Slow cookers

Re: Slow cookers

Polly P — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 22:59:31 GMT

I'm not sure I totally understand slow cookers to be honest! Is it pretty much just versions of stew you can make in them?

I do notice that Argos has now halved the price of it's value range one, to £6!

Re: Slow cookers

Mac Feather — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 20:51:21 GMT

Cheers Mrs D D

Re: Slow cookers

Anonymous — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 15:16:05 GMT

i got one from argos last week, 6.5 lt so it huge and it was only £15.99. i am in love with it alreeady. x

Re: Slow cookers

Mrs Dot Dot — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 15:13:49 GMT

http://www.mumsnet.com/food/slow-cooker-tips

Thought might be useful if just starting to use a slow cooker.............

Re: Slow cookers

Sally Howe — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:40:38 GMT

Done a fab sausage casserole in ours yesterday

Re: Slow cookers

Mac Feather — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:22:22 GMT

Woohoo, got my landline and internet sorted! And my slow cooker has arrived!

Re: Slow cookers

Mac Feather — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 16:03:15 GMT

[quote user="xXx Cat xXx"]

Sorry to bring up an old thread guys but wanted to let you all know that Asda are selling a 3l slow cooker for £7.

[/quote]

Rats! Didnt see this post, have just bought a slow cooker online, it was half price but not as good as £7!

Re: Slow cookers

xXx Cat xXx — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 14:50:41 GMT

I had a great beef casserole for breakfast. Well worth 7 quid xXx

Re: Slow cookers

Anonymous — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 10:22:35 GMT

I forgot to add I highly recommend making Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes with this recipe!

You'll need a pot(150ml- 300ml pot depending on who you're feeding!) of fresh sour cream or if you can't find that use Creme Fraiche, do not use the shelf cream that is not refrigerated in the taco section! you put a spoon full of butter in to the hot potatoes and then use the cream in place of milk. Mash with fork or masher, then whip with fork to get it smooth. Salt and pepper how you like. :) I usually cook about 4-5 medium to small potatoes for my partner and I and that makes plenty for us with the 150ml pot, if you find it's too dry add more cream or some milk if you've run out! lol

[quote user="StephB"]

It's cheap and cheerful and once you get the hang of it it's really simple and you will find yourself making it your own with other ingredients too.

If you find the batter/dough for the dumplings is a bit too sticky just sprinkle some flour on it. be sure you put plenty of flour down on the counter before you dump it on and don't press it down too hard, cut and toss quick cause they get sticky quick!! you'll end up with them all over your fingers. hehe :) but it's good when they're like that.

[quote user="Saskia Paula Muldoon"]

sounds lovely and is making me hungry lol!!

Think I will def try that one, thanks Steph

[/quote]

Re: Slow cookers

Anonymous — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 10:10:09 GMT

It's cheap and cheerful and once you get the hang of it it's really simple and you will find yourself making it your own with other ingredients too.

[quote user="Saskia Paula Muldoon"]

sounds lovely and is making me hungry lol!!

Think I will def try that one, thanks Steph

[/quote]

Re: Slow cookers

Saskia Quinn — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 09:57:39 GMT

sounds lovely and is making me hungry lol!!

Think I will def try that one, thanks Steph

Re: Slow cookers

Anonymous — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 09:42:57 GMT

[quote user="SmegSlayer"]

Can I have it too please ?

[/quote]

Sorry it's an American recipe so you will need to convert some things. If you get stuck and can't work it out just ask and I will help you :)

Prep Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 3 1/2 hrs
Serves: 4

Ingredients

- 3 quarts water
- 3 -4 lbs cut up chicken
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 small sliced onions
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 1 garlic cloves, peeled and quartered
- 1 bay leaves
- 4 -6 whole fresh parsley leaves
- 1 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
- 1 1/8 cups milk

Chicken and Broth

Dumplings

Directions

Boil 3 quarts water in a large pot.
Add chicken, 1 t salt, onion, celery, garlic, bay leaf and parsley and simmer for 2 hours.
The liquid will reduce by 1/3.
When chicken is cooked, remove it and set aside.
Strain stock and throw away everything but the stock.
Put 6 cups of the stock back into the pot. (Leftover stock can be frozen.)
Add the pepper, 1/2 t salt and lemon juice and reheat while you mix dumplings.
For dumplings, mix flour, baking powder, 1-1/4 t salt and milk in a medium bowl.
Stir until smooth, then let dough rest for 5-10 minutes.
Roll dough onto a floured surface to about 1/2 inch thickness. (Handle the dough as little as possible for good dumplings).
Cut the dough into 1/2 inch squares (I use a pizza cutter) and drop each square into the simmering stock.
Use all of the dough.
The dumplings will first swell and then slowly shrink as they partially dissolve to thicken the stock into a white gravy.
Simmer for 20 to 30 minutes until thick.
Stir often.
While the stock is thickening, the chicken will have cooled.
Tear all the meat from the bones and remove the skin.
Cut chicken into bite sized pieces and drop them into the pot.
Cook for another 5 to 10 minutes, but stir carefully so you don't break the chicken up.
When the gravy has reached the desired consistency, ladle four portions onto plates and serve hot.
(Very good over mashed potatoes.).

I also find this to be a good recipe if you have some left over chicken from a roast on Sunday. Just throw it into a pot boil up the bones and leftovers and then strain it. Throw in some carrots, onion and celery and then boil til soft make the dumplings and then pop them in and simmer using the above instructions. makes a great winter warmer and you can freeze it and warm it up for a rainy day! :) I wouldn't recommend leaving the dumplings in the slow cooker for more than 30mins though and be sure you stir them regularly.

Re: Slow cookers

SmegSlayer — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 09:07:59 GMT

Can I have it too please ?

Re: Slow cookers

Anonymous — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 23:46:40 GMT

[quote user="Saskia Paula Muldoon"]

[quote user="Royalsuper_fairy"]

I have also been making dumplings!!

[/quote]

How do you make dumplings?

[/quote]

depends on what kind of dumpling you want. suet, flour or rice! i'm not one for suet ones i tend to make flour dumplings and they are easy and fantastic with a lovely chicken soup. I can send you my southern chicken n' dumplin' recipe if you want :)

Re: Slow cookers

Caro Laithwaite VN — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 21:13:38 GMT

I love my slow cooker

Re: Slow cookers

xXx Cat xXx — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 20:46:50 GMT

Sorry to bring up an old thread guys but wanted to let you all know that Asda are selling a 3l slow cooker for £7.

I just bought one and gonna play with it tonite so I can have casserole for breakfast.

xXx

Re: Slow cookers

Saskia Quinn — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 23:27:52 GMT

I was in a cooking mood earlier and bought a lovely whole chicken, carrots, broccoli from the butcher. I have lots of veg in the cupboard like brussel sprouts, cabbage, parsnips, etc.

Anyone have any ideas on a lovely chicken recipe combining chicken with the vegetables?

Re: Slow cookers

Royalsuper_fairy — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 16:09:48 GMT

Get some Suet, and the recipe is one the box. I did try doing them with butter instead. Didn't work

Re: Slow cookers

Saskia Quinn — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 21:05:50 GMT

[quote user="Royalsuper_fairy"]

I have also been making dumplings!!

[/quote]

How do you make dumplings?

Re: Slow cookers

Charlotte says smile — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 18:43:08 GMT

I love my slow cooker been a god send since having the baby can shove everything in there and leave it to it I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!

Re: Slow cookers

Royalsuper_fairy — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:01:20 GMT

Cool. Must try that as always have potatoes hanging around that need to be eaten.

Re: Slow cookers

Saskia Quinn — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:36:32 GMT

[quote user="Royalsuper_fairy"]

I haven't tried putting potatoes in there yet. How big/small should they be cut?

[/quote]

I was cutting mine into bite size pieces, but not as small as cubes.

Re: Slow cookers

Claire Cameron — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:27:03 GMT

You guys are making me hungry, I've still not had my lunch

nom nom nom

Re: Slow cookers

Mac Feather — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 22:22:08 GMT

I still havent gotten round to buying one!!!!!!

Re: Slow cookers

Royalsuper_fairy — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 18:58:26 GMT

I've started using my slow cooker at lot more knew I am doing more late finishes at work. Its great as means neither of us want to cook when we get home. I have also been making dumplings!!

I haven't tried putting potatoes in there yet. How big/small should they be cut?