Crock Pot Baked Spiced Red Cabbage With Apples or Pears

Discard outer leaves of the red cabbage and ut into quarters. Cut out the central woody root and then shred the quarters very finely. Place in a bowl. Cut the apples or pears into quarters, core them & then slice into fine dice and set aside in another bowl.

Place peeled and diced onions into another bowl & make sure all the other ingredients are measured and to hand!

If cooking in a conventional dutch oven or Le Creuset type casserole dish, turn oven on to 180 C or 360°F It can be cooked on top of the stove too.

For cooking in the crockpot - take the inner crock out and start layering the ingredients: Red cabbage, then salt & pepper; Apples or pears, onions & garlic, then the spices & brown sugar;keep layering this way until everything has been used up.

(If you would like it slghtly spicier, add a little more spices, but no more than 1 teaspoon per spice, as it will be too spiced & will detract from the apple/pear & red cabbage flavours!).

Dot the top of the red cabbage with the butter and pour over the red wine vinegar.

Season once more with salt & pepper and cook for 6 to 12 hours on High in the crockpot, until everything has broken down, is soft and it is a rich red colour.

For conventional cooking - cook for about 2 - 2 1/2 hours at 180 C or 360°F I.

It can be cooked on the stove top too; takes about 2 - 3 hours on a low heat, just a slow simmer.

Pears can be used as well, and I sometimes add a handful of cranberries for a really festive touch!