OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, August 5, 2009 · 24 Whip up a frugal family feast (NC)--With today's hectic lifestyles, cooking meals at home that are easy to prepare and easy on the wallet can be challenging. By using the right kitchen appliance, Canadians can prepare a frugal feast for the whole family without paying a hefty price tag or sacrificing too much time. "On average, a family of four who eats out once a week is spending at least $3,000 a year," says Korey Kealey, food and entertaining specialist, Food Thought Communications. "Busy parents should consider introducing a Crock-Pot slow cooker to the meal planning mix to save money and time in the kitchen. A slow cooker offers at-home chefs an easy and functional option for creating homemade meals like Spinach Butter Chicken a healthy and delicious dinner that will cost approximately less than $4 a serving." When purchasing a slow cooker, look for a model with special features. The 6.0 Qt. Embossed Crock-Pot Smart-Pot slow cooker has a programmable touchpad that selects cook time and temperature and even auto-shifts to "warm" setting when the meal is done. Spinach Butter Chicken Prep Time: 5-10 minutes Cook Time: High 4-6 hours or Low 8-10 hours Serves: 6-8 Makes: 8 cups Ingredients: 1 large onion, finely chopped 5 cloves garlic, minced 1 can (28 oz/796 mL) diced tomatoes with juice 1 can (5.5 fl oz/156 mL) tomato paste 2 tbsp (25 mL) butter, melted 2 tsp (10 mL) each: ground ginger, curry powder 1 tsp (5 mL) each: ground cumin, cinnamon, coriander 1/4 tsp (1 mL) ground cardamom 1 lb (454 g) skinless chicken thighs (with or without bone) about 6-8 pieces 4 cups (1 L) fresh spinach 1 tbsp (15 mL) lime juice 1 cup (250mL) 3% plain yogurt Toasted cashews, cilantro, to garnish 1. Place onion, garlic, tomatoes, tomato paste, butter, ginger, curry powder, cumin, cinnamon, coriander, cardamom and chicken into Crock-Pot slow cooker; stir. Cook on high 4-6 hours or on low 8-10 hours. Chicken will shred when finished. 2. Mix in spinach, lime juice and yogurt, garnish with cashews and cilantro. Tips: Delicious served with jasmine or basmati rice. Make up your own little packages of spice mixture for a last minute dinner idea. More slow cooking tips and familyfriendly recipes are available at www.crockpot.ca. ENJOY THE LOBSTERFEST SELECTION ust 15 to Aug August 1 1 lb Lobster Dinner Corn on the Cob Baked Potato (Available 7 days a week) $17.95 "Where Good Food and Great Times Meet Every Day of the Week" Free Parking Great Summer Patios Fresh Fish, Steak & Seafood Exceptional Wines Happy Hour Mon to Fri 4-6 1900 Dundas St. W. Mississauga, ON | 905-855-3913 www.rosewoodbistro.ca 1715 Lakeshore Rd. W. Mississauga, ON L5J 1J4 905-822-5751 wwwmichaelsbackdoor.com