Recommend me a cheap, simple meal for the slow cooker

Something I can grab the ingredients thereof in Asda and throw together quickly.

I'm even going to say, let's try something high in healthy ingredients and low in carbs. I'm thinking chop up some fresh veg, fry of some meat and dump it in the slow cooker. Problem is I don't really have a particularly good pallette or much experience with unusual ingredients, and I haven't got the headspace today to start experimenting or looking up recipes online.


Long and short of it is the GF has just had the call to go say goodbye to her dad, who was only diagnosed with lung cancer in January. I'm about to head home from work and get the place tidied up for when she gets back in and it would be great if there was something wholesome, healthy and warm (other than me, obviously) for when she gets through the door. Obviously I have no idea what time that might be so sticking something in the slow cooker as soon as I get in and leaving it on all day sounds best.

Her stomach has been suffering (probably stress-related) so nothing too spicy or difficult to digest please.


Thank in advance for all suggestions

Those who have me on Facebook, please please please don't post anything on my wall about this, it isn't public domain yet and if it gets out before she's ready she'll be devastated and no doubt there'll be times over the next few days when she wants someone to be angry at, and I'm the only person around right now. Thanks.

Venison is relatively cheap at mom. Much the same for stewing steak/lamb etc.

The beauty of a slow cooker is you can throw almost any cheap cut in there and several hours later it will come out very tasty. I don't like chicken in there as I end up with loads of little joints and bones mixed in.

My attempts at chicken always go dry and horrid. I'll get some stewing beef if I can.

Any suggestions for what veg to throw in with it, tho..?

carrot, onion, celery, and maybe turnip or swede.

edit: and some tarragon ,red wine, and black pepper

Bacon/ham joint. Apple juice and water then leave to slow cook. Serve with mash and green beans. If you cube the potatoes they cook really quickly, so you can have a meal in front of her within 15 mins.

Condolences

And well done for reflecting on things you can do to help with basic practicality.

Home and hearth are vital at these times ...



Bananaman's Slow Cooked Pork and Figs


Some pork. Either "medallions" or small cubes. Enough for however many people/meals it is. You need to be able to use it all up in one sitting, ideally, but can spread over two days if need be.
Figs - fresh ones. Cut in half, half again, half again. So, eighths of a whole fig. Roughly. Doesn't matter. Should be about 1/2 as much volume as the pork.
Onions, carrots. This should be very slightly less volume than the pork and the figs added together, at the start.

Greengage marmalade, if you can get it, or any other marmalade will do. About a dessertspoon ful.

Optionally some beans of almost any kind ( baked, french, butter beans from a tin, whatever ) and new potato. Go wild with your creativity

Some leftover wine if you have any.
A sauce and/or pickle - say Worcester or HP Brown etc. Small amounts only.

Slow cook for four to six hours.

Depends on the meat, but go with the diced veg and maybe add some butternut squash too.

Offthe bat:

Lamb. Add some thyme and half a bottle of rerd wine, some lamb stock (just get cubes or a bottle of boullion) and a big spoon of redcurrant jelly. One thing with lamb, trim off any sinew if you can otherwise it can get stringy.

Beef. Bottle of beer/stout and rosemary and a bay leaf or two. Chuck in some meaty mushrooms and button onions

Chicken. I don't think chicken takes well to long cooking, but if you do, keep it on the bone (i.e. thighs or similar. Cheaper too)

Game. If you find it on special go for it, but it'll always be more expensive generally. If you find some venison try a coupel of juniper berries if you can be arsed (find them in the spice aisle), bay, thyme, rosemary all work well and some rich wine or port and maybe a lump of good dark chocolate. This is more of a faff than the others, ingredient wise

Other trick with stewing steak is to add a bit of scrag end of lamb. Remove before serving but just gives the stew a huge dose of extra flavour.

s'good & compassionate idea that ax. Comfort food.

As said some butchers meat & a sweet ingredient. For stewing steak I chuck in a stockcube (thise knorr gels are ecellent) & as much of a can of murphys that you need. Not guiness-has to be something sweeter like murphys. Onions & a bit of sweet potatoe or a parsnip voila.

On another day impossibly dense butchers sossies, onions, some garam masala, potatoes maybe a bit of chille, half a bannana & some whole almonds near the end. Magical.

Of course yer standard chille con carne & spag bol mixes are superb done in the slow cooker. There you go-more comfort food.

Sorry to hear about your girl's dad BTW.

Originally Posted by Editor

s'good & compassionate idea that ax. Comfort food.

(+ BM's post)

Yup, ^ that.

Originally Posted by Editor

Of course yer standard chille con carne & spag bol mixes are superb done in the slow cooker. There you go-more comfort food.

And 'cowboy casserole': saus, beans, kidney beans (baked beans in jackets), onion, etc.

Lancashire Hot Pot. All the guff below.

Lancashire Hotpot

Chicken (chunks of), chunky carrots, potatoes, onion, mushrooms, peppers, chicken stock, garlic, cayenne pepper, paprika, thyme - bit of cornflower near the end to thicken slightly.

Leave in slow cooker for at least 7 hours, chicken will fall apart and be moist, lost of flavour, serve with mash/rice/bread.

Not that I eat it myself, obviously, but goes down very well with all the meat-eaters I know.

Pigs cheek.. cheap and will melt in the moth..

Originally Posted by Greenzeph

Pigs cheek.. cheap and will melt in the moth..