You're all domestic goddesses!  *wants to go to their place for tea*

What do you make in the pressure cooker Blondie?

I use about 500g of diced lamb coated in seasoned flour, a large onion (sliced), 2 or 3 large carrots cut into large chunks, 3 or 4 large potatoes thinly sliced, approx 1/2 pint of lamb stock. Seasoning to taste - I use 1/2 tsp rosemary, 1/2 tsp thyme, salt, black pepper. Traditional recipes also include lamb's kidneys but I don't like it so just leave it out. 
 Brown the lamb and onions, (and kidneys if using). Once browned add to a casserole dish with the carrots and top with the sliced spuds. Pour over the stock, cover with a lid and bake in a low oven (electric - 140-150) for 6 -8 hours. Remove the lid for the last hour, and some people dot butter on the top layer of potatoes at this stage too. I find like stew it always tastes better if you eat it the next day.

I love Lancashire hotpot just never made it. That doesn't sound too difficult. I'm gonna try that this weekend.

I use the pressure cooker for soup bases - cook a chicken or turkey carcasse until every last bit of meat comes off the bones and the stock you're left with is perfect. I use it for cooking dried beans, lentils etc for soups and stews, and for cooking my favourite - ham in coca-cola.

It's dead easy Cagney. Hope you like it.

I'm having home made vegetable soup tonight actually. I do make my own bread because I miss German sour dough bread and it's too expensive to order online. I also have a cheat's recipe for minestrone which is a tin of each of: spaghetti hoops, tomato, baked beans, kidney beans and a stockcube. I used to make it for the kids when they were young and I didn't have much time and it's lovely.

there are some lovely meal ideas and recipes coming in - thank you

QOTHT  - could you not do the hot pot in the slow cooker - or do you need the potato slices to crisp - just wondered when you mentioned leaving it to eat the next day which i agree with for several things like stew-curry and chilli - they taste so much better

I have an unopened bread maker still in its box - never had the want or inclination but - might just relent and give one or two of the bread ideas ago

Ham and coca cola? Tell me more

there are some quite nice recipes in this link 

 http://www.slowcookerrecipes.org.uk/

yes please   sounds interesting

I tried it in the slow cooker but it didn't really work as well because you do need the potatoes to crisp up really. I suppose you could cook it first and then transfer it to a casserol dish and place fresh spuds on the top layer to crisp up in the oven. I might try it that way next time. I always cook stews in the slow cooker and then transfer them to the hob for the final stages, that way you get to control the thickness of the gravy and add dumplings etc.

I'm a total food addict so love threads like this

I've saved the link for slow cooker recipes and when I do my meal plan on Thurs for next week I'm gonna try some of them. It's quite a lazy way to cook but I love it

Be warned, you will put about a stone on in about a fortnight.

Just me and the boy tonight (Mr D is in Wales this week...  *does the woohoo dance whilst singing "I'm Free" by the Soup Dragons*

So we are having Chicken with chilli & garlic pasta tonight!  

& yes MrsH ... I make soup alot.    Leek & Potato, French Onion & a kind of vegetable with everything else I can find minestrone type soup that we call Kitchen Sink Soup!

Do you drain the tins? I just happen to have a tin of each of those in the cupboard so that's another one I'm gonna try

I do make my own soup, carrot and ginger is my current favourite, really good for keeping colds away and its the perfect student cheap way of cooking.
I can make my own bread but don't tend to do it, one because in this freezing house it would never rise and two because i would eat it all.
Tonight I will be eating tuna potato salad I think

No, just the kidney beans. I also tend to add a little water, by the time it's simmered enough for the kidney beans to be safe, it goes a bit thick, might be to do with the sugar contents.

I have two blogs which I started and have added quite a collection of recipes to - feel free to have a browse and try some - and anyone else that is interested

There is also a group here called rockin recipes that has quite a collection of various recipes 

Baking Day 

http://mrsh.hoo.do...t/126536693141871367

Special Christmas treats

http://mrsh.hoo.do...t/126536693141777711

MrsH - I will browse your blog if that's ok and nick a few recipes

Cologne - I'm gonna try your soup tomorrow

Blondie - get back in here and tell me about ham and coca cola