crockpot – Mediocre Mum

Slow Cooker Leek and Potato Soup

Hearty Slow Cooker and Leek and Potato Soup with Crispy Bacon Bits

Apparently we have a rather large storm on the way, which is going to be comparable to the one in the 1987. However, I wasn’t in the UK in the 80s so I missed it but I have read ‘Rumours of a Hurricane’ by Tim Lott so I have an idea how bad it was and I’m aware of Michael Fish’s infamous blunder when he assured people as a weatherman that there wasn’t a hurricane coming. Whoops!

My storm preparations haven’t extended beyond securing the bins, bringing my washing in and having my groceries delivered this morning. I just need to dash out and get some wine.

I can’t help thinking that it’s going to be perfect weather for soup and in this case Slow Cooker Leek and Potato Soup. I originally got the recipe from Sainsbury’s and have made very few changes to the original.

Modifying for Slow Cooker

Like the original recipe I sautéed the leeks, potatoes, onions in a frying pan for about 10 minutes but instead of adding the stock and simmering for 20 minutes on the hob, I transferred the contents to the slow cooker and then added the stock, stirred, covered and cooked on low for 6-8 hours. The benefit of slow cooking the soup is that we can all eat at different times if need be. Full recipe can be found at the link above or in the description of the video.

If you do try it do pop back and let me know how you get one.

Meal Planning Monday – 22 April 2013

I’m stuck in this limbo between Winter and Spring. I know it’s supposed to be Spring but I kept finding myself still choosing winter comfort food when planning my meals this week; Two Bean Chilli, Sausage and Puy Lentils and Spaghetti Bolognaise.

I’ve never made the Salt Cod before and in truth I’m using up a selection of white fish from the freezer so it may not actually be cod.

I’m reviewing the spices, hence the Spicy Chicken and Rice recipe, but I’m not convinced about Chicken and Cinnamon and not sure how it will work.

I’m out at my networking group, An Afternoon in the Pub on Friday, so I will pop Spag Bol in the Slow Cooker for Hubby and Madame as it’s their favourite.

As always, these are all Slow Cooker Recipes and if I have any joy, you will find them on my other blog, slowcookerqueen.com.

Have a great week.

Meal Planning Monday – 15 April 2013

My daughter has now been off school for 18 days! 18 WHOLE DAYS! I’m gagging for her to get back to school tomorrow and a semblance of a routine restored. Her school had an inset today (just what we needed after two weeks off), but she was still supposed to go to child-care but threw a wobbly and as I was home, I decided to spare the childminder the pain and keep her home with me.

However, I did explain I had work to do and I’ve already planned the meals for the week so she’s going to have to eat Cannellini Risotto. It’s not going to happen is it??? And for the record, I’ve got very little done.

Anyhow, all of the recipes this week are new so I don’t have any links to the recipes but if they turn out okay, you will eventually find them on The Slow Cooker Queen.

Have a great week and I hope you enjoyed a bit of sunshine.

Meal Planning Monday – 18 March 2013

I like to plan my weekly meals as it saves me time, money and stress.

It’s a rather ‘normal’ week around here and the majority of meals will be slow cooked. I have to do an airport run tonight but forgot hubby is in London so I have to bundle the little one up and take her with me. Hopefully, our Thai Curry isn’t overcooked and turned to mush when we get home.

I’m out Tuesday night in London for an SEO event, however, I’m not feeling that enamoured as I overdid it a bit last night and I will need to sort out some childcare so we will see.

We’re trying to eat a bit more fish so you will see that we are having it on Wednesday and on Friday. Fingers crossed Madame likes the Risotto, but I do know she loves prawns.

Have a great week everyone.

Slow Cooker Sunday – Chinese Food (Beef and Greens)

Since we’ve started using our Slow Cooker regularly we find that we are having way less Take Aways than we used to. Back in the day, by the time I got home from work, collected my daughter from childcare, bathed her and got her into bed. It was getting late and I couldn’t be bothered starting to cook, so we’d find ourselves whipping around the corner to McDonald’s or ordering in.

Last week I was inspired by Cabinet Stew to have a go at making Chinese Food in the Slow Cooker. It was a lovely change to the MSG filled ones that we were getting delivered and no more waking up in the middle of the night dying of thirst.

Slow Cooker Sunday – Chinese Food (Beef and Greens)

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

6 hours

Total time

6 hours 10 mins

Author: Mediocre Mum

Recipe type: Slow Cooker

Cuisine: Chinese

Serves: 4

Ingredients

500g Stewing Beef
1 small onion, sliced
2 cloves of minced garlic
1 TBSP of Rice Wine Vinegar
2 tsp of brown sugar
1 cm grated ginger
80 ml reduced salt soy sauce
1 tsp of orange zest and the juice of the orange
1 tsp Chinese Five Spice
160 ml of beef stock
Black Pepper
1 TBSP of Corn Flour dissolved into 2 TBSP of water
one small head of broccoli cut into bite sized pieces
1 tin (225g) of Bamboo Shoots and Water Chestnuts, drained.

Instructions

Place the beef and the onions in the bottom of the slower cooker season with pepper. In a mixing jug, combine the garlic, vinegar, sugar, ginger, soy sauce, orange zest, orange juice, spice and beef stock. Mix well and pour over the meat. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
An hour before serving stir in the cornflour, this should help it thicken and place the water chestnuts/shoots and broccoli on top. Replace the lid and cook for another hour. Gently mix before serving and serve on a bed of rice or noodles.

Don’t forget Slow Cooker Sunday is all about sharing recipes and being inspired. Please add your favourite recipes by using the Linky below. They can be old or new and don’t have to be your own. As long as you have a web address they can be added. Alternatively, you can always add them in the comments section.

For more recipe inspiration check out our Pinterest Board, with over a hundred slow cooker recipes or join our Google + Community ‘All Things Slow Cooking’

And if you subscribe to my blog, using the form in the sidebar you can get a free copy of my first ever eBook ‘There’s More to Slow Cooking than Stews – 10 Recipes to get you going’.

Disclosure: The meat was Courtesy of www.farmison.com; a one stop gourmet shop selling food and produce sourced from over 75 of the UK’s leading farms and producers. All the best quality, most popular and rarest cuts of award-winning meats, cheeses and greengrocer goods are all selected for their superior taste can all be delivered directly to the door of the home cook.