Coffee and chocolate

miggy

MissShoes wrote: »

I am now very tempted by a slow cooker- I've been wondering about one for a while as so many people rave about them. The idea of coming home to a delicious meal, ready to serve is appealing. The idea of coming home to a small fire/melted worktop/burnt food because I can't work out how to do it properly, not so appealing!

Hope the kitchen is resembling calm instead of chaos for you Miggy xxx

I think they're designed to be left unattended - I haven't managed to do anything disasterous with one (yet) though the one attempt at rice pudding was a failure, it just didn't cook properly but I think I should have given it longer and stirred it mid-cook. That was the only problem I've had though and tonight's roast was a success.

I wouldn't say the kitchen has got as far as calm, but crash helmets are not currently necessary!

miggy

Spicy Autumn soup in the slow cooker today - DS2 is, however, determined to make the most of not having a cooker, and the nice weather, so we are hoping to light the BBQ tonight! First time in two years, LOL.

I'm thinking spicy soup will go very well with standing round in the cold and dark, and possibly a bit of trampolining thrown in... but not at the same time as the soup.

Everything in the soup was already in the house, though I have to buy the BBQ meat and some rolls, and possibly some ginger cake for pud.

I've been acting responsibly and have emailed HR to check they aren't overpaying me The increment I received just seemed too big a jump from what I've been getting.

I'm having problems with either the computer or the Internet - everything's very slow and often I get a message about not being able to find the server. I'm running all the detectors and scans I can think of and have come up with a grand total of one problem since mid-morning - and having isolated that, I still have problems.

No sign of an email from the insurance... stop me if you've heard that one before!

Going to give up and visit Mum soon.

MatyMoo

Glad you got the slow cooker, I wouldn't be without mine. They reckon they cost as much to use as a light bulb.

It is a great day for a BarBQ down here, hope it is with you too

miggy

I'm pleased to report that the slow cooker makes lovely soup - and also that we've been invited to dinner on Sunday so we will get something cooked in a 'proper' oven!

DH and I seem to have more money than usual in the food budget - we think it's because we aren't buying our usual foods.

MatyMoo

miggy wrote: »

I'm pleased to report that the slow cooker makes lovely soup - and also that we've been invited to dinner on Sunday so we will get something cooked in a 'proper' oven!

I think slow cookers make great food, I think it being cooked slowly allows the flavours to come up better. :j To a proper cooked meal :j

miggy wrote: »

DH and I seem to have more money than usual in the food budget - we think it's because we aren't buying our usual foods.

That's interesting, I would have thought ready meals and takeaways would have worked out more expensive. Or is it that you are having to go to the shops less often and so you are not buying the extra, nice to have, items?

miggy

MatyMoo wrote: »

I think slow cookers make great food, I think it being cooked slowly allows the flavours to come up better. :j To a proper cooked meal :j



That's interesting, I would have thought ready meals and takeaways would have worked out more expensive. Or is it that you are having to go to the shops less often and so you are not buying the extra, nice to have, items?

Well, everything from the slow cooker has been yummy, but I am champing at the bit to get my hands on a new high spec oven (in my dreams - haven't had the okay for it yet!)

We only get takeaway once a week, and that once is Saturday so today will bump u the food budget. The ready meals lasted a day. Baked potatoes are cheapish and so is soup, though not massively under what we'd often pay to feed all of us - but this is for two and I think that's what's made the biggest difference when I think it through!

DS1 - here for breakfast, finds for himself / cooks at girlfriend's when there's no food on tap here.

DD - been away nearly all week - fed by her boyfriend or bezzy.

Neither of these is new, it's just more consistent than normal. As I think I've said, it's like having cats. They find people to feed them. (DD's boyfriend has it down to an art form: his record is sausage and mash three times in one day. Well, it would be rude to refuse. I hasten to add only one of them was us).

DS2 is the main change of habits. After cooking for himself on an open fire the first day, and not being happy with the results, he's been living off things that go in the toaster and refusing what I cook. He's always been a problem to feed. He did manage roast chicken though, and chocolate mousses, jelly and fizzy pop and he's either going to have to stop being difficult (he's fussy, not allergic) or be hungry. Again - like a cat - if it's the wrong brand of cat food, they walk away.

No, I didn't think of trying him on cat food. Reckon it's worth a go?

miggy

Went shopping for someone's birthday and someone else's Christmas today. I didn't do too well - shops crowded and noisy and things hard to find, urgh. Came away without the things I wanted too, though I managed to complain in a pleasant way to one of the assistants to say that having two different radio stations on quite loudly either side of a narrowish shop was putting me off. Oh, I am such a grump! Am I the only one who needs quiet to make decisions? (This is a rhetorical question, in case the answer should turn out to be 'yes').

Settling in for a cosy evening now, and all the cosier for the rain outside.

MatyMoo

miggy wrote: »

DS2 is the main change of habits. After cooking for himself on an open fire the first day, and not being happy with the results, he's been living off things that go in the toaster and refusing what I cook. He's always been a problem to feed. He did manage roast chicken though, and chocolate mousses, jelly and fizzy pop and he's either going to have to stop being difficult (he's fussy, not allergic) or be hungry. Again - like a cat - if it's the wrong brand of cat food, they walk away.

No, I didn't think of trying him on cat food. Reckon it's worth a go?

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: Like this boys diet!

I couldn't live without toast, it is so versatile

Bet you can't wait for the OK from the insurers

miggy

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: Like this boys diet!

Oh Maty - he is so exasperating! However, he gets full marks for effort: the BBQ and potato bake in the fireplace were both his ideas.

I couldn't live without toast, it is so versatile

Yes... I think it's one of the defining icons of England, along with tea, wellies and umbrellas! I have some every day.

Bet you can't wait for the OK from the insurers

You must be a mind reader!

Lemon_Tree

sorry for the confusion, my slowcooker has a pottery crock pot that sits inside it but then it is almost 20 years old. I think these days they're metal pans or something (can't think of a better way of explaining it).
the works is a cheapish book shop that sells lots of bargain books. Mr LT is thinking about our getting his parents a slow cooker for christmas and i've suggested a cookery book as well which he likes the idea of this.