The other day when we had a cold morning my wife and I talked about autumn recipes and how we need to get a slow cooker to prepare hearty delicious meals without putting in too much time and effort.

Slow cooked meals are also great to take on your motorhome adventure and simple to reheat in a pot or if you are staying connected to power, they are also an easy meal to prepare at lunchtime for dinner.

​Enjoy it!!! 

Ingredients
​
• 1.5kg New Zealand pork shoulder, cut into 5cm chunks
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 250g New Zealand thick cut bacon, chopped into 2cm pieces
• 2 cups onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp ground black pepper
• 1.5 cups white wine
• 2-3 large carrots, sliced into thick rounds
• 2 cored red apples (firmer varieties work best, like Gala)
• ½ cup maple syrup or honey
• 1L chicken stock
• 3 bay leaves
• 250g kumara (firmer varieties like purple skin is best), peeled and
chopped into 4cm cubes
• 250g Agria potatoes, peeled and chopped into 4cm cubes

Method - Slow Cook
​
1. Fry the bacon base

Place a large, lidded casserole dish on the stove over a medium-high heat. Add
the olive oil and bacon pieces and fry for 8-10 minutes until the bacon is crispy.
Add the onions and lower the heat. Cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the garlic and cook for a further minute. Remove the mixture from the heat
and set aside, ensuring some of the juices are left in the pot.

2. Brown the pork

Season the pork well with salt and pepper. Turn the heat up to medium-high and
add the pork to the pot in 3-4 batches, being careful not to overcrowd it. Sear
the meat on each side for 3-4 minutes until golden brown.

3. Add it together

Put the bacon and onion mixture and browned pork back into the pot and add
white wine. Bring to the boil, stirring the contents to scrape the tasty bits off the
bottom of the pot.

Add the carrots, apples, maple syrup or honey, chicken stock and bay leaves.
Bring to the boil and reduce to a gentle simmer. Place the lid so it partially
covers the pot and simmer for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.

4. Add the root veggies

After 2 hours, add the kumara and potatoes and check the liquid levels. If it
looks too dry, add 1 cup of water. Cook for an additional 20-30 minutes until the
pork is tender and falling apart and the vegetables are cooked through.

5. Serve

Serve in bowls with a side of steamed greens like beans, broccolini or broccoli.

Many of you visit Blenheim when the time for your Water Ingress Service Check has come. It's paramount for us not to rush the process and take our time with the check as well as being able to fix any additional issues you pointed out and that can take time.

Our workshop technicians will give you a call when the check is completed however, I often see that customers are looking for things to do in the meantime. We have a folder of suggestions in our courtesy car and Jesse thought it would be a great idea to share some booked tours in Blenheim. Many operators are happy to pick you up from our dealership and drop you back here afterwards.

Please click on the link below for some ideas and we are looking forward to seeing you when your next service is due!!! 

https://www.getyourguide.com/

Last month I shared some great weekend destinations in Marlborough and as promised I will continue to look at different regions throughout the country during the year.

If you travel approximately 115km west from Blenheim, you will find yourself in another region known for its beauty and versatility as a travel destination.

​Nelson has it all and I am more than excited to share a couple of great weekend destinations in the region and hopefully visit a few more this autumn. 

"The Abel Tasman National Park is an easily-accessible coastal paradise. You can choose to explore the park from land, on the water, or in the air, with tour operators aplenty offering cruises, water taxi services, kayaking options, helitours and sailing catamarans.

Whilst summer is a popular time to visit, locals believe that the shoulder seasons are actually the best time to explore the park, as crisp mornings, calm waters and quiet beaches allow you to truly enjoy the peace and serenity.

​Those who crave home comforts can stay in luxurious lodges, but sleeping under the stars is regarded as the ultimate way to experience the spirit of the Abel Tasman." 

"A compact area of mountain ranges separated by forested valleys, the Nelson Lakes National Park is home to the beginning of the awe-inspiring Southern Alps.

Promising everything from easy lakeside walking tracks to challenging alpine hikes, this national park has something on offer for everyone.

The beautiful alpine lakes of Rotoroa and Rotoiti form the heart of this 102,000 hectare national park. Both are surrounded by steep mountains and fringed to the shore by native honeydew beech forests, which feed a variety of tuneful nectar-eating native birds.

​In Maori mythology the lakes were created by the great chief Rakaihaitu digging holes with his ko (digging stick). One hole became Lake Rotoroa (large waters) and the other became Lake Rotoiti (small waters). The nearby village of St Arnaud is a comfortable, well-equipped base for visitors." 

"Just 30 minutes from Nelson City, the charming seaside villages of Mapua & Ruby Coast are increasingly becoming favourite holiday spots for tourists and locals alike.

With a lively cluster of restaurants, art galleries, wine bars and a craft brewery, Mapua is the perfect place to relax and unwind for a long weekend away.

Hire a bike and cycle Tasman's Great Taste Trail, which stretches from central Nelson through to Motueka. Just offshore, Rabbit Island offers a treat for mountain bikers with a network of trails just waiting to be explored.

​A little ferry departs Mapua Wharf regularly for the Island, with room for passengers and their bikes."