27. Seed Sowing Begins, Letters and New Address | Living Alone in Wales (February 2024)

[@mattszalwinski6869]

Hi Sean. I work in a hospital just outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I just wanted to tell you that I met a patient from Wales this morning! I asked her if she knew the Rhonda valley. She was stunned! She asked how I knew about it. I told her my good friend Sean told me all about it. She grew up about an hour from there, she said. Small world!

[@seanjamescameron]

Amazing. It’s pronounced ron-tha so you can improve her more. And good morning is bore-ra-da.

[@louise8582]

So glad you’re not going to rush and get a plot. 4 videos a week is a lot of work to film and put out, very time consuming. Your back garden is so convenient for watering and maintaining, it’s a wee gem, you could do so much growing in that. Don’t burn yourself out with a plot, Wales is beautiful go out there and enjoy it! Best wishes Sean as usual.

[@marywilson6760]

Lovely comment Louise. 😊

[@dianefarnden8577]

I think Sean should give himself time to settle down and concentrate upon his garden. My partner and I grew vegetables in our large garden in Norfolk, which was a joy. However there is the problem of storage when they are ready to harvest and, inevitably, there will be a glut at certain times. I'm sure your garden Sean could provide you with what you need initially. Of course another consideration is the conviviality having an allotment can bring. Maybe a half-plot when the time is right?

[@marymcandrew7667]

Dont get rid of your big pot! With limited space, make sure you store things in it to save room. It's great for mouse protection, maybe use it for storing your bread or bags of grains?

[@nojnoj3069]

@marymcandrew7667 • Excellent advice! My wonderful and much missed nan gave me that gem many years ago.....Stay warm!

[@davewatts3008]

From experience .. don’t add too much liquid in a slow cooker recipe .. it doesn’t cook off like in an oven because of the lower temperature ..

[@evepaludan7713]

I like your new kitchen setup. You should save your big pot for boiling pasta or potatoes, for heating canning jars, and other jobs not suitable for the slow cooker. The first time you use the slow cooker, you may want to use it while you are home. Thanks for the nice videos. I have enjoyed seeing your small town lifestyle in Wales.

[@JaneyH]

I can’t wait to get back in my little garden. Its only small but is my soul space ☕️

[@karenfry8445]

Rice pudding the the slow cooker is lovely 😊

[@louisep5178]

Sounds delicious Karen do you have a recipe please?

[@SuzanneU]

It's a good idea to give yourself a season to settle in and make your back garden beautiful. You've had a huge change and it takes a lot of time and energy to create new rhythms.

[@marywilson6760]

Hi Sean. Your kitchen is looking so nice and homely and your living room lovely and cosy. That is a smashing Slow cooker from John and Rebecca 😊 I would still keep your large stainless steel pan, as usually when you get rid of something a short while down the line, you will wish you hadn't, need it for something. Thank you for sharing your video. Take care Sean. 😊

[@Angel-002]

The big pan will be handy for cooking pasta or rice & for doing mash potato. He could do a big pan of potatoes & mash them & freeze some ready for another day.

[@maryfennell9672]

I chuck everything in my slow cooker in the morning, then leave it on low all day! Bootiful!!

[@angelajane1038]

Octopus are the best. They delivered a free electric throw to me last year. I could not survive comfortably without it. Thank you Octopus

[@mamamoomin]

Kitchen looks great! When using the slow cooker always pull it out from the corner so it doesn't heat the underside of your cupboard. We always cook on low. Pop the ingredients in (in the morning) and then it's ready for tea. Although if you have a cook book, that should also guide you to the heat level and time. Keep your other pan though. Good for boiling pasta, rice, potatoes etc., Loving the videos, very relaxing to sit and watch with a nice cup of tea 🫖

[@Jay-s8g9q]

Been meaning to add this Sean. I don't keep my slow cooker in the kitchen, I keep it in the dining room. It lives in a cupboard, and I just take the crock part into the kitchen when I am preparing, I then cook it via a plug in the dining room. Unlike saucepans it doesn't boil over. I then serve straight from the slow cooker. You could do the same with your toaster. Put it on your dining table and it's all ready for breakfast. When I was working in London my kitchen was even smaller than yours, and it only had one plug! I had an old fashioned tea trolley, from a charity shop, painted it, and had the toaster, cutlery in a tray, salt and pepper etc on that. You can wheel into the kitchen as needed. Frees up worktop space. Slow cooker in the dining room doesn't look out of place, because essentially it's a casserole dish.

