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Right then, you discerning culinary lot
Its bloomin freezing out there. So by my reckoning its slow cooker season again. Who doesn't love getting home from work to the smell of something delicious wafting from the kitchen? Mmmmmmmmm
I'm going to kick off with a beef goulash tomorrow. An old favourite, but I need some new recipes
So lets have your favourites then
fanks!
Bubbling away just now is some diced lamb shoulder, sliced sweet potato(*), a fair amount of sliced and diced onion(**), a couple of quartered tomatoes, covered in chicken stock with some garlic, rosemary and thyme plus a skoosh of lemon
* should be ordinary potatoes but I'm having to drop my blood glucose levels just now and and ordinary tatties are out
** well shallots actually because i didn't have any onions and couldn't be ar5ed going out to get some.
What do you want? I have 1400 recipes.
A good one is beef stew, use shin, ~1kg sweet potatoes, 2 red onions, parsnips, squash, enough rosmary to make you think "thats a bit much", salt, pepper, ~500ml beef stock, 2 tbsp of Worcestershire sauce, 1tbsp of tom puree, leave for about 10 hours.
I have some fantastic curry ones, sweet and sour chicken, a chapter on chilli, breakfasts, coffees, jams etc.
Bacon jam is also a good favourite of mine even though it has only been done once, tastes lovely.
beef skirt
onions
wine
cook for ****ing ages
how do you go about thickening up your gravies/sauces in the slow cooker? Mine always come out too thin for my tastes
Cornflour.
Top tip for adapting recipes to the slow cooker seems to be just restricting the amount of fluid added, because unlike normal cooking what's there already doesn't boil off so much.
chilli with beef skirt. nom nom
shin beef, or brisket
onions
bottle of hobgoblin or old peculiar
job done.
Ton makes a very good point, beer makes for an excellent stock.
beef, onions, carrots, potatoes, salt, Guiness.
the smell alone is worth the wait.
anyone done a risotto in the SC?
Just been looking at recipes and it looks quite straightforward
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8260/8637219939_eb237256fb_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8260/8637219939_eb237256fb_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/91703444@N06/8637219939/ ]10.04.13 beef in beer 001[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/91703444@N06/ ]20ston[/url], on Flickr
Did a lump of gammon last weekend.
2 ingredients
Gammon
Coke cola (full fat)
delicious
edit: chuck away coke after cooking serve with white sauce
how do you go about thickening up your gravies/sauces in the slow cooker? Mine always come out too thin for my tastes
when I brown my beef I heavily dredge it in flour, and I'm not bothered if I chuck in a bit more flour before i put the veggies and liquid in.
I'll sometimes add pinhead oatmeal to thicken a sauce when cooking in a pot. Not sure if it would work in a slow cooker or not
Lamb shank is always good.
I'm going to try venison, marinaded in red wine for 12 hours beforehand.
Cheers folks. Some good ones to go at. I'm liking the sound of gammon in coke. Think I'll have to give that a go this week
Just doing a leg of lamb in red wine/stock with onion, celery and other bits and pieces.
I also find that the sauce comes out too thin, I'll try using less stock next time, and maybe some corn flour
Do you all brown the meat off before you put it in? I never bother as it is too much effort before work to be doing that, I just lob it all in and leave on low.
If you're doing the gammon in coke, take it out, smoother it in black treacle then in the oven for 30 mins...
[s]If you're doing the gammon in coke, take it out, smoother it in black treacle then in the oven for 30 mins..[/s]
If you're doing the gammon in coke, take it out, cut off most of the fatty rind, score what's left into 1cm diamonds, smear it with colmans mustard, then smother it in black treacle, put cloves in on the join of every diamond then in the oven for 30 mins..
I've never been that much of a fan of slow cooker meals actually. May try some of these though.
Molster - If you put it on in the kitchen when you get into the office, that's your lunch sorted! 😉
Pulled pork
Onions, garlic, a little chilli.
Then some ketchup, cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and a bit of demerera sugar.
big lump of pork.
Wait till it falls apart shove in some rolls with JD BBQ sauce... Mmmmm
Bloody hell, that sounds good wiggles! That's one for next week!
Have just had slow cooked scallop thai green curry. I tend to put in whatever I have to hand. I thicken by cooking it with lid off on high for 30-40 mins. A load of veg, tin of chopped tomatoes, tin of beans, ketchup/tom paste, herbs, spices. Takes five minutes, ready for after work. Though in the next few weeks I am going to be doing rabbit in it, using http://www.rivercottage.net/recipes/rabbit-stew/ idea courtesy of a previous thread of mine 🙂
Slow cookers were invented by a genius, it's true.
Thanks for the inspiration, folks.
When I saw this, I popped down to Lidl. So now I've got cubed steak, potato, sweet potato, onions, garlic, chilli, tomato, mangetout, courgette and Brakspear bitter cooking. Hope I've not overdone the variety, though.
That's tomorrow's evening feed sorted.
Wiggles, my wife is slow-cooking pulled pork using a very similar recipe for tomorrow nights fireworks. She has prepared the pork joints and they are in the fridge until the morning. Reading your post makes my mouth water. Hmmm. Pork...
add some msg to improve the taste. trust me it will be good.
This is a timely thread - I'm just looking for a slow cooker. 🙂
Any suggestions on which models or features I should look for?
Pork in cider....no, really.
Ok I know that this is a carnivorefest, but I have a few veggie based options if anyone is interested?
I'm no veggie but I would be interested.
Hugh F-W's pinto bean chilli would be a cracker for the slow cook.
Done the pulled pork loads of times, don't really measure anything out just guess but works great. Had it tonight after putting it on about 10 last night so a good 20 hours cooking and it's amazing.
Yeah I've done the pulled pork too. Used Apple juice and chilli with it.
clubber - Member
This is a timely thread - I'm just looking for a slow cooker.Any suggestions on which models or features I should look for?
We bought a cheap one from Morrisons. 3 settings, low, high, & keep warm.
I saw Tescos have one for £15, looked very similar to ours.
I have Tesco one had a fiver one from Argos until a dropped it! The all work the same pretty much
Mine a Crockpot. When I dropped the lid earlier in the year, I rang the distributor and they sent me a new one for very little money. I started to give the guy on the phone the code for it, and he completed the number for me after the first few digits! I kind of like knowledge and service like that, so would buy again if I ever needed to.
Following this thread we are having gammon in coke for tea... http://daisydayz.hubpages.com/hub/How-to-cook-a-ham-Baked-Ham-in-Coke
Short ribs
I'm surprised at how hard it is to get them round my way. One per person is plenty and I usually trim a little bit of the fat off, there is quite a bit. Sear them until they begin to blacken on every side then put them to one side. Get a dozen baby onions and fry them whole in butter until they are starting to caramelise. About halfway through add some crushed garlic. Put the beef, garlic and onions in a deep sided roasting dish and put it on the stove. Add baby carrots, celery ( the magic ingredient) and the best part of a bottle of red, and some beef or vegetable stock - not cheapo shite though. Bring to the boil for about 5 mins, salt and pepper then cover and into the oven for about 6 hours @ gas mark 3. Every hour either baste or turn the ribs and skim off any fat. With 1/2 hour before you dish up add a teaspoon of loose cornflour and whisk into the sauce.
I serve it with mashed potatoes, steamed greens and lots of fresh parsley
I did a goat curry with hunks of goat from the local butcher the other weekend. Marinaded the meat in spices over night then whacked it in with a load of veg after browning and went out riding for the day. So awesome to come home to a meal when you're starving and tired!
Quick and dirty: I added half a jar of Moroccan spiced chutney to 400g cubed beef, 2 small onions sliced and a green, red and yellow pepper. About 100 ml of water for 5 hrs on low. Tasty.
Does anyone else find that food that is slow cooked all day has a strange taint to it? Bolognaise, stews etc all taste quite a bit different (but leg of lamb is superb though!)
The simple trick of shoving a load of beef and veg in beer and leaving it all day was a joy to return home too last night 😀
eskay, some stuff does, I agree, I don't do soup in it for that reason.
mrs ton left the slow cooker filled with pork, peppers, root veg, leeks, onions and a bottle of thatchers katy, this morning.
looking forward to my return home.
Get yourself some dried chipotle chillis from ebay,chuck them in, smokey goodness abound!
You can't go wrong with a leg of lamb.
Pierce it all over and push in sprigs of rosemary until it resembles a bondai forest, brown it on both sides, then chuck into the slow cooker, adding carrots, celery and a couple of whole, peeled onions. Add a glass of water, set oven to 140°C and walk away for six/seven hours. When it's cooked, remove the fat off the top of the juice and reduce whats left in the pan with a measure of brandy. Take the gravy off the heat, stir in a little single cream, eat, drink and be bloated.
annebr - Member
Did a lump of gammon last weekend.2 ingredients
Gammon
Coke cola (full fat)delicious
[u]edit: chuck away coke after cooking serve with white sauce[/u]
Nooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!
