Autumn Cooking

You know its Autumn in my house when my slow cooker comes out of the cupboard and gets a dusting off ready for plenty of use in the coming months. Autumn is my favorite time of year; Crisp fresh mornings, Cosy evenings in, Multicoloured leaves, Fluffy Slippers, Comfy cardigans and Stews & Casseroles for dinner.

The slow cooker becomes my best friend and the main reason I love it to much is because you can throw everything in, leave it to cook for 8 hours and enjoy a delicious/healthy family meal. Here are a few of my favorites -

Beef & Ale Stew (courtesy of Jamie Oliver) www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/beef-recipes/beef-ale-stew-1

Somerset Pork Casserole – from a Swartz packet mix

Butternut Squash Soup (courtesy of Mediocre Mum) www.mediocremum.com/2012/08/slow-cooker-sunday-butternut-squash-soup-with-dairylea/

Syrup Sponge (http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/13352/schooldays-treacle-sponge)

Sausage and Bean Casserole

·        Brown 12 sausages in a frying pan and put at bottom of slow cooker

·        Add 2 chopped large onions, 2 sliced carrots and 2 sliced sticks of celery

·        Stir in can of baked beans, can of haricot beans and kidney beans

·        In a saucepan add 6 roughly chopped large potatoes, season and bring to boil, drain and then add to slow cooker

·        Add  ¾ pt of Vegetable stock

·        Slow cook on ‘high’ for approx 4 hours

·        Serve with green vegetables

And enjoy!