When I was growing up in the 70s many of my meals were done in the crockpot (done by mum that is). Now, about 30 years later slow cookers (as they are called now) are making a comeback here and I’m a convert.
A few people I know have bought slow cookers and swear by them. I sort of listened to them and wondered what all the fuss was about and gradually all the talk started sinking in. It sank in so much that I finally went and bought one with a voucher I had from Christmas.
I have certainly got my money’s worth out of it by using it at least once a week and I love it. The main thing I love about it is that once all the ingredients are in the cooker you don’t have to do anything. When I’ve cooked large meals in a saucepan, for instance, I’ve had trouble with some of it sticking to the bottom of the pan but with the slow cooker this doesn’t happen. It’s an absolute breeze to clean.
The other thing I love about it is that I have enough food in it to feed us a few meals so my freezer always has leftovers.
I love it so much I must have told nearly anyone who’ll listen about it. I now have evidence that my talking about my slow cooker has sunk into at least one person because she presented me with Margaret Fulton’s Crockpot cookbook this week. She knows I’m into op-shopping and she also knows I’m into my slow cooker and this book was from the op-shop. For the non-Australian readers, Margaret Fulton is fairly well known here for her recipe books and in fact I have another of hers I found second hand that’s an encyclopedia of food and cookery and has lots of those basic recipes that most recipe books don’t have.
It’s got some fascinating recipes in there. One these recipes I wouldn’t eat if I was desperate the Pressed ox tongue. No thanks.
The great thing about the book is that it talks about adapting your favourite recipes for the crockpot or slow cooker, and did you know that you can cook cakes in a crockpot? Neither did I. I’ve got some experimenting to do thanks to Margaret Fulton and my colleague.
If you get the chance, check out Not Your Mother’s Slow Cooker. It has recipes for almost anything you can imagine, including cakes and breads. It is one of my most-used cook books. I don’t know what I would do without my crock pot… I used it more when I was still learning to cook, but I still pull it out every couple weeks or so. My husband loves pulled pork (or chicken) sandwiches, and the slow cooker does the best job.
I slow cook on the stove top and food tastes just so much better!
Thanks for that tip Margo. I’ll keep an eye out for that book.
Jayne, it’s such a basic thing to have some foods cook for longer so the flavours come out. It took me a while to learn that though.
I love my slow cooker too. I need to add a few more recipes to my current ones, so I would be interested if you have any winners from the Margaret Fulton cook book.
Oh yes, our slow cooker got a huge workout when we first got it – and winter always brings out the best in it (although ‘Salina is not as huge a fan as I).
I am dreaming of Indian ATM, and your post just made me think – ker-ching – maybe I could combine it!!
I think my mum had that book – she was a huge crock pot fan (the same one in picture).
I haven’t used my slow cooker in ages …must go dig it out and plan something tasty for tomorrow …and OMG my work/preschoool days.
I wonder if mum still has the book.