A French victory in frugality: Week 4

Here we are, time to count up the points … 4^thweek into January with one goal : cook more and spend less!

All in all I feel pretty good about my new year’s resolution.

With a little weekend planning, doubling up of ingredients and a lot of elation following the discovering of the slow cooker, I reached my goal!

I have managed to bring two lunches to work every week for the past four weeks, without too many difficulties and too much food envy! I am aware that my colleagues and friends are beginning to tire of me regaling how wonderful my slow cooker is and how delicious the pulled pork was… but there are always casualties in any great battle!

I had always been quite anti-new year resolutions until now. I harbour a deep-seated resentment towards all the January gym newbies,  who transform my quiet 10 persons yoga class to a horrible 25 people yoga factory. However, this January I’ve proved to myself that with a small manageable resolution and a love of cooking, you might just as well do it!

Cooking for lunch twice a week won’t change my life or my savings account but it is a baby-step towards a savvier life.

And the last recipe of the week…

Recipe #4: Pork cider stew à la Normande (Normandy style)

600g pork for stew

2 onions

750ml cider (French cider differs a little bit from British cider, but it is still tastes good with it!)

2 tablespoons plain flour

1 apple

Salt and pepper

A pinch of cinammon

You can also add potatoes to the stew if you want to make it a one pot meal

Dice the pork into cubes and brown them in a pan. Once browned, put the diced pork into the slow cooker. Chop the onion and cook them in the pan until golden, then add to the slow cooker.

Add the flour to the pork and onion and stir well. Pour in the cider,  and add the cut apple and a pinch of cinnamon if you like. If you plan on cooking potatoes with the meal, cut them and add them to the slow cooker at this point.

Let it slow cook on a low setting for up to 4 hours, or until the meat is tender.

If the gravy is too runny, add a few tablespoons of plain flour and turn the slow cooker setting to ‘high’ until the gravy thickens.

Bon appetit!

{Image: Janine}