Cooking it Slow . . .

My new favourite kitchen gadget is my slow cooker, to the point I have even bought a second smaller one.  

Big Cook Little Cook !!

 

I have had my bigger slow cooker for a couple of years but only ever made simple things in it, chicken in gravy or braising steak.  I was recently added to a facebook group for "Slow Cooker Saddo's" by a WW facebook friend, Sue, and my eyes were opened to a whole new world of cooking.  I thought slow cookers were for casseroles and soups but now i know different.

The lovely ladies at the weight watchers magazine kindly added a slow cooker recipe to the page with my column this month, Spanish Chicken and rice, and wow it was good.  I have now made it twice, modified the recipe to make it for one and the second time added Butternut squash chips and salad to fill my plate for no more points, my kind of food.  (This whole meal was only 9pp)

 

 

Tonight I have made homemade bread in the larger cooker to go with a huge pan of homemade bacon and lentil soup, warm, comforting food on cold, autumn nights, nothing nicer.  All of us liked the bread and i still cant believe how well it turned out.  I wouldnt make it every week as its not the lowest pointed bread at 3pp for 45g, but it was filling and really tasty.

 

 

Another success was Pulled Pork, great for a filling and healthy day so no counting or measuring.  I made mine into hot pork sandwiches inside WW petit pains, they were amazing.

A few things are not so weight watcher friendly, like the rice pudding I made but as long as I am cooking it I can easily work out the pro points per portion so I don't miss out on all the goodies I am making.

Jack wants me to make Nutella Swirls next and I want to try lasagne, the list is endless and I have never enjoyed cooking so many homemade meals as I am now.

Now to save for an Actifry or maybe ask Santa for one ;-)