slow cooker help

[admin]

I need your help
I have borrowed my mums slow cooker because the over has shit it self (ARGHHHHH) so I am making my Tomatoe meatball casserole and going to give it a go in the slow cooker..... My question is... How do I use it???

Do i just turn it on and leave it?
Is it safe to leave while Im at work?
Sorry I have no idea at all..... Having a moment :o

[j@zzii]

wish i could help u out lorrie but i havent the faintest of ideas! i dont have a slow cooker but i am interested in the responses.

i've heard that ppl leave them on whilst theyre at work - that would play on my mind all day if i did that!

[phatassphairy]

i love my slow cooker....i flog it ...lol....esp over winter (((i have just been in a slow cooker recipe swap else where in cyber land and i have 20 new recipes due anyday in the mail ----happy to share them when they get here)))

lorrie i often turn my slow cooker on at night b4 we go to bed (excellent for when grant was coming home from night shift and i had to go to work in the morning)) or when i was working i would leave it on during the day ...i would just sit on my bench making sure it was cleared of all crap, and felt quite confident as we had a couple of trip switch thingys in ourpower box to turn off plug switches (not the whole house) if there was a short and i had ample fire alarms ...so didn't stress about leaving it on...but i reckon if i had not of had these i don't think i would of left it on

Now i just chuck what ever in and leave it for min of 6hrs ...then just before i serve what i am cooking ...i thicken up the juices (as i like chunky stews) or transfer to blender if i am making soup ....sometimes i like to brown and slightly seal the meat (just roll it in flour and pan fry in a little oil ).....

This is really great way to cook cause there is no additives which helps out with Haydens issues .....i also have taken the slow cooker camping when we have been able to book into a powered site and the smell stirs up the whole camp grounds :D

[admin]

well the house didnt burn down, the food wasnt burnt and the house smelt yummy when i got home, Taste test is in about an hour so will let you know what I thought. Yep would love some recipies especially until the oven gets fixed

[Lynne]

Yep there is nothing as good as walking into the house after work and smelling your slow cooker. Must admit I was worried the first time I left mine on all day, but now I don't.

Also Lorrie at the supermarket there is a packet starter kit for slow cooker meals. I find these quite good too.

Have noticed this year there is one for soup but have not tried it yet.

[admin]

well im eating dinner and its cooked and tastes fine so i guess its a goer. will definetely be checking out the packets while shopping this week lynne

[phatassphairy]

i now have 20 recipe cards in my hot hands

there is


corned beef x 4 ways
Delicious pork chops
baked pork chops
fruity rice pudding
stand by chicken
easy red chicken curry
chicken in mushroom sauce
beef straganoff
spicy chicken wings
Osso Bucco
Gerald Steak
apple crunch
Irish stew
corn and carrot soup
BBQ beef spare ribs
Apricot chicken
red wine lamb shanks (this is my recipe in the swap)
Sweet potato and chickpea curry
jumbuck stew(lamb)
pork belly with caramel vinegar


if you like the sound of any of these ..let me know and i can type and print out the recipes for you ...theyare all supposed to be tried and tested ...no just finding a recipe..... .now i just got to decide which one i m going to make for tonight :D

[angie]

some of those sound beautiful Sammi

Ange

[Lali]

Have been thinking about getting myself one of these and now I think you girls have convinced me I am in for those recipes Sammi...rather than typing them can't you just scan them or photograph them just thought saving time

[tracy firth]

I LOVE my slow cooker so much so that when our oven S*** itself over a year ago and I brought one I still havnt got the oven fixed (better get on that seeing we want to sell soon). I LOVE the red wine casserole mix - we had it last night. And nothing beats corned beef done in the slow cooker - I just cover in water add a splash of vinegar and spoon of brown sugar, some cloves and bay leaves and leave on low for 8 hours - yummo. The chicken curry packet mix is also cool. I leave minbe on when I go out/to work too and the house is still standing.
Hubby loves curried sausages in the slow cooker.
I would be lost without mine.

