meals made easy (Slow Cooking)

Member Name: sparky111

Product:	Slow Cooking
Date:	21/11/08 (111 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: saves time and money

Disadvantages: none to me

I have owned my slow cooker for about six years now, it was bought for me and my then husband for a christmas present and it has been a godsend.

My slow cooker is quite a large one and easily hold's a joint of beef or chicken. It is made by cordon bleu, it has a large brown crock pot with a lid that fits inside the main container. There are two heat setting's on it which are high and low, I usually cook on low as I find the meat is more tender that way.

I must admit I dont use it a great deal in summer, but the colder month's I find it so convenient. I always cook a gammon joint in it over the christmas period, and loads of stews and casserole's. I like to cook spaghetti bolognese in it, just ensuring that the spaghetti goes in at the last minute to cook through, chilli's are nice cooked slowly too.

I had a recipe book that came with my slow cooker, it has a list of pudding's that can be made in the slow cooker like rice pudding and steamed sponges but I have never tried them so cannot comment on how they turn out.

A slow cooker is very cheep to run and produce some lovely meals. The thing I find best is that you can go to work knowing that a meal is ready when you get in, without the hassle of preparing a meal when you get home and it smells so nice when you get in the door, you are greeted with a lovely aroma of of your prepared meal.

If making stew or casserole then I usually brown my meat off first by frying it with some onions I usually cook beef as thats what I prefer, then adding it to the pot. I then add some stock and then the veg which is usually carrots, leek, swede, parsnip, potato, and peas. I then add some mixed herbs and one clove of garlic. If i have some wine left ( which isnt often!!) then i add some of that too. I leave the slow cooker on then for about 7-8 hours depending on how tender the meat is and the size of the meat I'm cooking. Once nearly ready I then add some dumpling's on the top for about 15-20 minutes.

As my nan would say you get nice warming hearty meals, which is great for these cold old days.

I would recommend these to anyone who has a busy life. It would make life a lot easier for you.

Summary: makes life simpler.