slow cooker

I use mine quite a bit, mainly for beef and chicken. Everything is prepared the night before and then it's ready to switch on the following morning. If you put in extra liquid, this can be put aside as a gravy or base for another stew. The freezer comes in handy for extra portions.

It will be wonderful, glitabo - just you wait!

I have just put in some lamb and veg. This is my first attempt so I am looking forward to eating it some time later today.

My neighbour has given me 3 kilos of green tomatoes - has anyone made chutney in theirs?

I'm about to make the rice pudding . Re browning the stuff beforehand, I've got a protective cover for the hob (came with my slow cooker but I'm sure you an buy them, it looks like a cooling rack) that I put over the hob gas flame and that means I can brown anything that needs browning in the ceramic slow cooker pot [thumbs up] That's if I could be bothered.

I wish I'd had my slow cooker in the years when I was working. To come in to that delicious smell and to know that all you have to do is nice big pot of mash to go with it! ( can't you tell I've mainly only had boys to cook for!) I use mine mostly in the autumn/winter - I just get it started during the morning and then congratulate myself for the rest of the day. I also use my pressure cooker and my microwave. Anything to make life easier. So don't hesitate glitabo - you won't regret buying it.

Yep, I've done gammon and lamb shanks in mine as well as other meats. I've not used it much during the summer but out it will come again very soon. I've never regretted buying it as I have with other kitchen gadgets. Mine is a simple one - switch on / switch off; no heating levels or timer and it works just fine. Also I like to brown my meat just a bit before cooking, but it's more for appearance really.

Referring back to my OP, I bought a slow cooker today from Lakeland. It is a 1.5 litre size as I only want to cook for 1 or 2 servings.
I will use it tomorrow.
Thank you all for your advice.

It has been mentioned on another thread, annsixty - I'm determined to try it soon but keep forgetting...

I'm sure it's an oversight but no-one has mentioned gammon in a slow cooker- superb!!

Oh shysal - that's wonderful! Your very sensible posting at half-four.....then the next one an hour and three-quarters later......a woman after my own heart!

shysal You should be ashamed of yourself. I would never succomb to such temptation.

I am disgusted with myself! I have eaten about half of the rice pudding including all of the skin! Can't have anything else to eat today (went out to lunch too!)

May I have a wee taster with my runcible spoon?

Just sampled today's first attempt at rice pudding in the slow cooker using the above recipe.
It was made with skimmed milk but is very rich. I think I would cut down on the butter next time and substitute sweetener for some of tne sugar. I made the smaller quantity and worked out the calories for the whole at 1055!!! When cooled I shall freeze small portions to stop me eating it all now.
On the subject of oxtail soup, I used to use it as an easy cook-in sauce for meatballs. My children loved it.

....mmmmmm! [greedy emoticon]!

Whoops, sorry still learning how to post. No, I don't use sultanas, just pudding rice milk nutmeg sugar and a few tiny pieces of butter that I stir in when it's hot, then I leave it to bake slowly.

I have put a rice pudding in the slow oven for later on. It will have a dark brwn crisp skin on it, which everyone will be fighting over. Delicious.

Cazcandoit When I went to school, I always asked the dinner lady for the milk pudding skin. My mouth is watering at the memory. Do you add sultanas?

I have put a rice pudding in the slow oven for later on. It will have a dark brwn crisp skin on it, which everyone will be fighting over. Delicious.

littlen yummy, am also fantasising about that now. As kids we would beg my gran for the marrow from the beef shin to have on toast. I'm delighted to have that rice pudding recipe, DH is gonna love me for it.

Ooh - I never thought of that, Nellie! I'll get some oxtail soup next time I'm at the shops. I'll have to go and write it on my list now, or I'll forget!

Been thinking about that shin of beef so went and bought some ,gonna cook today and have tomorrow with dumplings,also add a tin of oxtail soup to my stews...
Haven't made rice pudding for ages ,so am going to make one ,that will stick to their ribs and fill em up

I might do, too!

I'll try that, Marelli, thanks. I suppose you can't go far wrong with rice pud...(she said, hopefully!).