I’m always looking for easy meals to feed my family. Well, today, I have just the woman to talk to about this topic. Sally Wise — cook, author, wife, Mum of six, and regular ABC local radio guest — is here on the blog talking about her favourite family recipe, leftovers and the value of family meals.
Sally, I’m in to simple, easy family meals. Can you give me a slow cooker recipe that’s a winner with your family?
There are so many – I love slow cooking and my slow cookers (I have 4) because they help to organise your day. When my children were small, I would put something in the slow cooker in the morning, and even if the sky fell in during the day, I was guaranteed a meal to feed everyone at dinner time. They are, in a sense, a form of slow fast cooking – it only takes a few minutes to throw the ingredients in and all you need to do at the end is adjust the seasonings, maybe thicken it a little and serve. Brilliant.
An all time family favourite is Tilly’s Indian Sweet Curry Beef. It’s on page 61 of the Slow Cooker book. Here it is:
{I made Sally’s recipe myself this week! Delicious. The pictures here are mine.}
Tilly’s Indian Sweet Curry Beef
Ingredients
2 carrots
1 onion
2 stalks celery
2 apples
1kg lean diced stewing beef
1 tablespoon sultanas
1 tablespoon relish or chutney
1 tablespoon tomato sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon golden syrup
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon curry powder (or to taste)
2 teaspoons salt
½ cup stock or water
3 teaspoons cornflour, optional
* I personally tend to make it without the celery and sultanas
Method
Peel the carrots and cut into 1cm cubes. Cut the celery into 1cm slices. Dice onion. Peel, core and grate the apples. Place in the slow cooker, then place the meat on top.
Add the sultanas, relish or chutney, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, golden syrup, brown sugar, curry powder, salt and stock or water. Stir gently to combine.
Place lid on cooker and cook for 4 to 5 hours on High or 8 to 9 on Low.
If necessary, mix the cornflour with about 2 tablespoons cold water to a paste and use some or all of it to thicken the curry. Add salt and pepper to taste.
“When my children were small, I would put something in the slow cooker in the morning, and even if the sky fell in during the day, I was guaranteed a meal to feed everyone at dinner time.”
[yumprint-recipe id=’11’]
What’s the secret to transforming leftovers into another meal so there’s no waste?
Make them into a new meal in their own right. I don’t know if all other children are like my six were, but if I dared to mention dinner was leftovers, it was rejected immediately on principle. So it’s more than mere reheating, it’s all in the disguise. That’s why my book Leftover Makeovers was such fun to put together – with all the tips, tricks and dishes I developed over the years.
What are you favourite 3 herbs/spices to cook with?
Top of the list: fresh basil, closely followed by rosemary and mint
What’s your best tip for organising the kitchen?
Organisation? Not my strongest point as I tend to cook with wild abandon and go with the flow, letting one recipe lead to another, leaving a trail of dishes and pots in my wake. However, on the days when I wash up as I go, I feel ever so virtuous and things run much more smoothly. I always think a dishwasher would be good, but doubt that could keep up either.
I do however, like to have my ingredients organised and at hand. I have labelled containers in easily accessible places and the storeroom has back-ups at the ready to refill them. Where we live there is no supermarket for over 60 kilometres, so it’s essential to be organised with an ample supply of ingredients.
“I tend to cook with wild abandon and go with the flow, letting one recipe lead to another, leaving a trail of dishes and pots in my wake.”
Can we take a peek at your kitchen?
We live on the edge of the rainforest by the ocean in Tasmania. Here’s my kitchen on a tidier day than today.
What are you making today?
Hot of the press, Sally sent me these pictures as she was making the Marmalade jam (I’ll have the recipe to give you in a later post).
What do you value about eating a meal together as a family?
I think eating the evening meal together is the best time of day, a privileged time actually. Not only do children help to prepare the meal wherever possible (a great conversation time), but it’s a great time to de-brief and chat about all the day’s happenings at the table. It develops a real family culture, where everyone knows what is happening for the others. It binds a family together with communication that just doesn’t happen with a plate of food on your lap in front of the television.
