During these chilly winter months it is nice to keep yourself warm by eating comforting food. The good news is that it can be healthy and affordable too. Slow cooking and casseroling are our favorite warming meals that are super easy to do, nutritious and save you time and money.
What meat can I use in my slow cooker and casserole?
There are many different cuts of meat that you can use and all the meat at PAK'nSAVE is butchered in store so there's a wide variety to choose from. These cuts do great in the slow cooker:
- Beef Shin
- Gravy Beef
- Beef Rump
- Lamb
- Pork
- Chicken Legs
Using less expensive cuts of red meat in casseroles can be beneficial as it is a really good source of iron without the expense of using the pricier cuts. One in fourteen women in New Zealand are low in iron, so it's an easy way to cook up an iron-rich meal.
Add some pulses
To make your meals go a further without much more effort, take a look at adding pulses into the mix. Pulses are a cheap, low-fat source of protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals that count towards your recommended 5 daily portions of fruit and vegetables. You have the option to purchase them dried or you can get them canned at your local PAK'nSAVE for just over a dollar a can. Pulses are great to use all year round, you can add them into soups and also into summer salads.
Types of pulses you can add:
- Lentils
- Chickpeas
- Split Peas
- Kidney Beans
- Black Beans
What vegetables should I use?
As well as the variety of meats you can use there is also a variety of vegetables. Claire Turnbull uses seasonal vegetables, so that is anything that's cheap. You can also use up any vegetables you might have in your fridge that are getting a little past it. Any odds and ends you can pop in will help you reduce your food waste. This is an excellent way to save yourself money.
Beef and Chickpea Casserole
Claire Turnbull has made the delicious beef and chickpea casserole. Prep is quick and easy and only took a couple of hours in the slow cooker. You can cater this meal to your family as well, whether you need to up-size or downsize it is very easy to manage the quantity size. This meal also freezes incredibly well, so you don't have to just make it for one meal you can make it for three or four at a time.
For these ideas and more check out how to Eat Well and Pay Less.