Slow cooker ideas?

Xiaolongbao

This weekend I made lasagna in my slow cooker. Did you even know that's possible?

It's amazing. Since I haven't had an oven in a decade I'm always super excited to learn anything like this.

Anyone got any other suggestions for surprising things that can be cooked in a slow cooker (I'm vegetarian).

Paganrosemama

I often use my slow cooker to cook dry beans in.

I also have used them for smoky veggie chilli. The measurements are all an approximation.

I take a couple of finely chopped dried smoked peppers (chipoltle or ancho are my favorite) and 2-3 finely diced garlic cloves in a saucepan and saute them on low in a couple tablespoons of olive oil, until the peppers are soft, the garlic golden brown and the oil takes on a red hue. About 5 mins (transfer to slow cooker)

Then I add a cup of tomato sauce (or V8), and a half cup of the bean soaking liquid (if using canned beans just don't drain them) Dissolve an 1/8 cup of baking coco powder, a 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric and a tablespoon of cinnamon - (this gives the smoky flavoring) a tablespoon or two of sugar (to take the bitterness away from the coco powder) Add chilli pepper flakes (or chilli powder), paprika, garlic and cumin to taste.

Add 11/2 cups each soaked and rinsed Black, pinto and red beans (or one can each).
I cup (minimum) each of tomatoes, corn, red and green peppers, onions, butternut squash cubes.

Cook on low for 6-8 hours, high 3-4 hours in a slow cooker. The sauce will be thin and can be thicken up by a flour roux, cornstarch, lots of cheese, or a handful of grains. If not cooked in the slow cooker -low simmer in a stock pot for 45min to an hour- lid off, and it should thicken up nicely.