“[Dinner time] is a great time to de-brief and chat about all the day’s happenings at the table. It develops a real family culture, where everyone knows what is happening for the others.”
Sally Wise
Take a look at Sally’s website and blog.
Here some other easy dinner ideas:
Slow Cooker Pumpkin Soup Recipe
Zucchini Slice — No Oil Recipe
51 Comments
Deb Wild Hope
August 5, 2011 at 10:43 amMy mouth is watering at this curry recipe. Can’t wait to try it. Thanks!
Lattejunkie
August 5, 2011 at 10:52 amI buy one for all my friends who have a baby as a “Welcome Baby” present. I usually take it over with some ready made taco soup or a hearty stew with the recipe in the box 🙂
I can’t live without mine!
Also this isn’t an entry as I am in NZ – just wanted to share in the love-fest of slow cookers!
michelle
August 5, 2011 at 10:52 amOoooh my goodness I need to win this! I have 3 children under 3.5 years and a slow cooker I often don’t know what to do with. This book might just be the answer I need!!
Sharon Fawcett
August 5, 2011 at 11:01 amLove my slow cooker! Whatever I cook in it consists of bits and pieces being randomly thrown in and hoping for the best. An actual slow cooker recipe book would be wonderful.
Kim
August 5, 2011 at 11:04 amI am definitely going to try this recipe. I am always on the lookout for new things to try in my slow cooker that are tasty and healthy too!
Suzi
August 5, 2011 at 11:14 amI love my slowcooker, but often dont know what recipe to try. Will definitely be giving this one a go!
Lara
August 5, 2011 at 11:16 amI really need a good recipe book. Dverything I try comes out bland
Jen
August 5, 2011 at 11:17 amSounds delicious! Do you know why is it called Tilly’s Indian Sweet Curry Beef?
Mel scott
August 5, 2011 at 11:34 amCan’t live without my slow cooker. I’ve only recently upgraded from nannas old crock pot, not by choice but after 30 or more years it decided to retire.
Lyndall
August 5, 2011 at 11:35 amMy slowcooker, my friend! Always keen to expand my slow-cooker reportoire! If only there was an quick way to clean it 🙂
Kylie
August 5, 2011 at 11:37 amso cooking this, have had some curry disasters lately
Cheryl
August 5, 2011 at 11:42 amoooh…can’t wait to try this recipe, I love my slow cooker too!
Jane
August 5, 2011 at 11:52 amGreat competition – I’m always looking for new ideas for the slow cooker!
Heidi
August 5, 2011 at 11:54 amCan’t wait to try this curry. It looks great. I love my slow cooker too, and am looking for more meals to make with it, so this book would be alot of value to me.
Jodie
August 5, 2011 at 12:39 pmI have just got a new slow cooker – now I have two. Would love a slow cooker book to go with it!
Peta Wright
August 5, 2011 at 1:16 pmI love using the slow cooker, but I sometimes find that I lack creativity, and I can only use the same packet mixes so many times…! Thank you so much for this recipe! I’ve written my shopping list so we can enjoy a day together tomorrow as a family and come home to a delicious dinner! All with very little fuss!
Amy
August 5, 2011 at 1:23 pmThis sounds delish!! Love using my slow cooker 🙂
Kelly
August 5, 2011 at 1:43 pmI love my slow cooker! Make lots of spaghetti sauce in it, thankyou for this recipe and the chance to win x kel
Lyndal
August 5, 2011 at 2:12 pmHey, just stumbled across your blog! It’s awesome! Thanks also for the slow cooker recipe – can’t wait to try it!
Heidi
August 5, 2011 at 4:06 pmOooooooooh… i love a good slow cooker recipe!!!
Karen
August 5, 2011 at 10:25 pmThe recipe sounds yum, and I’m sure my family would appreciate some more inspiration coming my way. The only slow cooker recipe I serve them comes from a packet :/
Victoria Wright
August 6, 2011 at 7:55 amI have yet to fall in love with my slow cooker, I have had hit and miss results, I often find the meat, although soft, has none of the caramel flavour it gets in the oven! Maybe this book would give me inspiration to keep trying!!!
