I have wanted to make this for ages but just never got around to it until now and have to say what was i thinking it tasted amazing! Next time i make this im going to cook it in the slow cooker for two reasons 1) its the perfect dish for slow cooking 2) you can use a cheaper cut of beef and cook it for longer which will tenderize it! Once i cook it i will bring together another video because i will need to mess around with the stock measurements and ingredients …but back to this show stopper! Most recipes call for Dijon mustard im not a big fan so i changed it to wholegrain and it worked perfectly fine so i would suggest you use whatever you like – i also think this is one of those dishes that needs to suit your taste so i would say start off with my ingredient list and qtys then toward then end before you add the yogurt or whatever your using taste and add anything you feel needs increasing say more mustard or paprika its your dish so have it how you like it
Category: Evening Meal
Duck a l’orange
oh la la this was created by my OH Graeme and have to say huge thank you to him as it was gorgeous! as with all this fizzy drink recipes you need patience to reduce the liquid but its really worth it for the end result.
Spot the spelling mistake in the video should say ADD NOT ASS……ooooops! ahhhh well im sure you will get the drift!
Depending on the fresh orange you use you may need to bash it a bit to get it to release its juice ours fell apart in the pan under the heat i then sieved the sauce at the end to remove all the pith and bits.
The duck can be cooked to however you like it as your basically poaching it in the sauce which keeps it lovely and tender – and again take your time to render the fat out of the duck if using breast as you dont want that in the sauce also leave it to rest for 5 to 10 mins once rendered before you add i into the sauce.
Well worth making the tastes are so good
Diet Fanta Chicken
Sounds weird but it actually works well it actually works really well i made this recipe many years ago and decided today (16th June 2021) to give it a bit of TLC and update it.
When i originally cooked this recipe i added the vegetables, chicken and sauce to the frying pan and started reducing the sauce what a carry on! it took forever as we all know all vegetables are water so all you are doing is boiling the vegetables and adding more water to the sauce.
In this version i have cooked the chicken in the sauce and cooked the vegetables separately much better and certainly a whole lot easier, but as always you do whatever suits you and your family.
This recipe is claimed to taste like ” sweet and sour” hmmmm ok it kind of does but I’m going to be really honest there are two versions of sweet and sour on my website that knock the socks of this. However as a quick throw it in pan meal it works well and uses very little ingredients and for me those meals are always a winner.
If the sauce gets too thick add a splash of Fanta and Passata.
Fragrant Pilau Rice
I love this rice as is so simple to make but really does make a difference to a meal it feels like you have made an effort when ha! in reality you didnt! my kinda meal…. plus you can add any veggies you want or anything that needs using up!
Slimming world syns = zero
Chicken Wrapped in Bacon
This made a lovely change from all the heavy winter food and when team up with saute spuds and a courgetti etc was really tasty and very easy to make! You can use any filling you like just dont over stuff the chicken or it will go everywhere during the cooking
Slimming world syns = zero when using fat free yogurt and fat removed from bacon
Easy spring rolls
Well as with everything i do i always find an easier way that takes chunks of time out of cooking and this is no exception! Ok so its a bit of a cheat but thats the whole point of “relaxed cooking” making it easy and taking the pressure off.
You can use anything for the filling you like but a bag of stir fry veg works well in this, the trick is not to over cook the cannelloni tubes because if you do you wont be able to handle them to fill – but you need to cook them enough so when you bring them out the oven they are crispy and not still firm in the middle (e.g. you can still taste the pasta)
Also once boiled run under cold water this will wash off all the starch and make them cool to handle straight away
Slimming world syns – zero best eaten when hot/warm
Slow cooker Chinese pulled pork
Because i love pulled pork i decided to try something new and create a “chinese” infused type pulled pork and to be honest it turned out a treat! I always cook my pork with the fat on then remove it once cooked i just find it easier that way as a lot of the internal hidden fat is cooked out during the process. I know a lot of people like to cook their pork in sauces but for me when your doing a huge joint of pork i would rather do it this way then let everyone add their own dipping sauce, then if you have lots of leftovers you can be inventive of how you reuse them
This is basically the idea with this recipe infuse the pork with chinese flavours and add your own sauce, once cooked this will also freeze well should you have any leftovers
Slimming world syns = zero
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Another easy one my only trouble with this and slimming world is that im not sure of cooking a pork joint in their recommended syn free sauce i mean how much fat comes out of a pork joint??? loads! and thats even after you have removed as much as you can see. However as always the choice is yours, i decided to do the pulled pork without the sauce and add it once cooked i did this mainly because Graeme doesn’t like BBQ sauce but done this way you can feed any army and let them add whatever they like
Slow cooker beef goulash
This is a perfect winter warmer and for me had the right amount of heat and spice if your not good with spicy foods then only add a small chilli and take the seeds out this dish makes 4 big portions but will freeze well
On slimming world this is completely syn free and if you dont sweat down the onions it really is a chop and chuck it in jobby. Once cooked stir through some fat free yogurt to get a really creamy sauce.
