slowcooker question

[mum2sam]

Hi i was thinking of getting a slow cooker as ive heard many of you rave about them. But what things apart from stew can you cook in them also maybe a daft question but whats the difference between a slow cooker and a pressure cooker? Oh and one final question what slow cooker would you recommend its for a family of 3/4?

I have a morphy richards - 3.5 litre capacity I think - plenty for a family of 4.

As well as stews and casseroles I have cooked:

barbecue spare ribs
curries
moussaka
pot roasts
risotto
soups

Puff - I am intrigued by thought of doing a pot roast in a slow cooker. Can you tell me exactly how please?

Oooh love Moussaka - Puff please please please post the recipe and how you did it in the slow cooker! :)

ok, will try to posts recipes later tonight when children in bed, most of the ones I use are from 2 slow cooker recipe books I bought - one called The Slow Cooker Cookbook by Catherine Atkinson which is brilliant as it goes through quite a lot of cooking techniques and how to do them in a slow cooker.

I have the original crock pot (Rival) and its huge always end up with loads left over and there is only me, dh and my 9mth old, saying that i wouldn't be without mine.

puff please let us have your recipes for curries, moussaka and pot roast (if you don't mind) I tend to end up with the same tasting dish but with either chicken/beef etc, I need to broaden my horizons

Love my slowcooker, means an easy healthy meal the days I work late. Only tend to do stews, casseroles and soups though. I await your recipes with interest Puff, thanks.

Whats the diffence between a normal slow cooker and a crockpot slow cooker not sure which one to buy?

This is probably a silly question but...

If you use a slowcooker, can you put everything in raw or do you need to brown the meat first, for example? (Thinking of getting one when we are having our kitchen done...)

no difference between slow cooker and crock pot, just crock pot was the first one on the market I think?? and thats the name it was given could be wrong tho

I do brown off things like sausages but i do put in veg raw and chicken raw, just doing a beef stew now chopping me veg and will be chucking it in to be ready for 5pm tonight

I bought a brandnew slow cooker at a carboot sale yesterday for £10!!!
I will watch this thread with great interest!

oops, haven't done this yet, but haven't forgotten

crockpot is what the American's call a slowcooker

i have been waiting all day for your pot roast recipe puff and not forgetting the curry one (have yet to introduce dd to that)

I will do them tonight I promise

Crockpot is also the ceramic dish that the food goes in and yes you should brown everything in first or it takes ages to start cooking and might not be good from the point of food hygiene.

I love my cooker and use it alot for lamb shanks, dont really do much else. I did try doing a orast chicken and it was revolting the only thing i have cooked for dh2b that he hasnt wanted to eat in almost 5 years. It fell apart and the splinters got in and bleurghhhh

You can make puddings in it and it is very economical and burns less electricity than a light bulb a day.

have you been to the libary and got some books out. I have one so if you need a recipe i can give you one.

Pot Roast Brisket of Beef

Serves 4-6

1.2kg/2.5lb rolled brisket
2 tblspns sunflower oil (recipe says beef dripping but I use sunflower or olive oil)
2 onions cut into 8 wedges
2 carrots quartered
2 stick celery cut into 5cm lengths
2 bay leaves
2 sprigs fresh thyme
300ml very hot (near boiling beef stock)
salt & ground black pepper

Season meat well with salt/pepper
Heat oil in a large, heavy pan (I use a big Le Creuset casserole). Add the meat and turn frequently until browned. Lift out meat, put aside on a plate.

Pour away some of the fat, leaving about a tblspn in the pan. Add the onions, carrots and celery, cook for a few minutes until they begin to soften.

Arrange a single layer of the veg in the base of the slow cooker, the place the meat on top, adding any juices from the plate. Put the remaining veg around the sides of the meat and tuck in the fresh herbs.

Pour the beef stock into the pan you browned the meat in and bring to the boil. Pour the stock over the meat and veg. It should barely cover the veg and leave most of the meat exposed.

Cover slow cooker with lid and cook on low for about 8/9 hours.

Lift out meat and allow to rest before carving.

Skim any fat from the juices and stock left in slow cooker.

Beef Curry

3 tbspns veg oil
2 medium cooking apples, peeled cored & chopped
2 lge onions chopped
700g stewing steak cubed
3 tspns curry powder
3tbspns plain flour
salt & pepper
400ml beef stock
3 tbspns mango chutney
75g sultanas
200g chopped tinned tomatoes
2 tbspns lemon juice

Fry apple and onion gently in a pan until soft. Coat meat in seasoned flour, add to pan, fry until lightly browned . Stir in stock, bring to a simmer. Add remaining ingredients and bring back to simmer. Put all ingredients in slow cooker. Cook on low for about 7/8 hours.

Thankyou Thankyou Thankyou Puff.

Being a complete pain but please please please could you also post your mousaka recipe. :) and {pleading emoticon}

yes, will try to do it tonight - it does require a bit more "tending", ie you can't leave it for 8 hours and forget it, but still reasonable straightforward.

I'll try and post a couple of others too, especially the spare ribs one - they are heavenly.

yes, will try to do it tonight - it does require a bit more "tending", ie you can't leave it for 8 hours and forget it, but still reasonable straightforward.

I'll try and post a couple of others too, especially the spare ribs one - they are heavenly.

oops

Moussaka (serves 6)

900g small or medium aubergines thinly sliced
4 tbspns olive oil
1 onion finely chopped
2 garlic cloves crushed
450g lean minced lamb
400g can chopped tomatoes
1 tspn dried oregano
pinch ground cinnamon

For the topping
50g of butter
50g plain flour
600ml milk
pinch of nutmeg
75g mature cheddar cheese
1 egg yolk
2 tbspns breadcrumbs

Lightly brush aubergine slices with about half the oil, then arrange them on a baking tray. Put under a medium grill and cook, turning once until soft and golden

Arrange half the aubergine slices in the bottom of the slow cooker and switch it on to high.

Heat remaining olive oil in a heavy pan, add onion and fry gently for 10 mins. Add the garlic and lamb and cook, stirring and breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon until the meat is evenly browned.

Stir in tomatoes, oregano and cinnamon, bring to boil over a gentle heat.

Spoon the lamb mixture into the slow cooker, covering the aubergine slices. Arrange remaining aubergine slices over the top. Cover and cook for 2 hours.

To make the cheese topping - melt butter in a pan, stir in flour and cook for 1 min. Gradually stir in the milk, bring to boil over a low heat, stirring constantly and cook until thick and creamy. Lower heat, simmer for 1 min. Remove from heat, then stir in nutmeg and 2 thirds of the cheese.

Leave sauce to cool for 5 mins, then beat in egg yolk. pour sauce over the lamb and aubergines in slow cooker. Cover and cook for a further 2 hours.

Sprinkle remaining cheese and breadcrumbs over the top and cook under a grill for 3-4 mins.

Barbecued Ribs - serves 4

(these are fab and really easy to do)

1 medium onion v finely chopped
3-4 garlic cloves
1 tbspn soft brown sugar
4 tbspns tomato ketchup
2 tbspns maple syrup (you could use runny honey)
1 tspn dijon mustard
1 tspn horseradish sauce
2 tbspns white wine vinegar
2 tbspns worcestershire sauce
4 tbspns orange juice
900g pork ribs

Preheat slow cooker on low.

Blend all ingredients except ribs in a pan and stir until well mixed, then bring to just below boiling point. Place ribs in slow cooker and pour the sauce over the ribs. Cook for about 6 hours.

Remove ribs - arrange on a serving plate.

Pour sauce into a pan and boil vigorously until reduced by about half, then pour over the ribs.

THANKYOU PUFF! Mousaka for tea in our house tonight!! :o

Ive just got my slowcooker what thing should i cook first. Something simple and easy to wean me in and also to convince dh that it was £30 worth spent Those recipies look loevly puff def give those a try once ive masterd the basics