Slow cooker recipes, #slow cooking

If I was stocking my kitchen from scratch, there are three things I would buy (aside from plates and cutlery etc): An electric kettle, a bread machine and a slow cooker. Without the above, I don't think I could function. Obviously, I would eventually need to cave and buy at least a frying pan, but I could survive for a very long time on foods made in the above.

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Firstly, I'd like to share a recipe that isn't mine, but which has become something of a staple in this house:

Rootbeer pulled-pork from justJENN is about the best thing you can do with a slow cooker and a pork shoulder. It's amazingly versatile - aside from the obvious serving suggestion of 'sandwiches', I highly recommend it as a pizza topping in place of cheese (or some of the cheese, at least), as a baked potato filling, stirred through cous cous or dolloped on steaming rice with stir-fried veg.

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The following is a recipe that was given to me by a friend. This makes enough for 8 people, but freezes extremely well so is excellent 'ready meal' fodder. Perfect for work lunches or avoiding the lure of a takeaway.

Vegan Chilli

• 1 big pot
• 5 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion (chopped)
• 1 small chilli (chopped finely)
• 4 Peppers (of the same or  a variety of colours doesn't really matter)
• 2 Carrots (grated)
• 3 cloves of garlic (crushed)
• 2tbsp chilli powder
• 1tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 2 cans of tinned tomatoes
• 3tbsp cocoa powder
• 3 tbsp molasses (brown sugar works really well instead)
• 2 cans of kidney beans
• 600ml of veg stock

Throw everything into the slow cooker.

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Vegan Curry, with chicken alternative

• 1 cauliflower head
• 1 onion (red or white will do)
• 1 can of tomatoes
• 1 can of green lentils (dried green/red lentils work as well - follow the instructions on the pack but most don't need soaking/pre-cooking)
• fresh ginger
• fresh garlic
• fresh chilli
• olive oil
• dried turmeric, cinnamon, curry powder (or whatever spices you fancy)
• sugar (dark brown works best)

• raisins/sultanas (optional)
• ½ lb spinach leaves (optional)
• chicken (optional)
• cream/natural yogurt (optional)

Chop your ingredients and toss everything into the slow cooker. If you're doing the non-vegan version, stir in the cream/yogurt and spinach at the very end.

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Slow cooked baked beans

• Sausages/bacon bits (optional)
• 2 cans of beans (i.e. flageollet and canellini, butter beans, mung beans etc.)
• One can of chopped tomatoes
• One sliced onion
• Stock cube
• Cajun spice/paprika/chilli
• Brown sugar

Throw everything in the slow cooker. Serve with potato wedges, jacket potatoes or thick brown toast with lots of butter.

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I have many, many more things I cook in the slow cooker but these were the first which sprang to mind, and which I haven't already mentioned (like Chicken and Flageollet Bean Casserole and a Bolognese Base). Essentially, anything which needs to bubble away on the stove can be made in a slow-cooker. Stews, soups, rice puddings... these all lend themselves perfectly to a stint in 'the machine'.

What are your favourite slow cooker recipes?