Cooks Club Challenge #87 - Comfort Food

It's my turn for Cooks Club Challenge over on www.taste.com.au 
see my post   HERE

It's winter here in Australia, and it has gotten very cold, very quickly here in Adelaide.  I find I am more inclined to use the oven during this time of year – and look forward to doing roasts, using the slow cooker and a bit of baking.

So my theme this month, is Comfort Food ;-)

First up is a casserole ………… I have seen these new pre-packaged slow cooker recipe bases from Masterfoods around for a while and wanted to try one out.

I decided on Farmhouse Chicken Casserole and followed the directions and set my slow cooker in motion.  I wasn’t sure what was going to happen, as it looked a bit insipid  ;-(  but smelled okay

I used Chicken Thighs, and diced as suggested in the instructions, but would leave them whole if I used this recipe again.  The chicken was so very tender, it actually fell apart and almost disintegrated after only 5 hours.

I chopped up some potatoes and they were beautifully cooked – I have been having issues for over a year now with potatoes cooking successfully – I always seem to have some hard/raw bits in my spuds …………… not happy Jan!

When the casserole was ready to serve, I zapped up some vegetables in the microwave and mixed them in.

For those that like to start from scratch, there are several slow cooker recipes in the slow cooker thread  HERE – feel free to have a look and decide which one you would like to try.

So while the slow cooker was doing it’s thing …………. I set up the breadmaker ….. there is something extra special about using crusty bread to scoop up a yummy casserole.

After filling up on casserole and bread with lashings of butter, the only thing left to have is dessert  ;-)

It has been a while since we have had some chocolatey goodness for dessert, but we were too full.  

We will be having this Chocolate Mug Cake on the weekend – pics to come ;-)

5 minute chocolate mug cake

2 tablespoons self raising flour

2 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoons cocoa

1 egg

1 tablespoons milk

1 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)

Small splash of vanilla extract and your favourite tipple (optional)

Add dry ingredients to your largest mug and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips if using, vanilla extract and a drop or two of your favourite tipple, then mix again.

Put you mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts (high). The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed. Allow to cool and tip out onto a plate if desired.

EAT!

This can serve two if you want to feel slightly more virtuous. If you are feeling very naughty cover liberally in Bailey's Irish Cream.

I can’t remember where I got this recipe from – it has been written down on a piece of paper in my cupboard for I don’t know how long ;-)

I hope you continue to enjoy Cooks Club Challenges ;-)  If my suggestions are not to your liking, please feel free to share your own version of comfort food ;-)