[angie]

I might just have to get mine out of the cupboard.

Sammi if you want to email me the receipes I can print them out at work for everyone ;)

Ange

[phatassphairy]

had the stand by chicken ...and it was yummo ...but i found it a bit bland ..so 1/2 through it i added a good splash of soya souce ,...adniaddea fewmore vegies

[phatassphairy]

pmsl...look at my post above ...grrr @ new key board

What i was thinking ange if anybody wants to have some of these recipes ...just pm with your email addresses, which ones tickle your fancy and i can email them off to everybody (sort of saves double handling)

[admin]

Sammi can i please have

corned beef x 4 ways
Delicious pork chops
baked pork chops
fruity rice pudding
chicken in mushroom sauce
beef straganoff
Osso Bucco
Gerald Steak ?? whats this ??
apple crunch
red wine lamb shanks (this is my recipe in the swap)
jumbuck stew(lamb)

I hope thats not too many :p

[phatassphairy]

nope i will try and get one done day and email them as i go =)

[angie]

Well I did get mine out and a Mediterrean chicken is cooking at the minute. This is one of those McCormack mixes Lynne was talking about..............

Also when I was in Borders at Chadstone yesterday they had a huge range of cookbooks for slowcookers, one author in particular Jane Finlayson has a slow cooker receipe book specially for Diabetics. I looked through her other ones and they had really yummy recipes with good everyday ingredients so think I will order the Diabetic one

Sammi can I have the recipe for sweet potato and chickpea curry. great recipe for me

Also can I ask does anyone add potatoes to their cassorole recipes??

Ange

[Lynne]

Yep I have added potatoes to casseroles

[phatassphairy]

yep all the time (i also leave the skin on) it seems to keep them firmer

[phatassphairy]

And nothing beats corned beef done in the slow cooker - I just cover in water add a splash of vinegar and spoon of brown sugar, some cloves and bay leaves and leave on low for 8 hours - yummo.

this is my favourite thing in the slow cooker too ...but i chop up about 4 medium onions and when i have finished cooking...i fish out the onions and set them aside ......i make a white sauce add the onions, and toast some slithered Almonds and sprinkle them over the top

Hubby loves curried sausages in the slow cooker....so does mine
I would be lost without mine.ME too

Have been thinking about getting myself one of these and now I think you girls have convinced me I am in for those recipes Sammi...rather than typing them can't you just scan them or photograph them just thought saving time


no because of the way, some of the ladies have done them ..but i will email them as i send them to lorrie

going to have a bash at something else today in the slow cooker....something with beef

[Lali]

OK I am so gonna get one today was having a look and pricing them today at Big W and what a difference in price there was one for $40 just a cheapy BigW brand can't remember the name started with an "A" and then up to the Russell Hobbs one at $98 all were 6Lt was just wondering seeing as this things is slow cooker and it is on for a few at any given time what you suggest girls...thanks so much in advance

[admin]

im using a sunbeam 1 and it works fine. i did see Aldi had them on special this week. Was around $40 i think.

[Lali]

Thanks Lorrie

[phatassphairy]

hey lali

personally i would just go with what ever you can get on special .....i did and have no drama's with mine ...and i flog it ...and with that extra bucks that you will be saving you can go via the butcher and get some meat to try it out ...lol

[admin]

mine is on now, tomato and onion snags, a mccormicks pack, so will let you know the result :p

[Lali]

Thanks guys off to Aldi's tomorrow to do groceries will check their's out ...can't wait to try some recipes in them

[admin]

dinner was ok, but if your going to try this one i would say not to brown the onion and snags as sudgested. Was dry in my opinion

[phatassphairy]

we just had corned meat for dinner tonight ....was yummo ...with white sauce with roast potato, onion and pumpkin with broc and cauli

[admin]

oh yummo sammi... 1 of my fav dinners