Winter is well and truly here…time to get jiggy with the slow-cooker! If you don’t have one, I would definitely recommend a purchase. It is the best feeling getting dinner together and cooking by 9am and then not having to think about it for the rest of the day. I’m still trying to build up a decent collection of good recipes to cook in it so if you have any to share, I would love to hear them! You can cook any soup in it – and it will never boil over! Here is one of our favuorites…
Italian-Style Lentil and Bacon Soup
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tsp chilli paste
2 carrots, peeled and cut into little chunks
3 stalks celery, cut into little chunks
60g bacon, diced
1 large jar tomato pasta sauce
250g brown lentils, rinsed
1 1/2 litres vegetable stock
salt, to taste
lemon juice, to taste
2 big handfuls baby spinach leaves (optional)
Place first 9 ingredients into slow-cooker. Cook all day until tender.
Add salt and lemon juice to taste.
Stir spinach into soup just before serving (if using).
Serve with crusty bread.
