Pulled Pork Irish Stew Recipe - Slow Cooker Budget Batch Cook


A super easy Irish stew recipe using slow cooked pulled pork to keep the cost down to just 43p per portion.

I usually make this Irish stew recipe with chunks of beef but money is tight at the moment so I thought I'd try it with beef mince instead.  It worked really well with my recent hot pot recipe.

However it was recently pointed out to me that beef mince isn't always the cheapest meat.  I checked when I got to the supermarket and sure enough pork shoulder was cheaper.  

So this recipe has become pulled pork Irish stew.

It's really easy which is a good job because I'm super busy this week.


Ingredients and Tools:
Pork Shoulder Joint 1.5kg £4.63
1kg Carrots 58p
1kg Onions 50p
Bulb Garlic 12p
Beer, Dark Ale 89p
Brown Sugar 10p
Tomato Puree 31p
Thyme
Parsley
Plain Flour 10p
Beef Stock 12p
Soy Sauce 45p

Total = £7.80 / 18 portions = 43p per portion

Food purchased from Aldi


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Start by chopping the onions.


Then mincing the garlic - I use a food processor for convenience.


Fry them until soft.


Slice the carrots - so much easier with a food processor.


Pop the pork joint into the slow cooker.


Cover it with the fried onions.


Then the carrots.


Then add some brown sugar, a small handful.


And some flour, a big handful this time.


And the herbs - I'm using thyme and parsley fresh from the garden,


Then the full tube of tomato puree.


I've included beef stock cubes on the recipe but I happened to have some homemade pork stock in the freezer so I used that instead.

Stir the ingredients as best you can around the joint.  Then cook on low for the day or about 5 hours on high if you're in a rush.


Once it's cooked remove the pork joint.  Cut off the bulk of the fat (you can use this to make more pork stock).  Then shred the pork by either cutting it or pulling it apart with a pair of forks.


Put the pork back into the slow cooker and give it a good stir.


I got 6 family sized portions, that's enough to feed 3 adults or my family of 2 adults and 2 smalls.
  

I served it with Air Fried Chips and frozen broccoli.  Here's how I make healthy chips:


If you prefer the beef version here's my old recipe:


Linking Up To:


Be sure to pin this recipe for later.

#simplycrafting #homecooking #budgterecipe  #batchcooking #mealprep #slowcookerrecipe #healthyeating #healthyeatingideas #healthyeatingforlife #healthyeatingonabudget  #healthycooking #healthyrecipe

Max and Meena Mega Max Raglan Blue Jumper Sewing Project


A super simple Mega Max Raglan top to turn a sleeveless summer dress into a winter outfit.

I love how quick and easy this pattern is to sew up. There are loads of options availible to make it really exciting but in it's simplest form this is still a fabulous simple raglan pattern.

I've sewn up this pattern in a ribby fabric a few times now, it works really well.  The rib gives a cheaper fabric quite a bit of extra stretch and the texture adds an interesting detail to an otherwise plain garment.

Tools and Materials:
       

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Basic Construction


Raglan patters tend to start with the front and back sleeve seams.


Then I finish the sleeves and hems with my overlocker.


I press my hems them fold them out again when I stitch the seams.  I think this makes a neater finish and it's easier than trying to press a hem once the seam has been sewn.


Then it's the side seams.

Neckband


I stitch the neckband with a straight stitch as it allows the neckband to lie fatter than it would with a stretch stitch which is quite a wide stitch.  


I also press the seam open so it lies as flat as possible.


When turning my neckband I find a tailors ham very useful for accurate pressing.


Then I pin and sew the neckband into place.


I stitch my hems in place with a twin needle, I think it leaves a more professional looking finish.


Linking Up To:


Here are some of my previous sews with the Max and Meena Mega Max Raglan pattern:

 

Save 40% off all New Look and Kwik Sew sewing patterns for a limited time at Minerva Crafts.


#simplycrafting #sewingchildrensclothes #handmadechildrensclothes #handmadechildrensclothing #sewingkidsclothes #sewngforkids #maxandmeena