Whoever invented the slow-cooker was a sadist.
For the past six hours the house has been steadily filling with the deliciously savoury aroma of a rich beef and winter vegetable stew. A miniature volcano of homely comfort bubbling away in the kitchen. A stew, moreover, designed to be the perfect meal, both calorifically reticent and nutritionally replete and complete… as well as warming, tasty… and requiring minimal dishwashing.
I don’t often cook much for myself. I cook for my son instead and by the time I get home it will be whatever I can grab that is easy. Bursting with self-righteousness, I decided it was time I used the culinary skills on my own behalf. The whole idea was simple. Throw everything in there to cook… enough to feed me for several days… then I wouldn’t have to think about it again except to switch it back on to reheat. The perfect solution for anyone in the throes of editing, proofing and formatting.
Big mistake.
The rare occasions on which I use the thing occur only when I am going to be out most of the day, at which point it comes into its own, as I can come home and eat rather than coming home to cook. I hadn’t reckoned with hours and hours of aromatic torture. Not think about it again? I can’t help it… it is invading my airspace with frustratingly coy temptation.
I started the crock pot going late this morning. By eleven I had already been up an unconscionably long time, my son having decided he wanted to get an early start for a day on his bike. Could I be there for six? I gave him every opportunity to change his mind, but he didn’t seem to notice… nor did he budge.
Now, to get down to his home for six and take him tea in bed (there are some benefits to his situation…), I have to be up no later than half past four. My hands need some time to wake up and become useful and various other bits of my anatomy seem to have their own agenda these days without ever have consulted my preferences on the matter.
Then there’s the dog.
Used, by now, to the odd bout of insomnia, she no longer does more when I wander down, dishevelled and bleary eyed in the wee, small hours, than open one eye and raise an eyebrow from somewhere under the newly constructed fortress of sofa cushions. She reminds me of a character from Dr Seuss… the Biffer Baum Bird… that builds its nest anew each night.
As soon as she sees me switch on either kettle or computer, however, and assures herself that I am actually up, there will be a tennis ball in play. She will ask to go into the garden and every morning I fall for it. She isn’t desperate for the use of the facilities… just desperate for the ball to be thrown out into the darkness so she can chase it.
Regardless of the fact that it is still, technically, the middle of the night, that the stars and moon are silvering the heavens and dawn a long way off, she will also want breakfast. Then a walk. Albeit a brief one, as the dew is awfully chilly at that time of night.
Half an hour to dress and drive, three and a half hours to get my son ready for the off, duly supplied with soup, sandwiches and tea, then a reluctant dash, grumbling through the Christmassy aisles of Tesco for the carrots… I’d been up eight hours before I managed to make a start on the cooking.
And since then, dinner has haunted me… an elusive spectre of forbidden pleasure wafting around the desk as I work, laughing at the desperate gurgles emanating from my midriff and taunting me with promises of withheld delights.
No matter that the long, slow cooking with leave everything tender and delicious, that the fragrance of bay and thyme fill the air and the prospect of an illicit suet pastry crust baked over a portion of it is the stuff gastronomic dreams are made of…
Whoever invented the damnable device should be introduced to another specialist method of cooking … the alleged French military version of the barbecue*…
Is it ready yet?….
*Spit roasting; ‘(de la) barbe au cul’. I say no more…
Sounds delicious and I wish I had that bubbling away in my kitchen – I need to start planning ahead 🙂
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I got a little fed up with feeding the dog and realising I only had cereal in the cupboard 🙂
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Yummmm, oh that sounds delicious Sue. I love a slow cooked stew, and can almost taste it! 🙂
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I did eventually 🙂
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Reblogged this on perfectlyfadeddelusions.
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ahhh i can imagine it’s torture!
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‘a sadist’ hahah
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🙂
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Clearly not to be recommended as a method, but the stew looks good.
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It was indeed… finally 🙂
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I love my slow cooker and even have two when I cook bulk and freeze but you are right the house fills up with this delicious smell (pork and tomato casserole today) and trying to eat less in nigh on impossible. XXS
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I just couldn’t wait for it to be cooked… and will I be able to resist a bit of suet pastry? That’s the issue with the leftovers 😉
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Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
Sue Vincent talking about one of my favourite kitchen gadgets.. the slow cooker.. mmmm
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Hope it tasted as good as it smelt when you finally got to it.
