got my slow cooker, now what do I cook in it?

[ditavonteesed]

cant believe I have to wait until tommorow to use it. options are sausage casserole or lemon chicken. then on friday the otehr of these or ham and cherry coke. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[ditavonteesed]

I can seeme getting fatter than I am already, the saving grace being that you have to wait all day for the food.

[JustOneMoreCoffee]

These recipes sound so lovely. My slow cooker has been used twice, both times were abit of a disaster as I ended up spending so much time trying to salvage a watery tasteless meal I may as well have spent the time cooking something on the hob. Really want to try ham in coke in the slow cooker, any tips would be very much appreciated!

[dreamingofsun]

justone - you are adding too much water. try curry - just add a tin of toms, the stock cube/pot and no water. all the other things like meat, curry paste/powder, chutney, onion, apple, leftover veg. this will give you a view of what it should look like at the start - you will think its very dry. you can do the same with a bolognese recipe - use your normal one just don't add the liquid.

[yawningmonster]

I love my slow cooker, I think I actually need two as during the winter it is used every night...
Soup
Dahl
Roasts
Shanks
Chook
Baked Potatoes
Casserole
Bolognaise
you name it, I have prob tried it in slow cooker...
Devine

[dreamingofsun]

yawn - what is 'chook'? I'm looking for some new ideas as i'm getting a bit bored

[yawningmonster]

sorry I am a kiwi, chook is chicken

[CJCreggnog]

Marking place

I have used my slow cooker three times. Still not confident, in need of recipes and inspiration ...

[JustOneMoreCoffee]

Ahhh thanks dreaming! I thought it would all thicken up as it was cooking so long. I will definitely try a curry in the week

[SkivingAgain]

Lovely curry recipe - chopped onion, chilli, ginger and garlic into slow cooker with a little oil. Mix in 2 tablespoons of tikka masalla paste and a tin of coconut milk. Add chicken (we favour filleted and skinned thighs).

[SkivingAgain]

How do you do jacket potatoes?

[ShrekTh3Halls]

curry

[OhYouMerryLittleKitten]

I'm trying oxtail stew in mine today. Haven't got a recipe cos I've just decided to wing it:
Brown oxtail chunks. Put in slow cooker
Chuck in loads of carrots, leek, onion, celery, beer and bay leaf.
Leave to cook.

[FairyPenguin]

Chop an onion into large chunks, put on bottom of the slow cooker. Rub some spices of your choice (I use a mixture of paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, salt and pepper, or there are Schwartz spice mixes you can buy) all over a whole chicken, then put it on top of the onions (breast side down). Switch on and cook for 6 hours. Simple but delicious!

[FairyPenguin]

Chicken, chorizo and butter bean stew:

6 chicken thighs, bone in, whole
1 chorizo ring chopped into thick slices
1 tin chopped tomatoes
1 tin butter beans, drained
1 red onion, chopped
1 chicken stock cube crumbled

Cook on high for about 4 hours

[FairyPenguin]

Chilli:

2 chopped onions
2 packs of lean mince
2 tins drained kidney beans
1 tin chopped tomatoes
1 crumbled beef stock cube
Some dried basil, thyme, chilli powder, garlic, salt and pepper

Cook on Low for about 8 hours.

[FairyPenguin]

Love the sound of the macaroni cheese - will try that.

The problem I have is a lot of recipes say cook for 4 hours but I need things that I can leave for 8 hours ideally. I know I could use a timer to switch it on, but I'm worried about leaving raw meat sitting at room temperature for over 4 hours before then cooking it at a very low temperature. Surely this isn't safe?

[dreamingofsun]

fairy - have you tried cooking it on low for 8 hours instead of high? or you could do during the evening and reheat the next day.

[ScatterGotStuckUpTheChimney]

Lots of the casserole-type things I've done have been four on high, but 8-10 on low. I think it just depends his quickly you need it (I

[ScatterGotStuckUpTheChimney]

Sorry-learning how to use the app!

Goulash- brown steak with flour and paprika. Add a beef stock cube made up in as little water as possible and bring to boil. Put in slow cooler along with chopped onions carrot and potato. Add a bay leaf and in of tomatoes (chopped). Cook on low for 8 hours (or start on high then turn down). Serve with sour cream if you like.

[FairyPenguin]

dreamingofsun - no, I haven't tried that as most of those types if dishes seem to be for chicken and I didn't want to risk really dry chicken. Maybe I'll give it a go! Or do what you suggest, be a bit more organised and cook it the night before!

[FairyPenguin]

For example, that mac cheese recipe says 4 hours (doesn't specify high or low) - I don't think that would take 8 hours to cook?

[Mollydoggerson]

Probably been mentioned, but a full chicken is delish, the meat is so so soft, it's like butter.

[Notmadeofrib]

Is there no liquid for the whole chicken? I always think of casserole and the like in a slow cooker. Mine also is a big 6.5l model.

[notapizzaeater]

I don't add water to a whole chicken and it comes out lovely and moist - I freeze any liquid and use for stock next time. Sometimes I sprinkle a chicken oxo cube on top.

[Mollydoggerson]

All the fat oozes out and the chicken cooks in it's own juices.