Slow Cooker Roast Chicken

Ingredients

• 1.2-1.5kg whole chicken
• 1 halved lemon
• few garlic cloves
• 1 onion, peeled and quartered
• 1 tbsp paprika
• freshly ground black pepper and salt

Method

• Wash chicken inside and out, place halved lemon, onion and cloves inside cavity
• Rub paprika all over bird and give liberal sprinkling of salt and pepper.
• Ball up 6 balls of aluminium foil and place in bottom of cooker
• Pour water around balls. Place bird on top of foil so it isn't touching bottom
• Cook on high for 1hr and then reduce to low for 8-10 hours or leave on high for 5-6 hours.

Chicken Pot Pie

This one is my all time favourite, and you can add whatever vegetables you have in the fridge- YUM!

Ingredients

• 2 Sheets puff pastry
• 1 chicken breast fillet or left over chicken
• 1 onion diced
• 1 small carrot diced
• 1 stick celery diced
• 1 tin of cream of chicken soup

Method

• Pre-heat oven to 200 degrees. 
• Cook chicken and set aside to cool if using left over chicken skip this step.
• Saute onion, carrot and celery in pan chicken was cooked in.
• Shred meat, add back to pan and stir in soup.
• Grease pie plate. Line base with one sheet of pastry, add filings and top with second pastry sheet. I like to use left over pastry to write on the top :)
• Trim and crimp edges, add 4-5 vents in top to let steam escape. brush with water.
• cook in oven for 25-30 minutes until golden brown

Pizza Base

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1 packet (8g) dry yeast 
• 1 teaspoon caster sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3/4 cup warm water

Method

• Combine dry ingredients in large bowl, add oil and water.
• Mix into soft dough, knead on a floured surface until soft and pliable, return to bowl and cover with cling wrap. Place in a warm spot for 30 mins, the dough should double in size.
• 'Punch' dough to get rid of air bubbles, remove from bowl and knead gently for one minute, roll dough out to desired size and thickness and add toppings, cook for 10-15 minutes but keep a eye on it as it depends on how thick and the size of the pizza.

Toppings you might like

• tomato sauce 
• Mozzarella or Parmesan cheese
• feta cheese
• mushrooms, thinly sliced
• Italian sausage, cooked ahead of time
• chopped fresh basil
• Pesto
• Pepperoni, thinly sliced
• onion, thinly sliced
• sliced ham
• pineapple- my favourite! Although hubby can't stand it on pizza he says i'm so Australian  to like it lol

Slow Cooker Meatloaf

Ingredients

• 2 lightly beaten eggs
• 1/2 cup tomato paste
• 1 tbsp mixed herbs
• 3 cloves crushed garlic
• 1 cup quick cooking oats
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 grated carrot
• 1 brown onion grated
• 1kg mince beef
• Grated zucchini, make sure to squeeze out liquid
• 6 slices cheddar cheese

Method

• Cut four 60 cm pieces of foil, fold over to create long strips. Lay strips in bottom of slow cooker, will use these to lift meatloaf out.
• In bowl combine eggs, tomato paste, herbs garlic, salt, pepper, carrot, onion and zucchini, place beef on top and using hands combine well.
• tip mixture onto foil and form a loaf using hands, place lid on and cook 3-4 hours on high and 6-8 hours on low
• When there is 10 mins remaining, lay cheese over top and replace lid.

Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 500g mince
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 400g tin diced tomatoes
• 140g tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup water

Method

• Heat oil on medium heat and add garlic and onion fry until soft.
• Add mince and brown, pour into slow cooker, and add remaining ingredients.
• Put lid on and cook 6-7 hours on high
• Cook pasta and serve with cheese

Chicken Enchilada Soup

Chicken Enchilada Soup

Ingredients

• BBQ Chook (I got hubby to grab one on his way home)
• 2L chicken stock
• 1 can of corn, drained
• 1 can of kidney beans, drained
• 1 can of diced tomatoes
• 1 packet of taco seasoning or 2 tbsp of Home Made Taco Mix
• 1 onion, sliced and diced
• a corriander bunch
• Plain corn chips, hubby accidently picked up the cheese ones but it still tasted great
• Sour cream

Method

• Saute onion with a bit of olive oil
• Strip chicken and dice meat, throw into slow cooker with onion. I just stripped the chicken meat right into the pan I had the cooked onion in.
• Add corn, beans, tomato, seasoning and stock to cooker
• Stir and cook for 4 hours on high or 6-8hrs on low
• Stir coriander in just before serving
• Serve with bowl of corn chips and sour cream on the side for dipping.

Can also top with cubes of avocado, chopped spring onions, grated cheese or sliced jalapenos

Menu Plan Monday

I have decided to try and get more organised and plan my meals (haha!) instead of rushing around at 5pm like a chook without her head. I love slow cooker and one pot meals, I'm not one of those people that live to eat honestly if I didn't get hungry and hubby wasn't complaining he was starving I wouldn't cook at all. My goal would be to only shop once a month and go to the farmers market on a Sunday for fresh food hmm can i do it? I'm willing to give it a go!

Monday- Chicken Enchilada Soup
Tuesday- Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese
Wednesday- Shirley Six Layer Casserole
Thursday- Slow Cooker Meatloaf
Friday- Pizza
Saturday- Chicken Pot Pie
Sunday- Slow Cooker Roast Chicken