*UPDATE: The winner has been chosen… Fatima Sewani is the winner of this giveaway! Thank you all for playing along… I hope to do more of these giveaways in the near future!
Pumpkins, apples, leaves changing colour and making crunching noises as you step on them… warmth and the smell of pumpkin pie spice are all things I associate with this time of year, Autumn/Fall.
There’s something else that’s synonymous with this time of year and that’s the slow cooker. There’s nothing like adding ingredients to a slow cooker, letting it do all the work then coming back a few hours later and opening it up to find a magical smell inside and some delicious food! Slow cooker meals are some of the tastiest! They’re also great because you can use cheap cuts of meat and the low slow cooking process will result in soft, tender meat in the end. Plus, there’s always the time aspect of it… with slow cooker meals you just set and forget AND you can make recipes in bulk so you have leftovers to freeze or enjoy for a few days after.
I use my slow cooker on a fairly regular basis. If I’m not using it to make recipes then I’m usually using it to make bone broth. If you haven’t got one then I HIGHLY recommend you go out and get yourself one, they are not very expensive and are a BIG help in the kitchen!
Speaking of slow cookers, I recently received a copy of ‘The Paleo Slow Cooker’ by Arsy Vartanian of Rubies and Radishes. Arsy was kind enough to send me a copy of her lovely book… actually it was there waiting for me at our new place on the day we moved in! What an amazing welcome home present that was :).
The book couldn’t have arrived at a better time… with the weather cooling down I was ready to take full advantage of my slow cooker! There is so much that I love about this book… first up it’s not just a cookbook but also a book that teaches you about paleo and the whys of eating this way. There are also tips and tricks scattered throughout the book to help you with your journey not to mention a myriad of delicious recipes!
When it comes to the recipes, the book is divided into the following sections:
- Appetizers.
- Beef Dishes.
- Spicy and Tender Lamb.
- Perfect Pork.
- Chicken Favorites and Other Feathered Friends.
- Deliciously Done Duck.
- Fantastic Fish and Seafood.
- Slow Cooked Veggies.
- Warm Paleo Desserts.
- Different Liquids for Exceptional Slow Cooking.
The book is filled with beautiful images of the recipes and there’s even a couple of recipes I grew up with in there which made me smile when I saw them! I’ve tried out a few of the recipes and so far everything has come out tasting great!
One of my favourite ones so far has been the ‘Armenian Lamb and Apricot Stew’. Unfortunately when I made it I couldn’t get my hands on any lamb so I used beef instead, but it came out tasting great just the same and I even served it for some guests we had over that night and they all LOVED it! Next time though I will definitely be making it with lamb!
I asked Arsy if I could share that recipe with you here and she said yes!
So here’s a teaser recipe from ‘The Paleo Slow Cooker’…
Armenian Lamb and Apricot Stew
Taken from ‘The Paleo Slow Cooker’*
Servings: 4-6
Ingredients:
- 1 onion, thinly sliced.
- 2 Tbsp coconut oil.
- 2 chili peppers, chopped.
- 2 lbs lamb stew meat, 1-inch cubes.
- 6 oz dried apricots.
- 3 sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed.
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed.
- 1 Tbsp fresh ginger, grated.
- 2 cups beef broth.
- 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice.
- 1/4 cup brandy (optional).
- 1 tsp basil.
- 1 tsp dill.
- 1 Tbsp parsley.
- Salt and pepper just before serving.
Method:
Melt the coconut oil in a heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat, lightly sauté the onions for about 3 minutes and then add the garlic, ginger, chili peppers and apricots, and cook for another 3 minutes.
Transfer the mixture to the slow cooker along with the sweet potatoes and melt the remaining coconut oil in the pan.
Brown the lamb in batches, about 6 minutes a batch, and transfer to the slow cooker. (Note that it takes longer to brown in coconut oil).
Mix the broth, lemon juice, brandy (if using) and dried herbs, and pour over the meat in teh slow cooker.
Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
Salt and pepper to taste, then serve.
Now comes the fun part! I’m giving one lucky person a chance to win a copy of ‘The Paleo Slow Cooker’. All you have to do is fill out the widget below, there are two ways to enter, one by becoming a fan of ‘Cinnamon Eats’ on Facebook, if you aren’t already (I promise I share good stuff over there!) or leave a comment telling me what your favourite slow cooker meal is… OR you can do both! You can leave your comment here or by clicking on the rafflecopter link below.
