In my slow cooker today.... part 2

23rdspiral

taplady wrote: »

Hi all!
I dont really use my SC enough since I became a veggie. Does anyone use quorn mince in theirs? is it ok as I know you aren't really supposed to cook it a lot or it goes tough.
I'd also like to do something with some pearl barley if anyone has any ideas:)

i dont use quorn mince at all, too mushy and expensive for me, but i do use TVP a lot. i think the TVP chuncks are better in the s/c - throw them in 45 min before end of cooking time.
there are some veggie s/c recipies here, but there should be more!!! http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=493785&postcount=18

alipops1986 wrote: »

Hey folks,

Contemplating buying a slow cooker, as i live alone and think it will making cooking decent meals much easier! However, I have a few questions:

1) Do you need to brown the meat first? Do u do this before you go to work or the night before?
2) How do you know how long to put it on for? I normally leave the house at 7:30am and return sometimes half 3, sometimes half 5!
3) Can you use jar sauces as well as things like gravy and stock?

Any hints/tips/advice about buying a slow cooker would be much appreciated!!

hi, perhaps you should look up the slow cooker Quick Questions Tread? all of these are answered in there at least a hundred times! :rotfl:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=271457&highlight=slow+cooker+quick+questions
this thread S/C Which and WHY, might help you choose: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=76138&highlight=slow+cooker+quick+questions

sorry, i'll be nice and actually answer your questions:
1) not always / either
2) follow book till you just know. you're timings will be fine for most main meals
3) yes. / yes but don't add as much liquid as you would on the hob.

good luck with your purchase, i couldnt recomend a s/c high enough, and even bought one for a single friend as an xmas present! :T

23rdspiral

whoopsied stewing beef, cheeting can of Morrisons red wine sauce (actually very nice), reduced veg (onion, celery, sweede), but sadly no carrots :eek:

there will be horshradish dumplings on top. and enough for a second 2 person meal later in the week, hopefully with carrots.

wssla00

I made marmalade gammon in mine overnight. So all done and yummy

Little_miss_sunshine_2

Doing spare ribs with ginger, brown sugar and white wine vinegar- have tried this before and it's really tasty. Serving it with rice and veg.

Sunnyday

Had dogfood in mine again overnight last night, carrots, red lentils, pearl barley, brown rice and a kettle full of hot water. I put chopped ox heart in this time for a change.
Li`l doggies noses were on overtime
SD

EDIT ELF - How was the pate and which one did you make?

newcook

alipops1986 wrote: »

Hey folks,

Contemplating buying a slow cooker, as i live alone and think it will making cooking decent meals much easier! However, I have a few questions:

1) Do you need to brown the meat first? Do u do this before you go to work or the night before?
2) How do you know how long to put it on for? I normally leave the house at 7:30am and return sometimes half 3, sometimes half 5!
3) Can you use jar sauces as well as things like gravy and stock?

Any hints/tips/advice about buying a slow cooker would be much appreciated!!

Hi Ali - I also live alone so my slowcooker is loved very much as it has my dinner ready for when I get in from work!
I have a teeny tiny SC that is 1 and a half litres which doesnt sound a lot but will make 3 or 4 good portions of stew or cassarole etc.

I only tend to brown sausages as otherwise they look a bit grey!! everything else just gets chucked in with a third to half a pint of water (less if I have put in a tin of tomatoes) I then stick it on low while I go to work (about 7:45) and all I need to do when I get home (about 6:15) is some mash or rice chips etc!!

personally I find that the sauces in jars tend to lose their flavour and seem to 'catch' on the sides of the SC... I would rather use stock cubes and add other flavours at the end when the other flavours of the meat and veg have come out

northwest1965

23rdspiral wrote: »

i dont use quorn mince at all, too mushy and expensive for me, but i do use TVP a lot. i think the TVP chuncks are better in the s/c - throw them in 45 min before end of cooking time.
there are some veggie s/c recipies here, but there should be more!!!

I use the dehyrated soya mince in mine, soaks up a lot of liquid though.

stef240377

Have just eaten pork, apples and onions in cider from my SC all served up with savoy cabbage and mash.

kidcat

Beef in ale in mine today to be served with chantenay carrots, new potatoes, cabbage and sweetcorn. Smells great

loshypops

guys

im not very up to speed with the slow cooker revolution but im contemplating getting one as our gas consumption has gone through the roof in the last few cold months - how much do you think it would save?

we have a lot of casseroles usually in the oven for about 2 hours at 180ish (sometimes not in as long as this as we are always hungry hehe!)

thanks x