Slow Cooker meals for kids??

Bublin1

lindadykes wrote: »

I recently discovered that you can cook a whole chicken in the slow cooker and it works brilliantly. Just bung the chicken in - no need for water/stock or any other liquid. On low for 7+ hours. Ends up sitting in lots of chicken juices which make amazing chicken gravy. It doesn't brown like roast chicken but the meat just falls off the bones and can be used however you like.

Yes, I've done this before...thanks for the reminder. I think I shouldn't have used a stock when I cooked the chicken pieces - it produced too much water.

Bublin1

Is there any way to keep potatoes/veg separate from the meat?
Can you wrap them in foil or put them in the roasting bag on top of the meat?
My kids like their veg 'fresh' tasting rather than all mixed up in a gravy.

pathtofreedom

Are you cooking things for too long? My slow cooker seems to cook faster than most, even on low which often means mush instead of food if I'm not careful.

Could you get a timer like people use for lights to pretend they are in, and set it to turn on a couple of hours later?

carlymummy

I do jacket potatoes in my slow cooker, I just season the potato, wrap in foil and pop into the slow cooker on low, ok the skin isn't crispy but you could always stick them into a hot oven whilst you heat up some baked beans etc?
Mince quickly browned and then put into the sc is fine too, which you could use as a base for spag bol, chilli etc
I know what you mean about the meat texture I am not a fan of chicken done in the sc as it goes quite stringy, but pork/gammon is a winner I think

Bublin1

pathtofreedom wrote: »

Are you cooking things for too long? My slow cooker seems to cook faster than most, even on low which often means mush instead of food if I'm not careful.

Could you get a timer like people use for lights to pretend they are in, and set it to turn on a couple of hours later?

Good idea...thanks

kathrynha

pathtofreedom wrote: »

Could you get a timer like people use for lights to pretend they are in, and set it to turn on a couple of hours later?

Why had I never thought of that? I have to put the slow cooker on 12 hours before we want to eat, and end up with mush, which results in me not using it on the days I really need to.

One of our favourites when I am around to put it on at lunch time is sausage and lentil. It's my 8 year olds favourite.
Sausages cut into pieces
Tin of tomatoes
Tin of baked beans
Lentils (I just pour them in so no quanities)
Lamb oxo
Dried mint
Water - the lentils absorb lots

All cooked till it's ready. You can also add rice to it.

Good quality sausages are nicest, but tastes good even with the cheapest if your budget is tight. When hubby was out of work I calculated it at about 15p per portion with all value items.

I've never tried roast chicken or jacket potatoes in it. The instructions that came with it said that it needed liquid in, and I've always been a bit scared of doing dry things, when I am leaving it on when I go out

arbrighton

Could the 12 year old manage to microwave something, e.g. if you make the spag bol or chilli and rice at the weekend, portion it up and just get older one to warm it? (instructions on time etc)

DebtFree2012

I have sausages in the SC now and much prefer them. I don't brown or anything and they are lovely and manageable to eat. Kids love them too (4 and 8).

On the chicken pieces front, i don't use stock, just really thick gravy (it thins in the SC) and leave it on low all day.

good_advice

In my slow cooker today is diced potato, carrots, leeks and parsnips.
A maggi tomato based sauce I got from Approved Foods.

Yep. just veg. I know my vegetarian DD will love a quick meal when she returns from work.
Maybe she will eat it with some bread or fish?

pollyanna24

I tried pulled pork in the slow cooker once. I thought it tasted amazing. My kids thought differently. But then my kids are fussy. Most kids apparently like pulled pork in a bun.