[@marilynstanbury5098]

Another interesting and relaxing video. But, how I would love to see your cats more, I really miss my cat and would love to share yours! Please, thanks.

[@2ndstarfromtherightsolas881]

He is very lucky there beautiful aren't they! I have fostered cats for decades and only ever had 3 black. Cats are amazing creatures , it takes alot for a cat to trust you, but when they do, there with you forever🥰

[@ShelleyAnderson-g9g]

I always lightly fry chopped onions and carrots and brown chicken or other meats before putting into slow cooker. Only takes a few minutes but gives a lot more flavour to the casserole. Then add potatoes, swede, stock, herbs etc. I add green veg and mushrooms an hour before end so don't turn mushy. On a cold day add a dumpling or two. Bootiful!

[@rosa2266]

Thankyou, that is an excellent tip and advice for Sean, with his new slow cooker, yes it does add flavour. 😊😊

[@debravaldez1196]

Pull the slow cooker forward when in use as you don’t want the steam/heat under your cupboards

[@tazzie2shoos]

So pleased you have the slow cooker, we cooked a butchers cut of flat beef brisket in ours last night, all night. Then it goes in a baking tray (olive oil & seasoning over it) in hot oven for 30 mins to make it nicely roasted, and the fat to be nice & tasty. Sunday dinner sorted, and loads left over for sandwiches, plus the cat gets a treat or two! The joint needs covering with water and stock while it cooks in slow pot, so lots of gravy & base for a soup. Hope I'm not telling you what you already know, sorry if so.

[@xvsupremacy7190]

Yum 😋

[@Angel-002]

Yes I often do beef or brisket like that & add chunky carrots, potatoes & onions & sometimes parsnips or peas. I don't finish it off in the oven though as I've not felt the need to, but maybe I should try it. Like you say though, you put it in the slow cooker & forget about it & it's all done for you. I've done chicken in it too the same as the beef & braising steak. Chilli, curries & stews are the obvious ones to do, but it's so handy especially if you work or go out for the day. You don't need to worry about it.

[@Cynthia-do6fo]

Your backyard garden is perfect to have a good size garden. Use the shelf on the wall for plantings and you can trellis along the wall.

[@olgyone1195]

What a lovely thought from the young child and kind people sending gifts, looking fwd to u starting the garden your so busy dont know how you will have time for a plot 😊 spring is on its way best wishes

[@richardhart7652]

You are better off doing most of your heating with gass those electric heaters unless set to the lowest setting just runaway with the power use them instead as frost protection just when the temperature drops really low don't forget that the electric cooker is also a heavy user of power

[@margaretsofocleous1999]

🎉 on your slow cooker arriving. What kind people. You have a great setup there for your seeds

[@teslaandhumanity7383]

Tip : Water from bottom in tray it drinks it up without disturbing seeds . ❤

[@flowerfairy1950]

People are very generous. Don't sell your large pot, you will need it. I can't do without my pasta pot 😊 Re slow cooker: years ago here in Australia all the rage was chicken with a can of apricot juice in the slow cooker. Great selection of flower seeds 👍

[@Lucysmom26]

I don't even know why he got a slow cooker with that big pot, the pot is all you need and I can't think of anything that slow cooker could do that the pot couldn't (unless leaving it unattended for hours is important, which it may be for Sean). The slow cookers are so unwieldy, too, and take up so much space. I was given one but have it away within months.

[@seanjamescameron]

@Lucysmom26 I’m happy with it and that’s all that matters.

[@Angel-002]

​@@Lucysmom26Slow cookers don't burn or dry the food. If you left a big pan on the hob on low it can burn on the bottom & stick whereas it never does with a slow cooker. Also, you wouldn't go out for the day & leave a pan on the hob because you'd come home to burnt & dried up mess. You just put whatever you want into the slow cooker & can go out & leave it & it never dries the food up or burns & you come back home to a hearty meal. I've made all sorts in mine from stews/casseroles & chilli & curry to braising steak with onions & carrots & even cooked a whole chicken with veg & a beef joint with veg. You just put everything in & forget about it & then later when you are ready it's all done for you. When I worked I'd put everything in it the evening before & just turn it on before I went to work & as soon as I came through the door in the evening the smell of the food was gorgeous especially on a cold wet night! Mine has high, low & automatic settings so I tend to use the auto one the most. It cooks high first then automatically switches to low. I have that & an electric pressure cooker which is also very useful if you've not prepped anything or didn't know what you wanted, you can just throw it in there & it's done in minutes! I also do all sorts in that too & ham joints etc are done beautifully in it. When I've used most of the ham I use the last of it & the stock & add peas to make a pea & ham soup. (You could use your dried peas in your slow cooker Sean & do a soup😋)

[@DarkMoonEmporium]

A slow cooker will use a lot less power than the solid electric ring. I use mine instead of my oven for many things - I've even made cake in mine.

