garlic granules
1 Tblsp mixed or Italian herbs
1/2 a Tblsp Worcester sauce (adds a nice flavour boost)
440g can crushed tomatoes, tomato puree, tomato soup concentrate
440g can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
fresh ground salt and pepper to taste
a sprinkling of fresh or dried chopped parsley to serve

Optional Extras: If you want to sneak some extra veggies in:

add in some finely grated carrot and or a courgette with the tomatoes
some whole mushrooms or 2 frozen spinach cubes with the chicken
a couple of rashers of bacon chopped into this recipe with some mushrooms would be nice too.

Method

Just add everything to the slow cooker in the order listed here - adding any extras you are using in as you go.
Cover and cook on low for 5-7 hours.
Thicken sauce if you require.
Serve with crusty bread or mash, and seasonal veggies and or salad. Enjoy!

You may also enjoy Crock Pot Chicken with Sun Dried Tomatoes

Previous Post: Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs

Find more slow cooker recipes for Kiwis, Aussies (and other cooks who use metric measurements) here at... Slow Cooker Recipes NZ - and check this out - the easiest way to see all my Slow Cooker Recipes!

Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs | Slow Cooker Recipes NZ

2012-08-06T06:00:00.000+12:00

As long as you make the meatballs the night before, this is a super quick slow cooker recipe to assemble before you head out the door in the mornings - and it has a nice long cooking time on low.

I only had a choice of brown rice or risoni (a pasta that is a rice grain shape) in the pantry when I made this, so I used the risoni and it worked perfectly.

If you don't have 2 tins of tomato soup concentrate on hand, as an alternative that is possibly cheaper, check the price of the tall glass jars of your supermaket's 'basic brands' pasta sauce. You need 4 cups of tomato liquid to cook the meatballs in, and still have some sauce left to serve with.

Porcupine Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

Meatballs
500g best quality mince (any type you prefer or a mixture)
1 x onion chopped up finely
fresh ground salt and pepper to taste
either 1 tsp beef stock powder or 1 Tblsp Bisto or Gravox (latter is lower in salt)
1 tsp mixed herbs
1/2 cup of white rice or risoni, not cooked
1/4 cup milk

Sauce
2 x canned tomato soup concentrate or 1 Litre of V8 Juice

Method
Add the meatball ingredient list into a suitable sized mixing bowl and try to make enough meatballs for 2 or 3 per child and 4 or 5 per adult. It is easy to make 16-18 or 32-36 depending on what you need. Make to this stage the night before. Store meatballs on a dinner plate covered in plastic wrap. Add to slow cooker (use the plastic wrap to stop your fingers getting sticky) and then pour sauce over the next morning before heading out the door.

Sauce: if using soup cans, then open and pour over meatballs, half-fill cans with water and pour over - make sure you get all the soup out of the can by swirling the water around in the can! (Less dishes if you don't have to use a spatula.)

Cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-5.

Serve meatballs and sauce piled on top of pasta and with a side of steamed greens or a salad. Yum! Enjoy!

You may also enjoy this very popular NZ Slow Cooker Recipe: Mild Thai Style Coconut Chilli Chicken | Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Recipe

Previous post: Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Find more slow cooker recipes for Kiwis, Aussies (and other cooks who use metric measurements) here at... Slow Cooker Recipes NZ - and check this out - the easiest way to see all my Slow Cooker Recipes!

Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs

2012-07-30T06:00:00.000+12:00

If you are an experienced cooked, you can have a lot of fun with this easy recipe, using it as a base. You can make this recipe with beef mince, pork mince, lamb mince, or chicken mince - and it would not taste the same to the family. Buy what is on special and use that.

The sauce is what makes this recipe sweet and sour. So what other sauces can you make with a can of something - either a can of tomato puree and sprinkle of Italian spices or Moroccan seasoning, or a can of coconut cream and a spoon or two of curry paste. At a pinch a can of mushroom soup with a can of sliced mushrooms would make a great sauce. I'm sure you are getting the picture! You know what your family will eat, so let that be your guide.

Mince is never boring if you have a few ideas!

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Meatballs
3/4 C breadcrumbs
2 Tblsp milk
2 large eggs, beaten with a fork
1/2 tsp garlic granules
1/2 tsp ground ginger
season with salt and pepper to taste

600-700g lean mince (beef, lamb, pork, chicken)

Sauce
400g can of crushed pineapple including juice
1 Cup brown sugar
1/2 Cup white vinegar
3 Tblsp soy sauce
1 Tblsp cornflour
1 Tblsp water

To make the meatballs, put the ingredients except the mince into a large mixing bowl and mix to combine.
Add the mince, mix to combine and shape into golf ball sized meatballs. (Have you ever used an ice cream scoop to help you do this?) Place meatballs into slow cooker.
You can make the recipe to this stage the night before if you want to save time in the morning, put the meatballs on a plate and cover with plastic wrap, transfer to slow cooker in the morning.
To make the sauce, put the first four ingredients into a saucepan on a medium heat, stir and bring to the boil.
Add the cornflour and water to a small cup and stir to make a smooth liquid, stir mixture into boiling sauce, once sauce has thickened, pour over meatballs.
Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours.

