A month of slow cooking

MrsSippi

We are a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids aged 2 and 7). Our kitchen is tiny and we don't have an oven so cooking meals is tricky to say the least!! We do have a halogen and Remoska but they both take up quite a bit of counter space. With all this in mind I want to see if I can use the slow cooker (and only the slow cooker) for a whole month (which works out at 35 days due to when pay day falls).

So I need ideas for 35 meals. I have had a look through the slow cooker recipe thread (well as much as I could, it's over 200 pages!) but am keen to get more ideas that don't follow a recipe as such (I.e. that you can just make how you like).

Off the top of my head I have the following: spag bol, chilli, lasagne, various stews (not keen on soup so that's out), curries (Thai green/korma), cider pork, gammon in apple juice (can stretch to 2 meals plus sandwiches), pulled pork, goulash. So that's 11 meals (allowing for a couple of stews and curries).

Only other thing to mention - obviously I want to keep within my monthly shopping budget so need to be as economical as poss (I.e. stretching meat etc). My monthly budget for all dinner food/ingredients is £ 90 (whole budget is a bit higher but need the extra for everything else - toiletries, lunch stuff, fresh bits etc).

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

MandM90

We're veggie so not good on meaty suggestions but am sure some can be adapted if you can't bear a meatless meal

Here are some of our faves:

- Mushroom stroganoff (onion, garlic, paprika, mushrooms, stock cube, dried parsley, dollop of yoghurt at the end...serve with rice)
- North african stew (either use north african spice mix or 5 crushed cloves, 2 bay leaves, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp turmuric, 1/4 tsp chilli powder. Fry up with onion, 2 cloves garlic then tip in huge chunks carrot, courgette, red pepers, 1-2 tins chickpeas, tin of tomatoes, veg stock cube, enough water to cover. Add salt to taste at the end. Serve over cous cous or rice)
- Bean chilli (I do an onion, 1 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp chilli powder, 2 garlic cloves, 2 tsp dried oregano, 1 tin toms, 1 tin kidney beans, 2 tins other beans, 1 tbsp veggie gravy granules, 1 tbsp soy sauce, enough water to just cover. I also add sweetcorn/peppers)
- Lentil spaghetti (much like normal spag bol but with lentils)
- BBC Good Food's lentil and root veg curried stew works really well in the SC and is super cheap and yummy
- Sausage stew (I do mine with veggie sausages, obvs - chunks of carrot, onion, tinned toms, stock cube, basil/parsley, white beans/baked beans, can chuck in big bits of potato aswell for a one pot meal)
- Have had success making baked potatoes in the SC, wrapped in foil (they don't get super crispy though)
- When I ate meat we did whole chicken in there, upside down on some slices of lemon and onion with thyme and black pepper. You could serve with salad and crusty bread for a spring/summer supper

C_J

A bag of frozen chicken breasts is currently £3.33 in Aldi and you get at least four massive ones, so this dish would easily stretch to two or more meals:

Defrost and dice the chicken, add it to your slow cooker with a large chopped onion, a tin of value chopped tomatoes, a teaspoon of paprika, turmeric, parsley and cumin, some crushed garlic if you like, a splash of white wine vinegar and a tin of broken mandarin orange segments including the juice. Add a chicken stock cube either in a little hot water or (preferably) dissolved in some orange juice to ensure you have enough liquid.

It sounds a bit weird, but it is really lovely.

I usually serve it with rice or mash, but if you want everything to be in the slow cooker together then you could add peeled diced potatoes to it, I'm sure that would be fine.

MandM90

Oh also what about chinese pulled chicken (serve will noodles) or coq au vin/beef bourgignon

caronc

Piri Piri pork steaks or chicken thighs (The Nando's marinades are quiet often on special offer)
Corned beef hash or stovies or scouse
Slow cooked roast beef (Tesco & Asda have offers on at the moment)
Slow cooked whole chicken, prep as you would for the oven. Pop a couple of thickly sliced onions on the bottom of the SC. Add chicken, cook for 2 hours on high then 2-3 on low.
You might find this website helpful http://www.slowcookercentral.com/recipes/

suki1964

I just pop into lidl and see what their £2 offers are and thats the meat for the week sorted

Chicken quarters this week, and there is a lot of meat on those considering so they are in the slow cooker to be chicken pie and chicken curry - thats 6 meals here

Meatballs were good value as well so that meatballs and spaghetti for 3 and some frozen to make meatball subs for a Saturday night supper when I don't want to cook ( I cut them up a bit as too big for a sub really )

I don't know where you are but pork seems to be really cheap at the moment and every supermarket Ive been in has had pork loin reduced.. That cooks really well in the slow cooker. If its a tiny piece I give it a dry rub and turn it into pulled pork. Any larger then sliced thin for a roast dinner and then stir fries or sweet and sour etc ( I Know not slow cooked )

vegetable con carne, chunky root veg, chilli, tinned tomatoes, cumin - great for getting turnip and carrots ate

Good luck with it all

joedenise

Try googling "A month of slow cooking". There are loads of websites with plenty of ideas. One I had a quick look at was 365 days of slow cooking.

The sites seem to be American and they seem to use 4 or 6 quart slow cookers. American quarts = the same number in litres. You'd probably get away with using a 3.5 litre oval slow cooker for the 4 quart recipes but would need a 6.5 litre slow cooker for the others. You don't actually mention what size slow cooker you have.

Hope you can at least find some ideas on those websites.

Denise

YORKSHIRELASS

We regularly do whole chickens and joints of pork and beef.

Aloo keema is a great one pot meal.

Google bbc good food chicken and bacon stew, another real favourite here.

Meatballs are brilliant and leftovers freeze well.

purpleivy

You don't need 35 different things. You can have some things twice. Only need to cook those once in double quantity

pollysg

You can also add separate veg or whatever by cooking in a boil bag or slow cooker bag at the same time as your main recipe. Allow a gap for any steam to escape, I usually catch the top under the lid of the slow cooker.
Hope that helps,
Polly

Gateway_89

Hi, I've got two easy recipes for you. Corned beef hash . 4 large potatoes peeled and cubed , add 2 tins baked beans when they are cooked add 1 tin of corned beef . It makes a lot . It's tastier than it sounds .
I don't know the name of this one , my dad used to make it when man was ill. Only time he cooked lol .
2 sausages and 2slices of bacon each all cut into small pieces . Lots of potatoes sliced , 2 onions sliced , salt and pepper. Both recipes are nicer that they sound , and very reasonable price to make.