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Better, Mary, all the better for the wait 😀
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Hopefully it was worth the torture! 😉
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Well worth it… and when I get home from work today, Sunday lunch will be warmed and waiting 🙂
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Yum! Nothing warms on a chilly day like a good stew!
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… and I’m about to tuck in to the leftovers 😉
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Wish I lived around the corner…I’d pop on over! 😉
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You’d be more than welcome, Eliza… and the kettle is always on 🙂
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🙂 merci!
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🙂
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I don’t know how you managed to stand it. I think I’d have had to sit on the balcony for hours or something.
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I was tied to the PC, mere yards away…torture 😉
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You need a laptop for emergencies like that.
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Too cold for working outdoors now 🙂
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That makes sense. It’s hard to type with blue fingers.
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Mine take little encouragement to go that and worse colours 🙂
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Oh, well. Sounds like next time you have some delicious cooking in the background, you’re just going to have to put up with the torture. (Of course, you will get to eat it in the end, which must help). 🙂
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It will just have to be better planned… and cook while I’m out 🙂
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That’s the best idea.
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…or stock up on forbidden foods to nibble 😉
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Oh, that’s a pretty good idea too. 🙂
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The dog, who shares, seems to approve 😉
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Quite right too! Always room for treats.
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🙂
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Reblogged this on Anita & Jaye Dawes and commented:
sounds amazing, why don’t I have one of these?
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Sounds delicious!! I swear I don’t know how you do everything that you do! 🙂 You’re right…kinda like that song…anticipation… 🙂
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Very much like that, Patrick 😉
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Yum. 😀 😀 I love my crock pot. I used it often while I was still working.When I came home I always called out, “Honey, I’m home?” Love how the house smelled.
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Mine smells pretty good again today, Tess 😉
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I don’t doubt that at all. Yum.
I made a stew last Thursday. 🙂
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You can’t beat it this time of year 🙂
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As soon as the cooler weather comes, out comes the crock pot. ❤
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Mine will be out for the duration of winter too 🙂
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We’re on the same page.
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😀
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I don’t know if you do meatloaf, but I finally made one in the crock pot without any liquid. Spray bowl with a little oil (or Pam for easy cleanup). Line it with foil and form the ground meat to fit shape of the the bottom. After about five hours, lift out by grabbing the ends of the foil. Moist.
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Nice! I may have to try that! Thanks, Tess 🙂
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You are more than welcome, Sue. Anything to make life easier is for sharing. ❤
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I’ll second that, Tess. Like juicy steamed pudding done in six minutes flat in the microwave… comes out perfect with a bit of extra liquid in the mix 😉
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Mm mm good. 🙂
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Not for the waistline 😉
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*sigh* Isn’t that the killer? 😀
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Age should make us more expansive 😉 That’s my excuse anyway 😉
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😀 😀 😀 It does indeed. An expansive waistline.
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😀
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Charming post 🙂
I don’t use a crock pot since I got my enormous Dutch oven. I never seem to notice the smell unless I return after a lengthy absence. I do, however, enjoy when my family comes home, each of them asking, “Oh what’s that smell? What’re we havin for dinner?”
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I may have been inordinately hungry having cooked twice for my son before even starting… 😉
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It sounds delicious. The problem with a slow cooker is it makes me hungry with the delicious aroma wafting throughout the house. Hungry = extra snacking.
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I know… which defeats the object of making something healthy 🙂
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We love crockpot cooking here! My hub loves stew anything or roast in it. I love the convenience and the fact that you can use cheaper cuts of meat in them and they come out mouth-watering. 🙂
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I have to agree… now that I’ve been well and truly fed 🙂 It was the waiting that was hell…
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LOL 🙂
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🙂
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Oh, I can sympathize, Sue, My husband made white bean chicken chili this afternoon and the aroma drove me crazy! How can you possibly get up that early? When do you go to bed???
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Oooh, that sounds heavenly… ! I’d rather not be up at that time though! Especially as it is generally around midnight before I get to bed. There are limits! Even in the call of motherly duty 🙂
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