Slow Cooker, what to make first?

[PeppaPigObsession]

Just been gifted a Slow Cooker by a friend, along with a recipe book.

But wanted to get MNers opinions on what to cook first. It's just me and 2 year old DD.

Neither of us are fussy but don't like mushrooms, and I'm not a big lover of sweet potato (will eat if I have to though).

So wise MN what to cook first?

Following because I want to love my slow cooker but everything I've made has been a bit shit

I have had a slow cooker for about three months and it's still in the box so following...

Put a whole chicken in it, little sling made of foil so you can get it out easily. Whack on a baking tray after 8 hours and out in hot oven for 10 minutes to crisp up. Perfect.

Not sure if Dd would be keen but I make a nice curry in my slow cooker, onion, tinned toms, beef or chicken thighs, jar of curry paste, tomato Purée, an aubergine and green/red peppers. 4 hrs on high or 8 on low yum

Banana Sounds yum, honestly DD isn't fussy, she actually loves curry, probably because despite it being nice it looks horrible a toddlers paradise I'll definitely be making curry in it yours sounds lovely.

A nice joint of gammon, throw in a glass of nice port, lovely

PeppaPig - No need to fry off the onion or meat, it just all goes in.

PeppaPig - No need to fry off the onion or meat, it just all goes in.

I'm doing pulled pork this weekend. Pork shoulder seems to work best and I stick it on before I go to bed as not quite enough hours during day unless I got up at 4am. It's the only pulled pork my daughter eats. The recipe didn't have quantities which can be a pain but was basically some brown sugar, paprika, garlic granules, onion granules, cayenne pepper and oregano. I sat pork on a bed of onions and a little water in the bottom

Hopeful bump.

I did pork chops with honey last week. Just out the 4 chops in the bottom, a big dollop of garlic ( I use chopped garlic from a jar but fresh is fine too), then loads of honey. 3hrs on high I think.

I am always making chilli as well - mince, onions, garlic, pasaata, chilli's, I grate courgette in and chop carrots small for extra veg. I also use a chilli packet sauce sometimes, just for added flavour. Chuck it all in, turn it on, walk away for 8 hrs. Bloody lovely.

Facebook has a Slow Cooker Page which I follow which has some lovely recipes I'm going to try (although I did do the spaghetti bolognese and just got a massive lump of spaghetti in the bottom!)

Best ragu ever; 1k minced beef, half bottle red wine (will cook alcohol off), onion, carrots, bouquet garni and water to barely cover top, then passata.

Or for exact measurements and a better recipe breakdown than mine, google georgio Locatelli slow cooked ragu.
It must be good as he's proper Italian an all!

My kids have been eating from a very young age and love it

Dr Pepper pulled pork - actually amazing and easy recipes can be found online.
Beef casserole - beef cubes, stock, rosemary, baby potatoes, carrots, onion and whatever the hell you like (3hrs high or 5hrs low)
Gammon joint - onions, carrot, celery, joint, veggie stock (5/6hrs low)
Slow cooked balsamic glazed beef joint - delish!! Recipe online as it's too long to put here but seriously yum.
Jambalaya

You can basically cook anything in a slow cooker, good to bung on before work and you come home to a done dinner. I've even made cakes in mine!

I did a Thai Green Curry from my recipe book, it was beautiful! And DD ate is all too

Looking forward to using it more now