Beef & Three Bean Slow Cooker Chilli

Now that the nights are drawing in, and I await the cold crisp Autumn days, my thoughts turn to hearty stews and warming chillis.
I have had a slow cooker for a few years and have used it only a handful of times.
This year I vow for that to change.
I blew the dust off it this week and had a bash at a slow cooked chilli using the available contents of my cupboard.
Such is the joy of slow cooking - just chuck in what you've got, cross your fingers and switch it on!

I used:
500g beef mince
1 onion
1 red onion
1 red pepper
1 green pepper
1 tin kidney beans
1 tin chopped tomatoes
1 tin kidney beans
1 tin butter beans - drained
1 tin baked beans
1 tbsp. tomato puree
1 tbsp. hot chilli powder
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. salt
a few twists of black pepper

Simply brown the mince in a frying pan, drain the fat and add to the slow cooker with all of the above.
Mix well.
Cook on low for about 8 hours.

This made 4-6 tasty servings with just the right amount of punch from the chilli for adults and children alike.

x x x

Chicken & Butternut Squash {Recipe}

Before the cake was consumed this week at the boy's birthday party the grown ups had a tried and tested treat on the Saturday night.

Following our shop at Morrisons I put my feet up whilst the husband cooked.

The recipe below includes costs from our Morrisons shop earlier that day.

2 Signature free range chicken breasts (£15.00 kg) £4.48
Half a butternut squash £0.50
King Edward potatoes £0.90
1 chilli pepper £0.09
150ml double cream £0.40
4 rashers Signature smoked bacon £1.99
Brocolli £0.49

Total for two = £8.85

Wrap two rashers of bacon around each chicken breast and place in individual baking dishes.
Peel and slice the butternut squash and place around the chicken breasts.
Pour the cream around piece of chicken.
Chop and sprinkle the chilli over the chicken.
Bake at 180c for approx.

 

Meanwhile, boil and mash the potatoes and prepare the broccoli.

Serve and enjoy!

 



x x x

Disclaimer: I received £80 vouchers to carry out my Bank Holiday shop at Morrisons. As always, views and opinions are my own and are honest.

From Morrisons:

This is the start of a new cheaper Morrisons.

From today (1.5.2014), we’ve cut the prices on over a thousand of your favourite products. Not temporary reductions or supermarket smoke and mirrors, these are new every day low prices on the things you buy every week. So you’ll notice the difference with every shop.

And although we’re cutting prices, we’re not cutting corners. You can check our pricing at www.Morrisons.com/pricecuts.

You’ll still get award-winning meat and fish, still get trained butchers and bakers, still get the best of fresh on Market Street and still get friendly Morrisons service.

Look out for the yellow markers when you shop in store and online at morrisons.com. If it says I’m cheaper you know it’s staying cheaper.

Foodie delights at Camp Bestival

Regular readers of 76sunflowers will know that I am a big fan of Camp Bestival enjoying not just the music and entertainment but the fine array of foods!

This year the area of food has definitely not been overlooked with the introduction of The Feast Collective...



Camp Bestival themselves say...

Food has always been one of the stars of the show at Camp Bestival and The Feast Collective will take it to the next level, showcasing a heavenly selection of the exquisite things happening in the food scene right now, with a carefully curated collection of appetising offerings complementing each other perfectly. Situated in front of the Castle with views of the main stage and plenty of green spaces to picnic, The Feast Collective will be a space where all the family wants to hang out. With long tables for communal dining, a bar with mixologists, talks, demos and the hustle bustle of a trading market space, it will be THE destination to head for food and drink.

With one of my favourite bands, James, playing and a fabulous foodie line up it looks like Camp Bestival have nailed it again.

Roll on Summer 2014! 

x x x

 

 

Disclaimer: I am receiving family Camp Bestival 2014 tickets in return for previews and reviews of this year's festival. As always, views and opinions are my own.

 



The Big Feastival 2013 {Review}

 

On Saturday we travelled up to the Cotswolds to check out Jamie Oliver's and Alex James' Big Feastival for the day. The drive up took us through the rather idyllic looking town of Burford and into the countryside where Alex James' farm awaited us. The drive onsite was a doddle with no queues, by the time we had arrived, just past 11a.m. A short walk from the car park took us past the camping area - of which I was little bit envious as we were just going for the day - which looked spacious and close to both the parking and the action. A big tick.

The festival site itself was nicely laid out with all the expected touches and the kiddies were soon raring to go and check it all out.

         

 

 

The size was ideal for a day visit, and easy to navigate with children, and as with all good festivals there was an area devoted to them - The Little Dudes Den. A favourite with my two was Adam Henson's Cotswold Park Farm where the children were able to handle chicks and rabbits, get up close with Kune Kune pigs and meet sheep, donkeys, chickens and ducks.

 

The Big Feastival 2013 {preview}

Following our successful jaunt down to Lulworth for Camp Bestival earlier this month we have wanted to see some more family festivals in action. Therefore, at the end of August, we are heading over to Alex James' farm in The Cotswolds for his annual collaboration with Jamie Oliver....The Big Feastival. Checking out the website it looks like a great family festival with the added bonus of a heavy emphasis on food!

The setting looks rather impressive with camping open from Friday 30th August to Monday 2nd September but if you're not a camper - or like us, have work commitments disrupting the weekend - then day tickets are available.

We are going to be heading over for the Saturday and will be entertained by the likes of Dodgy, Rizzle Kicks and Basement Jaxx but will miss the Sunday music from Mark Owen, KT Tunstall and The Feeling. The full line-up is here.



Food wise it looks like we are in for a real selection of treats - clearly my diet has slipped this summer and I'll be putting it on hold for this anyway! Festival goers will be invited down 'Street Food Alley' where they will find *takes a deep breath* four of Jamie Oliver's restaurants, Bhangra burgers, meatballs and more from The Bowler, Mexican Street Food from Margo and Rita, healthy stuff from Rainbo, food with an ethical conscience from Shack Food Co, Taiwanese buns from Yum Bun, Adam Henson's Pie and Ale, seafood from Café Mor, children's focus with Coco Dining, Higgidy Pies, exotic meats from Outback Burger, Paellaria and Pizza Pilgrims!
How am I going to sample all of that in one day?!



As with any decent family festival the children have not been forgotten and my two will have the Little Dudes Den to keep them busy with face painting, story telling, dancing and vintage funfair. The Workshop looks like it will appeal to me and Edith as it promises an opportunity to get seriously creative and a little bit messy and Bar Stars is somewhere for the grown ups to sample a variety of tipples - our designated driver is yet to be decided. Watch this space!

So, we have something to look forward to in order to wrap up our amazing Summer of 2013.

Here's the boys enjoying themselves last year...

If any of that has tickled your taste buds and you want more information check out the Feastival Info page here.

x x x

 

 

Disclaimer: I am receiving a family day pass in return for a preview and review of The Big Feastival 2013. As always my comments and opinions will be my own and will be open and honest.