Slowcooker - advice and recipes??

[Winged one]

Oh, that's a great idea about stocks too. Now, on the presumption that OH hasn't taken it into his head to wander off and procure this for my birthday (which I really wouldn't rule out), I will try to find a large one (all I've found so far are ones that suit 2-3 persons).

Any idea about brands or models which would be good - what sort of capacity should I be looking for? I found a 2.5 litre cooking capacity one yesterday, which looked like it might JUST hold a chick, but not a lot of extra veggies around it and any others have been much smaller. Jay Bee? Anyone with large families?

[Woofster]

I recently bought a Morphy Richards 6.5 litre which is very big -cooks enough for 6-8 people. Got it from Argos -about £25.

Unlike practically everybody on the forum who has contributed I have not been that impressed. I have found it makes meat taste funny - like overboiled. Even on low it appears to be boiling the food rather rapidly, not simmering it. Maybe I am doing something wrong.

[gemlady]

Element in my oven went the other night and can't get another till Tuesday. Daughter asked the other day if she could have a slow cooker for Xmas and I suddenly remembered I've got one the back of the cupboard (Tower Slo-Cooker) only 20 odd years old, which we only used a couple of times unsuccessfully, so decided to try again. OH likes rice pudding so googled for some recipes and tried one with evaporated milk it was vile, so will try again with a different recipe. After seeing on here and on other sites how many people rave about their slow cookers have decided will have to give it a fair go this time.

Found if I googled Slow Cooker recipes there were plenty on line, just needs a bit of patience to trawl through the threads to find some of them.

[nelliegemini]

We had very sticky ribs yesterday - cooked on low for 5 hours in a sauce made of barbecue sauce, and beer!

Yum yum

[nelliegemini]

Sticky Ribs Recipe for Glutton4

I made this last week and its dead easy and very sticky. It comes from Kitchen Classics - Slow Cookers by Jane Price, chock full of recipes and with lovely pictures.

SPARE RIBS WITH BEER AND BARBECUE SAUCE

3.5 lbs pork spare ribs
6 fl oz beer
6fl oz barbecue sauce
2 tablsp sweet chilli sauce
1 tablsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tablsp honey
2 spring onions
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tablsp cornflour
Small handful of coriander leaves to garnish (I didn’t!)

Cut the ribs into individual ribs, or into sets of two or three if preferred, and trim away any excess fat.

In a large bowl, combine the beer, barbecue sauce, sweet chilli sauce, Worcestershire sauce, honey, spring onion and garlic. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add the ribs and thoroughly coat them in the sauce.

Transfer the ribs and marinade to the slow cooker. Cook on high for 4-5 hours. After 4 hours check to see if the ribs are tender but the meat should not be falling off the bone. If necessary, continue to cook for the extra hour.

Using kitchen tongs, remove the ribs to a side plate and cover to keep warm. Mix the cornflour with 1 tablespoon of water and stir into the sauce in the slow cooker. Cook on high heat for 5-10 minutes, stirring, or until the sauce has thickened. (I transferred the mixture to a small saucepan and did this on top of my conventional cooker – for speed).

Serve the ribs pile onto plates and spoon over some of the sauce, sprinkle over the coriander leaves. Supply lots of paper napkins

[Glutton4...]

Ooh thanks very much - looks yummy - making me hungry, and I've only just finished my Kippers!

This is my first visit over to the 'sensible' side of the Forum, but I'll be back. Especially for recipes, as I've started cooking two or three days a week now I have the time. OH is at work full time, so I shouldn't expect him to have to come home and cook aswell should I? He never complains about my cooking, but unlike him (former Chef!) I do have a limited repertoire.

For anyone with any doubts about Slow Cookers - go for it. I've used one for years, and you'll be surprised how many recipes you can adapt to suit; Delia Smith's Venison Sausage Casserole, for starters. Well, not literally for starter, but you know what I mean. About the only thing you may have to do is remove the solids and reduce the sauce down in a pan, then put back together/pour over afterwards - if I can do it...

OK, I'll toddle off back to the nutters now...

[Glutton4...]

Just an update on the Sticky Ribs recipe.

I made them yesterday, and left them in the Slow Cooker for the afternoon when I went out. What a lovely smell greeted me when I got back three hours later.

OH came back from work, and finished everything off. We had them with Jacket Potatoes, and both ate far too much, because we couldn't leave them alone.

Anyway, he was suitably impressed, and told me he expects them more often. No complaints from me either!

So, many thanks NG - delicious.

[Winged one]

I bought one on Friday as we had found a large size one on Christmas Eve (but decided to get it at home rather than trying to fit it in car with ALL DD's Christmas, Santa and birthday presents - not to mind ours and clothes etc for over a week!).

I had made a rogan josh (lamb curry which we do a lot as a "cook Sunday for eating Monday" dinner) yesterday and popped it into the SC for a few hours to do the simmering part (after frying the meat and spices etc) and it seemed much more tender than usual already (we had a taste test as we put it in fridge last night).

I'm going to try a chicken and mushroom casserole thing during the week, and we are planning a big Indian night next weekend which may find the SC in use again. Freezer is a bit full at the mo, so will be taking it a bit easy next few weeks to use up stuff, but I got one that will take a chicken or other joints and I am looking forward to trying some lamb shanks, and getting to be on good terms with local butcher for cheaper cuts. I must remember the stocks idea as well (lots of leek leaves to use up at the minute, and fishmonger would be delighted to give me bones which I could never be bothered with before).

[Dane End Dolly]

Well done Winged One

I love my slow cooker, just remember use it dont let it gather dust.

I will definately be trying the sticky ribs recipe, it sounds yummy.

[Finedon.Dandy]

I love my slow cooker too. You can steam xmas puds in it too. Not so good for rice though. I have a timer that fits on my plug so I can control when it goes on and off (good if you get held up).