One pot slow cooker lamb roast

So about a week ago i posted a recipe on a beef roast done on the slow cooker so i thought, why not also do lamb? lets get started!

1kg leg of lamb (if you see any fat remove it!)
6 large potatoes, chopped into 1/4 or 1/6's
3 red onions quartered
5 large carrots, peeled and roughly chopped into chunks
1 small butternut squah peeled and chopped
2 tsp freshly finely chopped rosemary
1 head of garlic chopped in half
generous pinch of salt and pepper.
200ml lamb stock cube (or whatever you have to hand)

place the lamb in the bottom of the slow cooker and season with salt and pepper.
place the veggies and garlic over and around the lamb then sprinkle over the rosemary
pour in half the stock and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-6 hours, check to see if the stock needs topping up ever couple of hours or so.
when the lamb is done. remove it to a plate with the vegetables.
the garlic should be very soft. squeeze it into the juices and leftover stock within the slow cooker and blend it, add a little water if it needs to be thinner.

All in one beef 'pot roast' (slow cooker)

Tender juicy beef, vegetables, potatoes and a gorgeously comforting onion gravy, what could be better?

We start with 1kg of lean beef (use what you can afford! it doesn't actually have to be a joint or anything!)
3 large onions sliced thinly
(i use chesnut mushrooms in mine too, usually about 6-7 sliced thin but i saute them in a frying pan with some low cal spray before adding them to the slow cooker! just put them under the beef with the onions)
1 bay leaf
1tbsp cornflour (1syn)
4 large carrots chunked up
4 potatoes chunked up
generous pinch of dry thyme and rosemary.
200ml beef broth
1 bay leaf
generous pinch of salt and pepper.

lay the onions in the bottom of the slow cooker and place the beef on top.
mix the beef broth with the cornflour, bay leaf, rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper and pour over the beef and onion. put the carrots and potatoes on top.
cover and cook for 6 hours on high or 8 on low.
i usually just boil some broccoli and green beans to go with it but i dont see why you couldnt also add that to the slow cooker!

I hope you like this dish i would love some feed back!

Tray bake posh fish and chips

OOOH yes.. the fish and chips. well i say chips, mine are usually random cuts of potato that go crispy and delicious. I so need to have this for dinner again soon!

Serves 4 people
4 pieces of fish (your choice what you use!
25g of semolina ( 4 syns)
1 tbsp reduced fat pesto (1.5 syns)
salt and pepper
zest of one large lemon
As many potatoes as you wish, cut into whatever shape you want.
4 onions, cut into wedges (optional)
(i usually serve mine with mushy peas and salad but its your choice entirely)

Put the potatoes on a lined oven tray with the onions spray with fry light and a little salt, put in the oven at 180oC for 30 minutes.
After the 30 minutes. pat your fish dry, in a cup mix your pesto with salt, pepper and the lemon zest. brush each fish with the pesto and press it into the semolina (or sprinkle it over preference again)
Place on top of the potatoes and cook uncovered for 10 minutes, check the fish, depending on the thickness you may need more time, or sometimes less time.
I know you dont exactly get a lovely crisp batter but you still get a little crisp and a punch of flavour from the topping!
(alternatively you could leave out thepesto and without patting the fish dry you could pat on the semolina salt and pepper)

i hope you enjoy!

Vietnamese beef stew (my version)

Not long ago i became unhealthily obsessed with asian, vietnamese and thai food!
I came across this aromatic soothing beef stew, full of the herbs and spices needed to cure a cold!
Perfect for a cold evening!
It really is a slow cooked dish so if you dont have a slow cooker use a dutch oven!

4-6 people
1kg stewing steak.
4tbsp soy sauce
1tbsp fish sauce (yes i know it smells but trust me!)
3 lrge garlic cloves grated
1tsp grated ginger
1 tin of tomatoes
2 tbsp romato puree
200ml beef stock
1 bay leaf
6 carrots peeled and in bitesize pieces
3 spring onions in chunks.
2 star anise and 1 cinnamon stick
1 tsp 5 spice
generous amount of black pepper
2 large white onions (in bitesized chunks)
2 large green pepper (in bitesized chunks)
1tsp sesame oil (2syns)

Marinate the beef with the garlic, ginger, soy sauce, fish sauce and 5 spice over night. or 2 days in advance!
put all of the ingredients (just not the green pepper or onion and sesame oil) in the slow cooker.
Let it cook until you are ready to eat (i serve with rice)
Before you cook the rice, get a frying pan EXTREMELY hot and chuck in the onions and peppers let it sit for 20 seconds, flip it, let it sit again for another 20 seconds. Repeat and add to the stew with the sesame oil and stir through.
Serve whilst hot, sprinkle with spring onions (optional but adds another dimension)

Jambalaya

This recipe is brilliant for leftovers or if you just want to make a delicious dish!
serves 4-6
6 boneless skinless chicken thighs (in bite sized cube or use leftover roast chicken!)
4 heck chorizo style sausages (currently 2.5 syns each so 2.5 if serving 4 but 1.5 if serving 6, skin removed)
3 sticks of celery and 2 carrots (finely diced or grated)
1 large white onion (diced finely)
1 large green pepper (slightly larger dice)
1 large red pepper (same as green pepper)
4 large tomatoes (cut in half and grate into the stock, its the easy way to remove the skin!)
3 cloves garlic
1tbsp paprika (not smoked)
450ml chicken stock
250g long grain rice (basmati works well)
1 bay leaf
1tsp dried thyme and oregano
sprinkle of chilli flakes (optional)
(6 large prawns to serve ontop are optional)

okay it sounds like a lot of ingredients but its a very very easy recipe.
Fry the sausage braking it up while it cooks. when it is cooked add in the chicken. cook until the chicken is 3/4 of the way done. add all the vegetables and garlic. stir until the onion becomes translucent. add in the rest of the ingredients. stir thoroughly, sprinkle in some salt and pepper, cover, cook on low for 15 minutes, remove the lid give it a stir. cover and let cook for a further 10 minutes on low.
Done :D

enjoy.. i know it sounds like a lot but this recipe is pretty basic 4 tomatoes, 450ml of stock, garlic, paprika 250g rice.. then you can add anything else you want! any veg that is starting to go over (fry that first though to give it a head start)
and the best thing... its a one pot meal! yaaaahhh!

Enjoy!