Lazy Slow Cooker Meals

I haven't been well lately so I suppose I should call this post Crock Pot Meals for sick people.   Ah maybe not!

I love slow cooker meals but when you aren't well you want something that doesn't need much preparation as well as cooking itself.  Yeah well it can be done and I have done it.  I found that McCormick and Maggi and I am sure other companies have brought out a range of crock pot/slow cooker recipe bases which are just perfect for this time.

Just make sure you have all the ingredients and add it all to the slow cooker.  Easy.  I like Chicken Chasseur with chicken pieces, an onion, sliced mushrooms and tomato paste and the recipe base of course. Add the base with some water and pour over the rest of the ingredients into the crock pot.  Cook for 8 hours on low and you have your meal.

Next you have a sick house then make up these bases and presto you have dinner.  No one needs to leave the house to go get it.  Just serve with bread, toast, rice, pita bread or pasta or mixed vegetables.

My Darling cooks for me

I love cooking but during the week when I am working I would rather leave that task to my darling partner/fiancee/best friend.  He cooks our dinner about 3- 4 times a week and makes some great meals.

I would like to thank him publicly here for all he does to make my life easier.  He is a gem.  I work full time, do a part time course and blog in my spare time so I really appreciate that he cooks dinner those times. 

He has his favorite meals like steak and salad, pork chops with apple sauce, and my favorite being spaghetti with seafood marinara (see pictures).  He is retired now and so he can produce a great dinner at his own pace, that is, when he can drag himself away from work in the garden or a good book.  He even cleans up after himself.

As it is summer here in Australia we like to eat outdoors and we have a small balcony that overlooks the lake so we sit out there with a glass of wine and a nice meal and relax.  

Thanks Darling for all the meals you have cooked for me.

Cooking with Nana

My granddaughter likes to come visit and cook with me.  She also likes to shop with me too :)  She has been doing that since she was about 2 or 3 years old and she is 6 now.  It's our time together and we enjoy it.

I bought her an apron last year so she brings that with her when she comes over.  She had been wearing one of mine and it was just too big.  Now she has her own pretty pink one and it is the same style as mine.

We like to make slices and cakes as well as helping me with cooking my Crock Pot Meals. She doesn't seem to tire from helping me in the kitchen and I love to have her there with me. It would be nice if she grew up to be a good cook and is making a good start so far.

Yesterday we made a cake in the crock pot and as she was staying for dinner that night with her parents and brother, we had the cake as dessert while it was still warm. See the picture in this post for an action shot of her mixing the cake. Note thought she is not wearing her pretty apron as she forgot to bring it with her.

Time with grandchildren is so precious and I am so happy I can spend time like this with her.  I wonder if my grandson will want to cook with me too when he gets old enough?

My Mother's Cooking

My mother was born into a society where women didn't work after they were married.  She was also born into a large family and lived through the depression and war years.

She had permission to stay at work until she had her first child and then became a stay at home Mom, or Mum, as I call her.  She had learned to cook from her mother and grandmother and is what you would call now a traditional cook.

My mother was a good cook though and as the family grew to 8 she was adept at making good nutritious  meals on a budget.  I learned  a lot about cooking from her and gained the love of it as well.  Cooking for my family is one of my favorite things especially in winter when the kitchen is warm and the aromas inviting and comforting.

My mother has just turned 86 years old this Boxing Day 2009 and she doesn't cook as much as she used to but she still cooks for herself.  She still has her original hand written cookbook from at least 40 years ago and still enjoys her own cooked meals.

This Christmas just gone, with a lot of  help from the family, she still made the traditional pudding which is wrapped in a muslin cloth, boiled and hung to dry.  It was excellent as usual and enjoyed by everyone.

Mum you are a legend!

Cooking the crock pot way

I am a busy woman, working full time, trying to keep a house clean and be a wife and grandmother as well. I was looking for ways to save money and my time and I remembered I had a crock pot packed away somewhere. I finally found it and I have been using it ever since.

The crock pot is the best thing since sliced bread. I set it in the morning and I have a hot cooked dinner when I get home from work. For a complicated recipe I will cook on a Sunday and then reheat for Monday night's dinner. Serve with rice or potatoes and vegetables or in summer with a salad.

Winter and changing of the seasons are great times for soup and I have been making lots of soup lately. I have a blog with a lot of recipes which is called Crock Pot Meals and you can get the recipes there.

I have found that I don't spend as much time in the kitchen now and we have less take outs which saves me money (for my vacations). Have you rediscovered the crock pot?