Cooking basic ingredients slowly can be spectacular. Something as simple as a beef stew, using inexpensive ingredients and cuts of meat, can become a delicious hearty meal for the whole family. I'm working my way through the book now and my non cooking husband even managed to do the Beef Ragu by himself. He was so proud of himself as it was utterly delicious. The recipes in this book are really great, quirky and appealing and I like that they all offer the option to slow or conventionally cook. I got this with my first foray into slow cooking and wanted not to just cook stews/casseroles and the recipes in this are just perfect for finding something different. Although finding them may be difficult and then there's actually being able to read them while cooking.

Cook Slow: 90 simple, chilled out, stress-free recipes for

Meanwhile, griddle the courgette slices on a ridged pan for one to two minutes on each side, until charred. Set aside. Before serving, season with salt and pepper, then add the olives and sugar to taste. Finally, stir through the parsley, saving some for garnish, and serve with boiled rice or sauté potatoes. I love that my slow cooker will now be used all year round rather than confined to the colder months. Spoon a layer of the mushroom mixture into your slow cooker. Top with a layer of the griddled courgettes, then some of the white sauce, then sprinkle over some of the grated Parmesan. Repeat until all these ingredients have been used up, but make sure you finish with a layer of white sauce scattered with cheese. Then add a layer of tomato slices, pop the lid on and cook on the high setting for four hours.

Add all the ingredients apart from the honey to your slow cooker and season with salt and pepper. Add the butternut squash and stir to combine. Put the lid on and cook on the low setting for six hours or for four hours on high. One of the nicest things I found is I would have been able to make the 1st meal from the book the day after the book arrived as there was a few recipes that I had all the ingredients in the cupboard/fridge already, so no need to go shopping immediately for fancy ingredients. If time allows, roast the squash first. Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4. Place the squash in a bowl, drizzle with some oil and season with salt and pepper. Scatter onto a baking tray and roast in the oven for 30 minutes. Methods are given for both slow cooker and conventional ovens so even if you've not invested in a slow cooker, you can still enjoy this marvellous book.

slow cooker recipes for dinner in spring 2022 The six best slow cooker recipes for dinner in spring 2022

Add the honey to the tagine to taste. Serve with herby couscous and a dollop of natural yogurt that has been spiked with harissa. But slow cooking is by no means confined to meat; vegetables benefit from the process too. Onions melt away, root vegetables become tender and sweet – the possibilities are endless. Heat one tablespoon of oil in a large heavy based casserole over a high heat. Add the minced lamb and brown until crisp and golden, then transfer to a bowl with a slotted spoon and set aside. Drain off the excess fat left behind in the casserole, then add another tablespoon of oil. Add the onions, carrot and garlic and cook until softened, which will take around five minutes. Slow cooking is not only the best method for transforming basic ingredients into something special, but there is a feeling of satisfaction that develops inside knowing that the work is done and the magic is happening in the pot. Meanwhile, make the dumplings by mixing together the flour, suet, coriander, paprika and salt. Add the water a little at a time – you need enough water to bind the dumplings but you don’t want the dough to be too wet. Make into eight dumplings.Make the dumplings as in step 4 above. Place in the slow cooker, then turn the setting to high and cook for a further hour.