Slow Cooker Chatter #19

[briggsy's girl]

alli - i always par-cook the pasta first as i have found in the past if you add enough water to cook the pasta, you effectively dilute the flavour of the spag bol too much

[christy]

I think its almost time to get lamb shanks going again *drool*

my lamb shanks recipe:

4 lamb shanks
1 can tomatos
1 tbsp tomato paste
1/2 cup red wine
1 carrot diced
1 celery diced
1 potato diced
3 sprigs rosemary
2 cloves garlic

I chuck it all in 8 hours low. No more prep than chopping.... When we are almost ready to eat, I make a polenta mash & put that on the plate with a shank, than I use a potato masher & mash the stuff left in the slow cooker. Often there is a lot of fat, so sometimes I pull the shanks out & put them into a hot oven which is turned off and then mash the rest & cool it. I skim fat off the top until I get tired, warm it all up again & then put the shanks on the polenta mash, and pour the sauce over the top.

[Pandora]

can you cook any stovetop meal in a slowcooker, or are there some things that wont work.
I have arecipe for a beef and barley casserole but I'm not sure I can do it in a slowcooker? Are there any ingredients that just dont work (I'm worried that the mushrooms and celery wont)

thanks

[Rouge]

Definitely, both the celery and mushrooms would be fine. I would put the mushrooms in for the last hour if you are worried.

[Hollybolly]

Just found this recipe and thought I'd give it a go tomorrow night... sounds delish!



Slow Cooker Ravioli Casserole

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours, 30 minutes
Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds of ground beef
1 medium onion
1 clove of garlic or 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
2 8-ounce cans of tomato sauce
1 14-ounce can stewed tomatoes
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
salt and pepper to taste
1 package frozen chopped spinach - thawed
1 package (16oz) bow tie pasta - cooked
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1 1/3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Preparation:
Brown beef, onion and garlic. Drain and place in slow cooker.
Add tomato sauce, seasonings, stewed tomatoes and cover and cook for 7-8 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high.

In the last 30 minutes turn the slow cooker on high if cooking on low temp and add the cooked pasta, spinach & cheese by layering -Spinach, cheese and then the pasta on top and then top with parmesan cheese again.


Hhmmm... will give it a go tomorrow night & let you all know how it goes

[Olive]

how are people findint eh mcCormacks slow cooker mixes?
im doing the beef and red wine now and have had to add water twice to it, as there is not nough liquid in it!!

[christy]

I haven't tried them Jols... crazy enough most of them have milk in them

I'm doing a lamb curry tonight, total laziness.... its super easy.

I use a curry spice mix. So it has cardemon, curry leaves, cumin, cinnamon, paprika, coriander, mint. in it and I add:

1 x 400ml coconut milk lite
2 cloves garlic smashed
1 tin tomato diced/crushed whatever was in my cupboard
salt & pepper
600gmish lamb
2 potatoes cubed
2 carrots cubed
1/2 head of broccoli chopped SUPER fine... for my non green eating child... she doesn't know its in there!!
1 grated zucchini super fine.... again...