How to make the perfect porridge in your slow cooker 

They usually are available in two sizes — both 3.5 litre or six litre. I discover a 3.5 litre grand for a household of 5 however the bigger dimension is useful for batch-cooking.

You’ll be able to run a gradual cooker on a timer in the event you’re going to be out of the home for lengthy durations of time or utilizing it in a single day. 

If yours doesn’t include a timer then purchase a timer plug in your native ironmongery shop (they’re cheap). I like to recommend you permit yours sitting on the again of the hob, away from little palms as they do get scorching to the contact on the skin. 

The hob is a heatproof floor and protected to sit down on as soon as the hob itself is turned off.

Gradual cookers expend the identical vitality as a light-weight bulb, making them very cost-effective (cheaper than an oven or a hob) and protected to make use of.

They’re not that costly to purchase and within the context of saving in your vitality prices this winter it’s an funding that can positively reap rewards within the dwelling. 

On the low finish of the market, there may be little or no distinction within the high quality of gradual cookers, aside from the value you’ll pay, so my greatest recommendation is to buy round to search out the value that matches your funds. Within the center worth vary you’ll discover gradual cookers which have a sear and stew choice. Which means you possibly can sear your meat inside the gradual cooker earlier than placing it on to cook dinner as regular. 

This technique of cooking makes use of barely extra vitality however does add an additional layer of flavour to your meals. It additionally requires extra of your time as a result of you need to stand over the cooker and sear, versus lashing every little thing in and giving it a stir earlier than flicking the change.

On winter mornings it’s a pleasure to enter the kitchen and have a piping scorching breakfast made with Irish oats to serve up. In my home all of us begin the day at completely different instances so a gradual cooker filled with porridge matches the invoice for us all. The trouble of stirring the substances into the bowl the night time earlier than is minimal and the reward is pleased, full tummies.

Creamy Gradual Cooker Porridge

recipe by:Caitriona Redmond 

Serve with a sprinkling of cinnamon and a drizzle of honey on high for a scrumptious and hearty warming breakfast

Preparation Time

 3 minutes

Cooking Time

 6 hours 0 minutes

Complete Time

 6 hours 3 minutes

Elements

• 200g oats

• 400ml water

• 400ml milk

•  

Technique

1. Place all of the substances into the gradual cooker earlier than going to mattress. Stir in order that the oats are nicely coated. Flip the gradual cooker on low and canopy.

2. Within the morning stir the porridge nicely and add a bit extra milk in the event you discover it’s too stiff.

3. Serve with a sprinkling of cinnamon and a drizzle of honey on high.

4. I like so as to add 100g of raisins at night time which ought to make this porridge candy by itself however not everyone seems to be a fan of raisins I do know.

5. Be happy to experiment along with your toppings within the morning as a result of much less time spent on the hob actually frees you up.

6. Chocolate chips and chopped nuts are one other glorious suggestion.

Warming Soup

recipe by:Caitriona Redmond 

An ideal bowl for winter lunches

Preparation Time

 10 minutes

Elements

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1 small onion, peeled and sliced

• 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and finely chopped

• 1 tsp harissa paste (I exploit Le Phar Du Cap Bon which I get in SuperValu)

• 100g pearl barley or dried soup combination

• 2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped into tough chunks

• 1 small turnip (or half a big one), peeled and chopped into chunks

• 300ml scorching water

• To serve:

• 1 handful of contemporary greens equivalent to spinach, sliced kale, or finely sliced darkish inexperienced cabbage

• Contemporary lemon juice

Technique

1. Warmth the oil in a big, heavy-bottomed saucepan on a medium warmth on the hob.

2. Add the onion and stir for 1 minute, subsequent add the garlic and stir once more. Prepare dinner for 4 minutes.

3. Squeeze within the harissa paste and step away from the saucepan so that you don’t inhale the steam – in any other case you’ll get a lungful of spicy steam & make your eyes water!

4. Pour within the pearl barley and stir in order that the barley is coated with the paste and begins to toast a bit within the warmth of the saucepan.

5. Add the chopped carrot and turnip, then pour the water on high of the greens and pearl barley.

6. Convey the saucepan to a simmer, then cowl and simmer the contents of the saucepan for 20-Half-hour.

7. As soon as the greens are nonetheless barely agency (not mushy!) the soup is cooked.

8. To serve the warming soup, spoon a big ladle of soup into an enormous bowl, then stir within the contemporary greens instantly into the new liquid in order that they wilt a bit bit.

9. Squeeze lemon juice on high and eat right away. As there may be pearl barley within the combination there needs to be no want so as to add bread to the dish, though it’s good to dunk in case you have some.

Particular Affords 

It’s simply over 90 days till Christmas Day. I do know it is likely to be the very last thing in your thoughts in the mean time however toiletry reward units are half-price in Dunnes Shops till October 10. You should use “store and save” vouchers to get much more cash off the ultimate whole on the until. The reward units can be found in sure shops however may be delivered additionally. You probably have bought an adolescent in your reward listing you possibly can’t go improper with Lynx or Dove units.

Tesco’s Meals Made Straightforward vary serves a really helpful 4 folks per tray and so they have a two for €10 deal on till October 4. Which means you must have the ability to serve 8 parts of dinner for €10, offering you employ your clubcard to buy. That’s a portion price of €1.25 per individual with minimal preparation and cooking. Nice worth in my guide.

Cash-Saving Tip 

Beans are an especially low cost different to purchasing a reduce of meat for dinner. A bag of dried beans will final you for weeks. All you have to do is keep in mind to soak sufficient beans the night time earlier than you plan to make use of them and boil earlier than utilizing them in your meals. 

A portion of dried beans prices a few quarter of the value of a contemporary entire egg; and a complete egg prices a few quarter of the value of a chunk of contemporary meat. If you put it that means it is exhausting to not think about consuming alternate options to meat when you’re on a funds. An egg a day is a superb technique to keep a wholesome degree of protein in your food plan.

After I’m batch cooking on the weekends that’s after I cook dinner up a number of parts of beans, pressure, and retailer in a sealed container within the fridge to be used in the course of the week.