Those long, sunny days at the cottage—spending the morning out on the boat cruising the lake followed by a relaxing afternoon in the hammock with a good book—are what we live for. But just because you don’t spend the day cooped up in a hot kitchen preparing food doesn’t mean you have to live off hot dogs and a tub up of potato salad all weekend. Bring a slow cooker to the cottage and let your food simmer inside for a delicious breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even dessert.
Overnight Breakfast Casserole
Wake up to all your favourite hearty breakfast foods with this easy overnight casserole. Layers of hashbrowns, diced sausages, veggies and cheese, topped with scrambled eggs, can simmer in the slow cooker while you sleep. All you have to do in the morning is make toast. Recipe: www.foodnetwork.com
French Toast Casserole
Avoid the hassle and mess of making French toast by plopping all your ingredients into a single pot and letting a slow cooker do the work for you. Top your French toast casserole with maple syrup and banana—or any of your favourite fruit. Recipe: www.rachaelrayshow.com
Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwiches
Enjoy the barbecue flavour without having to stand over a hot grill with no-fuss pulled pork straight out of the slow cooker. Let your meat, spices and sauces marinate during the day while you play in the water then refuel on tender meat piled high on a toasted bun or cornbread and topped with coleslaw. Recipe: www.100daysofrealfood.com
Chili
Chili is at its best when the meat and beans and veggies have had a chance to stew in with the tomatoes and spices — making it an ideal slow cooker recipe. Though this hearty meal might seem more like winter fare, it may be just the thing you need after a day of outdoor activity. Top a bowl of chili with grated cheese and sit by the fire for a casual dining experience. You can also make this a day in advance to give the flavours extra time to settle in. Recipe: www.chow.com
Cajun Stew
Spice dinner up with a southern favourite with this two-step Cajun stew recipe. The veggies, sausage and spices can be left to simmer during the day. Add shrimp and okra 30-minutes before dinnertime — just the right amount of time to make a fresh pot of rice to serve with the meal. Recipe: www.marthastewart.com
Scalloped potatoes with ham
Sick of baked potatoes on the barbecue? Dice up ham, onions and cheese, and put the mix on top of sliced potatoes in the slow cooker. Cover the mix with spices and mushroom soup and let it stew for four hours for a more interesting side dish. Recipe: www.allrecipes.com
Slow berry cobbler
Sure, we all love s’more. But mix up your cottage dessert offerings with a simple berry cobbler that takes just 10 minutes of preparation time. On a warm night, serve with ice cream for a refreshing break from the heat. It’s also great on a cooler, rainy night. Recipe: www. foodnetwork.com
Related Story This slow cooker lasagna is the ultimate comfort food
Related Story This slow cooker applesauce is the easiest recipe you’ll make all season