Woohoo My new slowcooker's just arrived. What shall I make?

[mumblechum1]

I'd like to come home from work tomorrow to find something delicious bubbling away. I have chicken thighs and braising steak, whole chickens, turkey steaks and pork chops in the freezer. V little in the way of fresh veg (delivery tomorrow night) but plenty of froz veg.

Any MN favourite dishes?

[ditavonteesed]

watching with interest as a slow cooker is going to be my next kitchen ourchase.

[mumblechum1]

Hmm, looking at the recipe book with the slow cooker, I still have to mess about browning the meat etc before I go out in the morning.

I thought that by some magical process I could just bung everything in, switch it on and leave it.

Can't be arsed frying onions first thing in the morning.

[ditavonteesed]

really, thats most idssapointing.

[Pinner35]

I never brown meat....it always turn out fab. I would go with a curry. They taste divine in the sc. I will try to find a link to the one that we all like.

[mckenzie]

you could do your prep the night before or you can just forget the prep?
It depends on the recipe and on the meat. Some meat needs browning to seal it (I think )
Trial and error.
I like Sara Lewis's book - only slow cooker book I have and it does me fine. Lamb tagine is fab in slow cooker
Turkey chilli with chocolate
soups galore
Enjoy.

[Pinner35]

allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/9169/slow-cooked-chicken-korma.aspx

The butter chicken from the same site is amazing too.

[mumblechum1]

Ooh chicken korma it is, I have all the stuff except cream but see I can substitute coconut cream which I do have.

Thanks Pinner!

[Pinner35]

No problem.....I hope you enjoy it.

[ethelb]

Do this: www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/slow_cooker_chickpea_12414

Add half a cup of water and its lush.

The prep takes 5 mins and could be done the night before and left in slow cooker to turn on the following day as it is all veggie.

[Lemonylemon]

OP: I cheat with the onions, I chop them up, put them in the microwave in a rice steamer with a little water for a couple of minutes. Saves having to stand there frying them.

This morning I decided to make a curry. I got a jar of Patak's balti paste, a tin of chopped tomatoes, 3/4 in of coconut milk, an onion and a pack of stewing steak. Didn't cook the onions. Bunged it all in the slow cooker on low and await results when I get home this evening. Eek!

[mumblechum1]

I'm sure it'll be lovely Lemony!

I browned the onions and meat with the spices last night and bunged it in the fridge, and remembered to put it in the SL and even turn it on this morning, so that's half the battle!

Thanks to everyone, I shall have fun making these recipes!

[Autumnalgold]

I slowcook in the Aga in a heavy lidded casserole dish, same principle. No need to brown meat at all. Chicken curry works really well. Beef and tomato casserole fab - just tip in one of those baby bottles of Rioja with it. Divine.

[madasa]

I never brown meat first.
This is a brilliant book....loads of really easy yummy recipes www.amazon.co.uk/Convenience-Foods-Slow-Cooker-Library/dp/0572035322/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353496036&sr=1-2&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[madasa]

Am clearly rubbish at links....sorry.
It is called 'Convenience foods for the slow cooker' by Carolyn Humphries

[redlac]

Pork Shoulder (trim fat off it there is loads)
1 can of Coke
1 bottle of Paul Newmans BBQ marinade/sauce
Leave to cook on low for 8 hours

mmmmmm

[Cutiecat]

We do that pork and newmans BBQ sauce. It is delish. I add water not coke though. Mean mum.

I did a chicken lemon and olive tagine that was good. Tomorrow a sausage casserole. My oven is very hot which is great for roast and cakes but the slow cooker is much better for casseroles etc.

[WillSingForCake]

The only thing I brown first is sausages, and that's just for aesthetic purposes!

[mumblechum1]

Today is a whole chicken (browned first) with a bit of red wine and veg, hopefully it'll cook thru by 6pm, having it with crusty bread.

I think I under did my curry last night, although it was on all day on low, the meat was a bit undercooked and too much thin sauce. I'm just learning tho

[MissBrown]

1 pack of turkey thigh. Very cheap.
1 pack of ready chopped casserole veg. Very cheap.
1 pack of chosen casserole mix. Eg. Beef in ale,pork in cider, chicken chasseaur etc. Very cheap.

Bung it all in, switch on low and go to work, look after kids etc.
Ready by about 5 or whenever people start arriving home.
Feeds our lot, 2 adults and 3 kids. Total cost, about £5!

[WantAnOrange]

I never brown meat either. You can just chuck it all in and leave it.

[MadCatLadyInWaiting]

Mulled wine. The alcohol doesn't boil off because there's a lid and it keeps it nice and hot all evening.

[WantAnOrange]

That's genuis! Bet the house smells lovely. PILs and DH dont really like mulled wine so I was thinking of doing hot spiced cider instead, will try it in the slow cooker.

[PotteringAlong]

Rice pudding In the slow cooker here is great

[WillieWaggledagger]

I do this www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/slow_cooker_beef_curry_13533 regularly and it's delicious. I do the prep the night before and leave to marinate overnight (i think this develops the flavour) before Tipping into slow cooker with a tin of tomatoes and some water in the morning

It is lovely and not too liquid which can happen