Serve over rice with cooked carrots, beans, broccoli - whatever fresh or frozen vegetables your family likes with sweet and sour. If they are not keen on veggies, spread the rice over the whole plate, cover the rice with the veggies then add the meatballs and sauce. The sweet sauce should help miss or master fussy to eat them all up!

Get ready for a stack of clean plates and a round of complements! Enjoy!

Have you tried my Slow Cooker Pumpkin Soup or the very popular Slow Cooker Corned Beef recipe? They are easy, tasty, popular family friendly, budget friendly recipes - extra good at this time of year!

Previous Post: Slow Cooker Porridge Recipes - just what you need to wake up to on a chilly morning.

Find more slow cooker recipes for Kiwis, Aussies (and other cooks who use metric measurements) here at... Slow Cooker Recipes NZ - and check this out - the easiest way to see all my Slow Cooker Recipes!

Porridge | Rolled Oats | Slow Cooker Breakfast Ideas

2012-07-23T05:30:00.000+12:00

Oh, don't you just love waking up to perfectly cooked Porridge at this time of the year!

These are my two favourite slow cooker porridge recipes - the first recipe is Blueberry Oats and the second one is Apricot Oats.

When I put the Blueberry Porridge on to cook at night, I take a tea cup and put some frozen blueberries in it, and pop them in the fridge. The other serving suggestion item you can see in the photo is vanilla yogurt. Simply yum!

Slow Cooker Porridge Recipe for Two - Blueberry Oats

Cooks overnight on low for 8 to 9 hours, makes 2 servings

1/2 C frozen blueberries approximately (leave in fridge to thaw overnight to serve)
1/2 C rolled oats
a pinch of salt
a pinch of ground cinnamon
1 C water
maple syrup to serve (optional) (I prefer vanilla yogurt)

Before you head to bed, take the blueberries and put them in the fridge to thaw.
Mix the oats, salt, cinnamon and water in a 3 Cup bowl that will fit inside the slow cooker.
Put 3cm of water in the base of the slow cooker.
Add the bowl with the oat mixture to the slow cooker and put the slow cooker lid on.
Cook on low 7 to 8 hours or until oats are tender and creamy.
To serve, stir in blueberries, dish out into serving bowls, pour over the syrup - enjoy!
Store any extra portions covered with plastic wrap in the fridge and use within 3 days, reheat in microwave as required.

Slow Cooker Porridge Recipe for Two - Apricot Oats

Cooks overnight on low for 8 to 9 hours, makes 2 servings

1/4 C chopped dried apricots

1/2 C rolled oats
a pinch of salt
a pinch of ground cinnamon
2 C water
vanilla yogurt to serve (optional) (some prefer brown or raw sugar and milk)

Before you head to bed, mix the oats, apricots, salt, cinnamon and water in a 3 Cup bowl that will fit inside the slow cooker.
Put 3cm of water in the base of the slow cooker.
Add the bowl with the oat mixture to the slow cooker and put the slow cooker lid on.
Cook on low 7 to 8 hours or until oats are tender and creamy.
To serve, dish out into serving bowls, add either yogurt or if you prefer, brown or raw sugar and milk - and enjoy!
Store any extra portions covered with plastic wrap in the fridge and use within 3 days, reheat in microwave as required.

Previous Post: Slow Cooking Lemon Self Saucing Pudding

Find more slow cooker recipes for Kiwis, Aussies (and other cooks who use metric measurements) here at... Slow Cooker Recipes NZ - and check this out - the easiest way to see all my Slow Cooker Recipes!

Slow Cooking Lemon Self Saucing Pudding | Slow Cooker Desserts

2012-07-16T05:00:00.000+12:00

July is winter in our part of the world. Which means there is self saucing pudding cooking in my slow cooker! Usually it's my Chocolate Self Saucing Pudding, but this week it is Lemon Self Saucing Pudding!

When it's cold and gray outside it is so nice to have the sunshine colour of a bowl of lemons in the kitchen. And what better way to get that sunshine into you than a bowl of this! Yum!

