Slow Cooker Recipes

[Eve]

I've finally got round to getting one and am after some ideas, preferably not too pricy budget wise.

I fancy trying a recipe out at the weekend so I can be around for most of the time so I can convince myself if it's safe to leave when I'm out at work.

I am out of the house for about 11 and a half hours, would this work with many recipes if it was on a low setting?

Thanks for any advice and recipe ideas!

[Eve]

Another thought it, as I'm cooking for one, recipes that can be put in the fridge or freezer (though I have limited freezer space as have a tiny table top one) to reheat would be great!

[Tilly2]

Did you get a recipe book with it, Eve?

[gingejbee]

To be honest, it's not really recipes you need (any slow-cooked dishes done on the hob or in the oven will do very well in a slow-cooker). You need a book that instructs on the best way of using the thing and any special techniques required - like timings, how best to thicken liquids etc.
If you have a The Works (cheapo bookshops) near, you can buy "how best to use your slow-cooker" books very cheaply (also include recipes).

[pastafreak]

I don't change much when I throw stuff in the slow cooker. I always brown meat/chicken,and I never,ever use the amount of water suggested.( or what was suggested last time I looked at a recipe specifically for slow cookers...about 4 years ago.) I'd say start the cooker on "high" for an hour,then turn to low. Very long slow cooking will be best for meat as opposed to chicken.

[sherrardk]

Try Pintrest - there's loads on there. When I first got mine I spent all day taking the lid off as I wasn't convinced it was going to work. I'm a bit sad - I only use mine for coca cola chicken (but the kids love it!).

[bednobs]

i agree with pasta - you never ever need the suggested amount of water/liquid suggested.
My sister is in a "slow cooking club" bsically it's her nd her 2 friends who all have families around the same age. Once week or fortnight the women get toether in someones kitchen and hve a gossip and catch up over wine/coffee/cocktail nd sit and chop ingredients at the same time. At the end they bck them all into sperate meals in freeer bags and take home the meals and put in hteir respective freezers. Then on a morning, they just empty out the still frozen meal into the slow cooker, turn in on and go to work. Perfect.

[bednobs]

i meant to add i prefer to brown stuff, but i have one of those fab crockpots where you can put them on hte gas and do the browning in the slow pot itself befoe putting it on the base

[Eve]

Thanks for all the advice. I got a cheapish one to see if I actually end up using it enough to go for something decent if I do.

Can see myself browning stuff as I'm a well done cooking kinda girl :)

I've been having a look around at some recipes and trying to decide what to try first. I think I might pop to Aldi and see what they have when they are quite (place is a nightmare when busy!).

Tesco do a nice tray of ready for oven roast vegetables which I've had my eye on so wondering if I can put them in with something. Just need to make sure it will microwave after, though I could freeze the rest of the pack. I have got a recipe book somewhere, had it ages ago when I was going to get one (was a gift) then didn't. Can go have a look in the Works too, think that's where that one was from.

I like the idea of making soups in it. Think I might have to stick to weekends though as sounds like I'm out of the house for too long when working.

[sherrardk]

Could you plug it into a timer?

[Eve]

Oh I hadn't even thought of that without there being a timer on the slow cooker itself! That's a great idea, thank you!

[fairycakes69]

I use a plug in timer which is great, tend to add very little stock, as the meat and veg produce their own juice. I only brown mince (to take out the fat) . Have found using a small handful of red lentils helps to thicken up the sauce and leaving the lid off for the last hour/half hour helps.

[Eve]

Thanks for that, I think a timer switch is a good plan!

I am about to try my first recipe - a simple beef stew as I could get ready packs of veg I don't have to chop up and can pretty much chuck everything in! Will use a bit less fluid.

Still not too certain about going out and leaving it but will be in for a bit so hopefully that will calm my nerves about it. I'm going to pop some flour over the meat for thickening.

[rockyracoon]

Don't worry Eve, it'l be fine. I have no kitchen at the moment so my slow cooker is sitting in the upstairs bathroom, that's where it stays while it's being used. I never brown stuff before chucking it in, it sort of defeats the purpose of having the thing for me. You can do a mean rice pudding in it, it's lush, and I do believe jackets do very well. Look on my FB profile and there's a slow cooker group that I'm a member of, join it, you'll find a wealth of info from slow cooker fanatics.

[rockyracoon]

It's called Slow Cooker Saddo

[Eve]

Oh wow, thanks for that :) I'll have a look. I think once I've gone out once and returned to find the house intact I'll be fine.

It's on now so hoping for a lovely beef stew later for tea! So easy just to shove everything in. Got a stew pack from Morrisons which was already all sliced up and some pre-sliced mushrooms and used a beef stew mix in it to make is as easy as possible. The hardest bit was trying to open the can of tinned tomatoes but have a gadget to help with ring pulls. I can cook but RA interferes so will be great to have some easy options.

Probably put too much tinned tomatoes in but didn't want to waste half a can as will have enough for two nights with this. Will see how it turns out!

[Eve]

I've not been able to find the group yet but will have another look later on.

I keep having to go sniff it, smells amazing already!

[rockyracoon]

Type slow cooker saddo's - exactly like that, in the search bar on FB. If you still have trouble and can't find it on my page, I'll try to do a link for you :)

[sherrardk]

I got thrown out of a FB slow cooker group :(

[rockyracoon]

Lol. I think you recommended the Saddo one. Why was you kicked out?

[ummmm]

Lol...How bad do you have to be to get chucked out of a slow cooker group? :-)