I softened off the onion but this is optional if you dont have time chop it and chuck it in the slow cooker, then add all the above ingredients, do not add any further liquid you can always add a splash at the end if it gets too thick. On low for approx 7 hours once cooked stir through some fat free yogurt which will give the sauce a lovely creamy taste.
Diet Coke Chicken
Sounds like a strange one but this really does work but patience is key here as you need to let the liquid bubble away to reduce it down into a sticky consistency – it does reduce eventually but this can take anywhere from 10 to 20 mins
You can use any diet coke i used decaff but use what you like diet pepsi etc. add any vegetables you like i added ones that work well in a chinese meal as this is basically the flavour of this meal due to the 5 spice.
On the recipe card it says 2-3 teaspoon of 5 spice i actually added 3 for 4 portions as i really like the flavour but if your unsure then add 1 teaspoon and keep tasting the bubbling down liquid add more 5 spice if you like
Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala
Yep another curry from me as you can guess i do love a good curry and this was a good curry and so simple to do which makes it even more appealing for me! If you dont want to soften down the onions the choice is yours this literally then becomes a chop and chuck it in and walk away and let the slow cooker do its job.
My slow cooker can go on the hob and in the oven it has an aluminium non stick inner pot and they are the best slow cookers ever and so easy to clean so no need for plastic slow cooker bags. You can find the slow cooker i use on my Amazon Shop press the link it will take you there then look under kitchen gadgets https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/julesthelazycook
As you will see in more recent video’s and recipe cards i have switched over to using passata instead of tinned tomatoes i find passata does not give you a watery sauce, a tin of cheap tomatoes is more liquid than pulp so this will always give you more liquid than you need.
This recipe appears in my Cookbook MY SLOW COOKER MEALS which is available on Amazon in paperback and kindle press here https://amzn.eu/d/bxDzxmn
Slow Cooker Meatballs
Got to admit these were absolutely fab! i made my own meatballs to keep the dish syn free if your following slimming world but use whatever meatballs you want or make your own in batches and freeze until you need them again which is what i did – i basically made a huge batch of cooked meatballs and froze the leftovers. See the old Youtube video to see how i make my own homeade meatballs.
Since making this recipe way way back a lot has changed in the world of meatballs lol and lots of manufacturers have really upped their game and created lower fat lower calorie versions. In this updated recipe i used ready made meatballs from Asda and to be honest they were really good they weren’t fatty and held together well. So i guess the question is do you really need to make your own, to be honest i think i will save myself sometime and use ready made.
Italian herbs i use in the video are from Spicentice Use my discount code (affiliate) Jules 20 for 20% off any order https://www.spicentice.com/
I use the same recipe to make meatball subs from and these are amazing so easy to make.
Pan Fried Duck Breast
I love duck but i can be really fatty which can put me off plus i dont like it pink in the middle which causes no end of trouble in our house lol……….so here is how i do mine, you will see if butterflied the breast to help it cook quicker this also ensures its not too pink inside for me!
Adding a teaspoon of marmalade may sound like a mad thing to do but it really adds to the flavour well worth trying if you’ve not done it before – i removed the fat layer on mine before eating
Tandoori Chicken Kebabs
Quick simple but mega tasty love chicken kebabs and with a bit of planning you can prep them the day before and marinate in the fridge overnight if not then 1 hour will do. I used Spicentice tandoori spice but used whatever spice you like or have remember if following slimming world to syn anything that carries a value.
I used yogurt on this batch because it protects the chicken from burning and drying out – but add thats charred look and taste to the kebabs
Use my discount code Jules 20 for 20% off any order https://www.spicentice.com/
Slow Cooker Shepherds Pie
Who doesn’t love Shepherds Pie??? we do in our house! lovely warm winter food that never fails to hit the spot! I added split red lentils to make a thick gravy these disappear during the cooking so you wont see or taste them they just dissolve but its a fab way to thicken a sauce or gravy and if your following slimming world its syn free!
I added a mixed mash to the top of my shepherds pie but add any mash you want – one point to note is make sure your slow cooker inner can go in the oven or under the grill, mine is aluminum so is oven proof
In the video I have made 4 portions but foze 2 portions of the meat part and used 2 portions topped with mash. The reason I did freeze with the mashis because sometimes I like carrot as nd turnip mash to top the Shepherds Pie with.