The recipe calls for 2 tsp lemon zest and 1/4 Cup lemon juice. If you are lucky, this is what the average lemon (as pictured) will give you, so just grate all the zest from a lemon into the bowl, and add all the juice when you get to that bit.

This dessert has a lovely rich, tangy lemon sauce that works well served with the pudding and freshly whipped and sweetened cream or ice cream.

Slow Cooking Lemon Self Saucing Pudding | Slow Cooker Desserts

Cook on high for 2 hours. Serves 6.

Pudding Ingredients:
1 Cup flour
1/2 Cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp lemon zest
pinch of salt
1/2 Cup milk
2 Tbsp oil

Sauce Ingredients:
1-3/4 Cups hot water
1/4 C lemon juice
3/4 C sugar

Spray or grease the sides of the slow cooker bowl. (Helps with clean up later.) Boil the jug.
Measure the pudding ingredients into a mixing bowl and mix until it resembles a cake batter.
Add batter to slow cooker bowl.
To make the sauce, combine all ingredients in a heat proof jug and stir to combine.
Pour sauce slowly over a spoon, on top of the batter. Do no stir.
If you want the browned edge, cooked top appearance as pictured, place 4 paper towels over the top of the slow cooker bowl and quickly put the lid on. The moisture generated in the lid, drips onto the paper towels, rather than the pudding, so the pudding gets a chance to become more cake like in appearance.

Cook on high for 2 hours.
Serve with lashings of soft whipped cream and or ice cream for a wonderful winter comfort food treat.

Previous Post: Bread and Butter Pudding with Apples. (You have got to try this, it's amazing!)

Dessert Fans! You may also enjoy... Chocolate Fudge Pudding and Crock Pot Baked Apples

Find more slow cooker recipes for Kiwis, Aussies (and other cooks who use metric measurements) here at... Slow Cooker Recipes NZ - and check this out - the easiest way to see all my Slow Cooker Recipes!

Bread and Butter Pudding with Apples | Slow Cooker Desserts

2012-07-09T12:00:00.000+12:00

We love spicy fruit and raisin toast in our house. But no one is as fond of the ends of the loaf as they are the middle. So one day when there was four 'loaf ends' in the freezer (and no middle bits) I decided I needed to find a way to use them up! So that's why this recipe has 4 spicy fruit bread crusts. If you don't have raisin toast spare, then use any bread you have at hand. If you like them, sprinkle a handful of sultanas or raisins and add a little extra sprinkle of ground cinnamon over the apples.

If you are wondering if the evaporated milk is really necessary... well, no it's not, if you are feeding fussy eaters who may not eat the custard if it looks curdled, stick with the evap milk. I have made baked custard with soy milk, it doesn't curdle in the slow cooker, so you could try soy if you prefer.

The butter and the brown sugar make a caramel sauce that goes beautifully with the custard and bread pudding, but be warned, it all goes in the first couple of servings if you are not watching. Leftovers can be stretched - serve with store bought or fresh made regular custard and stewed apple.

This dessert is great served hot, and leftovers are best served chilled from the fridge. I like it equally well with ice cream or freshly whipped cream as a hot dessert. When cold for dessert of breakfast (I know, naughty, don't tell mum!) just as it is.

Bread and Butter Pudding with Apples | Slow Cooker Desserts

Serves 6, cook on high for 2 to 2-1/2 hours

2 Tblsp butter, softened to grease the slow cooker base with
1 Cup loosely packed brown sugar
4 spicy fruit bread crusts, cut into 1cm cubes (enough bread to make two layers of cubes)
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, halved and sliced thinly
4 eggs
1 x 375ml can light evaporated milk
1/2 Cup of water
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Grease the slow cooker base with the butter.
Add the brown sugar evenly to cover the base.
Using half of the bread, make a single layer.
Add a layer of sliced apples, using all the slices.
Lightly sprinkle the apples with ground cinnamon.
Add the final layer of bread.
In a 1L capacity bowl add the eggs and beat lightly.
Then add to the eggs, the evaporated milk, water, vanilla essence and ground cinnamon.
Mix thoroughly and pour over the bread, press all the bread down with a potato masher to ensure the liquid is in contact with all the bread.
Cover and cook on high for 2 to 2-1/2 hours. It's cooked when a knife inserted into the centre, comes out clean.
I like to time it to serve immediately... or the caramel sauce gets absorbed! Enjoy!

Previous Post: Moroccan Spiced Whole Roast Chicken Slow Cooker

Dessert Fans! You may also enjoy...Chocolate Fudge Pudding and Crock Pot Baked Apples

Find more slow cooker recipes for Kiwis, Aussies (and other cooks who use metric measurements) here at... Slow Cooker Recipes NZ - and check this out - the easiest way to see all my Slow Cooker Recipes!