[@clarewild5196]

Slow cooker a joint of beef & you'll never go back to cooking one in the oven same with a gammon joint. Stews, casseroles, soups, whole chicken, bolognaise, chilli & so much more all great in slow cooker. Don't burn or dry out & no having to stir them. I put mine on high for first hour then low for the rest. Always been a success & nothing ruined 😊

[@gwenscoble6229]

Sorry your energy bill is still so high although electric heating is usually more expensive per energy unit than mains gas. You are lucky to be on the mains. Is your kitchen part of the house it looks like a single story add on. The walls look thick from the width or your windowsill but is there good insulation under that sloping roof. Quite a lot of headspace so you may be able to put up some insulation boards up. Quite an outlay especially with decorating a new ceiling but may be worth it. I have also noticed you don't have a window covering in the kitchen. Another layer, even over a double glazed window improves insulation. You may be able to find curtains in a charity shop. On a windy day, I've walked around my house with a lit candle. When it 'gutters', it shows a draft. You can pinpoint a window or door that isn't wind tight. Don't forget to check your roofspace trap too. Excluding drafts is one of the cheapest ways to improve the heat retention of a house.

[@michaelandrews3251]

Sean your sitting there with a t shirt on ? Put some layers on mate😊

[@susanmastalski3653]

I planted mine today also. Cat grass for my kitty also. Moon flower and morning glory for morning and evening blooms...from NC USA

[@SuzanneU]

I use my slow cooker to make chunky apple sauce when apples are really cheap. We have a pear tree that gives us a glut of fruit every second year - these pears aren't very nice as fresh fruit but they do make very nice spicy chutney. Slow cookers makeexcellent bone broth. You can also make puddings in a slow cooker.

[@xvsupremacy7190]

Interesting tyvm for tips .

[@amandar7719]

Yay. Got seeds started! 😊 If you’re getting an electric bicycle, do be sure your landlord’s insurance covers in-house charging. Our home insurance is void if a fire starts from an electric bike.

[@ingeleonora-denouden6222]

Hi. I just heard a podcast interview with two Dutch gardeners and they both said it isn't needed to buy special compost for sewing seeds. They use organic potting soil mixed (half-half) with sandy soil from their garden.

[@deebrownsell412]

I use a large slow cooker and a huge saucepan for my sole meal batch cooking. Don't over fill the slow cooker.The smaller models are a waste of time.Fill your belly with good home made food!

[@sandraengstrand2784]

The slow cooker is a wonderful thing to have!! Wonderful for bigger cuts of meat. I always cook corned beef and cabbage in it for St. Patrick’s day! Also great for chicken casseroles, chili, soup, and pretty much everything you can think of!! 😋😋

[@nicola4789]

You're going to love your slow cooker! Everything at low for hours. You can cook a full chicken, even bake a cake in it. The instruction booklet must come with some recipes.

[@DebbieRobb-tt5he]

Kitchen looks good sean. I am not a fan of slow cookers but dont put too much liquid in at first a lot of liquid comes out of your veg. It's lovely you have fitted back into Wales so quickly and how time flies. I agree with the allotment its nice to have it close to you.

[@Angel-002]

Also a lot of liquid comes from the condensation & drips from the lid. I love my slow cooker & used it a lot when I worked. Just throw everything in, put it on auto before I left the house & come home to good hearty meals already done. As soon as I walked into the house I could smell the food & it was lovely especially on a cold wet winters evening. You can't beat it.

[@dianeirvine1384]

Real good for silverside. That’s meat. With a couple of cups of water. That water after meats takin out is great for soup. Just add all your vegetables etc. Silverside is just lovely cooked for a long time.

