Foodie and mum Lizzie Bett is here to teach the nation a new lesson in time saving when it comes to tea time. And what’s more, she’s bringing a firm favourite back to the kitchen – hearty and tasty Slow Cooker recipes!

According to new research by Schwartz, up to a third of British mums spend two or more hours preparing the evening meal, but a similar proportion see their family spend 10 minutes or less on eating it. It leaves many mums feeling disillusioned by the whole process of preparing and cooking a meal – not to mention feeling underappreciated for the time spent.

In this new video, Lizzie helps leading mummy blogger Claire Walsh (www.beingamummy.co.uk) get back to basics with their pressure cooker, with a delicious recipe for Beef and Tomato casserole:

Ingredients:

onion, cut into chunks
2 red peppers, cut into chunks
450g lean beef, diced
1 sachet Schwartz Slow Cookers Beef & Tomato Casserole
400g chopped tomatoes
2 tbs tomato purée

Deliciously tender slow-cooked beef in a rich tomato, smoked paprika and herb sauce. A tasty and hearty casserole for all the family to enjoy.

STEP 1
Place the onion, peppers and beef into your slow cooker pot.
STEP 2
Blend the sachet contents with the chopped tomatoes and tomato purée, and add to the slow cooker pot. Stir through.
STEP 3
Cover and cook for 4 hours on HIGH or 8 hours on LOW, or until the meat is tender and cooked through. (Keep covered during cooking. Cooking times vary between slow cooker models).
STEP 4
Remove the lid, stir through and stand for 5 minutes before serving.
STEP 5
Delicious served with rice and fresh vegetables.

Lizzie’s tip:
Why not try replacing the beef with diced pork or lamb. If you have time, try browning off the meat in a frying pan before adding to the slow cooker.

Nutritional info: 235 kcalories, protein 29.4g, carbohydrate 16.5g, fat 4.7g, saturated fat 1.7g, fibre 4.3g, salt 1.25g, sodium 0.5g, sugars 11.1g

According to the new research, even with the rival temptations of takeaways and fast food, mums are more likely to try and make a 'proper' meal for the family, (83 per cent).

Many mums do spend a long time on making dinner  however, only 14 per cent use a slow cooker, which could free up more time. There is minimal preparation required – busy mums can pop in the ingredients, turn the cooker on low and come back in 6-8 hours ready to serve dinner. The meal can even be served from the slow cooker on the dining table.

With the ‘Gift of Time’ campaign, Schwartz aim to convince mums to dust off those slow cookers found in 45 per cent* of homes across the UK and try making their evening meals with Schwartz’s Slow Cookers recipe mixes. Available in four tasty recipe mixes – Beef & Tomato Casserole, Chicken in Red Wine, Sausage & Bean Casserole, Chicken Curry – the range is a great way to serve stress-free meals to a family without compromising taste.

For more information, please go to: www.facebook.com/SchwartzCookingClub