SLOW COOKER TIME RECIPES

Steps:

• If you can, marinade the pork overnight before you plan to cook it. In a large bowl, mix the sugar, Worcestershire sauce, spices, thyme and garlic together then stir in the vinegar to make a paste. Add the pork and rub all over. Cover with cling film and leave to marinade in the fridge overnight. If not marinating, mix the ingredients together with generous seasoning, rub over the pork, then put into the slow cooker.  
• If you have marinated the meat, lift the pork out of the bowl and add to the slow cooker, discarding the juices. Season the pork well. Pour in the barbecue sauce and toss the pork in the sauce to coat. Cook on low for about 8hr, or until the pork shreds easily. Halfway through the cooking time, quickly open the pot, turn the pork joint over and cover quickly with the lid again (don’t leave the pot uncovered for longer than necessary, as the meat will take longer to cook).  
• Transfer pork to a large board and shred with two forks. If you want a thicker sauce, pour the juices from the slow cooker into a large saucepan and boil until reduced down to a thicker consistency. Add the shredded pork to the pan and stir to coat. Serve in brioche burger buns with coleslaw, some coriander leaves and a few drops of hot chilli sauce. 

Steps:

• Heat 2 tbsp sunflower oil in a large pan. Dust 1½ kg rolled beef brisket with 2 tbsp plain flour and season well with salt and pepper.
• Put 3 chopped carrots, 3 chopped celery sticks, 2 chopped parsnips, 1 chopped onion and 80g button mushrooms in the bottom of your slow cooker and turn it to Low.
• Sear the beef all over in the hot pan then place it on top of the vegetables in the slow cooker.
• Add the 2 bay leaves, 2 crushed garlic cloves and 2 tsp English mustard then pour over 500ml red wine and 250ml beef stock. Cover with the lid and cook for 7 hours.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Carefully take the beef out of the slow cooker and place it on a baking tray then roast it in the oven for 20 mins.
• While the beef is in the oven, carefully ladle the cooking liquid out of the slow cooker into a shallow pan. Boil rapidly on a high heat to reduce to a rich gravy.
• Serve the beef sliced with roast potatoes, the softened vegetables, gravy and wilted greens, if you like.