Entertaining on a budget

One benefit of this blog is that I have no need to make apologies for a not-so-special dinner party menu.  Last night we had people over and on the menu was, nibbles, sausage hot pot (suggestion from my Facebook page, thanks @Bowhite), rice and Easy apple pie.

Sausage hot pot:

• 8 cooked thin sausages cut into bit size pieces (do yourself a favour, only by sausages from the butcher!)
• 800ml jar passata
• 1 onion diced
• 1/2 cup dried surprise peas
• 1 tin mushrooms (or small fresh button mushys left whole)
• 1/4 teaspoon (or just a sprinkle if your not keen on too much) chilli powder
• 1 clove crushed garlic

Put everything together in the slow cooker and put it on low for about 6 hours.  Serve with rice and grated cheese.

Easy apple pie: (this is an adaptation of this recipe, just a bit simpler and if you work smartly only 1 bowl to wash up plus the pie dish!)

• 1 tin pie apple
• 125g butter melted
• 1 egg
• 1 cup plain flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup raw sugar plus an extra tablespoon

1. Spread the pie apple into a pie dish and sprinkle the tablespoon of raw sugar on top
2. In a large bowl, melt the butter
3. Add the flour, sugar and egg and mix well
4. Spread the mixture evenly over the top of the apple, doesn't matter if there is not enough to cover all the way to the edges, just spread it roughly over the apple as in the picture below
5. Put in a 170C oven until the top turns a lovely golden colour - I usually set the time for 45 minutes then check on it regularly
6. Serve with cream or ice cream