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Original poster

I have just invested in a slow cooker...

103 replies

ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts · 29/07/2011 11:54

And my DH says it will be a waste of money as I'll never use it.

I am a terrible cook, lack inspiration but really want to be able to throw some basic ingredients together and out pops a lovely meal. This can be done, yes?

I'm tired of using jars for sauces and would love to be able to use a good stock to make a lovely gravy instead of bisto.

So... can I have your all time favourite slow cooker recipes, pretty please?! :)

My slow cooker is a 3.5l and the food will need to feed me, DH and 3yo DD who eats anything and everything thankfully. DC2 is on the way so in time there will be four mouths not three.

I'm looking for ways to incorporate it into everyday use, so stews, joints, curries, anything really. but quite basic to begin with until I get the hang of things.

I hate knowing I'm not feeding my family properly and really want to learn while I have time before baby comes.

Thanks in advance :)

OP posts:
bamboobutton · 30/07/2011 20:05

i have this one from sainsburys

hope link works!

deemented · 30/07/2011 20:28

I have three slowcookers Grin

A little one litre one, a 3.5 litre one and a big 6.5 litre one.

I find the 3.5ltr one good for feeding manshape and i and the three kids, but if i want leftover to freeze, i use the bigger one - and adjust ammounts of ingriedients accordingly. The big one is also great for doing whole chickens in too, andthe oval shape makes it great for baking cakes etc in.

Ponders · 30/07/2011 20:29

thanks, bamboobutton Smile

what make/s are yours, deemented?

Original poster
ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts · 31/07/2011 09:37

Well I am making a stew today folks, got all my ingredients out already on the work surface and I'm ready to get it going. I'm excited but nervous all the same. I have back up food if it is revolting Grin

I will report back this evening upon finishing poisoning my family

Grin
OP posts:
thefoodschool · 31/07/2011 11:23

only use breasts if doing a quick dish - i wouldnt use them in a slow cooker. thighs and drumsticks are best (and cheapest) but then a whole chicken is the ultimate. i'm doing just that today. spanish style chicken -

brown chicken all over in frying pan (if you can be arsed)and fry off about 200g diced chorizo. pop these in your slow cooker and add 2 tins canellini beans, 1 400g tin chopped toms and a little water. season and chill out for a few hours. easy easy easy! serve with some toasted bread

thefoodschool · 31/07/2011 11:23

oh i forgot and a chopped onion

thefoodschool · 31/07/2011 11:24

and about 3 cloves of chopped garlic. thats it i promise!

Original poster
ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts · 31/07/2011 11:28

Spanish style chicken is on my list already, great minds :) :) Although mine is slightly diff to yours with some peppers in and no cannelini beans so I might put the two together.

I keep going in to check on the stew.... I can't deal with this 6 hour anticipation haha

OP posts:
thefoodschool · 31/07/2011 12:13

i am as nervous as you now - can't wait!!

Original poster
ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts · 31/07/2011 12:19

I find it really hard not to stir things, this is my problem!

Trying to keep my mind busy by thinking of baby names for the bump with no name! :)

OP posts:
deemented · 31/07/2011 12:20

Tempting as it is - don't take the lid off for a looksee - you'll have to cook for longer if you do!

Ponders - my small one and my 3.5ltr ones are Hitachi, and my big one is a cookwoks from Argos - i paid less than £20 for it.

I currently have a lovely piece of brisket in the middle one, and chocolate brownie mug cakes in the big one - yum!

Original poster
ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts · 31/07/2011 12:25

I won't take it off, I'm just peeking in through the glass. I'm just worried it's going to come to serving up and the veg will still be hard. I'm going to have to take off the lid to put the dumplings in though, near the end.

OP posts:
deemented · 31/07/2011 12:30

The veg should be fine, especially if you've done them all roughly the same size?

I'm jealous of your stew - but we'll have that tomorrow with the leftover brisket. I'm not overly keen on potatoes done in the slowcooker, so i tend to do mash to serve with the stew, or better still, get big huge yorkshire puds and serve it in them. And dumplings done in the SC are lovely - just don't forgetg to turn them.

plusonemore · 31/07/2011 12:45

great recipes on here and the blog looks great too, cant wait to try some of the recipes!

btw, I always stir my slow cooker meals (if i am at home that is!), sometimes it starts to stick, dont find that it stops it cooking...?

Original poster
ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts · 31/07/2011 12:48

I hate dumplings, these are for DHs benefit. Yes theyre all roughly the same size, but quite chunky. I have put potatoes in it (at the bottom), carrots, onions, peppers, and french beans. Great idea on the large yorkshires :)

It smells lovely so far...

OP posts:
thefoodschool · 31/07/2011 13:01

i always stir mine - can't stop fiddling is my problem. love dumplings - leek and mustard ones are lovely in stew. i'm jealous now don't want spanish chicken anymore.

Original poster
ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts · 31/07/2011 13:07

Haha I wouldn't be jealous of my cooking if I were you!

I'm getting nervous about the thickening now... it looks real watery.

I'm going to have to sieve it and do the cornflour thing at the end I think...

OP posts:
deemented · 31/07/2011 13:15

No, don't sieve it - just make up the cornflour as you would then add it before you do the dumplings. Leave it for about 20 mins, and if you think it's still too watery then add more cornflour.

Cornflour really is your friend Wink

deemented · 31/07/2011 13:18

Oh, and i'll share with you what i consider to be a fantastic blog a year of slow cooking here

That's where i turn to for inspiration!

Original poster
ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts · 31/07/2011 13:23

I have that blog on my bookmarks already :) havent really looked at it much but i intend to in the future weeks.

So just a teaspoon of corflour in a cup, add water to a pste and pour it in and stir? will it not go lumpy?

OP posts:
deemented · 31/07/2011 13:26

I usually do three teaspoons of cornflour in a cup, asd a bit of water and stir. Then pour in SC.

Never gone lumpy on me yet.

Original poster
ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts · 31/07/2011 13:30

so how runny am i looking to make the consistency in the cup?

OP posts:
Gay40 · 31/07/2011 13:32

I haven't even got a slow cooker but I might have to buy one, just so I can try some of these recipes. DP thinks it is a very expensive way to cook, leaving the electric on all day. I would say they are very cheap to run. Who is right?

Original poster
ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts · 31/07/2011 13:37

You are. I have read somewhere across my two days worth of constant googling that they use less than a light bulbs worth of power.

That was also one of my DHs comments so I soon shot him in the foot with that one!

I think I am most excited about the chicken and chorizo stew that is in the recipe section here on MN and also the pork curry as suggested further up by Dee.

OP posts:
deemented · 31/07/2011 13:40

You are. It works out cheaper to leave a slowcooker on all day then it would an oven.

An average slowcooker is probably around 100w, so it's comparable to leaving a lightblub on.