Culinary torture…

Posted on October 10, 2015 by Sue Vincent

003Whoever 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.

earthwalker 001Used, 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.

bits 009

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…

About Sue Vincent

Sue Vincent was a Yorkshire born writer, esoteric teacher and a Director of The Silent Eye. She was immersed in the Mysteries all her life. Sue maintained a popular blog and is co-author of The Mystical Hexagram with Dr G.M.Vasey. Sue lived in Buckinghamshire, having been stranded there due to an accident with a blindfold, a pin and a map. She had a lasting love-affair with the landscape of Albion, the hidden country of the heart. Sue  passed into spirit at the end of March 2021.
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68 Responses to Culinary torture…

  1. Georgia Rose says:
    October 10, 2015 at 18:02

    Sounds delicious and I wish I had that bubbling away in my kitchen – I need to start planning ahead 🙂

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  2. edwinasepisodes says:
    October 10, 2015 at 18:29

    Yummmm, oh that sounds delicious Sue. I love a slow cooked stew, and can almost taste it! 🙂

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  4. ayitl says:
    October 10, 2015 at 18:51

    ahhh i can imagine it’s torture!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. derrickjknight says:
    October 10, 2015 at 18:59

    Clearly not to be recommended as a method, but the stew looks good.

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  6. Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life. says:
    October 10, 2015 at 21:02

    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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  7. Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life. says:
    October 10, 2015 at 21:03

    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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  8. Mary Smith says:
    October 10, 2015 at 21:26

    Hope it tasted as good as it smelt when you finally got to it.

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  9. Eliza Waters says:
    October 11, 2015 at 00:24

    Hopefully it was worth the torture! 😉

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  10. BunKaryudo says:
    October 11, 2015 at 04:29

    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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  11. jenanita01 says:
    October 11, 2015 at 10:45

    Reblogged this on Anita & Jaye Dawes and commented:
    sounds amazing, why don’t I have one of these?

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  12. Patrick Jones says:
    October 11, 2015 at 12:53

    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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  13. Let's CUT the Crap! says:
    October 11, 2015 at 15:35

    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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  14. joey says:
    October 11, 2015 at 18:32

    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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  15. macjam47 says:
    October 13, 2015 at 03:22

    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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  16. D.G.Kaye says:
    October 13, 2015 at 23:43

    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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  17. noelleg44 says:
    October 15, 2015 at 01:29

    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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    • Sue Vincent says:
      October 15, 2015 at 06:24

      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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