Does anyone else just love their slow cooker? I bought one recently and am amazed how easy and useful it is.

[Juniperdewdropofbrandy]

I'm starting full time work tomorrow so thought I'd get a slow cooker as my lot like a nice dinner. I ended up getting one a bit too big but think it'll be usefull for a chicken etc.. it's 6.5l.

Anyway have used it a lot already. I haven't followed a recipe yet just thrown stuff in basically. Sometimes I've browned things. Today I just threw in shin beef, leek, carrots, potatoes, celery, tin of beer, stock cube, some worcestershire sauce and seasoning. Put it on this morning and now I have a lovely dinner waiting for dp to get up. He's nighshift worker. I just tasted it and added a bit of cornflour and cold water for the last hour. Lush

Tomorrow I'm using 4 chicken breast. Will put it on low all day. I may even prepare it all tonight and keep it in the fridge until the morning? I've heard you can do this? Think it'll be made with frozen veg and white wine with seasonings? If it doesn't turn out the chipshop's open at 5

Any recipe ideas very welcome as think it's about time I followed one.

I think I'll have to go and wake him the smell is divine.

We love ours. Good for doing spag Bol, chilli, soups, stews, lamb shanks... Will be a bonus post-baby; I can lob things in over the course of the morning and have a decent tea ready for DD after school and DH and I after he gets in from work.

I love mine too. Have done curry, ratatouille, ham, veg casserole with dumplings, lamb tagine. I prepare everything in the morning - chuck it in, and it's ready by evening. I usually try and make enough for two meals and freeze one which saves even more time.

Have progressed to steamed puddings which are yum and surprisingly easy. Going to try making chutney next as I have some beetroot lingering in the fridge.

Good luck with full time work Juniper.

Rice pudding - lovely

Rice + full fat milk + evaporated milk + sugar

Best I've made

Thanks for the ideas everyone. And the best wishes JamNan

I'm just about to assemble tomorrows dinner and put it in the fridge. Todays food went down very well, was lush. Everyone should have a slow cooker!

Today's not Todays pah!

Juniper

Try whole chicken or lamb shoulder, just put it in and switch to high.

I've never really got on with mine unfortunately. Feel like I always end up with same basic flavours and just too much watery liquid at end.

Thanks sassh .

DA have you tried using less liquid as it retains moisture?

Absolutely love ours. Great for curries too. We have [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Slow-Cooking-Properly-Explained-Favourite/dp/0716022214 this book] which is useful for recipes but also for tips on getting the best out of the book, such as how to cook pork and chicken in particular so you don't get food poisoning!

Oops did link wrong. Here it is again!

I love my slow cooker- I have two, for deserts, hot chocolate and mulled wine to be made alongside dinner.
My favourite sc meal is the pork belly and chorizo stew from BBC goodfood website, it's delicious, I shove it all in for ten hours on low, and come home to a delicious smelling house and Spanish feast. Yum yum.

I did a whole chicken yesterday. chucked in carrot and celery and a little lemon in the bottom, whole chicken rubbed with paprika, cayenne, garlic, salt, pepper and thyme. cooked for 6 hours on low then popped in hot oven for twenty mins to crisp skin. Was amazing.

Yes! My fab MIL gave me hers that had been sitting in the back of her cupboard gathering dust and it's brilliant. There's a lot of love around MN for slow cookers - see here and here for lots more ideas

This has reminded me to bung all the stuff into the slow cooker for beef curry tonight!

Gammon, insert hunk of gammon, optional, Garlic, sprig of rosemary.
No fluid required.

Lamb breast (a la reluctant house dad)

Roast chicken (I got the big one too)
No water necessary just a little oil maybe some wine or cider bit only a little.

Also a good top from me is no need to defrost!

I love my slow cookers too.
No liquid required with a whole chicken but I always season it and put a lemon and herbs in the cavity.
I have gammon in cherry coke cooking in it today.

Thanks for all these posts. Really helpful.

I can't love mine, maybe because we're veggie and people seem to get the best results with meat recipes. I do find that I get a similar 'slow cooker flavour' regardless of what I cook

LOVE it!
Im going to be starting my baby on solids soon, and have been experimenting with soups which have turned out bloody lovely and will be perfect for babaloo.

Also love gammon in coke, i use a full large bottle of full fat stuff.

I do a large chicken on a Sunday in there, use half for a sunday roast then make a chicken pie with the left overs on Monday. Always have clean plates.

The only disaster was baked potatoes, they went a funny colour and were not nice.

I hate throwing anything away so tend to gather up anything left in the bottom of a fridge at the end of the week and throwing it in for soup. Freeze it and devour.