Slow cookers and all things related...

[MaryChristmas]

Are they any good, are they easy to use for a poor cook like myself?
Do they clean easily, which one is a good buy?
What kind of recipes are good for them?
Or do they get put away after a couple of uses and get dusty in the back of the cupboard?

Oooo... AMerryScot - can you share your slow cooker mulled wine recipe please?! That sounds great!

elliott: well it's not advertised on the Morphy Richards site anymore... however it might do to have a look around - some people will have old stock, or you might find one on Ebay.

MaryChristmas - yes they come in different capacities - mine is a 2.5L and is just about right for 2 adults + 1 child with a bit left over for seconds. I think when ds2 starts eating with us in a year or so I'm going to have to invest in a bigger one... I just hope they've gone back to the hot plate design then!!!

It's the same as my regular mulled wine recipe, but it takes about an hour to reach temperature (with a 2 or 3 bottle recipe)...

1 bottle of full-bodied red wine (eg Merlot)
1/2 pint water (boiling is good for time management)
3oz sugar
1 cinnamon stick
6 cloves

Thanks for that, sounds the right size for us then.

So basically bung it all in and leave for an hour?

You can start drinking it as soon as it's reached the right temperature for you. Turn down the slow cooker temperature so that it will hold it at this temperature.

Because you heat it up slowly, the spices infuse really gently and you get a good flavour.

YAY got me my very own Rival crockpot, in the sales.
Now I need some easy recipes, to try it out.
Any faves anyone wishes to share?

I'm getting hungry here, no one with delishy recipes to spare?

chicken, whatever veg to hand - chopped, glass white wine, stock, mushrooms, bacon. Turn on.

Add cornflour at end to thicken and cream.

Yummy!!!!!!!!!

Beef, tomatoes - tinned, guinness - a can, onions, potatoes, whatever veg to hand. Turn on.

Yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pork, cider, whatever veg to hand, chopped apples. Turn on
Add cornflour at end to thicken.

Yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hth

very tasty sounding thanks.
Do I brown the meat first?

I love mine - use at least once week when dh picks our 3 up and I work till 930.
great for rice pudding as well as savouries.
fave casserole is sausage and bean -
for 5 or us with leftovers
1.5 lb butchers sausagesbrowned with an onion
2 tins tomatoes chopped
2 tins beans - bortlotti work best but blackeyed/flagelot as good
3 chopped carrots
red wine to cover, mixed with water
salt/pepper/worsc sauce and whatever driedherbs - thyme/oregano etc i have
chuck it all in on low/med all day

What I did today.

Soften onion in frying pan using olive oil and then add courgettes, half a pint of cider,bay leaf, bring to the boil then add haddock skinned, and cut into pieces, tossed in cornflour.
Transfer to the crockpot and cook on low for three to five hours. Add parsley before serving with chosen veg.
Not bad at all.