Pop the coke in a sauce pan, reduce it down then freeze in small plastic tubs (the smaller the better, you don't need much). Then use the frozen chunks to add flavour (sweetness and depth) to any mince based dish & probably other types of casserole.
oh and Robdixon +1 (it a nigella recipe)
As a rule of thumb how much liquid do you put in when adapting a normal recipe to the slow cooker? Specifically [url= http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/beef-recipes/jools-s-favourite-beef-stew ]Jamie Oliver's stew recipe here. [/url]as when I restrict the amoun of fluid the liquid does not cover the beef & veg??
I cook a Chilli most Sundays, for my lunch during the week.
I started doing it when I was on the iDave diet as it seemed a sensible way of making a tasty compliant meal.
I use Meat rather than mince, and everything just goes in the pot for 8 hours.
Half a kilo or so of beef, cubed
couple of decent onions / shallots etc
Garlic
Tin of Aduki Beans, drained and rinsed
Tin of Black eyed beans drained and rinsed (Any beans will do, I`m just not keen on kidney beans)
2 tins of chopped tomatoes
Tomato puree
couple of peppers
Mushrooms
Dash of soy sauce
big dash of Worcester sauce
Pepper and salt
Dried chilli flakes or some proper scotch bonnets if I can be bothered with the faff
Sometimes use Jerk or Piri Piri seasoning too
This weeks one is a bit hot as I slipped with the chillis but still tastes good 😀
Fry up a chopped onion and some garlic
Add cubed shin of beef, and some stock (I like those Knorr gel ones at the moment)
Plenty of ground pepper
Some plain flour to bind/thicken a little
Stir for a while
Good dollop of L&P
One tin of chopped tomato (For added richness)
Herbs to taste, depending on your preferences. I find some basil, thyme and oregano works well
Add in half a bottle of cheap, but hefty red
All an a heavy Le Creuset in the bottom oven of the Aga (Naturally) for as long as you can leave it.
So simple, but sooooo good!
I think my fave thing about slow cooking is using the older, forgotten cuts of meat, like shin or cheek. Comes up a treat after hours in there.
Lots of folk have said lob some beef veg and beer and leave it, I'm going to try this...nom nom nom...should I put some Oxo or something in ?
Only done veggie curries, chillies and a lentil and bean casserole in mine so far - due to the missus being veggie. 🙁
Will have to try some of these though.
Lots of folk have said lob some beef veg and beer and leave it, I'm going to try this...nom nom nom...should I put some Oxo or something in ?
Depends on the beer.
I try and use shin, as before, then add veg, pepper, L&P and a bottle of deep, rich beer. Something like a Fuller's Golden Pride is a nice choice. That rarely needs any additional stock, IMO.
drummer - Member
Lots of folk have said lob some beef veg and beer and leave it, I'm going to try this...nom nom nom...should I put some Oxo or something in ?
My first go with mine today. I've done exactly that (Guiness) with a couple of beef stock pots so I'll see how it works out tonight... I've gone for the lazy option of no-browning, etc to see if that's critcal (since the whole point for me is that it's easy and I don't really want to do extra work if it's not necessary)
I try and use shin, as before, then add veg, pepper, L&P and a bottle of deep, rich beer. Something like a Fuller's Golden Pride is a nice choice. That rarely needs any additional stock, IMO.
Mmmmm, I making this on Friday, better use Brakspears since I'm an Oxford boy, thanks Captain
Drummer, in that case, Brakspears Triple is the tipple! Now it comes in smaller bottles, you'd best buy three of four. Just to make sure you have enough for the stew, obviously......! 😀
I try and use shin, as before, then add veg, pepper, L&P and a bottle of deep, rich beer. Something like a Fuller's Golden Pride is a nice choice. That rarely needs any additional stock, IMO.
Mmmmm, I making this on Friday, better use Brakspears since I'm an Oxford boy, thanks Captain
I'm trying the gammon in coke recipe tomorrow, so will report back
I can vouch for the beef and veg in ale and leave alone all day. I can't remember which ale I used. Actually, it'll probably give some of the beardies a seizure, but someone bought me a load of Scruttocks Old Nobrot, and suchlike as a present. But as I'm a heathen and only drink fizzy eurofizz I lobbed said artisan handcrafted niche stout in the slow cooker instead.
It was lovely! 😀
I'll pick a crate up tonight thanks Captain
Anyone tell a fool how to remove a double post please ?
Fry up a chopped onion and some garlic
Add cubed shin of beef, and some stock (I like those Knorr gel ones at the moment)
Plenty of ground pepper
Some plain flour to bind/thicken a little
Stir for a while
Good dollop of L&P
One tin of chopped tomato (For added richness)
Herbs to taste, depending on your preferences. I find some basil, thyme and oregano works well
Add in half a bottle of cheap, but hefty red
All an a heavy Le Creuset in the bottom oven of the Aga (Naturally) for as long as you can leave it.So simple, but sooooo good!