Moroccan Spiced Whole Roast Chicken Slow Cooker

2012-07-06T21:35:00.000+12:00

Moroccan spiced slow cooker roast chicken with orange kumara and chickpeas... yum, just the type of meal we all love to come home to when it's chilly outside.

A great weekend meal too, put it on at lunchtime, cook on high and skip out for a few hours in the afternoon and come home to exotic spiced aromatic chicken roasting in your slow cooker!

Moroccan Spiced Whole Roast Chicken Slow Cooker Recipe

Serves 4
Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours

1.5-2kg whole chicken
650g orange kumara, peeled and cut into 3cm rings
400g can of chickpeas, drained, rinsed
1 Cup chicken stock
2 Tblsp dried garlic granules (or 4 cloves finely chopped)
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp chilli powder
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp smoked paprika
chopped fresh coriander to garnish
2 Tblsp toasted slivered almonds

Make a layer with the kumara in the slow cooker base, add the chickpeas, and place the rinsed and dried chicken to rest on top of the kumara.
Carefully add the chicken stock, the garlic and cinnamon.
In a small dish, mix the chilli, cumin and paprika together and then sprinkle evenly over the whole chicken.
Add your thermometer into the thickest part of the roast, cover and cook until the thermometer reaches 87 degrees Celsius, or until the juices run clear. On low that will be about 8 hours, on high, about 4 hours.
To serve, cook some fluffy white rice to soak up the juices, add some veges on the side to make sure you're getting some extra vitamins and serve the carved roast, kumara and chickpeas topped with a sprinkle of the chopped coriander and toasted slivered almonds and it won't long before you have a round of happy, full tummies and a stack of cleaned plates.

You may also like to try... Slow Cooker Texas Pulled Pork

Find more slow cooker recipes for Kiwis, Aussies (and other cooks who use metric measurements) here at... Slow Cooker Recipes NZ - and check this out - the easiest way to see all my Slow Cooker Recipes!

Slow Cooker Beef | Most Popular Recipes

2012-03-15T03:00:00.000+13:00

When you are standing at the freezer hoping for some inspiration for what to make for dinner tomorrow night, do you find yourself reaching for something to make a slow cooker casserole or curry with? Or are you more likely searching for a whole piece of meat to put in the slow cooker - a set and forget meal?

Either way, this selection of recipes has become the most popular beef slow cooker recipes, most likely because they solve that very problem...

"What can I make for dinner that's tasty, that everyone will eat and doesn't cost a fortune to make or take an hour to prepare..."

Beef and Kumara Curry | Slow Cooker Curry

Beef and Mushroom Casserole | Slow Cooker Beef

Shredded Beef Rump | Roast Crock Pot Rump Roast

Budget Beef Slow Cooker Curry | Slow Cooker Beef

Crock Pot Corned Beef | Slow Cooker Beef | Slow Cooker Corned Beef

These five slow cooker beef recipes are the most popular recipes using beef in the slow cooker on this blog. How many of them have you tried? They are all the sort of recipe that you make according to the instructions and enjoy, and you can then work out what you can add, replace or change up to mix it up and make something unique and different, or that is more to your family's liking.

Sometime you can get some inspiration from what's on special at the supermarket. Mexican or Moroccan spiced tinned tomatoes on special - or something marked down close to best before date like mushrooms or meat can inspire a new idea. Which is exactly how the first recipe came about!

I hope you enjoy trying something new from this list, but if beef isn't your thing, or not in your freezer right now, you'll find more slow cooker recipes for Kiwis (and other cooks who use metric measurements) here at... Slow Cooker Recipes NZ - and check this out - the easiest way to see all my Slow Cooker Recipes!

You may also enjoy... Slow Cooker Apple Recipes | Crock Pot Baked Apples

Slow Cooker Apple Recipes | Crock Pot Baked Apples

2012-03-01T03:00:00.000+13:00

I was looking for some fruit at the supermarket recently and nothing really took my fancy... until I saw some beautiful shinny green Granny Smith apples! Immediately I could smell apple pie spice wafting through our home and I could see us enjoying baked apples and icecream.

Luckily they weren't either enormous or tiny, they were all similarly portioned, (perfect for my 4L slow cooker) so I selected the best looking 6 and headed off to the baking isle to get a box of Australian raisins. You can use any kind of dried fruit, cranberries, mixed dried fruit, regular raisin - whatever you have on hand. But I know for slow cooker baked apples, my family really enjoy big fat raisins.

