slow cooker what do you cook in yours??

[mattysmum09]

sorry if this is in wrong place but cant find a cookery subject... I like the idea of slow cookers as I can make dinner earlier in day whenever i have time and it apparently tastes nicer for simmering all day :) dinner time can be hectic with toddler wanting feedding at same time! what are best things to cook in them though? I've done a curry, I basicaly cooked it all first then stuck it in for few hours, trying bolognese today.. is it safe to put the garlic in this early or will it burn and should it go in later? many thanks!

I am going to do the pork, can of coke and BBQ sauce that people talk about on here tomorrow.

My standard slow cooker meals are

1. Lamb, tin of tomatoes, root veg, pearl barley, stock cube and water.

1. Beef, barley, Guiness or stout, carrots, shallots, mushrooms

1. Chicken (whole one or thighs) carton of real stock, lentils, root veg.

Chilli - mince steak, chopped toms, onion, mushrooms, red beans, garlic, chilli

Braising steak - beef stock, baby onions/shallots, mushrooms, chunky carrots, leeks, chucky swede

Chicken curry - onions, green/red peppers, hadnful of red lentils, Lloyd Grosman Madras Jar :) - I only do this for a few hours as the chicken tends to become too soft and the lentils too sloppy - so not one for cooking for 7-8 hours

im not going to lie, im in NO WAY a domestic goddess this is the first time ive even been in this section of MN! but i do use my slow cooker for everything!
if your going to put it on early morning then eat it in the evening i tend to get it all ready the night before (saves you time in a morning --when your tired!) whack it in the fridge (and if your doing something mince based, just put the mince in frozen the night before, let it de-frost over night, then it will cook in the sauce all day!)

chilli / mince and toms / stroganoff / currys / pillaf style dishes (but not all day)
there is a really good recipe book if youve got a bit of money to spend investing in your meals called....... ultimate slow cooker by sara lewis :)

Soup, stews, whole chicken, joint of gammon (in apple juice), curry, chilli, bolognaise. I cook loads in it and generally go with the chuck it all in and leave it method.

savoy and tired- can i ask as i never know - are you meant to fry everything first and if so in what order? Or can you bung it all in at once? and on low or high? thanks.

krisskross- know it wasnt aimed at me, but i personally thwack it all in on high all day (if the meat is raw) if the meat it cooked on low. but il always turn it down to low when i get in at about 4/5pm otherwise you cant eat it for an hour after youve served it!!

Anybody do veggie dishes in theirs? I've just impulse bought a £12 one from Tesco and all the recipes seem to be for meat.

A friend of mine has this blog about slow cooking: slowcookedinblighty.blogspot.co.uk/
I haven't got one so haven't tried any of these but she's very keen on them!

There's a website www.allrecipes.co.UK

If you go on "cook/prep method" then "slow cooker" there is hundreds if recipes

Hope this helps
I use this website for all kinds

I've done the pork/coke/bbq sauce a couple of times now and it's definately a winner !, so easy and really delicious.

Another favourite of mine is joint of brisket/glass of red wine/glass of water. 2 oxo cubes - leave 8 ish hours on low, thicken the sauce with a bit of cornflower or a couple of gravy granules, serve with mash and veg. great winter meal ( or british summer meal lol).

Sorry to seem stupid but what is brisket? How much would you normally pay for a joint / how many would a 'joint' feed?

brisket is a cheap beef joint. not sure where from but its fairly tough, hence you cook it long and slow. cost and quantities depend on size of joint. i always ask the butcher

I do a fantastic apple crumble in mine - delish

how do you do apple crumble todaysgdday? used mine for years but never thought of that????

Ok, the page seems to be working again, so here it is...

Mix together:
55g flour
55g rolled oats
150g light muscovado sugar
half a teasp grated nutmeg
half a teasp grated cinnamon
Mix this with 115g very soft butter until you have a crumble mix.

Peel, core and slice 4 or 5 cooking apples (I've used normal ones in the past and they're fine, just add a few more as normal ones tend to be smaller than cooking ones) place the slices into the slow cooker, make them as level as you can. Pour over 4 or 5 tablespoons apple juice. Pour crumble mix over the apples.

Cook on low for 5 and a half to 7 hrs, depending when you want it.

Enjoy, it truly is delish!

Anybody recommend a slow cooker. I loved my old one but it eventually gave up and I got a new one which was reduced by a huge amount. The inner part was split in two sections which was a total nuisance and I gave it away in the end. And it was huge. I need a more compact one. thanks.

Argos do a great range, from 2 litres to 6 and a half, depending on family size. You get a choice of prices too, depending on the range you choose. Mine is a Morphy Richards. Don't get an extended warranty unless the slow cooker is very expensive. There are plenty of places online that offer extended warrantees a damn site cheaper than the shops.

Thanks very much. I don't want a huge one as there are only mostly three of us for meals now. Or even two.

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