A fresh, modern and meat-free take on slow cooking: the cheapest, easiest way to cook!
Of all the projects I’ve ever done, I see this book as perhaps the most important. Not even I could have anticipated how much this book would change my life – change how I view cooking – and I sincerely hope it will change yours too. What I realised, after cooking every single one of my meals in a slow cooker for nearly 6 months, is how calm this style of cooking is. And trust me, I wouldn’t generally describe myself as calm! This is the cook I want to be, the person I want to be – this is how I envision my life. And the best bit is there’s nothing aspirational about it! Armed with this book, anyone with a $50 slow cooker can cook delicious and nutritious food they are proud to serve and share. They’ll be eating more healthily, more sustainably, saving money, saving time, caring for animals and stressing less! This really is life-changing stuff, and I couldn’t be prouder of the blueprint I’ve created, which is as much for me as for you.
I care passionately about the importance of cooking from scratch. Small steps lead to big changes, and we get the opportunity to contribute positively three times every single day! I truly believe that the world would be a better place if everyone cooked a few more meals at home each week, but in today’s busy society, cooking is often the first thing we outsource. While some may argue that this makes economic sense, the cost and benefit of doing so cannot be measured in dollars alone.
I am the first to admit that cooking can feel like a chore I've got to cram into my already busy day – I get the challenge! Takeaway and prepackaged food can be very appealing, I know. That's what first attracted me to the slow cooker – I saw how this appliance could take the hassle out of meals, meaning people would cook more often (and enjoy it!). But I soon realised that an appliance is nothing without the recipes to use it, like a smartphone with no apps. So I started creating the dishes in this book, ensuring first they were delicious but, just as importantly, that they were doable. Short ingredient lists, clear and concise instructions, beautiful photos to guide and inspire. Real recipes you will actually cook for you and your family . . . a modern makeover for the old slow cooker!
Home cooking does not need to be a finicky work of art – it can be a harmony of quality ingredients cooked simply (and slowly!). Anyone with a slow cooker, regardless of skill level or time constraints, can cook a delicious meal they are proud of. Serve it in the middle of the table, get the whole family sitting around, eat and enjoy. ‘Simple yet satisfying’ is my motto, and in today’s world, simple is often exactly what we need. I have never aspired to be the greatest cook, but rather the greatest at inspiring others to cook. I believe the best way to do that is to make cooking approachable to all – with down-to-earth recipes and delicious results, people are hooked. I hope my cookbooks are the ones with crinkled pages covered in chocolate fingerprints and oil splatters. The ones that never make it onto the bookshelf in the living room as they are tucked safely in the kitchen.
Now, I’m not saying you can cook everything in a slow cooker – you certainly can’t! I’m the first to acknowledge that. But for some things it’s a game changer, and those are the recipes I’ve included in this book. If the slow cooker is brilliant at it, I’ve included it here. If it takes a bit of finessing, I’ve left it out. Simple as that. But don’t tell me a slow cooker is only good for soups and stews! I’ve got salads, cheesecakes, puddings, pastas, tacos, sauces, curries, mash, cocktails, cordials, polenta chips, noodles and so much more. I’ve taken the slow cooker where it’s never gone before, and I know you’re going to love it! Sure, you don’t need a slow cooker – you could cook all these recipes on the stove or in the oven, in the same way that you don’t need a kettle as you can boil water on the stove, and you don’t need a toaster as you can grill bread in the oven. But I reckon a slow cooker might just change your life.
Lastly, let’s talk meat-free cooking. Why? It’s simple – because I love animals and I don’t want to kill them. In today’s world, we are lucky enough to have all the resources we need to eat a delicious and nutritiously balanced diet without meat . . . so why wouldn’t we? Not to mention the health benefits and the environmental considerations. Growing food to feed food (as we often do for pigs, chickens, fish and cows) while many in the world are starving seems crazy to me! And who couldn’t do with more veggies and fibre in their diet, anyway? But let me be clear, I’m not one for labels – every single plant-based meal someone chooses to eat is a win for me, no matter how they classify themselves. If this book inspires you to eat one less meal with meat a week, I see that as a victory. This book is for everyone, not just vegans and vegetarians. And, frankly, the slow cooker is great for veggies, fruit, legumes, beans, grains and pulses – so let’s celebrate it!
Thank you for reading these words, thank you for caring about the food you eat and the earth we live on. This book is written with so much love from me to you – I really hope you use it and love it, and that your life is made just that little bit easier and more enjoyable along the way.
Happy cooking,
love alyce xx
This isn’t an aspirational coffee table book, this is a real cookbook – a helping hand to partner you in the kitchen. These are achievable recipes, made without fancy techniques or dexterity. I consider these recipes my shortcuts to living the good life, and I am so excited to share them with you.
