Beef & Potato Slowcooker

A friend recently asked me for some budget-friendly meal ideas. Here's one of our regulars (sorry no photos as yet) - it's tasty, cheap, healthy, easy to prepare and is perfect for the day before our next fruit and vegetable shop. The beef on the bone gives it great flavour, potatoes and lentils make it filling and the last minute peas give fresh colour and texture. This costs under $10 to fill a 5.5L slow cooker and easily gives us 6 large serves.

Beef & Potato Slowcooker

• 1 beef stewing steak or similar beef on the bone (250g)
• 1 cup dry green/brown lentils (200g), rinsed
• 4 - 6 potatoes, chopped into large chunks
• 4 - 6 carrots, chopped into large chunks
• 3 - 4 celery stalks, chopped
• frozen peas (500g)
• 2 - 3 large bay leaves
• salt, 1 - 2 teaspoons
• water

Add everything except the peas and water into the slowcooker; then fill water to a couple of centimetres from the top of the crock. Cook for 8-10 hours on low (can use high setting for less time if you don't remember to put it on until later in the day). When ready to serve, add frozen peas and mix in. Use a fork to help separate meat off the bone into the soup and fish out any bones. Serve with bread if you like :)