busy job calls for slow cooker

I quite often use my slow cooker

I love the convenience of it... ready when you come in from work
I love the taste... delicious
I love the simplicity of it... you can put all ingredients in together ( but if I have extra time I do like to brown some of my ingredients first )

So the fact that with this new job, every day is different, and you never know what time  you are going to finish my slow cooker is going to be a God send...

And on that note I am going to share one of my recipes with you.. this is a very simple one

Savoury mince

• lean mince beef
• 2 onions chopped small
• 1 pepper   ( what ever colour you have in fridge )
• couple of cloves garlic chopped
• 2 or 3 carrots chopped small
• tin of tomatoes
• couple of beef stock cubes
• handful of frozen peas ( optional )
• a pinch of dried chilli flakes, for a little spice, and pinch of salt for taste ( optional )

so I havnt got much time so ...
in with the tinned tomatoes... and the stock cubes ..chilli flakes ..salt into slow cooker
all other ingredients can now go in too, give a good stir to mix all ingredients.. a little water can be added if necessary
cook on slow for 6/8 hours  ( work hours )  or 4 hours on fast
a spoonful of flour can be sprinkled on ingredients when cooking to thicken....

I usually serve with rice with this ...and if I have enough left over      ( thats if every dosnt want seconds )
I put it into a glass dish and put mashed potato over it..pop it in the oven for a delicious shepherds pie for the night after....delicious
and there's more....
another good accompaniment is dumplings...just drop a few on the top of mince in slow cooker for last half an hour...mmmmm....add a nice glass of red for the ultimate midweek treat

and of course this can be tweeked to each individuals preference....

perfect

panettone

so this is one of my favourite things to eat.....

 and for those who arent familiar with it......

Panettone - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panettone

Panettone is a type of sweet bread loaf originally from Milan usually prepared and enjoyed for Christmas and New Year in Western, Southern Europe and Southeastern as well as in Latin America

 

there are many ways to use panettone in recipes ( sweet/ dessert )  but I like it just simple...lightly toasted with loads of best butter...mmmmm

This particular one was from Lidl...and to be fair I dont think their is  lot of difference where ever you get it from

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1358/panettone-pudding

Have a great Shrove Tuesday...get those pancakes tossing

It's Pancake Day....

 So Shrove Tuesday is the last chance to indulge yourself, and to use up the foods that traditionally aren't allowed in Lent. Pancakes are eaten on this day because they contain fat, butter and eggs which were forbidden during Lent.

Not every body observes this tradition...but either way it can be a very yummy day....and an opportunity to try and give something up either just for a li'l bit of a challenge or for religious reasons for the next 40 days...with the knowledge that thousands of others are right there with you too....enjoy

Dont worry if you have a few fails and cheats...just start again and try to do better  ( like me !!! lol )

  

  

 And you can run all those calories off in a pancake race !!

  

Never really been a pasta lover !!! Italian lover...Yes....but not pasta !!!

So I'm going to give a pasta dish a chance.....

You got to admit this dish does not look that appetising.....but its got potential 

I recently saw a pasta dish being prepared on the tv and i got to say it looked delicious......and i want to hare it ith you....(no not my meal.....the recipe....lol )  ok   ok   u can share it !!!!

1.  cook long spaghetti in boiling water til  'a la dente'  ( "Al dente" is used to refer to food cooked so it is still "firm to bite" but not soft. )   

2. drain

3. cook diced pancetta/bacon/pepperoni (either of these can be used )  til crispy

4.  beat eggs and add a splash of olive oil/ veg oil etc and cheese and season with black pepper 

5.  add to spaghetti immediatley and stir.  

the heat from the cooked spaghetti will cook the egg mixture

6.  serve in warm dishes immediatley and sprinkle with coriander and parmesan/cheese  and crusty bread or ciabatta.....

Mamma mia.....

u can add other ingredients if you wish,,,,dried tomato , peppers, peas etc   

  

Independance of the Seas We are sailing....We are sailing...

Cruising  day 1

Wot a long day its been...wot with getting up early ..stressin ova wot I ent got n wot i av got!! (wel we ent got we wil av 2 go with out) ova 3 hrs drive and we r now on board....Amazin. 

too much coke i think !!!!

 The fun starts as soon as u get on board....eatin drinkin...even though she dosnt sail til about 5....exhausted its gone midnight and I need my bed....Good night
Wel that was short lived...woken abruptly by my eldest shoutin in his sleep...(seems like I only just closed my eyes) nearly jumped out of my skin. ...obviously had too much coke...thats the fizzy kind and my son ...not me!!

Cruisin day 2 and 3...

yummy   

Mr B's Favourite

Another one of his favourites !!!!

3 days at sea before we reach our first port of call

time for a bit of a gamble...

bit of shopping

watch a show

Amazin dosnt quite seem to describe this beauty....all day n night entertainment..more like an amusement park come shoppin mall with a few dozen eating establishment s thrown in for good measure......glitz and glamour plenty and thats just the decor...theatre icerink casino..eat ye heart out james bond Oh yes Mr Bond...and mines a Chardonnay....shaken not stirred !!!.(so I dont think I'll mind being on here for a couple of days...)