Slowcook

A rich, warming and filling slowcooked Italian beef casserole from Australian Women's Weekly.

Recipe is suitable to freeze without the parsley. Thaw overnight in the fridge. Reheat in a saucepan and sprinkle with parsley to serve. Note

The horseradish sauce is best made just before serving. However, if you make it earlier, cover the surface of the sauce with plastic wrap to stop a skin from forming. Reheat gently in a saucepan, stirring, until heated through. Note

Borscht is a beetroot soup of Ukrainian origin that is popular in many Central and Eastern European cuisines.

Using a slowcooker takes this delicious Italian meatball and pasta dish to the next level.

A rich and warming casserole that is perfect for cold winter nights.

‘Agrodolce’ is the Italian word used to describe the flavours in this dish and means ‘sour sweet’. Note

Italian-style slow-cooked osso bucco that will melt in your mouth.

Sweet potato fries loaded with delicious pulled beef short ribs, candied jalapenos, chimichurri and mozzarella.

Place sultanas in large colander; wash under running water until water runs clear and sultanas are plump; drain well (step 3). Remove rind from oranges with a zester (glacé orange rind). Note

Suitable to freeze at the end of step 2. If the potatoes are very small, halve them rather than cutting them into quarters. Note

Some butchers sell a pork and veal mince mixture, which is what we call for here. If it is not available as a mixture, buy half the amount in pork mince (500g) and half the amount (500g) as veal mince. Note

A simple slowcooked version of the classic beef and vegetable casserole.

Suitable to freeze at the end of step 4. This dish is traditionally served at Christmas time. Note

Verjuice is available in delicatessens and supermarkets; it’s usually found in the vinegar aisle. It’s made from unripe grapes and has a slightly acidic taste. Ask the butcher to cut the rabbit into pieces. Note

An exquisite and morish Mediterranean-style mushroom and polenta dish with roasted tomatoes.

You can use ½ cup dry sherry with ½ cup water instead of the chinese cooking wine. This dish is suitable to freeze at the end of step 1. Note

You can use gravy beef for this recipe, if you prefer. Note

From the humble baked bean to the chickpea, legumes contain healthy components linked with protection against diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart problems.

Confit, from the French verb ‘confire’ meaning to preserve, means both a food item that has been slow-cooked in fat to cover, and also the cooking technique. Confit foods are exquisitely soft and delicately flavoured, so the technique is sometimes used, as in this recipe, simply to achieve this luxurious effect. Note

Caldeirada is a Portuguese fish stew that varies from region to region, but usually contains a variety of fish along with potato, onion and tomato or capsicum.

Minestrone is a really easy, delicious soup that can be ready in less than an hour, and made up to two days ahead. Great on a cold day. Note

A subtle and delicately flavoured rabbit stew with potato and sage that will melt in your mouth.

Suitable to freeze at the end of step 2. Note

Not suitable to freeze. Note

Tender slow-cooked lamb shoulder with a sweet and delicious quince and honey rub.

Recipe suitable to freeze at the end of step 2. Note

To freeze, pack into freezer-proof containers, leaving a 2.5cm space to allow for expansion. Thaw overnight in the fridge. Reheat in a 180°C/350°F oven for 30 minutes or microwave on medium power (50%) until heated through. Note

Sago and tapioca, while similar, are not the same and can’t be substituted for each other. Sago may be found labelled as `seed tapioca’ on some packets. It is available from most health-food stores and supermarkets. Note

This is a great recipe for entertaining in the cooler months. Lamb shoulder chops and chump chops are also suitable for this recipe. Note

Ras el hanout is a blend of Moroccan spices available in delis and specialist food stores. If you can’t find it, use a moroccan seasoning available in supermarkets. Note

A traditional Sunday dinner dish in the French countryside that literally means, 'chicken in a pot'.

Not suitable to freeze. If you have one, try using a mandoline to cut the potatoes into paper-thin slices, otherwise, use a very sharp knife. We used a merlot-style wine in this recipe. Note

This deliciously tender slowcooked spiced chicken in coconut sauce from Australian Women's Weekly.

Pulled beef, or pork, comes from pulling extremely tender pieces of meat apart­ rather than cutting it into slices usually with two forks, which separates the meat into strands. Low, slow cooking is required to produce meat tender enough to pull apart into pieces. Note

Swiss brown mushrooms, also known as roman or cremini, are light-to darkbrown in colour with a full bodied flavour. Store on a tray in a single layer, covered with damp, absorbent paper and keep where cool air can circulate around them. Note

A rich, fragrant and warming slow-cooked lamb and eggplant curry that will melt in your mouth.

Suitable to freeze at the end of step 3. Note

Ask the butcher to cut the ribs into pieces that will fit into your slow cooker. Note

A rich and delicious spinach and three cheese cannelloni that is a truly Italian dish.

This deliciously tender piece of lamb is cooked using traditional Spanish flavours, combining salty chorizo and fragrant garlic and thyme to create a memorable dish for a roast dinner or Christmas lunch.

An exquisite, slowcooked Greek-style dish with dill and lemon lamb shoulder.

A warming winter soup of slow-cooked chickpea and tomato soup from Australian Women's Weekly.

Ask the butcher to cut the rib racks into pieces that will fit your slow cooker. Note

You can quickly peel the capsicum with a vegetable peeler if you don’t like the skin peeling off when it’s cooked. To freeze, complete the recipe to the end of step 2. Pack into freezer-proof containers, leaving a 2.5cm space to allow for expansion. Seal, label and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight […]

Italian sausages are coarse pork sausages generally sold in plump links. They are usually flavoured with garlic and fennel seed or anise seed and come in two styles, hot (flavoured with thai red chilli) and sweet (without the added heat). They are available from speciality butchers and delicatessens. Note

This cake is very moist, due to the proportion of fruit to flour, which gives it a similar texture to Christmas pudding. Great as a family dessert with custard or, traditionally, for more special occasions such as 21st birthdays and weddings. Rum, sherry or your favourite liqueur can be substituted for the brandy. The fruit […]

Slow cooker: suitable to the end of step 2. Pressure cooker: suitable to the end of step 2. Not suitable to freeze. Note

We used a chardonnay-style wine in this recipe. This recipe is not suitable to freeze. Note

Persian lamb and rhubarb stew

An uncomplicated Asian-style sweet and sour chicken soup packed to the brim with delicious flavours.

This pudding recipe is suitable to freeze. Note