In my slow cooker today...

Cat_Addict

Thankyou Mrs MW!

Paige

I have put chicken drumsticks and thighs with a bottle of reggae reggae sauce - I plan to grill them quickly before serving to crisp up a bit. I will serve with HM wedges and pepper couscous.
I dont know if this will work as I have not used a SC for years but bought one for 1/2 price at Sainsburys this week.
Paige X

Lucycat

Well, if this isn't slow cooker weather I don't know what is, so in mine today is an enormous odds-and-ends chilli as I just found two packets of chilli mix in the cupboard that were best before Sept 2008.

2 packs of beefburgers (about 1kg)
2 cans kidney beans
1 can mushrooms
Half a can of baked beans
3-ish peppers (I chop in batches & freeze because I *hate* chopping!)
2-ish onions
2 cartons sieved tomatoes
Lots of garlic
2 packets Coleman's 'Hot Chilli' (ahem!)
1 cup-ish of cold black coffee left over from brek (read it as a tip somewhere online - makes a change from adding it to the compost heap, although only time will tell whether it was a good idea or not...)

Fried off beef, onions & garlic, then chucked everything into sloco & gave it a good stir - on now for six hours on the only setting my cooker has.

Most came out of the freezer, some out of the fridge & a bit out of the cupboard - need to run down raw ingredients in freezer to make more room for all these lovely sloco meals. Very impressed I managed to get it on before midday - think I might finally be getting the hang of it!

Thanks again to all for sharing recipes & tips - have a few bookmarked for later in the week! :T

champys

Lucycat wrote: »

1 cup-ish of cold black coffee left over from brek (read it as a tip somewhere online - makes a change from adding it to the compost heap, although only time will tell whether it was a good idea or not...)

Really? Do tell if it is a success! I always have coffee left over from breakfast as DH tends to make more than I can drink.

Lucycat

Me too - and it tastes a bit grim warmed back up, doesn't it? Chilli looking, smelling & tasting fab so far (yes, I sneaked a taste - I know it adds to the cooking time but I couldn't resist, and I'm still well on course for tea-time!)

So, thank you mystery internet tipster - you were right! :cheesy:

I'd try adding some dark choc next time (that's supposed to bring out the flavour of chilli too), but left-over chocolate is a bit of a contradiction in terms, isn't it??:rotfl:

bella2121

i've got joint of pork in mine with some thyme and gravy, going to serve with mash and roast potatoes, carrots and swede. OH is ill but is still plodding on and going to work so thought i'd spoil him with a big roast dinner yum yum yum xx

Cat_Addict

Everything stew! Diced beef, tons of different root vegetables, leek, mushrooms, celery, barley, potatoes, stock and herbs.

I've currently got it on high - does anyone else find that if they stew root veg they need to be on high to soften properly?

Olliebeak

Cat_Addict wrote: »

........ does anyone else find that if they stew root veg they need to be on high to soften properly?

I sometimes blast mine in the microwave before putting in the SC because mine doesn't have any temperature control. I think carrots are the worst for still being a bit hard. Even swede cooks quicker than carrots.

Then again, I usually cook carrots etc in the microwave anyway - find that they retain their flavour far better than boiling in a pan of water.

Cat_Addict

Right - thanks Olliebeak. I don't like putting the SC on high when I'm out but I came home today as my DS was sent home from school feeling ill. I wapped it up high to boost it and it's going nicely now.

I'm thinking I might want a big SC as well because when I do certain meals its a bit of a squeeze. Chilli and curry is fine in the 3.5L but things with chicken pieces or lots of chopped veg its hard to fit it all in.

Anyone else have both sizes? I'm addicted to slow cooking though!

Lucycat

I'm in the opposite position - just considering buying a small cooker to supplement our large one.

Love the freezer ready meals 'leftover' when I make up a batch in the 6.5l, but particularly for puddings I could do with a smaller size, as I tend not to freeze the leftovers & they just get gradually eaten the next day - my sensible portion control vanishes in the face of dessert!

I made a huge vat of rice pudding yesterday & it's going to be a struggle to finish it off even with four of us - will have put on a brave face and soldier on regardless! :rotfl: