Slowcooker - Vegetarian viewpoint

[Purplebint]

It's always good to use a trusted recipe first so you can test the differences, the first thing I made in mine was a huge many beaned chilli

Purple is the best colour

[Dottie]

Excellent idea, going with dish you know and love. Just bear in mind when using a slow cooker, not to add to much liquid, as it's got no where to go, unless you have something like lentils to absorb it. Altough not an issue if your using a curry sauce.

Purple, you must have had a lot more choice in-store than was on the website. Purple represents wealth and abundance in Feng Shui, so not a bad choice for a cooking pot.

What size did you go for and is it all singing and dancing?

[zazen999]

No timer - none of the ones there had timers; a crockpot 3.5l one. Didn't go to Lakeland in the end as the choice was not what i wanted in the end....

Curry - to usual recipe - is in and on. I like my curries saucy so once the veg is cooked, I'll add some flour mix to the remaining liquid and thicken it a bit.

[zazen999]

Wow!!!

Just opened the SC - added a flour water paste to thicken it a bit and tried some.

What a lovely taste!

Will get used to the reduced liquid amounts but the taste is there - just hope it thickens up a bit.

[zazen999]

Thumbs up from Mr Z.....that was lovely.

Thanks everyone. Appreciate the input.

[Glutton4...]

If you have too much liquid left over, just make soup! I always freeze ours and re-use it as stock.

[zazen999]

I'm going to - curry soup for lunch tomorrow.

Although curry and SW chips sounds quite nice

[Seahorse]

Didn't go to Lakeland in the end as the choice was not what i wanted in the end...

Glad the curry was nice but let's get down to the real issue... what are you going to spend that Lakeland voucher on!?! I think between us D and I own at least half their products, so do ask if you want any recommendations

[zazen999]

I've always got a wish list for Lakeland.....it's a permanent feature in this house! Even my 2 nieces [6 and 4] got something from Lakeland this Christmas - best start them off early eh?

And it doesn't run out until 28th Feb.

I'll be in contact when I have browsed the website a little more....

[Dottie]

Great news to hear your first time was a success.

Depending on how much liquid you have, you could always just add some lentils to absorb and enjoy. It's what I do with loads of dishes, but then again I never add flour to anything to thicken.

What is SW, regarding chips?

Have you got a link for us to see your new machine? Timers are not needed on a slow cooker, they just seem to add them to everything these days. If you are concerned you might not get back home, due to meetings going on and on or want the option to go straight to the pub from work, then just cook on low and it will do it's stuff. It's only when folk have a slow cooker with loads of other options and then want to speed things up, that maybe things don't go quite to plan.

[FionaH]

Out of interest what is the best way of thickening the fluid in a SC?

[zazen999]

a - It's a purple one of these

b - SW chips - Slimming world chips - done in oven with frylite not oil

c - same as thickening anything I think, some flour, mix with water to a paste, then add a few teaspoons of the liquid you are trying to thicken, then pour it into the actual bowl and stir it up. The flour will need to be cooked in order to thicken it properly so half an hour before you serve up and have it on high did it for me tonight.

Or - ladle some liquid out, and reduce it on the hob, and pour back in.

Or - really cheating now - shove some gravy granules in and stir.

I wanted a timer as when I'm out, I leave at 7:15 and don't get back until 6-7-8....and Mr Z gets back at 5 so that's a long old time even on low....10 hours.

But, we'll have to see how it goes.

[Glutton4...]

Out of interest what is the best way of thickening the fluid in a SC?

The booklet that came with mine says add flour/gravy granules, and cook it out. I prefer to reduce it in a saucepan, but that's a fair amount of faffing. Himself prefers to use flour, which I try not to.

You can always plug it in to one of those plug-in timers.

[Dottie]

Good looking machine, adding a bit of style to any kitchen.

SW, I thought it would be obvious when I asked, but no it's not a world I know about, so I've learned something new.

Yeah plug in timer is a cheap and handy option. But you might find you don't need it, I know 10 hours sounds a lot, but they are designed to cook slow and not spoil. However it will all be trail and error, let us know how a dish turns out cooked for 10 hrs. Might even come in handy for root veg recipes?

I add lentils at the start, as I want them to absorb all the flavours of the cooking. However if I happened to have a load of liquid left after a meal, I'd strain it off and just treat it like a stock. Therefore I'd pour it back into the slow cooker and add whatever veg or lentils (after tasting to make sure it yummy), I had to hand and let the slow cooker do it's thing 1 more time. If you put the hot stock straight back in without allowing it to cool, then you don't have to worry about it going off. It's only when cooking has stopped and your storing in the fridge, do you need to concern yourself with food spoilage.

As I'm a batch cooker, then having more food on the go suits me fine, as I like to freeze small portions of everything, so that I can defrost and have a variety of flavours and nutrition on my plate at any one time. Not into quantity, but love variety of textures and flavours.

[Hilary B]

If I have a stew that is too wet, I often add Bulgar Wheat. It absorbs whatever flavours might be in the stock, much faster than lentils (which I often use if I have more warning).
If it is only a little wet, I find adding tomato puree or chopped up dried tomatoes helps (if it is a recipe that tomatoes are appropriate for, most of mine are).