Benefits of a slow cooker please

BA, so far this week we've had both curry and rice pudding done in the slow cooker, plus a bolonaise that i'd made the week before and stashed in the freezer (in five portions!).

I've just got in from work and my body-jam class (it's 7:20pm here in NZ!) and i really want to snuggle with my kids rather than make our lunch for tomorrow - so i'm going to chuck all the ingredients for a sweet-corn chowder in the lovely slow cooker and forget about it till the morning...

I work p/t and have a 3 year old and a six year old and i LOVE my slow cooker! :T Give yourself a learning period to get used to it, and figure out how it fits into YOUR life, and you'll love it, i'm sure!

x

phizzimum wrote: »

it feels almost as if someone else has cooked for me!

This is exactly how I feel! I'm travelling home from work knowing that my kids have already had theirs out of it and mine and OH is ready for whenever we want it. Providing you're organised and everything is ready to chuck in in the morning then you're away!

The only thing I will say is that I'm still struggling with spicier dishes like curry for example, it never seems to be spicy enough. I cooked a jalfrezi and OH thought it was stew :rotfl: I've been told to add more spices at the end to give it a kick.

I can definately recommend lamb shanks. Any meat does well, chicken is beautiful but can go a bit stringy (I like it like that!), and if you put boned chicken in you will have bones floating in it cos the meat just falls off the bones, so beware if you're doing a casserole for little ones. Cheaper cuts of meat will melt in the mouth cos it's been cooked for so long, so a saving on the pocket too (tell your dh that bit!!).

Can anyone recommend any recipies?
I've a little used slow cooker.Am a single mum to 4 but I'm returning to college in september.I like the idea of tea being ready for when I get home.Bot other than bolognaise ,lentil soup and sausage casserole i'm lost for ideas.
Argos have 3 electrical timers for £3.99 on clearance.I'm worried about mine being on all day so hoping to set mine to start around midday.Home by 3.45 tea no later than 6pm.

Also in the winter I find it helps to keep the chill off the kitchen so cuts down on heating bills. But then I have got a VERY small kitchen so thats probably why.

I had a slow cooker years ago but didn't use it much, however I do have a pressure cooker, and it is wonderful for cooking stews and also pot roasts in a fraction of the normal cooking time. I think they have gine out of fashion a bit, but just thought I'd mention it. Probably the food doesn't have quite the flavour of the slow cooked way, but great if you fancy a casserole in a hurry!