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Getting in early but you will need a slow cooker

Sometimes the best and quickest meals need to be thought of today when you know you will be busy tomorrow. This is one of those. So for those looking for divine inspiration for a quickie tonight, this may not be the best recipe for you. But if you know that Friday night drinks at work are going to mean take away on the way home because you won't get there in time to cook a nice home made dinner, this is spot on.

1 x500 gram bag of dried bortolotti beans. Dried beans are in the supermarket and are really cheap
1 x 400gram can of tomatoes. Save time and buy the ones with garlic, basil and all those yummy spices already in there.
300 gram pack of bacon. Again, if you don't like bacon, use less, if you love it use more.
1 cup of red wine

Extras
Now this is where you get creative.
Cheese
Mushrooms
Fried onions
Leftover cooked sausage, or steak or roast meat
Leftover baked vegetables

METHOD

Tonight :
Place beans in  by large bowl and cover with cold water, plus some. I can't give you exact measurements on this but cover the beans and then about 5cm above that. They will soak up the water.

Tomorrow morning:
Check if you need to add more water to the beans

Now the quick bit. Turn on the crock pot, and add wine, tinned tomatoes and the drained beans.

Dinner time

Chop the bacon and any leftover meats, vegetables or other surprises you are going to add. This is so they are hot when you add to the slow cooker.  Slide them all out of the hot pan and into the pot. Give it a bit stir, and it's done.

Those couple of minutes prep last night have given you an amazing dish in around 5 minutes tonight. Add some crusty bread, and a glass of wine, and it's a very Rustic Italian dinner.


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