What's in your Slow Cooker 2019

piperlynn

Just wondering, I have been trying hard to use slow cooker when ever I can to save money on electricity. Does anyone have experience of this, and is it worthwhile ? I know they are low powered, but they have to be on a long time. Just wondered if anyone had any advice. Thanks.x 

joedenise

They only use about the same amount as a light bulb so yes even though they're on a long time they are still cheap to use.  

piperlynn

Thanks joedenise. I will keep at it. I hope to bring down the bills and eat better too. 😁 Sausage casserole today, turned out better than I thought it would. Didn't do so well with jacket spuds last week though 🥴

babs_103

I've got a chicken and mushroom casserole and a spag bol in mine at the moment, saving even more money by cooking 2 things at once!

joedenise

piperlynn said:

Thanks joedenise. I will keep at it. I hope to bring down the bills and eat better too. 😁 Sausage casserole today, turned out better than I thought it would. Didn't do so well with jacket spuds last week though 🥴

The main thing to remember with the slow cooker is that liquids don't evaporate as much as using the stovetop so use less liquid.  Can't help with the jacket potatoes as I've never done them myself.  As far as I know you just need to stab them with a fork, wrap in foil and then cook for 8 hours on low.  I think some people oil the potatoes before wrapping.

Denise

pickledonionspaceraider

I am cooking this, if anyone is interested, recipe below - I make this regular and this is BY FAR the best thing I ever cook in mine 

I always have dumplings in mine

Italian Beef Mince Stew 

Recipe:
500g lean beef mince
4 large red potatoes (skin On) roughly diced
2 large sweet potatoes diced in 1cm cubes
3 cups of beef broth (I used two oxo beef cubes with boiled water)
600g passata
4 carrots sliced
4-6 celery stalks finely sliced
1 large white onion finely diced
1 large red onion finely diced
1 cup of garden peas
1 tbs garlic puree
1 tbs Italian seasoning
1 beef oxo cube

Method:
place all ingredients except 500g beef mince and 1 oxo cube into the slowcooker. Spray a pan with frylight and brown the mince using the oxo cube as it browns for extra flavour, once the mince is browned add it to the slow cooker and cook on high for 4-5 hours or low all day

Tink_04

Well I have had a hard hard week! Really pleased I chucked a pack of diced beef, some bendy carrots, last of the celery and some beef stock & mushrooms in the SC yesterday. Left it in the fridge overnight and am going to reheat it in the oven with some dumplings for dinner.

i have a broccoli to use up and some mash that I had frozen and that is Sunday lunch today

love meals like this as when I am struggling with my health I just can't manage much, so feeding a family still on a cold day with a bung it all in casserole makes me super happy!

Tink

nanto3girls

Lamb fillet in the slow cooker. Will serve it with roast potatoes,veggies,yorkshire pudding and lamb gravy.

anniecave

piperlynn said:

Ok Denise. This is what I do.
450 grams flour. I use spelt flour, or half and half white and wholemeal bread flour.
Then chuck in 1 sachet yeast, level dessertspoon sugar, good pinch of salt, splash of olive oil, 
300 mil hand hot water. 
Mix in Kenwood Chef ( or knead by hand ) until smooth dough. 
Put greaseproof paper in bottom of lightly oiled SC. Press the dough in.
Put lid on, with a folded tea towel under so condensation does not drip on the loaf. 
Switch on High for 2.5 hours. 
Done !
Sometimes I chuck in a handful of sunflower seeds, or a load of finely chopped rosemary. Yum.
Loaf will go crusty and brown on bottom and sides, not the top. 
Does not bother us though  just chuffed not to use oven too much, expensive.
Fingers crossed it works for you. Really good. None of this leaving it to rise malarkey. 😊😊

For cooking bread, there is also a method that avoids having to use mixer or knead at at all.  Simply mix all ingredients together and leave to stand in a bowl (covered) at room temperature for 12-18 hours until it rises until at least doubled in size. Then place in slow cooker as above to cook.

I turn the bread over for the last 15-20 minutes to help it cook more evenly - the bottom is still more crusty, but you can get the top fairly firm by this method.  

It's so easy - I've never cooked bread before and I've tried 3 different recipe combinations so far and all have been good to eat!

sillyvixen

I usually do somthing in the slow cooker once a week to freeze for work lunches. Yesterday it was lentil spag bol i made 11 portions - I need to make more soup tomorrow as I am down to my last portion in the freezer!