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Slow Cooker Sundried Tomato, Rosemary and Green Olive Bread

March 27, 2015 · by munchiesandmunchkins · 6 Comments

This is the third in a series of guest posts by fellow food bloggers. This post is written by Lucy who is pretty famous for making some awesome slow cooker recipes. I love my slow cooker so I will certainly be trying this amazing looking bread. You can find Lucy over at Baking Queen 74 And also on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Over to Lucy:

Making bread can be quite labour intensive I find, especially if you’re busy, with lots of things to be doing and a never-ending to-do list. Oddly, this is when I like to use my slow cooker to make bread even more SLOWLY!

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Even though it takes longer, I find making bread in the slow cooker great because it doesn’t require as much attention and won’t burn quickly. Then you can get on with other things on your list, proud in the knowledge you have baked your own bread! Perfect if you have little people around demanding attention, emails to attend to or household jobs to be getting on with.

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This tasty bread is great for lunch, served with some salad and cheese, or would also be a lovely side for a slow cooked stew. It didn’t last long at all in my house, even though it makes a large loaf.

Note that I made this loaf in a large slow cooker (5.7 litre). If you only have a 3.5 litre slow cooker I would either halve the quantities or split the dough in half and bake two smaller loaves one after the other. The second batch could prove in the fridge while the first batch cooks, so you would only need to bake the second one on high.

Recipe:

• 480 g strong white bread flour
• 1 sachet dried yeast
• 1 tsp salt
• 280 ml tepid water
• 7-8 sundried tomatoes, chopped
• 10-12 green pitted olives, quartered
• 3 sprigs of rosemary, leaves stripped
• A little olive oil to drizzle on top
• Coarse sea salt to scatter on top
• 2 more sprigs of rosemary, leaves stripped, to scatter on top

Method:

1. Place the flour in a large bowl. Add the salt on one side and the yeast on the other.
2. Add the olives, sundried tomatoes and rosemary then slowly add the water and mix to form a sticky dough.

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3.Remove from the bowl and knead for ten minutes on a floured surface until elastic and smooth.
4. Place the dough on oiled baking paper in the slow cooker pot.
5. Make indentations in the dough with your fingers, then drizzle over the oil, sprinkle on the salt and extra sprigs of rosemary.

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6 Place the lid on the slow cooker, with a tea towel under the lid to stop water dripping onto the bread.
7 Turn on low for an hour to prove until doubled in size.

8 Switch to high for 1-2 hours until baked and sounds hollow when tapped. If necessary you can turn the bread over half way through so that top and bottom are equally brown and crusty.

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Filed Under: Cakes, bread and all things baking, Recipes, Slow Cooker · Tagged: 5.7 litre, Olive, rosemary, slow cooker baking, Slow cooker bread, tomato

A Simple Soup

June 27, 2014 · by munchiesandmunchkins · Leave a Comment

With most relationships you have ups and downs and periods of time where you just take the other party for granted. That’s how I feel about my Vitamix.

When I first won it I was over the moon and I had great ideas for what I would make. That first month I made lots and lots of amazing dishes. After the honeymoon period I settled into just ‘using’ my Vitamix. I threw veggies in when I was too lazy to dice and grate. I used it to make my milk all foamy when I wanted an indulgent hot choc and also to make the odd smoothie.

The last few months I have once again become enamoured with it. I’ve made lots of lovely delights. Such as salted caramel sauce and pesto.

Today I just made a simple soup. Simple in the ingredients, not so on taste. It was delicious and both myself, toddler and OH thoroughly enjoyed. It was easy, so easy in fact I feel daft sharing the recipe but here you go.

My Simple Soup

You will need:

1 carrot
1/2 a red onion
A bunch of fresh Basil
1 carton of chopped tomatoes
500ml of vegetable stock
1 squirt of tomato purée – I used Cirio
Seasoning – sea salt and black pepper

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If you are using a Vitamix you can throw it all in, turn it up to the highest point and leave for 4-5 minutes until hot.

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If making in a saucepan, first sauté the diced onion and diced carrot in a pan until soft before adding all other ingredients and warming through. Then use a hand blender (carefully) to purée it.

It can be served as just a soup or over pasta or chicken or in my toddlers case with sliced sausage and hunks of bread.

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I should also point out that this is a really budget friendly recipe 🙂

Enjoy.

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Filed Under: Budgeting, Recipes · Tagged: Basil, soup, tomato, Vitamix

Cooking In The Kitchen.. Having fun – Puff Pastry

March 6, 2014 · by munchiesandmunchkins · 1 Comment

Sometimes when cooking with children it’s not about what you actually cook its just about the experience..the mess..the textures.

Last week when Izzy asked to cook I was tired and we didn’t have many ingredients to bake cakes or bread so I was a bit stuck.

I scrabbled about in the fridge for ideas and found a roll of readymade puff pastry, a lump of mature cheddar and some tomato relish.

Bingo.

We made cheese and tomato puffs..we also had some pastry leftover so we made some brown sugar strips and a cheeky Nutella puff or two.

Izzy loved cutting out the shapes and sprinkling on the cheese and a dollop of relish ..

