[FCG]

I have just purchased a slow cooker and have searched far and wide for slow cooker recipies and i have a great selection of them. But i'm wondering what are the best? I -really- want to convince my mum into using this regularly so want some really easy to prepare and GREAT TASTING recipies for her to get used to it with. Great tasting also means my Dad will get behind it.

Thanks in advance folks.

[joyfull]

I love to do lamb shanks in minted gravy in mine, serve with yummy mash, carrots and peas - real old fashioned comfort food 

[mumofstig]

I use mine to cook anything that would normally slow cook in the oven or on the hob. Does a grand job but only the leccy of a lightbulb. No recipe, just a bung it all in winter stew is lovely cooking all day, with dumplings of course at the end

[madcat]

I suppose the top of the pops here is beef in red wine, and variations on the theme.

Put braising steak or stewing beef in the bottom, add 1/4 -1/2 bottle left over red wine, lots of ground black pepper, a chopped onion, couple of cloves garlic crushed, 2 or 3 rashers streaky bacon chopped, couple handfuls of green lentils (do they call them mediterrain?) and mushrooms.  Often I'll chop the stalks and chuck em in at this stage, reserving the caps.  A good shake of worcester sauce or anchovy sauce is a good addition. Top up with water and cook on low for about 6 hours.  If you have them and are about, add little onions (pickling or shallot) when there are about 4 hours to go - so they cook soft but dont collapse.  With a couple or so hours to go, add the mushroom caps. Serve when ready. 

You could garnish with chopped parsley, add dumplings towards the end, cook the tired carrots from the bottom of the drawer chopped in it, you get the general idea. 

[SnooziSuzi]

I agree with Mum; just chuck it all in and turn it on! no recipe needed LOL! 

[Elcie]

I posted on here about a month ago and asked for a slow cooker gammon recipe.  There were some great ones offered if you search for the thread.  The one I made was to cook it in dry cider, with some peppercorns, bay leaves and an onion studded with cloves.

Was delicious!

I have also heard you can cook gammon in coca-cola but haven't seen a recipe or tried it.  Yet!

[JulieP]

The best has to be Sausage Cass, quickly brown sausages put in cooker add onions, peppers, pour over lots of stock/gravy and cook on medium all day - yum yum.

In the depths of winter i add root veg as well, something a little different from stew.

[noshed]

Yep the gammon (or bacon) joint in cider is great.
Stewing lamb with anchovies (3 or 4 really make it yummy)
Curry of any sort.
I have found that weirdly the meat seems to cook quicker than the veg so cut the spuds etc up into slices. Also you don't need that much liquid. One can of cider is enough so there's plenty left for the cook.
The best thing about the gammon or bacon one is that you don't need to brown it so you can do it first thing in the morning. I don't like frying meat with my muesli.

[titch]

icook whole chickens in mine - so tender
liver casserole is yummy too
any meat and/or veg in gravy suace type thing works
bung it all in and give it a go

[noshed]

I think you can do chutney in them as well

[joyfull]

ooh really noshed - will have to look into doing that 

[mumofstig]

I don't think i could in mine.....it never seems to get to a full rolling boil...fine for slow cooking  :)but not for boiling

[Val H]

OK this thread has convinced me and I've just "booked" a Morphy Richards Accents Slow Cooker out of the Argos sale. This doesn't mean that Carol can justify a Jam Making machine now .

[Ice]

I've never just thrown everything in and turned it on.  I find that meat is best if you brown it first.  Also, I saute onions, herbs, spices etc before putting in.  But apart from that, I absolutely love mine as it takes very little energy to produce something lovely.

[Heifer73]

Hi Joyful

How long do you cook the lamb shanks for and on what setting?

Many thanks