[@dianefarnden8577]

I'm so glad you are doing no-dig. I too have visited Charles Dowding with my late partner and we had a large no-dig veg plot in our Norfolk garden. We were self-sufficient in fruit and veg and made our own compost. I have done the reverse to what you have done and moved to a new build house with a small garden to be nearer to family and to facilities. I am planning my small garden and will find room to grow some produce, even if it is only salad stuffs. I was the sower and grower and it brought back happy memories of sowing in my greenhouse this time of year. It is good for the soul. I don't have a slow cooker but I recently bought a soup maker. I usually make soul the traditional way but I have to say this device has been very useful at times when I couldn't be bothered to cook much -you know what it's like living alone! It really is just a matter of chopping up whatever you have, adding stock, choosing whether you want chunky or smooth and waiting for 21 minutes. It produces 4 decent servings which you can freeze. I worked out the cost at 30p each time I use it. It also makes jam and smoothie if you want. Your fuel situation seems high given the low temperature you have it set to. I purposely bought a new build for its eco credentials. Over the period from November to now my gas and electricity use is £130 a month - the house temp has not been lower than 16.5 degrees C without heating. I have downstairs set to 20 degrees and upstairs to 18 degrees between 7 am and 8.30 pm each day downstairs and 7-9 am /7-8.30 pm upstairs and my water is heated for one hour a day. Of course being well-insulated means that the boiler is not actually on a lot during this period as it only needs to top up. During the summer months I mainly used electricity and that was about £56 a month and gas for heating water for one hour a day. I expect your cottage isn't well-insulated hence your high bills. Have you checked your loft insulation - you may be eligible for a grant?

[@marywilson6760]

Diane, that a brilliant comment. As well as being helpful for Sean, it will help many other viewers too. 😊

[@dianefarnden8577]

Thank you.

[@dianefarnden8577]

Thanks.

[@dianefarnden8577]

My soup maker is Daewoo - it was a Which recommendation.

[@dianefarnden8577]

I did indeed mean soup. Think your comment is aimed at making a stew in a slow cooker - you can add cooked meat to soups made in a soup maker towards the end of the cycle.

[@declanconway2903]

Well Sean I use a ceramic salt cellar to put the seeds in and they come out one at a time.

[@MarieCB916]

Corned beef/ silverside is lovely done in a slow cooker. It’s what we call it in NZ.🫕

[@sammywalrus]

Also I grew the American wonder pea last year and they are FANTASTIC raw!

[@176franks]

Just heard that train line you featured in a recent video is open

[@rhondafarmer4824]

Hi Sean from nz I cook stews in my slow cooker. Braised beef carrots peas red peppers parsnips onions etc with my favorite herbs. Not potatoes as they turn to mush. Good luck.

[@jo-annoconnor3]

Hi from Canada 🇨🇦 I think I may have met my match with you when it comes to how many cups of tea I have in a day. Lol I laugh each time you say, it's time for a cup of tea. I'm usually right there with you, either making it or drinking it. Love to see your cats, glad to see they've settled in. When I moved home 6 years ago, I brought my then 3 cats (only two now) with me and it was a 5 hour drive. I set them up in a basement bedroom so that when the movers came the next day, they were safe and no risk of them running out. Looking forward to seeing your garden as the weather warms up. Thanks for your videos and a chance to see some of Wales!

[@maureenmckenna5220]

Got a gift of a pint plant from a neighbor and in it went. Took me years to get rid of it. It spread all over. Plant it only in pots. I even had it grow into the soil from the pot! But, what an aroma. Lovely.

[@zoepatterson3643]

Sausage casserole brill in the slow cooker ,you can get many packets of seasonings ,but brown the sausage of first .

[@calSwain8282]

I'm holding off on my seed planting till mid to late march

[@k9513]

Just an observation, the cooking utensils you have on the round rack, you could put some hooks on your new shelf rack and hang them on their??? Enjoy watching your video's. Ps, a slow cook lamb stew in your new slow cooker is a must, especially with home made dumplings, yum.

[@Oldhip1912]

I make a casserole in with stewing steak or chuck steak and freeze excess in containers for meals when I don’t feel like cooking. I personally don’t add vegetables as I prefer fresh ones with my meal. I use mine more in summer as it gets too hot here in Australia to cook. It makes a lovely rice pudding too. I make the pudding in a container and put it in a water bath inside the slow cooker. I’m sure you’ll get a lot of use out of it.

[@gabrielletanner5339]

SLOW COOKER you can microwave the next and and freeze some for later.

