Help me with buying & using a slow cooker

[lizardqueenie]

Feel very grown up posting about a slow cooker but I am quite intrigued. Like the idea if preparing lots of meals maybe a few times a month then bunging them in the freezer & into a slow cooker when needed. It's just myself, DH & DD (14 m) at the mo & we don't have a huge amount of storage so which SC should we get? Also can anyone point me in the direction of some good recipes for all the family ? Also (paranoid) is it ok to go out & leave it bubbling away? Thanks :)

I absolutely love my slow cooker, have had it for 15 years and in winter use it at least twice a week, from stews to chillis!!! instructions say brown meat but i dont anymore if its just for family, the only thing i do brown is sausages before bunging in cooker with gravy, i also just throw in a whole chicken and leave for day, the cheapest custs of meat can be transformed, be careful of putting pototoes and carrots in as they need cutting up quite small of they can be abit hard and if putting wine in casserole i always heat it first to remove alcohol for small people, as for the model to buy my friend just bought a braun and loves it but mine so old proberably not still on market, they are invaluable for busy mums as need no attention at all, ooh i also but bacon joints in, pork chops anything really and they always juicy at end of day!! enjoy!!