Winter is unofficially here, in southern Canada, in spite of the early date. Environment Canada’s Weather Service has posted a Special Weather Advisory calling for 1 – 2 in. / 2 – 5 cm of snow over the weekend. And that’s energized me to haul out my favourite Cold Weather Classic recipes…
Mom’s Beef and Bean Chili. Garnish generously with
grated Cheddar Cheese and Chopped Onions…
There will doubtless be chaos on the roads when the first measurable snow of the year starts to fall late tomorrow or early Sunday. We have a standing, darkly humourous joke here in Canada: People forget how to drive safely on show and ice over the summer and have to learn – the hard way – all over again every Fall.
So, after we get back from wherever we have to go over the weekend, we’ll want something simple, hearty and steaming hot for supper. That’s where your foresight and planning, and your slow cooker and casserole dishes come in.
Slow Cooker classics…
My first choice, if I have all the ingredients on hand, is to cook up a big pot of Mom’s Chili. It’s got everything you could want in a cold weather meal, all in one pot, and it takes mere minutes to prepare. The hardest part will be waiting the 4-6 hours it takes for the Chili to simmer before digging in.
Close behind Chili comes Baked Beans. Add some Cubed Cooked Ham or some Chunky Bacon and you’ve got a great, stick-to-the-ribs meal. Serve it over plain White Rice and you’ve got a complete protein on your plate. Again, take just a few minutes to put everything in the Slow Cooker and let simmer for 6 to 8 hours.
And don’t forget good old-fashioned Chicken Soup. Serve with Buttered Toast on the side, or whip up some classic Spoon-Drop Dumplings. Or, go Asian by adding some pre-made frozen Shrimp Wontons from your local Asian supermarket.
Something a little more ambitious…
Pulled Pork is easy and fool-proof in the Slow Cooker. Makes great sandwiches, or serve it with some of its own juice over Rice in a bowl.
Old Fashioned Pot Roast is another great one-pot supper that you can just set and forget for a few hours. If there are any leftovers, you can make Sandwiches or serve them in Soup the next day.
Minestrone Soup is the king of everybody-into-the-pool entrée Soups. And there’s no easier way to make it than in your Slow Cooker. Serve with Garlic Bread. And make lots; folks will be back for seconds…
Exotics for the adventurous…
You can also make Indian favourites like Tikka Masala and Butter Chicken in your Slow Cooker. And European classics like Beef Stroganoff and Chicken Cacciatore.You can even do Texas Style Brisket and New Orleans Jambalaya.
And there’s lots more to tempt your taste buds. Just search the Fab Food Blog for ‘Slow Cooker’ to get even more of my cold weather favourites…
~ Maggie J.