3 Delicious Recipes to Keep you Warm in Winter

There’s nothing more comforting than a warm, nourishing feast on a cold winter’s night. Hearty home-cooked meals heat up the body and feed the soul, which is why it’s always wise to have a few recipes up your sleeve during the colder months.

We’ve hand-picked a few of our favourite winter warmers, so get ready to whip out the crock pot and fill your belly with these easy, cheap, and delicious meals.

1. Beef and Veggie Pot Roast (2 .5 hours, serves 2-3 people)
– 400g Beef chuck
– 2x Onions (sliced)
– 2x cloves of garlic (chopped)
– 3tbs (tomato paste)
– 4X Carrots
– 1kg Potatoes
– 1L Chicken Stock
– 240g Baby Leaf Spinach
– (Plus any other veggies you want to toss in!)

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Place a large, heat proof / flame proof casserole dish on the stove over medium heat. If you don’t have a flame proof casserole dish, use a saucepan initially and prepare a deep baking dish for later on. Note: you can also use a crock pot to cook this meal.
2. Add onion and garlic and cook for a few minutes until fragrant and golden brown. Add steak and sear on each side. Remove steak.
3. Add tomato paste, carrots, potatoes, and stock. Just before it reaches boiling point, add beef, cover, and place in oven. If you’re using a saucepan, transfer the contents to the baking dish before placing in the oven.
4. Cook for 2 hours (Or in a slow cooker for 4 hours) take out of oven, shred beef with two forks until it’s stringy and separated evenly through the vegetables. Add baby spinach and stir. Serve immediately.

2. Tuna pasta bake (40 minutes, Serves 2)

– 200g penne or fusilli pasta
– 200g tuna in spring water
– 80g mozzarella cheese
– 30g butter or 2 tbs olive oil
– 250 ml milk
– 250 ml vegetable stock
– ¼ cup breadcrumbs
– 1/3 cup corn flour
– 2tsp Dijon mustard
– 1 diced onion
– 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
– Sprigs of oregano and thyme, leaves stripped

1. Cook pasta according to instructions. While cooking, pre heat oven to 200 degrees Celsius.
2. Heat a saucepan over medium heat, add oil or butter. Add onion and garlic and sauté until soft, golden, and fragrant.
3. Combine corn flour, vegetable stock and Dijon mustard until it makes a smooth paste. Gradually add to cooked onion, stirring until thick.
4. Add tuna and pasta and season.
5. Transfer to baking dish, top with mozzarella and breadcrumbs. Bake for 15 minutes
6. Scatter over herbs and serve.

3. Choc Orange Bread and Butter Pudding (serves 8)
– 10x slices of sourdough bread
– 8 eggs
– 80g butter at room temperature
– Zest of 1 orange
– 1tbsp brown / caster sugar
– 1x vanilla pod
– 200g cooking chocolate (70% cocoa or more)
– 400g cream
– 400ml milk
– 70g walnuts (chopped)
– 70g sultanas
– Ice cream (for serving)

1. Preheat oven to 190 degrees Celsius
2. Split vanilla pod, remove vanilla seeds and whip butter with orange zest and vanilla seeds
3. Grease a 20x20cm baking dish with half the butter. Spread the rest of the butter on slices of bread and cut them in half
4. Whisk together eggs and sugar, then fold in half the chocolate.
5. Heat cream and scraped vanilla pod in a small saucepan over low to medium heat. Just before it boils, take off heat and quickly add milk to cool. Pour over egg and chocolate mixture and stir, then strain to remove pod.
6. Place a layer of bread in prepared baking dish and top with some cooking chocolate, a sprinkling of sultanas, walnuts and some of the milk chocolate mixture. Layer and repeat until you have used up all the ingredients. Set aside for 15 minutes so the bread can absorb all of the flavour and liquid.
7. Place in oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. Serve immediately with ice cream.

All that’s left to do now is pre-heat that oven, channel your inner chef, and dig in to some warming meals! Want more winter warming inspiration? Check out our 5 Hacks to Keep Your Home Warm in Winter.

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