Slow Cookers

[ethandron]

I know this has been done to death but I have, for various reasons and almost against my better judgement, bought one of these contraptions. I've not used it yet but will definitely give it a fair go.
My question is, has anyone bought one and hated it, leaving it stuck in the darkest recesses of a kitchen cupboard, never to see the light of day again?
Question part two: For those who love them, what's your absolute favourite recipe which makes the money you forked out on the thing worth it?

[Tilly2]

To clarify, I only dry fry mince, other meat I just bung in.

[pastafreak]

I'm the opposite. Never dry fry mince,but I do lightly brown all other meat. Better flavour...and a more appetising visual finish.

[bednobs]

mine is a crockpot and you can brown in there first, by taking to pot out an putting it on the hob. You cn then also put your slowcooked mel in the fridge in the pot.
My sister and friends have "cooking club" whereby the y get together once a month over lots of wine and chop meat and veg, bag it all up and put the resulting bgs in their freezers. Then in the morning they just take it out, put it in the slow cooker (still frozen; not in bag) nd turn it on

[Smowball]

So sorry cloverjo - only just seen your question. All veg and meat in raw. Occasionally I'll very quickly brown minced beef if I have time but not always.