If you want to make the raisins go a bit further, make one third of the filling something else. I always have raisins top and bottom, but in the middle you could use muesli, plain oats, other dried fruit (chopped nuts, cranberries, apricots, dates). When the box is new, I use all raisins! With the second half of the box I usually add oats in the middle and add any extra raisins to the sauce.

My cinnamon is in a shaker container, so I am not sure exactly how much I use per apple, just sprinkle a fine sprinkle in, just enough to add some taste.

I'd already smelt the spice and seen us enjoying them, now I had to get home and put them in the slow cooker!

Slow Cooker Apple Recipes | Crock Pot Baked Apples

Cooks on low in 4 hours

6 blemish free, perfect Granny Smith apples (washed and cored)
1/2 a 375g box of Sunbeam Australian Raisins
approximately 1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 tspn nutmeg
approximately 1/8 cup sugar
Water

Wash and core you apples - don't dry them.
Squash 4-6 raisins together to make a plug for the base of the apple, to stop the filling falling out when you lift the apples out once cooked.
Add a few more to fill to half way, then sprinkle in a tiny amount (1/4 teaspoon) of sugar and a sprinkle or cinnamon and a dash of nutmeg.
Fill up with raisins and add to the slow cooker base.
Sprinkle a similar quantity of cinnamon and sugar over the top of the apples - the droplets of water will catch the cinnamon and give it a nice appearance of a dusting of cinnamon.
Add 1/2 - 1 tspn cinnamon to the slow cooker base, plus a couple of teaspoons of sugar and then add cold water to a depth of almost a centimeter. If you are feeling generous, add more raisins to the water too. This creates a nice sauce to spoon over each apple when serving.
The reason there is no butter in my recipe is we like to eat the apples hot when they are first made, and the leftovers, we eat cold. In my opinion, the butter congeals in a completely unpleasant way in the sauce and on the cold apples, and makes a healthy dish... not so healthy. For us it's all about the apples, raisins and spice.
Turn your slow cooker on, switch to low and cook for 4 hours.
Enjoy with greek yoghurt and a swirl of honey, or custard or icecream - or just as they are with a couple of spoons of sauce poured over the top. Delicious - enjoy!

You may also like... more Slow Cooker Desserts - check out my wicked Chocolate Fudge Pudding

Previous Post: Crock Pot Pork Chops with Cranberry

Find more slow cooker recipes for Kiwis (and other cooks who use metric measurements) here at... Slow Cooker Recipes NZ - and check this out - the easiest way to see all my Slow Cooker Recipes!

Slow Cooker Pork Chops | Crock Pot Pork Chops with Cranberry

2012-02-15T03:00:00.000+13:00

Mmmm... Pork Chops smothered with a sweet and sour style apple cranberry sauce - yummo! Can't wait for dinner.

If you are like me, and the mornings are a bit crazy in your house too, then you will love this recipe, because it is super simple to pre-pack it in a zip lock bag the night before, toss that in the fridge and then just pour it in the slow cooker before you dash out the door. Just remember to turn it on first!

Then you can spend all day looking forward to coming home to these delicious chops. Be sure to stock up on lean pork chops next time they are on special at your supermarket or butcher - this is a fantastic and easy week night recipe that you will use often and your family will all enjoy. Should you ever be out of cranberry, use a small can of pineapple and its juice, and hold the mustard - stunning! The kids will love this version too!

Crock Pot Pork Chops with Cranberry

Serves 4 or 6, cook on low for 6 to 8 hours

4 or 6 pork chops
1 jar cranberry sauce
1/2 cup apple juice
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp wholegrain mustard
2 tbsp cornstarch
1/4 cup cold water

Combine cranberry sauce, juice, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar and mustard until smooth; pour over chops. (Prepare the night before to this stage when using a zip lock bag.)
Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or until meat is tender.
Remove chops and keep warm.
In a saucepan, combine cornstarch and cold water until smooth; and then gradually stir in cooking juices. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Season to taste. Serve over chops.

Previous Post: Slow Cooker Lamb Recipes | Most Popular Recipes

You may also like...
Honey Soy Pork Meatballs in a Slow Cooker
Pork and Cider Casserole
Pork Casserole
Pork, Ginger and Apricot Casserole
Pork Goulash

Slow Cooker Lamb Recipes | Most Popular Recipes

2012-01-29T03:00:00.000+13:00

Slow Cooker lamb is my favourite meat in the slow cooker, it has all the tenderness of chicken, but with a richer, sweeter flavour.

Lamb in the slow cooker can be paired successfully with a good variety of additional flavours such as Morrocan, Irish (think Irish Stew), Italian and Indian inspired herbs and spices for chops, shanks, curries and casseroles.