Kirralee Baker
August 6, 2011 at 9:38 amI love my slow cooker but don’t have a recipe book. Would love to win this one. It sounds fantastic – I’m sure I’ve read about it on Frills in the Hills too.
Nicolle Gibson
August 6, 2011 at 11:16 amI have yet to fully master my slow cooker and this book looks fabulous – I think I will try the curry tonight for my family we love being adventurous and trying new foods – keep up the great blogs soooo helpful
Lorraine@lifewithoutmathematics
August 8, 2011 at 11:18 amThanks for this shot of energy. I so love ‘foreign’ ideas. They seem so much brighter and more fun than my own. Sally’s book was so favourably reviewed in The Age the other day. I am a newbie slow cooker, and have a couple of ‘get me going’ books. Sadly, they just haven’t delivered especially well. Meals I’ve tried just seem to lack that full rounded well seasoned effect of a casserole. I can’t quite work it out. I’m thinking Sally could be the magic I need.
PS I found you when we googled how to french knit. My Nine is home with the lurgy today, though is somewhat on the mend. She’s well enough to be interested in a gentle activity… et voila! French Knitting. We have a little wooden one, but I’m inspired to try the toilet paper roll another day. Thanks for even more inspiration!
Liz
August 8, 2011 at 9:13 pmI’m sorry, I’d try to write a coherent comment but your delicious photographs have sent my thoughts haywire 😛
The book sounds amazing though!
Janine
August 11, 2011 at 8:36 amI <3 my slow cooker – Taco Soup in the slower cooker is on the menu for tonight in our home! I am a working Mum and always looking for great tasting easy meals for my family – would love to win a copy of Sally's book, the curry sounds delicious!! Thanks 🙂
shelley
August 11, 2011 at 8:37 amLove that curry! The idea of a slow cooker with the pram is a great idea for new parents. I use mine for the basics but really need some new ideas and inspiration!
Ann-Marie
August 11, 2011 at 8:40 amI love my slow cooker and have been bragging about it to everybody. Currently with 2 kids (thinking about more), our Chaos Day is Wednesday. I’m finally organised to have Wednesday as a slow cook day every week (2 months running now!). It’s amazing the recipes I’ve found – risotto, Roast Beef, Lemon Delicious, Sweet Potato and bacon soup. I love trying anything new in it, and my boys love it.
Love the idea (above) of giving a FULL slow cooker as a baby-gift. Need to remember that when my brothers start procreating!
Andrea Borwne
August 11, 2011 at 8:41 amLove cooking in my slow cooker. With two small and very energetic kids it is a must! But right now I am afriad I am very uncreative with it and use a lot of packet mixes. Would love some inspiration and this cook book sounds perfect!
Rebecca
August 11, 2011 at 8:42 amThis recipe looks awesome….must try this one especially a curry without any dairy for my little one who’s allergic. She’s not had curry before, so this should be interesting!!
Melissa Sweeney
August 11, 2011 at 8:42 amMy mum bought me my first slow cooker after I had my eldest child, best present ever! This recipe is getting a turn tonight! 🙂
Kristie
August 11, 2011 at 8:43 amMMMM love my slow cooker, but have been feeling uninspired towards the end of this winter. Perhaps a new cook book will help 🙂
Rachelle
August 11, 2011 at 8:44 amI love using my slowcooker but always seem to do the same dishes over and over. Slow cooker is a must in our house. Makes my days that i work so much easier!
Kristy
August 11, 2011 at 8:51 amI love my slow cooker but only know a couple of recipes that I use again and again
Daniella Kinkade
August 11, 2011 at 9:04 amI Know alot of people who either dont own a slow cooker or say its very retro to still be using one. Im 26 and have a 2 year old and a fussy husband, and i tell ya nothing beats the slow cooker.. Most of the time when people come over for dinner i whip up a meal in the slow cooker, as it gives me the chance to still be able to chat with them and still keep my child entertained.
