Winter warmer recipes and upcoming events
Happy Wednesday! It is definitely slow cooker weather in Melbourne at the moment. I do love the slow cooker - it makes cooking so easy and it is also great for those nights when you have people coming and going for dinner at different times. I can set the slow cooker (and the rice cooker if needed) to keep warm and the kids can eat easily when they come in.
I know not all readers have a slow cooker so have put together this guide which shows how you could cook these recipes via a different method. As noted below slow cookers need less liquid so you will need to add extra liquid when cooking in the oven or on the stovetop, generally somewhere between 1/2 – 1 cup.
Tips for using a slow cooker
Using a slow cooker is one of the easiest ways to cook a meal. Follow these tips for success:
When cutting up ingredients, aim to cut them all in similar sizes so they will cook evenly.
Avoid lifting the lid on the slow cooker while it is cooking. When you lift the lid steam escapes and this will reduce the temperature of the slow cooker disturbing the cooking process.
As the slow cooker is using longer lower temperatures liquids don’t reduce, so you may need to thicken the liquid if you like a thicker sauce. This can easily be done by using cornflour or arrowroot flour mixed with water to make a paste, then adding it to the slow cooker 30 minutes before serving.
If you want to add pasta, rice, dumplings etc you can add them in the last 30 minutes of cooking the dish. Fresh herbs should be added at the end also.
If you are converting a traditional casserole into a slow cooker meal, you will need to use less liquid, generally somewhere between 1/2 – 1 cup less.
Popular slow cooker winter recipes
Here are some of the most popular slow cooker winter meals at our place and on the blog:
Adapt Drinks Upcoming Events
I am super excited to launch the first of the Adapt Drinks events! I am in the process of planning more too so keep an eye on the new events page on the website! The theme for the first events is yoga and relax!
The events are an opportunity for our community to spend some time nurturing their body and enjoy tasting our sparkling adaptogenic drinks! The hour session will start with a 30 minute yoga session with amazing yoga and meditation teachers.
Then after the 30 min class join me in a conversation on how you can set yourself up for a less stressful week while tasting delicious Adapt Drinks Relax.
You will receive a hard copy guide of my tips including helpful templates and a can of both Lemon Myrtle and Strawberry Gum Relax to take home with you to help you unwind throughout the week. You will leave the session feeling revitalised, relaxed and ready to tackle the new week.
Tickets are limited so get in quick! Both venues are beautiful but are smaller - this is so we can really connect. Click the links below to purchase your ticket:
Yoga and Relax Surrey Hills - Sunday 7th August from 3.30pm to 4.30pm at the divine InSpirit Urban Retreat.
Yoga and Relax East Keilor - Saturday 13th August 3.30pm - 4.30pm at the fabulous Own Your Health Collective Wellness Hub
If you have any questions about the events, hit reply to this email and I will get back to you asap!
Nic
PS. There are still a few Adapt Drinks sample packs available if you are keen to snap one up - click here to place your order.