My family also prefers slow cooker roast lamb over any other roast meat - I often serve either a lamb roast or a slow cooked boneless rolled and stuffed shoulder pot roast for a special occasion meal with friends or family - we just love it! Roast lamb always comes out tender, full of meaty flavour and because of the lower level of heat, it doesn't shrink up as much.

For my family, I only ever cook lamb in the slow cooker.

Here are the most popular recipes for lamb in the slow cooker - have you tried them all?

Slow Cooker Lamb | Most Popular Recipes
Honey Soy Lamb Chops | Lamb Slow Cooker Recipe
Slow Cooker Lamb Chops on Kumara
Lamb Rogan Josh Slow Cooker
Slow Cooker Lamb Goulash
Lamb Slow Cooker Red Curry

You may also like:
Slow Cooker Roast Lamb
Slow Cooker Irish Stew
Slow Cooker Lamb and Spinach Casserole
Lamb and Mint Meatballs

Find more slow cooker recipes for Kiwis (and other cooks who use metric measurements) here at... Slow Cooker Recipes NZ - and check this out - the easiest way to see all my Slow Cooker Recipes!

Mild Thai Style Coconut Chilli Chicken | Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Recipe

2012-01-15T09:00:00.000+13:00

I made this 'curry in a hurry' on the fly one morning, and it turned out beautifully! We ate the chicken on rice with the sauce over the top for dinner that night and had the left overs, just as cold drumsticks (no sauce) with salad the next day for lunch at work - nice!

This recipe came about with what I had on hand in the fridge and pantry that would let me create a meal with chicken drumsticks and a can or lite coconut cream - so if you don't have something, leave it out or substitute with something else. The coriander paste I get from the supermarket fruit and vege chiller section, it's in a tube - cheaper and lasts longer than buying fresh coriander when they have it in stock. I use a few of those paste tubes, I find them good value.

I always skin the drumsticks now, the flavours get into the chicken better and it reduces the fat content, so it's all good.

Mild Thai Style Coconut Chilli Chicken

1 can lite coconut cream
1 T peanut butter
1 T tomato relish
1/2 tsp chilli flakes
2 T coriander paste
1 kg (8) skinned chicken drumsticks

Add the sauce ingredients to the slow cooker base and stir to combine, add the chicken, spoon some sauce mix up over the chicken to coat it and then cover and cook on low for 7 hours or on high for 3.5 hours.
Enjoy!

You might also enjoy... Slow Cooker Chicken Casserole | Chicken Chasseur

Previous Post: Slow Cooker Texas Pulled Pork

Find more slow cooker recipes for Kiwis (and other cooks who use metric measurements) here at... Slow Cooker Recipes NZ - and check this out - the easiest way to see all my Slow Cooker Recipes!

Slow Cooker Texas Pulled Pork

2011-12-31T13:30:00.000+13:00

Back a few months ago I promised Gary a copy of a recipe "I knew I had" but then couldn't find - that is until now! I just found it! So here you go Gary, hope you enjoy it as much as we all did! :)

Free Slow Cooker Recipes | Slow Cooker Texas Pulled Pork
When I first came across the recipe, I had been on the look out for a Pulled Pork Recipe to try for a while. But as I said in the blog post, we're not big pork eaters, so the test pilots for this venture were going to have to include my brother, sister in law and their starving teenagers! I could have packed it up in containers and put it in the freezer, but I love helping my brother out when I can!

Weeknight meals can be a bit of a headache for families with busy schedules. Slow cookers can really save them time at the busy dinner end of the day. My brother is head chef during the week - he's the first adult home, so he's more than happy when the 'Slow Cooker Cook' (me) is around to help out. He loves to serve dinner family style - put it all on the table and everyone keep helping themselves until it's all gone. (And then if the teenagers are still hungry the pantry is never going to run out of weetbix, and the fridge is always flush with milk!)

He's the homemade kebab king (stir fried chicken) served family style with everything you would put in a salad, plus some mayo and bbq or satay sauce all bundled up in a wrap. So I thought this Pulled Pork idea would really work for him... :)

This Slow Cooker Texas Pulled Pork recipe is the only thing I have ever seen made at his house that there was so much left over that he got another main meal out of it! He was thrilled - really helps when you can cook once and feed the brood twice! He told me later he just reheated the leftovers and piled it up over buttered fettucine noodles, served with a side of homegrown broccoli and carrots and there was another round of clean plates and complements.

Previous Post: Whole Chicken Roast | Slow Cooker Roast Chicken

Find more slow cooker recipes for Kiwis (and other cooks who use metric measurements) here at... Slow Cooker Recipes NZ - and check this out - the easiest way to see all my Slow Cooker Recipes!

