Chilli Bean Soup

Now that the winter cold has set it in, it is time to become best friends with your slow cooker.

A slow cooker saves so much time - of course there are those out there that will tell you that they use too much energy - but you have to make your own peace with that one.  For me, the slow cooker is an absolute godsend!

As you know I have a child with Prader Willi Syndrome.  Coupled with his insatiable appetite he is heading full bore into puberty!!!  Any of you that have pre-pubescent boys will know that filling them up is nigh on impossible.  I decided to take the tack that I would start sending a thermos of hot soup to school with him each day - not only would it keep him busier for longer each lunch time - but I was filling him with warm heartiness.

Last week I whipped up a batch of Pasta e Fagioli in the Thermomix - and that went down a treat.  Yesterday I decided to cook a batch of soup in the slow cooker.  The beauty of cooking the soup in  the slow cooker is that you don't need to add a lot of oil to the dish - I rarely brown my meat before adding it!!

Chilli Bean Soup
Adapted from Easy Slow Cooker Recipes

Serves 6 (at least)

1kg stewing steak *
1 400g can diced tomatoes
1 onion, diced
1 30g packet taco seasoning
2 cans Mexican Chilli Beans (1 drained)
1 400g can corn kernels, drained
1 tbs TM vegetable stock concentrate **

Cut the steak into cube sized pieces (don't have to be too technical - you are hoping they will all "melt down anyway!!).

Add the onion, the tomatoes, taco seasoning, one can of drained chilli beans, and the other can with the liquid, the corn and the stock concentrate.  Mix well.  Put the lid on the slow cooker and leave for 5-7 hours on low.

* I used gravy beef.  I am not sure if this was just incredibly tough meat, or if my beloved crock pot is on it's last legs - but after 7 hours it was still not as "falling apart" as I wanted.  I just continued to cook it for a few more hours.  Next time I will use chuck steak.

** If you do not have access to TM stock concentrate use either beef stock powder or a stock cube.

I am just about to go and load up my friend for tonight's meal - Beef with Mushroom Gravy.  I will serve this with Thermomix mashed potato (we have a long night tonight - and I want some hot food that I can throw on the table easily when I finally get in!)