slow cooker recipes

[aroha77]

Hi,

I was given a slow cooker as a Christmas present. Thought it would be really useful as have first baby due any time, but I can't think of anything to cook in it other than stews! There must be more it can do? Wondered if anyone had any great ideas for me?

I'm gluten free and can't eat anything spicy (annoying hiatus hernia) which can make thinking of recipes more difficult...

TIA!

My tried and tested and family favorites are this one.. you can adjust how much chili you put in (my kids don't like spice) but doesn't affect the flavour and is a peace of piss to knock together. I boil the mince first to get some of the fat out if it's not lean.

simplybeingmum.com/2010/11/05/simple-chilli-con-carne-slow-cooker-recipe/

and a roast except I don't flash fry it first.. also easy to knock up.

www.mummymishaps.co.uk/2011/11/slow-cooker-roast-beef.html

course that's assuming you eat meat and that I nothing about gluten free diets but it might be handy for somebody if it's of no use.

Wow had no idea you can roast meat in it! And wouldn't have thought of doing mince either (I have no imagination generally whilst cooking!)
Thank you!

A whole chicken on a bed of onions and potatoes with a little stock - amazing. Crisp up the potatoes for 20 mins in oven afterwards and serve with veg and yorkshire puds :)

Also pulled pork - joint of shoulder pork, half a mug of water. Wack it on low all day. Pull the pork apart then stir in a bbq sauce if you like.

Gerty got in before me, I was going to suggest exactly the same 2 dishes.

Have another thou, brisket of beef with a little ale, makes lovely shredded beef

Ooh shredded beef, that sounds VERY exciting

I cook a good few pork chops in gravy and veg in mine

Roast chicken

I imagine curry is lovely cooked in it but haven't tried it yet

Shredded beef is lovely so many things it goes with. Do as big a brisket as you can afford/ fit, serve with cabbage and Yorkshires, with a stir fry, on jacket potatoes, as a pie filling, in crusty rolls, the list goes on.
Freeze in meal/serving size portions so your not all beefed out by day 3!

Sliced onions & sliced mushrooms & garlic & pork pieces & paprika. When cooked, stir in tub of creme fraiche and season to taste, serve with rice and some kind of veg.

Lamb shanks work well

Mmm lamb shanks, any suggested flavourings 5foot?

If your on Facebook there's a couple of good pages dedicated to slow cooker meals. Some people even cook cakes and bread in theirs one of the really good pages is "slow cooked wonders"

A great book is 'Ultimate Slow Cooker' by Sara Lewis. I've used her recipes, adapted some and made up my own.

Slow cooked curries are probably one of the easiest things to do. Literally one chicken breast diced per person. A tin of chopped tomatoes per 2 people and about a third of a jar of pataks paste (whatever flavour you like - I use Rogan Josh a lot) per 2 people also. Mix all together in the pot (you should really brown the chicken first in a pan). Then depending on what paste you have selected and what you like you can add other things. Diced peppers work well with Rogan Josh.

Soups work well also. This week I diced 3 leeks, cubed 3 large white potatoes - popped them in a standard slow cooker (3.5) and topped with veggie stock until pot was about two-thirds full. Left for 8 hours on low, left to cool and blended till smooth with a hand blender whilst still in pot. This will make 4 portions easily. It freezes well for packed lunches also. Cost I would say is about 25p per person (I shop at Aldi) - a great fresh soup at a great price.

I made the no-stir risotto from the MN cookbook today and it was a hit. It was really easy and should suit your criteria. I added bacon and some leftover roast chicken; it was lovely with salad for a bit of texture-contrast.