Gadget time 15

In message Gregoire Kretz

Hi Greg,

I have 2 slow cookers, one tiny bopper holds enough for 1-2 meals. Bought it when I started cooking, more years ago than I care to remember and was still single. Latest one you can fit a medium-sized chicken into plus quite a few vegies. Both Russel hobbs - I think. Can't be bothered getting little one out, but I'm using the large one as I write. Well not actually at the same time ;-) I find them pretty useful. There greatest use for me is providing mouth-wateringly succulent meat dishes from the cheaper cuts. Doesn't matter whether it be beef, lamb, pork or even offal, the breakdown of the meat needs to be tasted.

Simplicity is the by-word. Good preparation beforehand of the meat, vegetables, if using and stock or veg water and cubes, will help. Brown most meats before use adds flavour and heating up if liquid lessens cooking time.

Set on high to begin with, then lower and off you go to work. My large model also has an auto setting but I haven't used it yet. I haven't even read the manual! When you return home you can have a meal ready and waiting.

I'm using it today for bulk cooking of mince, onions, mushrooms herbs and stock. This'll give me the base I need cottage pies, beef pies (tidgy ones!), savoury pancakes etc. When it's done and cooled, I just save some for the day and the rest gets put in plastic tubs and frozen. I'm lucky to have the space for both an upright and a chest freezer so space isn't a problem. Then when I don't feel like cooking into the freezer I go and chose one of the tubs. The fun is also, cos I'm retired, I can fool SWMBO into thinking that I've spent the day slaving over the stove ;-)

Cheers, Don -- Draco Dormiens Nunquam breastillandus