The competition will end on Friday, October 4th at 8:30pm BST (British Summer Time)… oh and it’s open worldwide! So what are you waiting for? Get on it! Just click on the link below to be taken to the widget. Winner will be chosen at random and announced on Monday, October 7th… GOOD LUCK!
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Good luck! 🙂
Wow! Sounds…. spicy! 😉
A spicy pulled pork, made by jamming fresh peppers by the pint into the top of the slow cooker. 🙂
Dana says
Favorite thing is probably crock pot carnitas! George over at Civilized Caveman has an AMAZING rub that I use. Set it and forget it, leftovers for days!
Yep I love that too! Good luck 🙂
Gail Deel says
They are good! Good luck 🙂
Good luck… fingers crossed you never know 🙂
Oh thanks Ash! Slow cooker recipes sound like a good challenge 🙂 Good luck!
Sounds good to me! Good luck!
Oh my that sounds delicious! Good luck!
Oh that sounds delightful! And you’re welcome 🙂 Good luck!
Yep that’s the beauty of slow cooker meals, usually end up with leftovers! Good luck 🙂
I understand! Good luck 🙂
Oh yes I’ve had that before… so good! Good luck 🙂
Sounds yum! Good luck 🙂
Sounds like a winner! Good luck 🙂
Sounds interesting! Good luck!
YUM! I LOVE lamb! That sounds superb! Good luck!
Oh wow that’s great! It’s a great book and so far the recipes I’ve tried have been delicious! 🙂
Leslie says
My three copies I bought just arrived yesterday! One for me two for Christmas gifts!
Can’t wait to try some of the recipes. They look SO YUMMY!
Katrina Stubbs says
I love slow cooked lamb shanks.I make up a red wine and mint sauce and it’s so tasty
Heloisa K says
my favorite slow cooker recipe is corned beef with veggies and one of my husband’s homebrew. his stouts give an awesome flavor to the meat.
My favorite slow cooker meal is the Beasty Babyback Ribs from the Caveman Feast e-cookbook. I wouldn’t change a single thing about this recipe. Amazing.
Chicken Chasseur … chicken and mushrooms with a delicious sauce YUMMY!!
april says
My favorite slow cooker meal is nom nom paleo’s whole chicken with gravy. SO good!
Liz Overton says
I love chili and soups in the Crock Pot. It’s hard to pick a single favorite!
Camille says
My favorite is a pork roast w/carrots & potatoes. I always shred/freeze the leftover meat though, so its like making two different meals in one.
Lindsay Lewis says
I haven’t actually made it yet, but I would love to try making some Slow Cooker Pumpkin Butter, and Honey Garlic Chicken. Thank you and Arsy for the fantastic giveaway!
Pulled Pork is always a family favorite in the crockpot. I like to serve it over a baked sweet potato……delicious and comforting! So happy to have found your blog!!! Thanks!
Chicken so slow cooked…with lots of spices.
I love that you’re teaming up with Arsy to do this. I’m so proud of you!!! I love this time of year and that it automatically involves the crock pot. Any soup or stew will do for me on a cool, crisp night.
I think I’d like to get creative and try some slow cooker dessert recipes this year. What do you think?
Dee says
I use my crockpot once a week but I know that I could use it more if I had healthy nourishing recipes to follow.
Barb says
Looking forward to slow cooked veggies!
My favorite slow-cooker meal to date is ratatouille, either all veggie or with chicken. But I’d like to learn more, so Arsy’s cookbook would be a great prize!
Nice! Good luck 🙂
shredded beef or pork for tacos or sandwitches
Yum! Good luck 🙂
Holly says
Pulled Pork is my favorite.
Good luck 🙂
best giveaway ever!! fingers crossssed!!
Good luck!
Sound delicious! Good luck!
Short ribs!!!! Although I’m hoping to learn a new favorite in this cookbook. Fingers crossed!!!
Jennie says
My favourite slow cooker meal is Nom Nom Paleo’s Slow Cooker Thai Yellow Curry
with grassfed beef
http://nomnompaleo.com/post/7118904494/slow-cooker-thai-yellow-curry-with-grass-fed-beef