This recipe appears in my cookbook MY SLOW COOKER MEALS Press here for my cookbook MY SLOW COOKER MEALS
https://amzn.eu/d/bxDzxmn
My Slow cooker and the chopper I use is on my Amazon Shop (AFFILIATE) press here https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/julesthelazycook
Mayflower curry in the slow cooker
This was perfect really worked well and personally i think it tasted better out of the slow cooker than when done in the pan! I use chicken thigh but you can use breast just leave it whole until the meal is cooked then you can dice it or shred it.
The Key is to mix the powder with boiling hot water to a dripping consistency not too watery but not too thick it needs to drip off the spoon – you can always add more water if needed.
I would also suggest you cook your first one when your around the house if possible because all slow cookers work differently and its hard for me to give you exact times measurements etc but if you follow the video you can always “tweak” it to suit your slow cooker
In the recipe i have said use 200ml of hot water but lately i have noticed buying new boxes sometimes i need to add more hot water, so start with 200ml then if you need more add small amounts slowly.
The slow cooker i use is on my Amazon Shop which if you look under the video section you can now watch a short video reviewing the slow cooker. Press the link it will take you there then look under KITCHEN GADGETS https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/julesthelazycook
This recipe appears in my cookbook MY SLOW COOKER MEALS which is available on Amazon in Paperback and kindle. Press here
https://amzn.eu/d/bxDzxmn
Toad in the hole
Another family favourite that you can enjoy with the whole family Toad in the hole and trust me your family wont notice the difference – this is basically the 1 syn yorkshire pudding recipe but with low syn sausages! I used half the mixture as there is only the 2 of us and in my Toad i used weight watchers cumberland sausages half a syn each therefore 4 syns total (if your following slimming world) if not use whatever sausages you wish and turn it into a vegetarian dish by using vegetarian sausages so no one has to feel left out
This is really easy to make and will also freeze well if you want to batch cook
Slow Cooker Lasagne
This is such an easy way to cook lasagne – i cooked the ragu (bolognese) part in the slow cooker for me this is just easier but you can do it whichever way you like – cooking it on the hob works equally as well. Plus my recipe for this part is basically my spag bol recipe it just works so well, so i cook up a huge batch of bolognese then decide which meal to turn it into.
For the white sauce i have tried everything and to be honest most of it works but my preferred method at the moment is to use primula cheese, (because it does not taste like cheese) to which i add hot water and create a creamy sauce. I promise no one is going to pick this up i use this a lot throughout my recipes and many people have eating my food and never once guessed what the sauce was made of.
Lets talk lasagne sheets i will not put everything into the slow cooker and cook for 4-7 hours the pasta sheets taste awful cooked this way they are overcooked and become soggy. In my recipe you will see i pre soak the sheets in hot water then build the lasagne after the ragu is cooked this way the pasta sheets are only cooking for approx 30mins meaning they are not overcooked or soggy.
Whatever you do please dont worry about the lasagne sheets breaking or looking untidy once its cooked you wont notice it at all.
Slow Cooker Maggi So Juicy Bag ANY FLAVOUR
I love these Maggi bags they really can help get a quick tasty meal on the table with very little effort. The bags are designed to be cooked in the oven but they work equally as well cooked in the slow cooker I have used this method for years now and they always produce a fab meal.
Use any bag you like the method is the same regardless of flavour, just a couple of tips once the bag is filled with the ingredients give it a good massage to ensure the spice kit is distributed evenly.
Also the packet comes with a red tie if cooking in the slow cooker you don’t need that just roll the top of the bag over loosely try and squash as much air out of the bag as possible.
Add water to the slow cooker just enough to cover the base as this stops the slow cooker cooking above the set temperature.
NOTE:- if your using a slow cooker that has a ceramic pot once the meal is cooked leave the pot to cool completely before you wash it up DONT put it into any water until its cool or you could crack it
Slow Cooker Chilli
Another super easy and super quick recipe you will see i softened down the onions but thats personal preference if you dont want to or dont have time then chop and chuck them in. I would suggest you fry off the mince as it helps hold it together. Add anything you want or anything that needs using up also add as much or as little chilli as you want – i like it hot hot hot! I have made this chilli today as part of my batch cooking and filling the freezer again this recipe makes 4 good sized portions and is a fantastic fall back when time is tight as it reheats perfectly
If you want to make this dish vegetarian and are using quorn add it towards the end of cooking say the last 40mins
Below are some of the meals i have made out of the slow cooker chilli, im a firm believer in always trying to find new ways to serve up old family favourites and to try and keep meals interesting.
Find recipe here https://julesthelazycook.co.uk/2020/04/24/chilli-enchiladas-using-leftover-chilli/
Jules The Lazy Cook 