Basically boeuf bourguignon - Made some this weekend, had to use an electric oven rather than an Aga but it didn't seem to matter.
Made dumplings, too, using [url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/boeuf_bourguignon_with_17690 ]this recipe[/url]. They didn't quite come out as round as they are in the photo, but they tasted great 🙂
Yep, that's it mogrim, nice and simple! But damned tasty!
Moved house recently and have an Aga now, so am making the most of it! Don't have a wood burner to conform to the STW Niche Requirements, though.
Also have one of those plug in Crockpot slow cookers which is almost as good. About the same power as running a 40W light bulb or something, so dirt cheap to run.
Never see the point of cooking anything in a slow cooker that doesn't need to be slow cooked...vegetable soup for example takes 20 minutes, or chilli that uses steak mince takes 25 minutes on the hob.
Cheap cuts of meat, or large cuts that need slow cooking to make it tender and unxious is another matter.
Whole leg of lamb is good, garlic, fried bacon, whole carrots, chunks of celeriac, parsnips, potatoes, a handful of herbs and 1/2 a bottle of white (yes white) wine and a bit of lamb stock. 7 hours or so on low. Pull apart loveliness.
As for type of slow cooker, if you get one with a pot that can go on the hob as well as the slow cooker base, you can do all your browning, sauce reduction etc in the same pot. Useful.
An over/under, Binners? Me? With MY reputation? 😉
"As for type of slow cooker, if you get one with a pot that can go on the hob as well as the slow cooker base, you can do all your browning, sauce reduction etc in the same pot. Useful."
I agree but have been looking in vain - does anyone still make them? I end up tipping it all in to a pan which is a bit annoying.
OC, try this one;
http://www.johnlewis.com/crock-pot-saute-slow-cooker/p230498448?kpid=230498448&s_kenid=7a82eb27-07cd-d2c9-63b7-00001722c9e4&s_kwcid=ppc_pla&tmad=c&tmcampid=73
[img] http://johnlewis.scene7.com/is/image/JohnLewis/230498448?$prod_main$ [/img]
The pot comes out of the cooking piece, and can then go on a hob/in a hotter oven as required.
Thanks CF - that size would feed me for a week! I'll investigate further.
Cook it up, freeze what's left for a reheat! Things like curry taste better after time, even if frozen. No idea how. Must be some sort of magic.
A chemist I used to work with said the reason why some things like curry are hotter after they've been frozen is that the freezing process ruptures all the cell membranes which releases all the capsaicin so I suppose it's not a stretch to think that it works with other spices too. I've no idea how true it is but the theory seems sound.
Freezing the excess works really well. I did a cassoulet with a lamb shank at the weekend. Probably about 6 portions from a single shank. There were a lot of different beans in there.
A chemist I used to work with said the reason why some things like curry are hotter after they've been frozen is [s]that the freezing process ruptures all the cell membranes which releases all the capsaicin so I suppose it's not a stretch to think that it works with other spices too. I've no idea how true it is but the theory seems sound.[/s] pixie magic.
Not listening to any of that factual flim flam!
Beef, Onion, Carrot, Mushrooms,, Tomato Puree, Worcester Sauce, 2 Bay Leaves, one 'stock pot' and 2 Bottles Brakspears Triple going in the [u]oven[/u] in a min
Opened the cupboard door last night to realise my EX took the Slowcooker when she went...Noooooooo...this could end up in a custody battle 😆
Some things are worth fighting for Drummer! 😉
I've decided on [url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/great_sausage_casserole_73010 ]this little beauty[/url] for tomorrow. Its definitely slow cooker weather!
I did a whole brisket of beef yesterday. just browned with carrot onion and leek, then put in the slow cooker with a bit of stock (wine would have been better, didn't have any though)
cooked for 9 hours, then shredded and mixed in with the stock to make a kind of shredded brisket stew. still some left for tonight, it was lush 🙂
Binners, I'm planning the snatchback operation already ! ( I will probably just go to Argos 🙄 )
When I get a new one I'm going to give the old Hairy Bikers sausage one a go, Thanks !
Did a lamb stew - but no browning and lamb on top and veggies underneath - cooked for 7 hours. Lamb falls apart but tastes quite dry. Where did I go wrong?
[url= http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/23368/slow-cooker-lamb-one-pot.aspx?o_is=Hub_TopRecipe_1 ]recipe used[/url]
cheers everyone
This [url= http://sortedfood.com/#!/butterchicken/ ]Butter chicken curry[/url]
