One Pot Pork Chop Stew

These days, pork is often one of the cheapest meats you can buy. LastPenny recommends buying free range pork products.

This is a tasty and cheap recipe which can be made in under an hour, or alternately can be popped in the slowcooker. I usually use the slowcooker myself.

One Pot Pork Chops

7 pork chops ** You can also use pork belly slices, but these will be fattier.
2/3 cup of water
6-8 small potatoes *
6-8 carrots, split lengthwise and cut into 2" pieces
1 1/2 cans of tomato soup (For dollar value, I use powdered packet soup instead and add a couple of tablespoons of ketchup)
2 tsp. worcester sauce
1 tsp. salt
oil

In a saucepan (I use a big highsided stockpot, but you can also make this very effectively in an electric frying pan), brown the pork chops in just enough oil to coat the pan. Drain away the grease.

If you're using the slowcooker method, put the chops in the slowcooker, otherwise, simply add the rest of the ingredients to the pan. Cover and simmer for about 45 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.

Serving suggestions:

• This is a one-pot meal, really, but for big eaters, you can serve it with mashed potatoes.
• I prefer to serve it with some toast and peas or beans

*TIP: If you're short of potatoes, you can add a cup of pasta to the pan instead of the potatoes for the last 15 mins.

Italian Vegetable Soup

2 cups sliced celery
1 large can tomato sauce
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
2 green peppers, diced
2 tablespoons sugar
1 large zucchini, peeled and sliced thinly
1 cup chopped onions
1/2 tsp.crushed oregano
2 to 3 pounds mild Italian sausage
2 cans or 1 quart crushed tomatoes
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
small pasta (optional) (I use risoni)

Break up the sausage and brown in a fry pan. Add the celery and cook for 10 minutes. Drain off the grease. Put all the ingredients into a large pot and cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

*Perfect* in the crockpot - simmer on low heat during the day while you are at work to be served for dinner - if you're crockpotting and the celery is young, there is no need to cook it in the fry-pan first.

This makes a big amount - perfect to feed the family for a few meals, or, to freeze for later.

Serving Suggestions:

• With fresh crusty bread
• Make buttered toast "soldiers" for kids to dip in
• I prefer to serve this as a main meal, but you could serve a small bowl as a starter if you preferred, as a prelude to a light, salad-y meal.
  

Argentine Steak - Tasty, economical casserole!

Argentine Steak is a tasty casserole, popular with the whole family, extremely economical, and as an added bonus, perfect in the slow cooker.

If you're prepared to buy a slightly more expensive cut of meat, it is also able to made very quickly as a fast supper!

Argentine Steak

1 rasher bacon
1 t worcestershire sauce
1 T brown sugar
1/4 c tomato sauce
1 oz grated cheese (1/2 cup)
1/2 t curry powder
1/2 c water
1 large carrot
1/2 t ground ginger
2 t vinegar (I use white for preference)
1 T flour
300 - 400 grams (1 lb) beef steak - gravy beef is beautiful in the slow cooker, use chuck or blade steak for 1 hr in the oven, or if you buy rump steak you can cook this in 40 mins. The most economical method is gravy beef in the slow cooker!

Combine all ingredients in an ovenproof dish or directly in the slow-cooker. Yes: it really is this easy. Measure everything in any order and pour into pan. Stir gently to combine.

Preheat oven/turn on slow cooker. For gravy beef, cook all day in slowcooker; or cook 2 hours in 150C oven.

For blade steak, cook 55 mins at 170C.
For chuck steak, cook 1 hr 10 at 170C.
DO NOT use a fan forced oven for these cuts of meat - turn the fan off.

For rump steak, use a fan oven if you have one, and cook 45 mins at 180C. Stir a couple of times during cooking.

Serving suggestions:

• Tasty over mashed potatoes with steamed greens on the side
• Serve as a baked potato topping with coleslaw on the side
• The leftovers reheat wonderfully for a microwave lunch