Winter Slow Cooker Ideas
As the weather begins to cool down, we often turn to more hearty and comforting foods. What’s one of the easiest and fuss-free ways to prepare dinner, especially in winter? Well, simply toss all your ingredients into a slow cooker, then get on with your other daily activities. Dinner basically cooks itself while you’re doing the things you enjoy. How good?! Try out these unbelievably delicious and instantly warming dishes, perfect for those chilly evenings.
Spruce up your weeknight with a slow-cooked steak and mushrooms.
This dish is an Aussie classic that never goes to waste. To quickly prepare, cut 1Kg beef chuck steak into cubes, slice 500g mushrooms in half, and dice 3 onions. Coat the steak in flour, salt and pepper. Add these into your slow cooker along with ½ cup tomato paste and 2 cups liquid beef stock. Leave to cook for 6 hours on high, or overnight on low, to enjoy the following day. If you’re looking to maximise flavour, add garlic and any dried herbs. It’s also easy to include your daily serving of vegetables. Simply add chopped carrot, zucchini, green beans, celery, turnips, swedes or anything you have on hand.
Make the perfect side to any dish with these comforting cheesy potatoes.
Line your slow cooker with foil, making sure there’s enough excess foil to cover the potatoes. Also, line the foil with a sheet of baking paper. Dice 4 rashers of bacon and 1 onion. Then, cut 8 baby potatoes into quarters. Layer half each of the bacon, onion and potatoes, along with ¼ – ½ cup shredded cheese. Season with salt and pepper, dried herbs and dollops of butter. Make a second layer with the remaining bacon, onion, potatoes and some more cheese. Season again. Cover with foil and cook for 8 hours on low. Or 6-7 hours on auto. If desired, sprinkle with shallots before serving.
Have a bit of fun with slow-cooked condensed milk and raspberry scrolls.
This will accommodate your sweet tooth for sure. Start by lining the base and sides of your slow cooker with a sheet of baking paper. Rub together 2 ½ cups self-raising flour and 60g cold chopped butter with your fingertips. Make a well in the centre then stir in 395g can condensed milk. Once the mixture starts to come together, press the dough into a rectangle then roll out on a sheet of baking paper (approx. 20x30cm). Spread ⅓ cup raspberry jam over the dough and scatter fresh raspberries. Roll the dough into a log, starting from the long side and enclose the raspberries. Cut the log into slices then arrange the scrolls over the base of the slow cooker. Lay a tea towel over the top before putting on the lid. Fold the excess tea towel over the lid so it doesn’t hang over the sides. Cook on high for 90 – 105 minutes until the scrolls are perfectly golden brown and cooked through. Set aside to cool. Dust with icing sugar and serve with custard or ice cream.
If you would like a helping hand with the cooking, visit our website and learn about our home care services. Our domestic care and personal carers can assist with meal preparation. We can also help when buying the ingredients and other groceries. Click here to find a Simply Helping location near you.