Whole Chicken Roast | Slow Cooker Roast Chicken

2011-12-16T13:30:00.000+13:00

The ultimate in easy summer recipes is to over night cook a large whole roast chicken in your slow cooker, and in the morning, take it out and pop it in the fridge so when you come home for dinner you have cold cooked chook to make a meal with.

Obvious choices for my family are chopped chicken over lettuce leaves with various other salad extras, such as chopped tomatoes, grated carrot, diced peppers, mushroom slices, a sprinkle of cranberries, pumpkin seeds, fine chopped herbs and swirl of your favourite salad dressing. Add a bowl of rolls and set the table, dinner is served!

LEMON HERB ROASTED CHICKEN
Serves 4-6
2-3kg whole roast chicken
½ teaspoon salt
½ onion, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh parsley
1-2 tablespoons butter
½ teaspoon dried thyme
Juice of one lemon teaspoon
paprika

Place the onion in the cavity of the chicken and rub the skin with butter. Place chicken in the slow cooker.
Squeeze lemon juice over chicken and sprinkle with remaining seasonings.
Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4 hours.

Previous Post: Summer Recipes

Find more slow cooker recipes for Kiwis (and other cooks who use metric measurements) here at... Slow Cooker Recipes NZ - and check this out - the easiest way to see all my Slow Cooker Recipes!

Summer Slow Cooker Recipes

2011-12-01T13:29:00.000+13:00

As it heats up outside, the last thing we want to be doing is heating up the inside of the house more with cooking a meal. So it's time to get the slow cooker out again! There are two ways to save heating up the kitchen, set the slow cooker to cook at the time of day that will least add to the heat in your kitchen, and cook when you are not in the kitchen. At this time of the year, I tend to do a bit of cooking ahead of a meal, by turning the slow cooker on to cook overnight, and then pop the roast chook in the fridge for using later. I also make sure the slow cooker is on when I am not planning to be in the kitchen because I am going out or working in another part of the house or garden.

The heat that comes off the slow cooker is nothing like the heat the comes of the oven or the stove, this is another reason I tend to use my slow cooker all year round. My slow cooker rarely gets put away!

Here are some of my favourite summer slow cooker recipes:

Slow Cooker Macaroni Cheese
Macaroni Cheese goes great with bbq meats and salads - so it makes a great summer dish - and it is easily able to handle feeding more people should you end up with more people at the table than you'd expected.

Crock Pot Meatloaf
Cook overnight and pop in the fridge for later. Can be whipped up into a main meal with some new spuds, peas and a salad. It is also fab in a bap or bread roll with a couple of slices of beetroot, lettuce and mayo! A great summer standby recipe! Keep it in mind for your next pot luck dinner!

Orange Chicken | Easy Chicken Crock Pot Recipe
This chicken cooked and cooled in the fridge tastes amazing cold. Serve with salad as a main meal or rip the meat up and use as sandwich filling - yummo! My family love marmalade, so I never have to wait long to get another 'almost empty' jar so I can make this recipe. At the moment the jar in the pantry is ginger marmalade - so that will be an interesting twist!

Happy summer slow cooking everyone!

Previous Post: Slow Cooker Irish Stew | Slow Cooker Lamb | Slow Cooker Lamb Casserole

Find more slow cooker recipes for Kiwis (and other cooks who use metric measurements) here at... Slow Cooker Recipes NZ - and check this out - the easiest way to see all my Slow Cooker Recipes!

Slow Cooker Irish Stew | Slow Cooker Lamb | Slow Cooker Lamb Casserole

2011-11-16T13:30:00.000+13:00

When lamb neck chops are plentiful and on special, be sure to pick up a couple of extra packs for the freezer. My family just love coming home to the aroma of Slow Cooker Irish Stew in the cooler months. I often cook this over night and then re-heat for dinner that evening or Sunday lunch. As difficult as it is to leave it once you have the aroma in your nostrils, it is so much better re-heated the next day. When I'm reheating, I always check to see if there is any leftover cooked vegetables lurking in little containers in the fridge that I can use up! If you are concerned Miss or Master Fussy might think the dish looks a little bland, add lightly cooked peas (or other small cut frozen vegetable selections) to warm through when reheating, this adds a nice burst of color. A sprinkle of fresh chopped herbs goes a long way to adding extra visual appeal - but I find it smells and tastes so good, you'll get no complaints! Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Irish Stew

Serves 4-8
Cook on high for 5 to 8 hours

8 round Lamb neck chops
4 large onions, sliced
3 leeks, sliced
3 tsp Mixed herbs
2 large parsnips, diced
8 carrots, thickly sliced
8 small potatoes, quartered
1 litre best quality vegetable stock
fresh cracked pepper to taste

Trim excess fat from the chops and then place in a pan with the onions and leeks. Brown chops on each side.
Sprinkle over the mixed herbs.
Add parsnip, carrots, potatoes and pour over the stock. Bring to a simmer. Transfer all the ingredients to your slow cooker.
Cover and cook on high for 5 to 8 hours.

