| A slow cooker is one of those kitchen appliances that | | | | tomatoes, onion, carrot, wine and stock. The long, slow |
| might not seem essential at first, but once you own | | | | cooking will allow the flavours to develop into the best |
| one, you wonder how you ever managed without one. | | | | tasting spaghetti bolognaise you've ever made. |
| From professionals to shift workers to busy mothers, | | | | Irish Stew - you can use cheap cuts of lamb or beef |
| a slow cooker can be the answer to time-poor people | | | | to make this pub classic. Again, all you need is some |
| who don't want to sacrifice the quality of their meals to | | | | basic vegetables, stock and lots of time in a slow oven |
| their busy lifestyle. A slow cooker will allow you to | | | | and you will be enjoying this tasty, economic meal |
| throw in some carefully selected ingredients and come | | | | when you get home. |
| home to a meal that has simmered slowly over a long | | | | Soups |
| time. Anyone who knows about food knows that this | | | | Most soups benefit from long, slow cooking and this is |
| will always result in an excellent meal. | | | | why a slow cooker is the perfect way to achieve |
| Making dinner on a budget can be harder when you | | | | warm and tasty winter meals. |
| are eating fast and low fat meals, because it relies on | | | | Try these suggestions for soups that will benefit from |
| high grade ingredients and fresh preparation. Cooking | | | | a slow cooker; |
| on a budget however, will often mean that the food | | | | Mulligatawny Soup, an English curry soup; Beef and |
| needs to be cooked a little longer to tenderise cheaper | | | | Barley soup, using chuck steak that will become |
| cuts of meat and allow simple flavours to deepen, | | | | melt-in-your-mouth; Italian Minestrone soup that will |
| which is why a slow cooker is perfect for cooking on | | | | develop a rich and flavoursome base from long |
| a budget. Cheaper cuts of meat are often more tasty | | | | cooking, or a rustic bean soup using dried beans that |
| than more expensive cuts. Lamb shanks, osso bucco, | | | | will become creamy after slow cooking. |
| chuck steak and pork knuckle are renowned for their | | | | Desserts |
| flavour and often appear on restaurant menus. | | | | Who would have thought a slow cooker could make a |
| Cooking on a Budget | | | | dessert? In fact, just like an oven it can turn out |
| Beef bourguignon - using chuck steak, a basic selection | | | | creamy rice puddings, light and crumbly apple cakes, or |
| of vegetables, wine and bacon you can cook a French | | | | how about chocolate fudge pudding? Any traditional |
| classic. | | | | English steamed puddings will cook nicely in a slow |
| Moroccan Lamb Tagine - with lamb shanks, a basic | | | | cooker. |
| selection of vegetables and some carefully selected | | | | Just as with the savoury meals, slow cookers are only |
| spices you can have an exotic and tasty feast. | | | | limited by your imagination. So get online and search |
| Traditional Italian Ragu - using pork and beef mince you | | | | the endless recipes that suit slow cookers from meaty |
| can rustle up an authentic Italian bolognaise using | | | | stews to breads and puddings. |