Winter recipes courtesy of Oily Rag

Winter recipes
By Frank and Muriel Newman

The winter chill has set in so it’s time to think about winter meals, and there’s none better than a slow cooking casserole – preferably on a wood burning stove or heater! Here are some low cost slow cooking recipes sent in by readers.

M.M. has this fantastic recipe their mum used to make. It's cheap, quick and delicious and is a family favourite. This recipe also freezes really well, so you can make it in advance or freeze the leftovers. Ingredients:

· Chicken legs and/or thighs

· Large tin of tomato soup

· Large carrot, sliced

· 10 mushrooms, chopped in chunks

· Large brown onion, thinly sliced

· 1 tablespoon dried mixed herbs.

All you have to do is place the ingredients in a casserole dish, mix, and then place the lid on the dish. Cook in a moderate oven for approximately 45 minutes - 1 hour. Stir it after 30 minutes to mix it all through. Serve with rice and beans or peas. Mum used to coat the chicken pieces in flour and brown them before placing in the casserole dish. However, as a busy mum myself, I skip this step and it turns out just fine. It is such a hearty meal, you will all love it!

If you can beg or borrow a crockpot (not a crackpot!), simple, delicious and cheap meals can be made. Brown some meat (like lamb shanks or gravy beef) and onions in a frying pan then place in the crockpot. Add a packet of dried tomato soup mix, some chopped tomatoes, carrots, celery, courgettes (or any vegetables you have available) and a couple of cups of water. Stir around, add herbs to taste and leave it to cook on low all day. With some pasta and a tossed salad you have a tasty meal for a hungry family.

Here is a mince casserole that can be adapted for any family taste. Put any of the following ingredients, in layers, in an ovenproof dish. Minced meat (beef, lamb, hogget, pork, chicken, rabbit or possum) plus a mixture of any of these: sliced onions, grated swede, chopped carrots, kumara or pumpkin, drained tinned tomatoes, finely sliced potatoes, frozen peas, beans or corn, odd bits of shredded cabbage or cauliflower (not broccoli -it goes a funny colour). You may like to try sprinkling sunflower or pumpkin seeds between the layers. A pinch of sage over pork, a sprinkle of rosemary over hogget or a smear of prepared mustard or horseradish sauce over beef is very tasty. Gently pour over the casserole a mixture of 2 cup of warm water, leftover gravy or tomato juice, with salt and pepper to taste, about a tablespoon of either tomato, Worcestershire, plum or black bean sauce and the same amount of vinegar. Put a lid on the dish or cover with cooking foil and bake gently at 225 C for 90 minutes. Delicious with garlic bread and fresh salad.

K.B. from Tauranga has sent in this recipe for a hearty tuna casserole: Melt 3 teaspoons butter in a saucepan, add ¼ teaspoon finely chopped parsley, ¼ cup chopped onion and ¼ cup chopped mushrooms, and sauté until onions are transparent. Remove from heat, add 3 dessertspoons flour, 2 teaspoon salt and a pinch of pepper. Mix it all together. Add 2/3 cup milk and 1½ cups water. Return to heat and cook until sauce thickens, stirring constantly. Add 3/4 cup grated cheese and continue cooking until cheese has melted, stirring constantly. Cook 200g spaghetti or noodles in boiling salted water for about 10 minutes, drain and add to the cheese sauce. Drain 1 small tin of tuna and mix into sauce. Pour into casserole dish. Mix ½ cup breadcrumbs together with 3 dessertspoons melted butter and sprinkle on top of casserole. Bake for 30 minutes at 200C.

Do you have a favourite low-cost winter recipe you would like to share with readers? If so, please send it to us at www.oilyrag.co.nz or write to Living off the Smell of an Oily Rag, PO Box 984, Whangarei.

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