yiweidy

As it heats up outside, the last thing we want to be doing is heating up the inside of the house more with cooking a meal.  So it's time to get the slow cooker out again!  There are two ways to save heating up the kitchen, set the slow cooker to cook at the time of day that will least add to the heat in your kitchen, and cook when you are not in the kitchen.  At this time of the year, I tend to do a bit of cooking ahead of a meal, by turning the slow cooker on to cook overnight, and then pop the roast chook in the fridge for using later.  I also make sure the slow cooker is on when I am not planning to be in the kitchen because I am going out or working in another part of the house or garden. The heat that comes off the slow cooker is nothing like the heat the comes of the oven or the stove, this is another reason I tend to use my slow cooker all year round. My slow cooker rarely gets put away! Here are some of my favourite summer slow cooker recipes: Slow Cooker Mac...

When lamb neck chops are plentiful and on special, be sure to pick up a couple of extra packs for the freezer.  My family just love coming home to the aroma of Slow Cooker Irish Stew in the cooler months.  I often cook this over night and then re-heat for dinner that evening or Sunday lunch.  As difficult as it is to leave it once you have the aroma in your nostrils, it is so much better re-heated the next day.  When I'm reheating, I always check to see if there is any leftover cooked vegetables lurking in little containers in the fridge that I can use up!  If you are concerned Miss or Master Fussy might think the dish looks a little bland, add lightly cooked peas (or other small cut frozen vegetable selections) to warm through when reheating, this adds a nice burst of color.  A sprinkle of fresh chopped herbs goes a long way to adding extra visual appeal - but I find it smells and tastes so good, you'll get no complaints!  Enjoy! Slow Cooker Irish Ste...