I just wish i could come up with some better recipe ideas than my chicken curry, spinich and lamb stew etc… I would love to try something a bit more exciting and impress a little more. Your book definalty looks like it can do that!
katie
August 11, 2011 at 9:12 ami am a big slow cooker fan but tend to stick to a few favourite recipes – i think i need this book!
thanks for the great giveaway 🙂
Sonia
August 11, 2011 at 9:34 amI love the sound of the sweet beef curry. I have a slow cooker which I was given 3 years ago. I have never used it as it seems a little daunting. It is larger that ones I have seen – it is oval not round and I don’t know whether I have to change the recipe because it is larger. May just have to give this recipe a try and see what happens.
Yvette Pointon
August 11, 2011 at 9:47 amI love my slow cooker! Although all I can make in it is Silverside and beef stew.. would love to expand my slow cooker to something a little different!! Great blog!
Alyssa Nuske
August 11, 2011 at 10:51 amI’ve been looking for a good slow cooker recipe book for months! With that recipe you posted as an example, this book looks like a winner. :o)
Jane Mann
August 11, 2011 at 11:01 amI love the idea of my slow cooker but still have a little fear of experimenting. Don’t like the idea of spending money having it go all day only to have something inedible at the end. Have some recipes I use but would love to expand my usage. Thank you for the opportunity to win Sally’s Slow Cooker book & hopefully provide some new exciting meals for my family.
Rachel Hair
August 11, 2011 at 12:02 pmWe’re actually having chicken curry tonight in the slow cooker. Was going to use a packet mix but think now I’ll actually try Sally’s recipe from scratch. Read Sally’s article in Country Style a week or so before reading this post. She’s so very inspiring. Thanks for this post!!!
Kellie Chapan
August 11, 2011 at 12:35 pmI love my slow cookers – and will be giving this recipe a go, looks yummy. Friends of mine separated a few years back and we were really close to the dad, I used to pick his daughter up from school as he was working. I eventually started dong some work with him as he just wasn’t coping. He wanted to know how I kept the house tidy, did all my shopping and work with him and have a beautiful dinner on the table every night – as he ended up eating with us for the first month. He said nothing fazes you, you have a family of 6 already and have adopted him and his daughter. So he asked me to take him shopping for stuff for the kitchen so that he can get organised. Well he was surprised that all I wanted him to get to start of with is a slow cooker. He loves it and uses it more than anything else in his kitchen. That was 3 years ago now – I received an email recently from him stating that he just brought 2 new slowcookers as his isn’t working anymore – and he feels lost without it. I agree with the comments that it should be an item given to every parent. Sorry for the long post..
Amy
August 11, 2011 at 3:38 pmTrying this one tonight… can’t wait!
Slow Cooker: Chicken Enchilada Soup
August 20, 2011 at 12:51 pm[…] Slow Cooker Sweet Indian Curry […]
Andy D. Recipe
August 29, 2011 at 11:03 pmMade this on Saturday to serve on Sunday. My son was crazy about it. Had two big bowls full and took some home with him. Definitely a hit. I brought some to work with me for lunch today! Thanks!
Yvette @ DTlilsquirts
August 28, 2012 at 2:02 pmYUM!! That recipe sounds delish .. so delish Im going to make it tomorrow night!! YUMMO!
I love my slow cooker!!
I do a great silverside in my slow cooker.. never fails!!!
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
August 28, 2012 at 6:09 pmI know! Love mine too!
Fish pulusu
September 21, 2013 at 3:12 pmSimple and tasty… great post
Melanie
April 3, 2014 at 12:26 pmI have this book and this recipe and the Sweet and Sour Beef are Family Favourites that I am EXPECTED to make regularly throughout the cooler months! I love my Slow Cooker. I also have a pressure cooker but need to venture into recipes for that as I only ever use it for soups, Porcupine Meatballs and Silverside. Great blog by the way!
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
April 3, 2014 at 12:28 pmNom nom. I agree re slow cooker…and even though I have a Thermomix (which I love) I still use my slow cooker a lot.