Cut the waistline and the food bill at the same time!

OK so Christmas is well and truly over and it is time to reduce the waistline and the food bill. 

Before you do that though if you don’t already have a slow cooker now is a good time to buy one.  Preferably one with an inner casserole dish you can use on the hob that way you only need to wash one pan and it saves on time as well as money.  I love the George Home 5.5L Slow Cooker from Asda it is really large, has an inner dish that can be used on the hob (not induction) and is currently reduced in the New Year’s sale.

Slow cooked food always tastes great whether it be vegetables or the cheaper cuts of meat. You can put it on before you go out to work or when you have a busy day at home and you have a healthy and hearty meal waiting for you which won’t break the bank or hurt the waistline.

I often search the offers section with the 'use by date' bargains in the supermarkets.  I will quickly fry onions on the hob first, the same with meat to seal it before I add the vegetables and put the casserole dish back in the slow cooker.  Then add a tin or two of chopped tomatoes some chillies if I fancy a chilli or some curry powder if I prefer a curry.  For a more meaty dish add some chicken or beef stock cubes and hey presto a meal that often lasts more than one day and can be frozen for a later date.

Slow cookers are also great for cooking a joint of pork, flash fry it first on the hob, then place back in the slower cooker add some cornflour, ginger, brown sugar and cider. This makes a great meat dish for Sunday lunch.

For full details of the recipes mentioned please go to www.grubonabudget.com