Slow cooker virgin

[Redshoesandtheblues]

I've had a slow cooker for a few years now and it's still in its box.

For some reason, I have a mental block as far as it's concerned.

Having seen how often they have been mentioned on another thread, I feel I need to get over myself and use the poor neglected thing. I also need to rearrange cupboards, so its a timely exercise to drag it out from the depths of a cupboard and do something with it.

Any hints, tips for this novice and her appliance?

Ta.

That sounds absolutely delicious.

so please MN share your ‘throw it in and go’ recipes please

Trouble is, I don't follow a recipe - I do just 'throw stuff in'

So I will put in a pack of mince (break it up so its not a rectangular block) then see what fridge gravel I have hanging about - chopped carrots / celery / peppers / mushrooms / garlic. Then, one time I might put in some tomatoes and make more of a bolognaise on others I might throw in some kidney beans and chilli powder.

Re taste: when I get in - when putting the pasta / rice/ potatoes / whatever in - I will give it a stir and have a taste then. If it needs more flavour, I will add some more then.

Or I put some diced beef in with whatever veg I have in the fridge, or on the freezer - carrots, onions, leeks, swede, parsnip - and sometimes use a packet mix or sometimes a stock cube and throw in something from my herb cupboard.

Chicken: I tend to use diced chicken, whatever veg bits I have in, and some curry type spices, with a tin of coconut milk.

Not a recipe, but I always do my gammon in there - it is beautiful. My dc used to call it 'fally-apart- meat' when they were little.

Our favourite is a curry. A can of coconut milk, a big dollop of curry paste and whatever veg you fancy. Done. But so yummy!

Obviously whichever meat if you eat meat. Chickpeas a good addition too

Another tip, I use slow cooker bags so there is no faffing cleaning out the pot.

Bags available at pound land.

Chicken, chorizo, white wine, butternut squash, mushrooms peppers and courgettes. Loads of salt, pepper garlic and thyme. Lushness.

Any slow cooker books recommendations?

DH is away for a fortnight soon, so a good time to test a few suggestions out.

I can always pretend I got it totally bang on the first time I use it, when he comes back! 😉

Great thread. I’m inspired to get a slow cooker! What do people recommend?

Absolutely love this thread, thank you for all the tips. Looking forward to trying some of these recipes to add to my current limited repertoire of chicken and chorizo (similar to something a PP posted) and gammon which is AMAZING in a slow cooker.

@Ohgoodness34 I've got 2 slow cookers don't ask - a large Crock Pot and a smaller Tesco one. I prefer the Tesco one, it works brilliantly and I can leave it all day - I find the Crock Pot isn't slow enough for a slow cooker 😂 And the Tesco one only cost about £12 👍🏻