Slow Cooker Virgin. Advice, hints and recipes needed please.

[imoscarsmum]

Just bough my very first slow cooker as I go back to work in July after mat leave and would like to come home to meals ready to eat.
The obvious recipes like stews I'm fine with but can you make things like pasta sauces, bolgnaise, chilli con carne etc and if so, is it a case of bung all the ingredients in and leave it?

Help?!

Chili definitely. Fry the mince off first as usual then throw everything in the slow cooker and cook same as you would in a casserole dish.

Curries are easy too. DP loves Pataks curry pastes.

I'm lazy and use lots of Colemans and Schwartz packet sauces. Just follow the instructions and come home to sausage casserole and the like.

My slow cooker has been the best present I've ever had. It gets used so much, especially in winter or when I have to work long hours.

Oh lots of stuff can go in I have even made chinese food in mine.
Tips -
Resist the urge to take the lid off and stir it doesn't need it and you let all the heat out.
Try to put less liquid in than you think it needs.
Yes just throw it all in and leave it.
Have got ribs in mine today - and it smells yummy.
Hope this helps a bit

We don't even bother browning the mince first - as long as you're planning on leaving everything in there for long enough to cook properly, it's fine - and delicious!

Quite a lot of stuff does come out runny though - if you can't use less liquid, try adding a spoon or two of flour at the start.

Brilliant tips, thanks. Am more confident now.

timmette- what chinese food have you made in it? love chinese food!!

I make Peking Pork and Soy Braised chicken - the first one is a bit like teriyaki.