I'm Easily Amused

[sherrardk]

I joined a slow cooker page on FB recently - not only are they obsessed with bloody slow cookers now they are having a falling out about some comment or other. How can they fall out about slow cookers? Never knew they were so controversial.

[ducksie]

Oh thanks ummmm, she told me google Syn and slow cookers and I'd get loads of slimworld recipes (not that I'm looking for slimworld) but she says they are tasty

[shaneystar2]

Very true actually nungate .I miss having a day off .
Sometimes I wonder where I found the time to go work !

[Caran]

I have one, don't use it as much as I should really. Did use it on Thursday, we went out for the day, I put cubed beef and a load of assorted veg and potatoes with some stock, herbs etc, we had a lovely stew when we came home.

[ducksie]

I'm reading instructions here, can I leave it cook on a ceramic hob...obviously hob won't be on, I'm just thinking one electric item on another appliance, my kitchen space - lets just say, I wouldn't swing a cat in it

[craft1948]

I bought my slow cooker about 4 years ago..................it's still in the box.

[Caran]

I also have a halogen oven, used it twice in three years, must ebay it. Yet my brother who lives alone swears by his, very rarely uses anything else.

[ducksie]

Oh dear craft1948 :( tis not looking good for my new slow cooker, I only bought it because everyone here was raving about it...well not really raving, but it was like second nature for them to cook with it, I thought..jeez I must get one

[craft1948]

I think that's why I bought mine ducksie, plus it was half price..........

[ducksie]

I bought a cheap one in Argos today, frig it, if I don't get used to it, I'm at no loss

[craft1948]

My cleaning lady loves me buying new gadgets, after a few months of non-use I give them to her.............

[friedgreentomato]

Why have sides with a stew? Everything is in the stew? Apart from a slab of bread to mop up the gravy!

[shaneystar2]

Once you get used to it it'll be fine ducksie .These things are trial and error We had one for a wedding present and I never really bothered with it until we were abroad in a house with no oven .
Now I wouldn't be without it .I cook stews ,casserole type things and joints of meat in it .For example I buy a joint of beef brisket ,bung it in with some carrots,mushrooms ,celery etc ,turn it on and leave it to do it's own thing for about six hours,. .It makes it's own gravy which you just need to thicken ,slice the meat ,melt in the mouth beef and you can freeze the rest for another meal .
Same with a stew ,shove all your meat( diced lamb ,beef ,chicken ,whatever ), veg and stock in ,thicken towards the end and bung some dumplings on top for the last half hour .It's not rocket science :)

[askyourgran]

I've only ever done stew in my slow cooker. Never thought to do chicken in it. I did have a pressure cooker but it scared me stiff when it started steaming got rid of that.
That FB page sounds weird. However, I have recently been on Mumsnet. That is something else!

[ducksie]

thank you for that shaneystar, I think if I took to the pressure cooker no problem I hope the slow cooker will be just as good...trial and error, and once I've mastered it...I'll invite folk over, you may even see me on CDWM :)

[ducksie]

askyourgran, a pressure cooker is brilliant, nothing to be scared of, I had mine over 15 years, loved it, my signiture dish from it was loin pork chops in garlic, delish...family and friends always found excuse to call once they knew I was cooking that

[jno]

four years, craft, that is a very slow cooker.

Got a Visicook; it's like the mothership in Close Encounters, lights going on and off and beeping; I expect it to lift off at any time. Useful for small stuff where the microwave won't quite do.

[askyourgran]

That sounds lovely ducksie, you'll be cooking up a storm with the slow cooker before long. I have to say I never thought of putting dumplings the slow cooked stew like shaney.

[ducksie]

It's gorgeous askyourgran, I got rid of presure cooker few years ago and can cook the same dish in ovenbags, just as tasty, not as juicy, on the up side, no washing skillets and the like, in fact no potwash at all

[ummmm]

FGT - I'm not a fan of stews/casseroles.

[friedgreentomato]

really ummmmm, they are brilliant I would live on them low cal and full of goodness