chelsea Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 Now that the colder weather is on its way im thinking about my cooking. I do like to do a lot of stews, curries, casseroles, soups etc in the winter and thought about investing in a slow cooker,...are they any good? We both work and hubby works nights so I thought if I left him the responsibility of switching it on when he came home in the morning then our tea could be cooking all day whilst im at work also - breadmakers - worth it? or just another novelty work top waste of space? and does the bread taste home made?! (if you get what I mean) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 Yes to the bread maker I think there is a thread on here somewhere about them Don't know about the slow cooker, although I have a friend who loves hers, hope that helps karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 I've got a slow cooker - it's fab! Chuck ingrediants in in the morning and forget about it - perfect dinner, come tea time. You can do almost anything in them, from soups to desserts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 I've got both a breadmaker and a slow cooker. I have relegated the breadmaker to the loft because I can make it quicker and better by hand now after a lot of practise (and biceps like Popeye!!) but they do make really nice fresh bread. Once you've made your own bread, either with a machine or by hand, you won't want shop bread again - especially that nasty sliced white loaf off the shelves! Ugh!! I don't use my slow cooker as much as I ought to because I'm an oven user by habit but I do use it to slow cook Brisket for Sunday dinner every couple of weeks and it's wonderful! Switch it on, brown the joint in a frying pan, throw it into the slow cooker with some carrots, onions, bayleaves and stock and 7 hours later you've got meat which is as soft as butter and delicious! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 I was going to say don't ask Kate about breadmakers - but I see it's too late! (She kills them ) We use the bread machine all the time - we use the dough setting and then knead it and put it in a loaf tin. We got fed up with the hole left by the paddle - although, I think there are models now which don't leave a hole. It does taste home made - lovely............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 I've had a breadmaker for quite a few months that my sister gave me to. I cant remember the last time I brought plastic bread. They are worth it, I do the same as Lesley, use it do the donkey work while I do something else and then make rolls, batons or a good old loaf. Mostly making "Lager Batons" cant taste the lager (mainly because i put water in now! wasting the necter never!) which are great for lunch rolls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura007 Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 we have a slow cooker and its reall good for alls sorts of things. off to get it out the cupboard....................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clare* Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 My slow cooker is on now. Beef stew and dumplings for tea I use mine a lot. Especially for making stocks. If you have a roast chicken, chuck the carcass some veg and water in the slow cooker. I leave it on low over night. In the morning I just strain it and I have fab chicken stock to freeze. I also make in it steak and kidney, boil hams and hocks, stews lamb or beef. Mince, spag bol. One of my many gadgets that actually gets used Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted September 14, 2006 Author Share Posted September 14, 2006 thanks for all your responses....I think I will definetly invest in both, then I can make my lovely stews and soups and stuff and then make the home-made bread to go with it....yummy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 After a lot of trawling through write-ups and asking friends, I got the Panasonic greadmaker with the nut dispenser (because I like seeds in my bread). It is sooo easy to use and makes lovely bread - except for the one occasion that I forgot to put the water in . It has a timer so that I can wake up to fresh bread in the mornings too I think the cheapest place was on Amazon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunee1 Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 I was going to say don't ask Kate about breadmakers - but I see it's too late! (She kills them ) We use the bread machine all the time - we use the dough setting and then knead it and put it in a loaf tin. We got fed up with the hole left by the paddle - although, I think there are models now which don't leave a hole. It does taste home made - lovely............. Exactly what i do lesley, works a treat i find no stupid square loaf with a hole in the middle and a hard dry crust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muppet81 Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 I would echo what Claret says. The panasonic 253 is excellent. My dad had had 2 othe cheaper ones which he thought were OK. When he tasted mine from the panasonic he was straight on to Amazon for one of his own. Around £75 with free P & P which is a great deal. I use cheapy Lidl white flour with great results but on occasions use a nice stoneground organic flour (Marraiges) which is fantastic. It makes excellent cakes as well as bread and i don't even line the tin as it suggests in the recipe. I just lob the cake mixture in and bake. I haven't had one yet that doesn't come out after a bit of a shake. Good luck and enjoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 My Breadmaker has been consigned to the back of a cupboard for a couple of years now. No other reason than that I am lazy & its easier to buy bread But,I think I will drag it out & dust it off,ready for the winter ,now that I have more at home time I would love a slow cooker - my Mum used to have one,& I remember a wonderful beef & prune casserole she used to make Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
