calling all savvy slow cooker-ers!!

You can do coke for gammon but I just put mine in dry. Honestly. It cooks lovely. Same with pork shoulder and chicken. Just season and add some herbs or whatever but no liquid. Perfect meat everytime.

You can also do jacket spuds in there if you are out at work. Just stab and then make some foil balls for the bottom of the slow cooker and place on top. Cook low all day.

I'm veggie so can't help with meat. I make all kinds of casseroles, curries, chilli, soups, bolognese etc in mine. I have a few veggie slow cooker recipe books, you literally just throw it all in and hey presto.

You can cook things dry?!? My dad said not to let something boil dry or it will explode...

I guess he was taking the p!ss then, the sod hahaha!

Pixie - how long should I cook it for then? It is a 750g joint

I was terrified the first time I did dry meat but remember all meat has juices and it comes out and cooks it. No need for anything. I put mine on low first thing in the morning and just get it out at tea time

You can't really over cook things with a slow cooker. As the lid stops any water evaporating it can't boil dry. I've been using mine for years and have to add less liquid than usual as I like my sauces quite thick.

I put a gammon joint on this morning for 9 hours (I had an early morning meeting) - this time I poured in a bottle of raspberry crabbies which is supposed to add a sweetness. Time before I put in nothing and I have also poured in a can of coke. I haven't ever managed to get mine to explode!

If you search here we did a thread with slow cooker recipes on a few weeks ago. I also have a few good books which opened my eyes to slow cooker possibilities. Prior to that I just stews. Now I do a pulled pork recipe, a lamb tagine, a beef & chorizo stew, lamb shanks in red wine, chicken and sweet potato. It is really easy and makes a cheap cut of meat really tender. Curries are also supposed to be delicious in them but my H doesn't like curry.

My mum gave me one about two years ago and I still haven't used it. Yeah, we're pretty lazy about cooking. Sometimes I'm amazed we manage to function as adults...

I get confused with mine too! I end up having to stick to pre made spice mixes because they tell you how much to put in! As for exploding though, your dad was thinking of pressure cookers! Bless him.

There are loads of slow cooker recipes for both sweet and savoury things. It worth looking on the previous thread on here and / or joining some of the slow cooker groups on Facebook

I done a lovely one for over christmas, the meat just fell apart, ive got the recipe at home and will dig out for you. My OH has said it was the nicest ham he has ever eaten ?

We had a lovely bit of brisket in the slow cooker for Sunday lunch last weekend. Husband put some onions and celery in the bottom then sealed the meat in the pan and bunged it on top with no liquid. Started it off about midnight on Saturday and ready for midday on Sunday. Melt in the mouth!

I use my mums meat stew recipe which is; beef, stock cube, carrot, swede, parsnip, fresh toms, turnip, onion, seasoning and mulligatawny soup

x

LOVE my slow cooker. It's worth it just for making bbq pulled pork alone!

Stick gammon in with can of ANYthing. Done!

I have a great Vegetarian 'Skinny' slow cooker recipe book. If you let me know the kinds of foods you like I'd be happy to copy some pages and send them over. My fave is a Jamaican Sweet Potato and Butter Bean curry! LUSH!

I also got one for xmas so I'm glad I saw this thread. So far, I've only done Goulash and Caribbean chicken so I need to try a few more to gain a bit of confidence. I will definitely try putting a chicken in with just a few herbs as that sounds so easy. I'm a useless cook and loathe and detest cooking!

Love our slow cooker, but I need some more recipes, so am following with interest!

Tomorrow I'm going to try a tesco tagine spice mix and accompanying recipe for a lamb tagine, I'll let you know how it goes! Their Spanish chicken is really good. I normally like to cook from scratch but the lack of moisture needed for the slow cooker confuses me!

This is the best recipe I've done in it so far though:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/slow-cooker-pulled-pork-sandwiches-recipe.html

We had some of the boys from work round, they all loved it!

I know! That's my problem, I've had scouse on all morning but I put too much liquid in so I've had to chuck it in a pan to thicken up! I'll get there in the end lol

Glad its not just me!

Ooo I can't wait to try mine out now! Am I right in just covering my gammon with water?

You don't need to add much liquid. When I do gammon in coke, I literally just add a can. I use my slow cooker most days trying a bit of everything in there

Yep, definitely don't need a lot of liquid. Tonight's dinner feeds 4 and has a tin of tomatoes and 200ml of water, that's all.

Thanks all! I cooked the gammon and OHMAGAWD it was awesome! Will definitely do it again :-) nom!