Here's a picture of my slow cooker special.  This is the vegetarian version.  Made using what was currently available.  In this case potatoes, sprouts, parsnip, a handful of sultanas, and some green beans.  With a little bit of rosemary.  (No, I'm not eating a frozen Ex a bit at a time.)  Plus the rinsings from a Marmite jar.  Probably a little too much Marmite, thus the dark colour.  It could have done with some carrot for a bit of colour, and maybe some mushrooms.  (Probably just chopped up a bit and added raw to the plate rather than cooked.)  I would have added an apple and some dried apricot if I'd had any in the cupboard.

    My girls hate mushrooms, calling them Slimy Devil Food.  Eaten raw they're not slimy.  Well, if they are you shouldn't be eating them ;-)  Shaggy Death Cap and Stinkhorns are both slimy even whilst growing, which should be warning enough for anyone.

    I had a bowlful at dinner time, (very filling), and this bowlful is now sat in the fridge until tomorrow.  I shall cook up a couple of lamb grill steaks to go with it.

    As part of my kitchen tidy up I have reinstated my traditional vegetable rack, and will make up a hessian curtain/cover to keep the sunlight off the veg.  I get fed up with spuds sprouting at the least excuse, and parsnips going slimy in the plastic bags from the shop.  So we'll give old style storage a chance.  And the proper greengrocer down town.

Left click if you want a larger portion ;-)

That looks yum mate, some for tomorrow too

I don't know what marmite is, but your stew looks good. I love potatoes.

Your girls are right about the mushrooms, though. I can't stand that rubbery feeling. I pick them off pizzas or anything else they may be on.

The exception to that is morel mushrooms that we find only in the spring time around here. We have great fun hunting them. And I don't know what it is about their taste, but they are delightfully rich. A little rubbery if left in too big of chunks for my liking, but the taste is wonderful.

Hubby adds them to biscuits and gravy, a chicken casserole with cream and breadcrumbs, and of course, batters and fries them.  It is a toss up as to which one is my fave.

My Mum used to put a little bit of Marmite in stew, so do I . It gives it that delicious 'umami' savoury taste (and it's funny watching amateur gourmands try to identify the secret ingredient. Do you find your stews just get better with the re-heating? I reckon a good couple of days to develop the flavours makes a stew even better.

Quote from: graphophobia on January 21, 2018, 10:14:16 PM
Do you find your stews just get better with the re-heating? I reckon a good couple of days to develop the flavours makes a stew even better.

Generally speaking, yes.  I may let this one sit for an extra day and treat myself to fish and chips tomorrow instead.

I suspect there was more left in the bottom of the Marmite jar than I realised when I rinsed it out with a bit of hot water ;-)  Fortunately I really like the stuff.

I've just fished out the smaller slow cooker, still in its box from the factory with the cable all bundled up and the plastic protector on the plug.  Never been used.

It's a lot smaller, 1.5 litre.  With a glass lid so I can see what's happening.  Looking forward to trying it out soon.  Definitely the one to use if I try making a slow cooker cake.

That does look good. I never thought of using Marmite as an ingredient in my stuff. I might see if they sell it over here. I know they sell some continental things in various stores.

I love adding mushrooms to stuff while cooking. Dick will eat mushrooms in stew and sauteed with asparagus or broccoli, but he picks them off a pizza. Today, I have a roast in the slow cooker with potatoes and carrots (and onion and garlic) and some mushrooms.

I cooked up some lamb to go with the stew tonight.  Cooked separately and then added whilst micro-waving tonight's portion of the stew. 

The flavour definitely developed sat in the fridge overnight. 

It's going to go on to a third day.  I''ll definitely have to give the smaller slow cooker a workout soon.  Still thinking in Gyppo and Mum sized portions.  I also have a smaller freezer these days, so can't cram it full of stuff 'for later'.

Gyppo

Looks delicious as is, Gyppo! I have my MOm's old wire hanging basket for potatoes. I need to hang it in the pantry. They tend to sprout on me, too.

I use a cane type of basket under the bottom shelf of the pantry, it works well. We don't use many potatoes