Tux declared it was a good day to stay inside and relax.
It was hard to disagree, so we've been snuggled up on the couch, knitting (well I've been knitting, Tux has been doing what Tux does best - napping and hogging the afghan).
And what have I been knitting?
A new design for fingerless mitts.
These are a going-away present for my department's intern. She's a bright young woman studying Journalism and Creative Writing at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. Friday is her last day with the company, then she heads back east to begin her second year of studies.
Pictured is the first mitt. I just have the thumb left on the second mitt to do, but I have a pile of ironing to tackle first (so naturally, I'm blogging and putting off the ironing as long as possible)
These are knit in our House Cat, and they should keep her toasty warm and fashionable when the cold wind comes off the Atlantic. I expect to have the pattern available for you all by the end of the week.
In addition to knitting, it's also been a good day for laundry (hence the ironing) and something I don't make very often.
Stew. Dave loves it, but I'm not a huge stew fan - but I'm trying to cook healthier and more frugal.
This meal fit the bill on both counts. It used up left over steak from last night's dinner (which was really too tough to enjoy as steak) and is nothing but veggies, meat and a nice thick gravy broth.
I've been getting good use out of my slow-cooker lately. My parents gave it to me for Christmas a few years back, and I barely touched it. My brother (who inherited all Mom's cooking talent) loves his and uses it frequently.
While it does make cooking easy in the "set-it-and-forget-it" fashion, it does require forethought. Planning has never been my forte, I'm much more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of girl.
However, I'm making the effort to think ahead. Two weeks ago we enjoyed a nice beef roast. Last weekend it was pork roast and apple sauce.
This stew was put together as I was cleaning the kitchen last night, then tucked in the fridge until morning. We got up, popped it in the slow cooker, and voila - dinner was ready promptly at 5 p.m. Not a bad deal, if you can remember to plan ahead!
What are you favourite slow-cooker meals?
7 comments:
Love the fingerless mitts - they'll come in handy here, believe me!
I've been using my slow cooker lately once a week to make bbq pulled pork for Hubs to take to work. I put it on like 8pm, leave it go on low all night, then in the morning around 9-10 I pull it apart, add the bbq sauce, and let it go another 2-3 hours. He loves it.
The mitts are very pretty. I am sure she will love them. I dont use my slow cooker very much but we pop chicken drumsticks in ours, with cubed potatoes, carrots and beans, add some diced tomatoes and stock and garlic, and let it cook for about 8 hours. Even my fussy 10 yr old loves it!
Cooking? What is this cooking you speak of?
Frankly I maintain that 95% of my accidents occur in the kitchen, ergo, I should spend as little time there as possible. Fresh fruit and uncooked veggies are my friends.
Love the mitts. Beautiful colour!
Very pretty fingerless gloves, and look how comfy Tux looks under the sockghan!
Gavin does most of the cooking around here, so it's all a little more instant than a slow cooker meal!
Lovely new mittne, and I LOVE the color! My daughter will be back in Halifax for Winter semester, with her boyfriend from Sydney, AUstralia. I'm knitting hats, and mittens, etc. for them to choose, when they come home for Christmas.
It rained or drizzled here all day yesterday, but I was alright with it. It was much needed.
I've never used a slow cooker. But I'm like you. Mostly I stuff the fridge, and half hour before it's time for dinner I go have a looksy what's there and cook something up.
Now there's a happy cat !
Love the new mittens, very nice !
The stew looks yummy , aren't slow cookers great !? . Our weather is still too hot to put on a stew , but it's a cold weather staple at our house . Like Sheri , I've used a slow cooker for bbq ribs , then Mike finishes them off on the grill .
I love my slow cooker. I have a pot roast, beef stew and chili recipe that I love and make all the time. I don't plan well either ... so I use it every few months. Actually we're going to make beef stew today after seeing your post!
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