For my slow cooker friends during this very busy time of year:)

[BBWCHATT]

Shepherd's Pie

455 g Bob Evans or Owens� Original/Regular Recipe Sausage
300 g frozen peas and carrots
680.4 g Bob Evans or Owens� Mashed Potatoes
336 g beef gravy
In medium skillet over medium heat, crumble and cook sausage until brown. Place in slow cooker. Add peas and carrots. Top with mashed potatoes. Pour gravy on top of potatoes. Cover and cook on low 4 to 6 hours.


Chicken Curry

455 g cubed skinless, boneless chicken breast meat
2 large potatoes, cubed
1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed chicken broth
590 ml water
15 g curry powder
142 g frozen mixed stir-fry vegetables
8 g cornstarch
Combine chicken, potatoes, broth, water and curry powder in slow cooker.
Cook on Low setting for 8 hours (or on High setting for 4 hours).
During last hour of cooking (last 1/2 hour if cooking on High), add vegetables. Immediately after stirring in vegetables, dissolve cornstarch into some of the cooking broth and stir in. Cover and continue cooking to completion.


Slow Delight

455 g ground beef
4 large russet potatoes, cubed
1 (11 ounce) can creamed corn
170 g peas
185 g barley
3 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
4 green onions, chopped
10 g fresh chives
ground black pepper to taste
235 ml water (optional)
Place ground beef in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain excess fat.
In a slow cooker, combine beef, potatoes, corn, peas, and barley. Stir in tomato sauce, green onions, and chives. Season with black pepper. Cover and cook on low setting for 4 hours. Stir occasionally, and add water if necessary.

[BBWCHATT]

Rustic Stew

1360 g beef stew meat
salt and pepper to taste
2 (14 ounce) cans beef broth
1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed beef consomme
475 ml Burgundy wine
235 ml water
4 g ground mustard seed
1 g dried thyme
5 red potatoes, cut into chunks
225 g baby carrots
225 g pearl onions, peeled
15 g cornstarch (optional)
15 ml water (optional)
Season the beef with salt and pepper, and place in a skillet over medium heat. Cook until evenly brown, and drain. In a slow cooker, mix the beef broth, condensed beef consomme, wine, water, mustard, and thyme. Place beef into the liquid, and stir in the potatoes, carrots, and onions. Cover, and cook 6 hours on Low or 4 hours on High. If you prefer a thick stew, mix the cornstarch and water together and stir into the slow cooker about 30 minutes before the end of the cooking time. Stir occasionally until thickened.

[warpig1]

Hi BBW, would you recommend a slow cooker, I don't have one but from your recipies and other Aber's post they seem to be quite good, should I invest in one?

[BBWCHATT]

War - you would love one if you get it!!! You can put a large frozen meat of any kind in it before you leave for work - or when you go to bed - and when you open the front door or get up in the morning - it smells wonderful!!! Just don't make the mistake of putting any water in with it - it will make it's own juice - you can sprinkle any herbs/spices on it you want to though. The one I have is - I believe - I am not in the kitchen right now is a GE - but I think you guys have brands there that we don't have here in the USA - I have had a couple of others over the years - and I can't tell the difference in the brand. The only thing I look for is one with a removable crock - so I can put it in the dishwasher - but now the Reynolds Aluminum Wrap people have the disposable liners you can buy so all you have to do is just throw them away when the food is gone - so that wouldn't even be a problem!!! I would think just look for one that is on sale - and maybe larger than you think you need, because it is so easy, you will find so many ways to cook a large quantity of food and then freeze leftovers to have another day!!!

[jennyp]

There are lots of views on which slow cooker to buy. By the way they are really cheap to run - I think I read somewhere that they run on the equivalent of light bulb. The last time I used mine I put a piece of beef with the bone in it. I browned it all over first, and then just let it cook on its own. You can buy slowcookers a very reasonable prices - you don't need to spend a fortune, you will often see them very cheap at car boots.
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread .html?t=76138&highlight=slow+cooker+buy

[jennyp]

Sorry, the above link wasn't very easy to read, try this instead. http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread .html?t=76138&highligh

[warpig1]

Thanks girls, will look into this as anything that gives me less work is good!!! BBW great to see you posting in body and soul, I was going to suggest you look there ages ago as I thought someone with your qualities would have good advice to give!!!

[BBWCHATT]

War what a sweet thing to say honey!!! Although there are those who say I am "just full of opinions" :) It is the ABer's like you who make it so nice to participate here!!!

I can't wait for you to get your slow cooker - I think you will love it!!! The person who suggested you get an oval shaped one was right - easier to fit frozen things in it (I never brown mine first - but you can if you want to) - and also one that has a low and a high is nice to have (although I have rarely used the high function) - other than that - not anything else they really need to have.

[valsuey]

Hi BBWCHATT I am a big fan of Slo cookers too. There is nothing to beat arriving home in the winter from work to the glorious smell of chicken/beef/lamb or whatever hotpot is your favourite ( I love them all). I leave 2 upturned bowls on top of my cooker so that I have a nice warm bowl ready for my meal, a slice of granary bread or a crusty roll and thats all there is to it. Delicious.................its the best thing about winter!

[warpig1]

Am really excited now, can't wait to get my slow cooker!!! How sad am I to get excited of this????? I am gonna have loads of fun with this!!!!!

[Ed Strong]

Lurve my slo-cooker. I have the round dish but next time around I will buy the one with the oval dish. Last week had a shoulder of lamb that was a bit bigger than usual and couldn't get it in the pot until I de-boned it first. Hassle I could have done without! Delicious nevertheless.

[warpig1]

Any recommendations for brand names?

[shaneystar2]

I have got a Morphy Richards one with the earthenware pot .
I am now on my second one and have been using a slow cooker for well over thirty years. You can cook just about anything in them and the cheapest cuts of meat will be mouthwateringly tender .They have a bit of fan club here in Food and Drink ..have a look in the search box ..loads of discussion !
If you do buy one you won't regret it and if you are not sure how to proceed I recommend this book which is worth every penny .

http://www.lakelandlimited.co.uk/product.aspx/ !10667
.

[warpig1]

Thanks shaneystar2, I had noticed people talking about them on here and it kinda got me wondering! Am going to look in Argos catalogue and see what is on offer.

Many thanks
warpig1