Serve sprinkled with fresh herbs and a loaf of fresh crusty bread - yum!

If you feel the gravy needs thickening, add 1 tablespoon of cornflour to a cup or ramekin and then add 3 tablespoons of the hot gravy from the slow cooker and stir until lump-free, then stir into the slow cooker and combine well. Sometimes I take some of the chops out just while I do this, so you have easier movement to desperse the thickened liquid. Cover crock pot and let cook for 15 minutes longer before serving.

Previous Post: Slow Cooker Pork Recipe | Pork, Ginger and Apricot Cassorole

Find more slow cooker recipes for Kiwis (and other cooks who use metric measurements) here at... Slow Cooker Recipes NZ - and check this out - the easiest way to see all my Slow Cooker Recipes!

Slow Cooker Pork Recipe | Pork, Ginger and Apricot Cassorole | Slow Cooker Pork

2011-10-31T12:30:00.000+13:00

This is a wonderfully light and fresh dish. It can be served all year around - just vary what you serve as
accompaniments to keep it interesting for the family. This is one of those great busy family recipes - it can be prepared the night before - saves time in the morning, while still letting you serve a tasty, easy slow cooker dinner when you get home at the end of the day. Gotta love that!

Pork, Ginger and Apricot Cassorole

Serves 6
Cook on Low for 7 to 8 hours

1 kg pork pieces
1 onion peeled and chopped
1 clove garlic peeled and crushed
1 cup dried apricots
1 cup chicken stock
2 Tbsp tomato sauce
2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
1 Tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp grated fresh ginger
2 tsp chopped basil ( or 1/4 tspn dried )
2 Tbsp vinegar
freshly ground salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup chopped red pepper

To Cook: Save time in the morning, prepare into a ziplock bag the night before and put on a plate in the fridge, pour contents of bag in room temperature crock pot and remember to turn it on before you dash out the door! Otherwise, just throw everthing into crockpot and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours. Thicken 30 minutes before serving.

To thicken: Mix 2 Tbsp cornflour with 1/4 cup water.

To serve: Garnish with fresh, chopped parsley; with rice and a green salad or new potatoes and steamed spinach.

Tip: Adding a little more ginger, the fresh basil (if using) and red peppers an hour out from serving preserves the taste of the herbs and the colour and shape of the peppers. If you are going to do this extra step, check and adjust your seasonings at this step to. Enjoy!

Previous Post: Slow Cooker Lamb and Mint Meatballs

Find more slow cooker recipes for Kiwis (and other cooks who use metric measurements) here at... Slow Cooker Recipes NZ - and check this out - the easiest way to see all my Slow Cooker Recipes!

Slow Cooker Meatball Recipe | Slow Cooker Lamb and Mint Meatballs

2011-10-16T12:30:00.000+13:00

A flavour-packed delicious flexible slow cooker meatball recipe that can be part of a quick a family lunch or evening meal, a picnic snack or served warm or chilled as a cocktail nibble when entertaining. Where they team up well skewered with a toothpick, dipped in a tzatziki style dipping sauce (combine yoghurt, cucumber, garlic, lemon rind, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, lemon pepper and salt in a bowl. Cover. Refrigerate until required).

For lunch at home or on the run, pack a halved, fresh or toasted pita pocket, stuffed with lettuce and tomato and add hot or chilled lamb meatballs and drizzle over some tzatziki as a dressing and serve for lunch or dinner. So many ways to use this lovely easy slow cooker recipe!

Lamb and Mint Meatballs

500g lamb, minced
2 tbsp fresh mint, finely chopped
2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 tsp ground coriander
¼ tsp fresh ground pepper

Combine all meatball ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly.
Roll into walnut-sized balls size and place into slow cooker.
Cover and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours.

Serve, or chill in an airtight container in fridge (these can also be frozen and reheated for later).
How many sauces can you come up with to serve with these meatballs - quite a few - it just depends on what your family like. Make a tomato-onion sauce and serve over noodles, or a sweet and sour sauce and serve over rice, or an onion gravy style sauce and serve with mashed potatoes - the sky's the limit - so enjoy!

Previous Post: Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Wraps

Find more slow cooker recipes for Kiwis (and other cooks who use metric measurements) here at... Slow Cooker Recipes NZ - and check this out - the easiest way to see all my Slow Cooker Recipes!