Slowly Slowly…
There is something so comforting about being out for the day and then arriving home to the aroma of slow cooked food that has been bubbling away all day while you have been gone.
Its also satisfying to know that all the hard work has been done earlier on and you just need to dish up and enjoy!
Get organised and with a bit of planning you will be able to reap the rewards of a slow cooked meal when you arrive home – Perfect!
How it works!
Many slow cooked recipes are simple – throw it all in one pot and let the slow cooker or oven do the work of bringing out the delicious flavours.
Slow cookers cook food at lower temperatures and use a removable pot with a lid that keeps the heat and steam inside during cooking. Most have a low and high temperature setting depending on how long you want to leave the dish to cook.
As the food cooks and produces steam, it condenses on the lid and drips back into the pot, so it is self-basting. Ingredients then simmer in their own juices and retain their nutrients and flavour.
So versatile!
Slow cooking is very versatile, and you may be surprised at what you can make using this method. Slow cooking is great for cooking cheaper cuts of meat that need a long, slow cooking time to enable them to become tender so this method is great for hearty stews and casseroles, but you can also make cakes, bread and desserts in them. At this time of year they are also great to keep a batch of mulled wine or hot chocolate warm!
Have a look at these recipes that are suited to slow cooking – and enjoy minimum effort with maximum results!
Venison & Cranberry Casserole
Slow cooking brings out the flavours of this dish and produces succulent meat that melts in the mouth.
Slow-Braised Ox Cheeks
A delicious new recipe from the brand new cookbook Healthier Comfort Food.
Fragrant Baked Rice Pudding
Not just for casseroles! Try a baked dessert in your slow cooker – this rice pudding is delicious!
Things to watch out for.
- You may want to brown raw meat on the hob before putting it into the slow cooker. Some models allow you to do this with the inner pot but please check first.
- You may need to adjust your recipe if it is not specifically for a slow cooker as you may need to add less liquid.
- More delicate vegetables should be added towards the end of cooking as they do not need as much time and may go soggy.
- If the recipe calls for dairy products you will need to add at the end of cooking to prevent curdling.
Healthier Comfort Food is a cookbook that features classic comfort food recipes but with fewer calories.
Healthier Comfort Food
Meltingly tender casseroles, flavourful take-aways, fish & chips, moreish cakes, sticky puddings and more...
![Katy Hackforth](http://www.dairydiary.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Katy-Hackforth-profile.jpg)
I look after communications and marketing at Dairy Diary. I’m a busy mum and love home baking and cooking for my family. In my spare time I enjoy visiting the theatre, eating out with friends and exploring the great outdoors!