Come and comvince me about slow cookers...

[nosferartifartu]

I have a deep-seated phobia of slow cookers, thanks to my mum's stews and my dad's constant fretting that she would 'burn the house down'.

However, my cooking magazine this month has some lovely recipes and now I have 14 mo DS I also like anything that saves time/makes my life remotely easy.

So...

What kind of things can I cook apart from casserole-type things? My magazine informs me that bolognese sauce is possible and I'm guessing curries? tagines?

Do they have min/max cooking times? I leave the house at 8am and we don't eat until after 8pm - will everything be toast by then?

Is it like pushchairs - are there models that everyone loves/hates that I should know about?!

Will it 'burn the house down'?

You can cook nearly everything in a slow cooker!!

Curry
Casserole
Lasagne
Canneloni
Tortellini
Spag bol
Sheperds pie
Moussaka
Meatballs
Burgers
Chilli
Burritos
Fajitas
Tacos
Soup
Frittata
Omelette
Porridge
Pancakes
Stuffed peppers, aubergines, mushrooms
Cheese souffle
Fish pie
Fish au gratin
Salmon
Trout
Sea bass
Plaice
Sole
Tuna
White fish - cod, haddock, halibut etc
Pasta or noodles and sauce (whole wheat works best)
Rice and risotto (i know it sounds odd but the quick cooking variety works best)
Macaroni cheese
Any cut of meat

You can cook nearly everything in a slow cooker!!

Curry
Casserole
Lasagne
Canneloni
Tortellini
Spag bol
Sheperds pie
Moussaka
Meatballs
Burgers
Chilli
Burritos
Fajitas
Tacos
Soup
Frittata
Omelette
Porridge
Pancakes
Stuffed peppers, aubergines, mushrooms
Cheese souffle
Fish pie
Fish au gratin
Salmon
Trout
Sea bass
Plaice
Sole
Tuna
White fish - cod, haddock, halibut etc
Pasta or noodles and sauce (whole wheat works best)
Rice and risotto (i know it sounds odd but the quick cooking variety works best)
Macaroni cheese
Any cut of meat

Also

hash browns
quiche

can you do vegetarian recipes in them? i realise it might sound daft question!

and how do i use them? have not used it yet, have had the slow cooker for (slow) three years

nappyaddict - - tortellini?! quiche?! I am confused and excited in equal measures!

Right, my mind's made up - I am off to Robert Dyas tomorrow lunchtime, as they have a sale on slow cookers at the moment.

Thanks everyone - I'm sure I'll be back with many 'anyone got a recipe for...' threads.

as people say they are great. you just shove it all in and leave - stir once at start and end. could we have a few recipes though as i'm getting bored with mine. 2 of my favourites are chicken bits (or pork), tin baked beans, big squirt of tom sauce, thyme, small glass white wine, stock cube, onion chopped, clove of garlic, bay leaf. Into dish, stir once and leave for day. And Curry - meat, tin toms, curry powder, chutney, chopped apple and onion, sultanas, stock cube. Into dish and stir once and leave for day.

what are your favourite recipes please?