becks Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 hmm you've just reminded me that I need a new slow cooker as I broke the lid on my old one and can't get a replacement! Will trawl the internet for one right now! Clare - The idea of making chicken stock sounds fantastic too. Could we have your recipe for how to make steak and kidney in the slow cooker too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 Becks, the chicken stock is lovely, but I've never made steak & kidney - must be someone else... sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 Becks, the chicken stock is lovely, but I've never made steak & kidney - must be someone else... sorry Not you ClareT - Becks refers to Clare* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 Aaah, that explains it.... DOH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clare* Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 Steak and kidney in the slow cooker is so easy. No real recipe just chuck it all in We had it last night for tea actually! I bought a pack of diced steak and kidney from Sainsbury's. 1 chopped onion few sliced mushrooms 2 beef stock cubes A good teaspoon mustard - that's the important bit. Salt and pepper Add water, not too much though I would say about half a cup. Just leave it for as long as you want to. I just pop the meat when its cooked into a pie dish, cover with puff pastry and finish off in the over for 15 minutes. Yummy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 Hmmm, I can feel a slow cooker going on my Christmas list.... Hang on! I haven't got anywhere to put it - drat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 Oh Clare*, that sounds lovely! I don't use mine nearly enough - might do with that recipe though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindy Loo Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 Argh, decisions, decisions... I've been on the verge of buying a slow cooker for some time (last winter i even got as far as buying one and taking it back before using it because I couldn't make up my mind on whether I had bought a good one) and wondered what brands other people have and find really good. Any advice welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura007 Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 ours is a swan slow cooker. i didnt know some were better than others, but ours is ok and does the job just great. it has hi low and auto settings. its a ceramic one not a metal one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 Mine is a Prima slow cooker bought from currys years ago. Morphy Richards do one exactly the same, look in the Argos book page 694 No. 8. It is large and easily takes a family (sorry) chcken or a large joint for pot roasting. I like the glass lid as I am a peeper and like to know what is going on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffymuppet Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 I love our slow cooker. My stand-by easy meal is chicken casserole, made with a packet of chicken casserole mix, some dried onions and some chopped carrots! It always goes down well in our house. Last night we had beef casserole, made like the steak and kidney recipe above really. Originally I had a hand-me-down slow cooker from my mother-in-law, which was fab, but it was in one piece and difficult to wash. My new one has a removable ceramic pot, so it's much easier to clean. It also has a glass lid, but I generally find it's too steamy to see through! A good tip is not to lift the lid to see what's going on - I've read that each time you do it, it adds 10 mins to the cooking time. Not usually an issue in our house as I put it on before we go to work. It's great coming home to home-cooked meal smells! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookie Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 I have a bread machine (the panasonic one with nut dispenser like Claret) and it is my absolute best kitchen gadget. Since I got it a year and a half ago I have not bought any bread or rolls from the shops at all. Current favourite flavour for rolls is sundried tomato and parmesan cheese - the children are going beserk for them at the moment. Really nice filled with tuna and salad. Can't beat a good 50/50 wholemeal loaf either. Have been thinking for a while about getting a slow cooker...I like the idea of one with a glass lid and one with a removable, washable pot. Where could I buy such a thing? Has anyone got one from Lakeland? I am big fans of theirs and they usually stock the 'best' of each gadget. Are they good for vegetable stews, dahls etc. as well as meat stews? I do eat meat but am not a huge fan and mostly cook vegetarian dishes. Love, Cookie. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
