General Chat

I do beef stew and dumplings in it Ann, the veg keep their shape and are tender, haven't tried any veg on their own.

I suspect it makes a difference what you are cooking and on what heat and for how long. I often put mine on low at 9am and don't eat it until 7pm so it is cooking for a long time. I also sometimes give it half an hour on medium to boost it. I don't normally cook vegetables in it.

The best thing I do in mine is braising steak and onions, melts in the mouth, and I also use boiling water as otherwise it takes ages to warm up.

Actually I have to be honest here, I have put in cold liquid and it has been fine.

Always make sure that any liquid you are putting in is hot (boiling almost).

We have found ours does cook the veg OK but we are out at work all day so, when used, ours goes on at 8am until we get back at 5pm so plenty of time for the veg to cook.

We used to use ours a lot but seem to have forgotten it lately. Must dig it out and start using it again.

thanks for reviving this Some good recipes here thank you. Any more??

OH popped into Tesco today for a few bobs and bits and has reported back that they are selling slow cookers for £10 - he wonders if we could use a second one!!!!

Hi Tec ,
yes it's lovely, i use my slow cooker a lot in the winter, it came with a cook book, but saying that iv'e had it for quite a few years now
wouldn't be without it lol :-D
Hazelx

:-) ;-)

Hello Perse,
I can see your slow cooker is put to good use. I shall have to start experimenting - it will be very useful during winter months.

Tec.

Tec,

You can just about adapt any thing you want to cook in a slow cooker. I don't normally use mine much in the summer but when my daughter and SIL came back from the UK a few years back... I used it three days running.. so that they could have it when they felt like it. He in particular took awhile to get his body clock sorted. So did a hotpot stew one night, spaghetti bolognese another night and then Navarin of lamb the next. I actually prefer the lamb done in slow cooker. I have cooked corned beef in it and macaroni cheese... put dumplings on top of my stews in it etc. I have yet to bake a cake in it... but some people do.

P xx

Hello Hazel,
The Hungarian Goulash looks interesting, will save that for when I'm being a little more adventurous.

Thanks,
Tec.

Thank you JiminyCricket, and Uzzi for your replies, very helpful, and appreciated.
I will decide on a method and have a go tomorrow. So far I've only made a beef stew in the slow cooker, and that turned out very well.

Thanks again,
Tec.

i haven't looked all through this thread so if this recipe is on here i apologize . :-)

Hungarian Goulash serves 4-6
450g-650g (1-11/2ib stewing beef
25g (1oz ) plain flour seasoned with salt & pepper
15ml (1 tablespoon oil
2 medium sized onions chopped
1 green pepper, deseeded &sliced
2x15ml (2level tblspns) tomato puree
375 ml ( 3/4 pint beef stock or 250ml (1/2 pt beef stock &125 ml (1/4 pt beer .
2 large tomatos, skinned & quartered
i clove of garlic ( crushed )
bouquet garni
2x5ml( 2 tspns) paprika
65ml (1/8pt -2fl oz ) natural yoghurt ( optionall)
to freeze allow to cool before adding yoghurt

pre heat slow cooker - 20mins .
1/ Cut meat into 2cm cubes ,
2/ Toss in seasoned flour ,
3/ Heat oil in a large frying pan fry onions garlic & peppers for 5 mins add meat & fry until browned.
4/ Add puree, paprika , stock tomatos& bouquet garni ,
5/ Transfer to crock pot & cook for 4-5 hrs ,
6/ Remove bouquet garni and add yoghurt before serving .
Hungarians add small boiled potatoes before serving .

I often do this recipe in the winter
Hazelx

Another way for chicken is smear with a flavoured honey, wrap in foil then pop it into the slow cooker.

Any advice please......

Can I cook a 3lb whole chicken in the slow cooker?

If so - do I need water/stock in the pot? and how much?

and how long should it take - do I start it high, then low?

Many thanks,

Tec. - slow cooker novice.

nudge in case Sharron missed it.

The slow cooker thread for Sharron. Haven't checked for veggie meals though.

How does he dare to interfere with YOUR kitchen!

I think biological washing powder works best but take care to rinse it very well. imagine the froth of the next meal if you didn't lol

Haven't used mine much yet, but will make more effort to remember I have it! O.h. put it in the cupboard as he said it took up too much room and I don't get myself organised to do the prep at the right time at the mo.

Lizx