I bought a slow cooker today ...

I could be convinced to travel for that. keep me informed

Oh we will!
So what are you gonna bring?

We'll keep you in mind dadpad. How's the holiday going, back in the lucky Country yet?

Got to get a move on ....
Good night, Dutchy.
Good night, Caroline.
Good night, dadpad.

Good night msolga, sleep well.

You too, possum.

Goodnight, have a good sleep Msolga.

And you have a good day, Caroline.
(I sound like Mark here! )

Lol.

No doubt about it, winter is just around the corner. Sigh.
Not long after 6:30 pm & it's dark .... & it's cold!
Anyway, I thought earlier today, time to get the slow cooker out again. That'll cheer me up.
I have been craving soup. Good soup.
So I bought a smoked ham hock from the deli at the market, bought some fresh split green peas ... & after adding sauteed onion & garlic, carrots & celery, thyme, bay leaves & liquid, I now have a pretty good soup on the go.
Pea & ham soup for the weekend!

Before you folk in the northern hemisphere forget all about soups & slow cooking with the arrival of summer (not long to go!), any new recipes you tried this winter that you'd care to share?

Of course I'd like to hear about any new slow cooking suggestions from the southern hemisphere, too!

We made a batch of pumpkin soup last weekend using a home grown Jap pumpkin. We've left the other pumpkins on the vine to ripen a little further as the flesh seems a little light in colour and somewhat less flavourful.

A pumpkin soup will definitely be on the agenda before too long, dp.
Any special mp & mp touches to yours?

Chicken stock and black pepper.

We add stuff like bacon pieces or fetta cheese or sour cream.

Oh OK.
I'll try it with the stock next time. (I generally use water, which is fine.)
With sour cream & black pepper & crusty bread = yum!

and ginger! (Fresh, that is....not that powdered stuff!)

Would I ever use the powdered stuff, margo?!

Interesting, I mentioned your inclusion of ginger to my good friend (the cooking teacher) & she declared it a no no!
But, being the adventurous cook I am, I'm going to give it a go, anyway!
It might be great!
And there's only one way to find out, yes?

In the meantime, I have a freezer full of Pea n ham soup.
I ate heaps of the stuff on the weekend.
I think it might be a while before I'm in the mood for it again!

Wonderful stuff, pea 'n ham soup...but when you have had enough, you have had enough.


(I am very short of cash, so I am about to make a pot!)

Excellent move!

I made mine for very much the same reason!

It was delicious.

But I agree ...


Tonight: spaghetti with marinara sauce.
Nothing what-so-ever to do with slow cooking!

I love my slow cooker, now winter is bearing down on us at a very fast rate, I hope to use it quite frequently. As there is only the 2 of us at home now, I am happy to make up extra meals and freeze. Being away from home for about 10 hours of the day, I need to use recipes that can be cooked for extended times. Thankfully it has a keep warm feature. But then again I can use the really cheap cuts and know it will turn out so tender.