[Kizzy]

Cold weather coming now brrrrr!
Don't want salads I want something hot and hearty but still low cal and healthy.
Anyone got any faves or ideas?

[Ninastar]

soup

[Kizzy]

I like soup, but was thinking of like family meals.
Pork shoulder is only £2.50 per kg atm so made a massive pork and lentil stew that was lovely.
Started to buy dried beans and pulses too instead of tins, much cheaper.

[mizzy25]

I was going to say soup too
shepards pie homemade of course

[Kizzy]

Can I tell you a secret?....
I have NEVER used my slow cooker
But I promise I will!

[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Can I tell you a secret?....
I have NEVER used my slow cooker
But I promise I will!

Kizzy ,you should,they are a God send,put ingredients in ,in the morning and hey presto it's ready for tea time and beautifully cooked.

[Josy]

Originally Posted by Kazanne

Kizzy ,you should,they are a God send,put ingredients in ,in the morning and hey presto it's ready for tea time and beautifully cooked.

I agree.

I love my slow cooker

[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by Josy

I agree.

I love my slow cooker

Me too Josy,what did we do without them,I also like the halogen ovens,mines just broke,but have to get another.

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Kazanne

Me too Josy,what did we do without them,I also like the halogen ovens,mines just broke,but have to get another.

Yes, the Slow Cooker is indispensable in our kitchen.

[Josy]

Originally Posted by kirklancaster

No Josy, because we were very poor when I was a child and my dear old mum used to overuse it in stews and broths to 'bulk' them out bless her.

That and tinned fruit (for the same reason) are about the only foods which I don't like.

I really love home cooking though Josy and I'm grateful I was raised on good wholesome food - poverty turned out to be a blessing in this respect. It seems you're a keen home cookery fan too. Trouble is, this recipe of yours has got me wanting some now. LOL.

Yeah my mum and mother in law got me into home cooking and I get what you mean about the pearl barley, I actually use it to bulk out things too the same with adding grated carrot and stuff to other things

And get in and make yourself a pot of soup, theres nothing better on a cold winters night IMO.

Originally Posted by Kazanne

Me too Josy,what did we do without them,I also like the halogen ovens,mines just broke,but have to get another.

My mother in law uses her halogens constantly she has 2 and uses them for almost everything, she actually got rid of her oven because the halogen takes it's place and so now just has a stove top built into the worktop.

[Mrluvaluva]

A nice bowl of home made chilli.

[smudgie]

Home made soups and stews....or casseroles. Yummy.
Much prefer cooking winter food.

[Josy]

I always have something cooking in my slow cooker during the colder months atm it's chicken legs/thighs, I will remove the meat from the bones and use it for tomorrows dinner with some veg then use the rest for a curry, soup and sandwiches, so probably for 3 or 4 different things and I think they were only about 4 quid from co-op.

I add lentils and broth mix to allsorts of things in the winter too like stew, goulash, hotpots etc and we always eat things like that with side veg as well as having chopped veg in them.

Our favourite slow cooker meal is bbq pulled pork.

Other healthy stuff we eat in winter for dinners is stir fry, pasta bakes, and tons of home made soups, omelettes, I will probably think of more..

[thesheriff443]

Originally Posted by Josy

I always have something cooking in my slow cooker during the colder months atm it's chicken legs/thighs, I will remove the meat from the bones and use it for tomorrows dinner with some veg then use the rest for a curry, soup and sandwiches, so probably for 3 or 4 different things and I think they were only about 4 quid from co-op.

I add lentils and broth mix to allsorts of things in the winter too like stew, goulash, hotpots etc and we always eat things like that with side veg as well as having chopped veg in them.

Our favourite slow cooker meal is bbq pulled pork.

Other healthy stuff we eat in winter for dinners is stir fry, pasta bakes, and tons of home made soups, omelettes, I will probably think of more..

reading this makes me hungry.

[Josy]

Another one of our easy winter go to's is Smothered Pork Chops, this was the first meal I ever made in our own house when I was 16 years old and I think I phoned my mum every two minutes to double check everything she told me

4 pork chops (bone in or out is up to you)
2 large onions
2 beef oxo cubes

I add some extras sometimes like mushrooms or carrots.

Place your chops in a casserole dish (you can brown them before hand if that's what you prefer)
Chop the onions and place on the top (as well as any extras)
Mix the 2 beef cubes with enough water to cover everything

Cover with foil then place in a preheated oven and leave to cook for about 40minutes, I then remove the foil and turn the chops so the top doesn't dry out then put them back in the oven for another 20/30 minutes without the foil.


You can buy a 4 pack of frozen boneless pork chops from Morrisons for £2 and they work well with this, just remember to defrost them first.

Edit - I forgot to add this serves 4 of us and we have it with mashed turnip

[Holly Christmas]

I want a slow cooker.

[Ninastar]

I would definitely advise the slow cooker. its how we get through winter.

you can make all sorts with it.

we cook a roast overnight and have it the next day and its soooo nice

[In the Drunk Tank]

First time I've even heard of a slow cooker

[Josy]

Originally Posted by *Kate*

I want a slow cooker.

You can pick them up quite cheap now Kate, Tesco do 3L ones for £15

[arista]

Originally Posted by MTVN

First time I've even heard of a slow cooker

Cost effective
and you leave it on while you go to Work.


Pro People use them

[Cherry Christmas]

Originally Posted by arista

Cost effective
and you leave it on while you go to Work.


Pro People use them

yes Kizzy, not overnight when you are in bed!

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Cherie

yes Kizzy, not overnight when you are in bed!

Haha my mates mum had one she came in from a nightclub and devoured whatever her mum was making overnight once
That's what made me think overnight haha!

[Kizzy]

I got one and then got paranoid about having it switched on while we were asleep :/
I get a turkey thigh and drumstick they are £4.50 (sometimes £3) and there's loads of meat on them easy enough for 2-3 meals and sandwiches.
I had no idea turkey was a lot lower in fat than chicken until recently, bonus
Will have a go at that bbq pork, my lad will love that!

[Ammi]

..soups definitely, I could live off homemade vegetable soups in the winter ...also any curry is lovely in the slow cooker, I like anything that you can just throw spices and pulses into it and be inventive....

[Cherry Christmas]

Originally Posted by Kizzy;6421151[B

]I got one and then got paranoid about having it switched on while we were asleep :/[/B]
I get a turkey thigh and drumstick they are £4.50 (sometimes £3) and there's loads of meat on them easy enough for 2-3 meals and sandwiches.
I had no idea turkey was a lot lower in fat than chicken until recently, bonus
Will have a go at that bbq pork, my lad will love that!

I never cook overnight, usually 6/7 hours is enough, so you can start it about 9/10 ish in the morning and the food is ready by dinner time (evening dinner!)