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Topping with a bit more pastry…

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And brushing on some beaten egg..

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They looked so good..

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Finding a bit of relish.. What a surprise..

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And of course munching them all..

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Fun to make and easy to eat – perfect toddler food. I was surprised by how much Izzy could do by herself. Lately I’m asking her to do little kitchen tasks like buttering bread and she really enjoys it and its clearly helping her feel more confident when cooking.

COOKING WITH KIDS

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Filed Under: Cooking with toddlers, Recipes · Tagged: cheese, Cooking, puff pastry, relish, toddler, tomato

Cheese and Potato Bake

June 25, 2013 · by munchiesandmunchkins · 2 Comments

After a few days away last week I returned home to a sack of potatoes which I really needed to use up and it just so happens I’ve had such a craving for cheese and potato pie. I really didn’t fancy the fuss of making pastry tonight and also I am currently on strict orders to take it easy so I made something quick and simple which my mum made a lot when I was growing up – cheese and potato bake. I adapted it from the basic recipe my mum passed on and it was delicious.

Cheese and Potato Bake

8/9 medium sized potatoes (peeled and diced)
1 red onion (diced)
200g mature cheddar (grated)
75ml of milk
25ml of single cream
1tsp of crushed peppercorns
2 tbsp of butter
1tbsp of herbs (your choice – I used rosemary & thyme)

Preheat your oven to gas mark 4.
Put your potatoes in a pan of boiling water and simmer for 15-20 minutes until cooked through and drain.
Sauté your onions in a tbsp of butter until soft. Heat your milk in a small pan or microwave and add to your potatoes, butter, pepper and cream and mash thoroughly. Mix in your onions and 150g of cheddar along with your herbs and spoon it in to a cazuela or large ovenproof dish, top with remaining grated cheese, some sliced tomato and a few basil leaves for decoration and bake for 25-30 minutes.

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Cheese and Potato Bake

This was a really comforting, tasty meal. Fairly cheap to make and really quick and easy.

I served this with tinned chopped tomatoes and bacon – yum.

This fed 1 hungry pregnant lady, 1 hungry 6ft man and 1 hungry energetic toddler with a chunk leftover for someone’s (mine) lunch tomorrow.

Izzy enjoyed 🙂

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Let me know if you try it 😉

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Filed Under: Recipes · Tagged: Budget, cheese, cream, leftovers loving, onion, potato, tomato

Hide the veggies pasta sauce

February 22, 2013 · by munchiesandmunchkins · 4 Comments

My daughter will eat pretty much anything. I know I’m lucky and many of my friends and family really struggle with what their toddlers will or won’t eat. I am also sensible enough to realise this may not last forever and next month she may be as picky as picky can be.

Today I was making up a pasta sauce for my OH to take to work and decided to make up a batch for Izzy at the same time. Now as I said at this moment I don’t have any problems with getting her to eat veg but this is a sure fire way of knowing that she gets everything she needs.

So here we have a super easy but tasty tomato sauce which can be whipped up in 5 minutes and frozen if necessary.

You will need:

A carton of passata (500g)
A large handful of baby spinach leaves
2 handfuls of frozen broccoli ( steamed or boiled)
1 sweet potato ( diced
50g of cheese (grated)
1 knob of butter
1 tbsp of chopped parsley

Boil/steam your broccoli and sweet potato and set aside.
Sauté your spinach in butter until soft, add your passata, broccoli, sweet potato, cheese and parsley. Warm through and use a hand blender to thoroughly blend all ingredients.

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This made enough to feed my hungry man and toddler with another leftover for another meal. Next time I’ll definitely make double and freeze a batch.

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Filed Under: Parenting/baby, Recipes · Tagged: broccoli, butter, cheese, passata, Pasta, sweet potato, tomato

Eating well on a budget- simple suppers

September 25, 2012 · by munchiesandmunchkins · 3 Comments

The nights are getting colder and I want to create more warm, inviting dinners but without spending a fortune. I will try to post recipes as and when I use them to give you some tips for cheap and cheerful meals that all the family can enjoy.

Tomato and bacon gnocchi bake

500g Gnocchi – I use Il Pastaio Gnocchi which is a bargain 78p in Asda
400ml Passata – I typically use the value range from Sainsburys or Asda which is around 30p.
4 or 5 rashers of smoked bacon diced- roughly £1.50
75g of cheddar grated – approx £1
2 garlic cloves diced finely -approx 20p
1 glug of Olive oil -from cupboard
Any fresh herbs you have (dried at a push)
Sea salt
Black pepper

Cook gnocchi to packet instructions and set aside.
Heat olive oil in a small cazuela or ovenproof pan and sauté garlic and bacon until bacon is golden, add your gnocchi and passata. Stir well adding your herbs and season. Sprinkle over grated cheese and place in your oven for 15 minutes until golden on top and bubbling.

Serve with a large leafy salad.

Serves 2 hungry adults with a little leftover.

A beautiful tasty meal for around £4.

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Filed Under: Budgeting, Recipes · Tagged: bacon, cheese, chorizo, garlic, Gnocchi, passata, tomato

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