Slow Cooker - The Recipe Collection

Edinburghlass_2

Bought a 3.5lt slow cooker for £8.99 in Argos today (half price) after reading this thread and am now really looking forward to trying out some of your great recipe ideas. Thanks everyone as the leaflet that comes with it is really basic.

Thats the one I got Calyanna and just fine for my needs. Stewing steak and a tin of cherry tomatoes has just been bunged in readiness for tonight's meal.

christmas_donkey

Well I have dug mine out of the cupboard, I havent been very successful with it up to now, although the kids love the lamb stews I have done up to now, my hubby hates them - so I guess hes going to be eating sandwiches again tonight. ;D

Now a question for you. I normally throw in a handful of pulses at the start of cooking, but normally find they are still a little too firm when the rest of the food is cooked, so do you use pulses? If so, how do you cook them?

I have put some in a little boiling water to soak for a bit before I throw them in the pot. I am hoping that will give them a head start.

Another question, I have started mine off on a high setting, but do you generally cook on a low or medium setting? I find the low setting takes years.

elona

Have you tried softening pulses in boiling water and putting in the microwave for 10 minutes while the slow cooker is warming up?

christmas_donkey

Have you tried softening pulses in boiling water and putting in the microwave for 10 minutes while the slow cooker is warming up?

Well I have them soaking in boiling water now, will pop them in the micro for a few minutes before I add them. Fingers crossed eh?

Glad

it's a question of trial and error sometimes
if I'm cooking a stew/casserole with veg I do one of 2 things, if I'm at home halfway through cooking I will add veg then, if I'm not I sometimes add a bag of frozen casserole veg at the beginning,

jaybee

I've used lentils and pearl barley and both have been okay. It seems to work if I put them in at the beginning on high and then turn it to low for the rest of the day. So far I've done large quantities of casserole (enough to feed us both for one meal plus 2 more stashed away in the freezer. Think I've got enogh in freezer now to last us until June  ::)

Nickynoo1

i finally got one. I got the £8.99 one from argos. I could afford that, and as it's only me the size should be fine.

Put a gammon joint in last night after i got in, about 4am, and it was all ready for me this afternoon. Just had it with mash and picked cabbage. Gammon cooked really well. Well it was in there for 12 hours. Got tons now though

tiff

Well done Nicky, I'm still waiting for mine to arrive but I have a lovely piece of pork waiting for it when it gets here.

Callyanna

;D
Still getting to grips with the slow cooker I got last week so would like to pick all you experts' brains! ;D

bought a lovely half leg of lamb reduced in Asda today as today is the sell by date..how do I cook it in the slow cooker? Got all the basic veg..pots, carrots , leeks , carrots plus the usual cupboard basics..dried pulses, lentils, tinned toms, soup mixes etc but I'm still not sure of how much liquid to use, whether I need to seal the meat first, cook it on high or low?

any help greatly appreciated asap if poss as I'll have to cook it tonight! TIA

Sarahsaver

I would not bother sealing the meat
Just cover the veg etc with ctock, cook it o low if its all day, high if you put it on in the afternoon.
By the way I have done mince for bolognese and sausage casserole both from frozen and they turned out fine ;D