[@rassman48]

Slow Cooker, I use mine a lot, but mine is a much smaller one than your's. It has an 'auto' setting and that is the only one I use. What this does is fairly quickly get the pot to a good starting temperature. Then just holds it there. I never start with cold water, in fact I brown off meats in a frying pan, then I heat the stock/gravy in there too before I put them in the pot. The trick (with mine, yours might allow it) is to never lift the lid until you are ready to use what you have cooked. Because it will go cold, only a tiny amount of energy is used to heat it, the rest comes from a build up of that heat in the food. Mince meat/steak pieces work great. But remember the extras you can do, a slow dry roast, just like my mum did years ago when the only cooker we had was at the side of the coal fire. She would put a Lamb leg in there before we all went to work, then a quick finish off when we all got home. Mine can't take a Lamb leg, your's might be able to. And the best thing in the world, slow cooked over night porridge is pure nectar, you have to make a lot or it doesn't work, I can fit a pint which is about right, I go for 50:50 water and milk. You can keep it chilled overnight to have it two days running, an Aunt of mine used to make it very thick then keep it in a draw (no fridge in those days) then she would take a slice every day for a week. Not sure I dare keep it that long.

[@cyndy_776]

That’s a great looking crockpot. Mines from the 80s and still going strong. I made a tasty pot roast in it yesterday and I like leftovers so it works out well. I hope your baby mint seedlings do well! I just planted some rosemary on my patio, it’ll grow like a weed here in Texas. 🌼

[@janehardy5028]

Slow cookers are great. Throw in your meat and veg and cover with gravy. 4-6 hours on high or 7-10 hours on slow (depending on when you start). Come back to a ready cooked meal at the end of the day when you are tired - beautiful 😋😁

[@gracethorogood1191]

You could make a lovely stew or chicken curry. I do many casseroles in mine. Braised beef in gravy is lovely done over a couple of hours cooking time. Even rice pudding.😊

[@pegsvintagethings6222]

I just made ham and beans in my slow cooker yesterday. Just rinse and soak the beans overnight. In morning put beans, some ham chunks and seasoning in slow cooker cover with water. Put on high and it will be ready by supper time.

[@ingeleonora-denouden6222]

By now you should have read the handbook that came with the slowcooker. Or at least I hope you read it before you start using the slowcooker. In my opinion handbooks are very useful, to know what to do with a new thing you bought or got 😊

[@debbierichard8674]

This seed info was so helpful. Thanks so much.

[@hotrodmom86]

How about a corned beef brisket with vegetables and cabbage. Maybe a pork lounge roast. There's so many things to make! Good luck in yournew place!!🎉

[@Missy_Marie12]

I love my crockpot!! I cook everything from soups, to ham hocks & beans to meat & gravies. It’s wonderful to just add your ingredients in the morning & dinner is done around 5pm! And there is always room for leftovers to freeze for dinners later :). Greetings from FL USA!

[@michael769senett8]

Hi you mentioned Charles and been to see him how aout Malcolm Kingswell ? what a plot. 🙂😊

[@seanjamescameron]

Don't know who that is sorry.

[@melissagannon5711]

Crockpots are great. Next thing you know you will be getting an insta pot, air fryer,countertop convection oven.....? A pressure canner is the ultimate!

[@booksknitsthings]

I've got the exact same big slow cooker, also living alone. Because I'm on Economy 7 overnight cheaper electric I just put it on low overnight - lots of water in, potatoes, 🥕, carrots, stock cube, other veg, I'm vegetarian so just make sure the meat is cooked through yourself. You can speed things up putting it on HIGH then reduce to LOW. I've just bought some perpetual spinach seeds 🍀 i just eat vegetable stew until its all gone - it warms up the room somewhat too

[@WaferBrik]

I've made a lovely chicken and potato curry in one of those. They do a great job of lamb shanks, too. Meat falls off the bone.

[@munchkinheaven]

I noticed that when you had your steamer in the corner it was very tall as you had the food containers stacked on top of each other, they can actually sit inside each other with the lid on when not in use, reduces the height so it fits in the cupboard. You probably know this, some people don’t, so I thought I would just mention it. I have subbed to your new allotment channel. Too old now to have an allotment but 2 of my sons have them and I like to go to them and just sit and chat and watch what’s going on throughout the year.

[@tinamcloughlin2710]

Make a lovely chicken casserole in that slow cooker to start Sean, so easy just chicken veg of your choice stock and seasoning til you work out the perfect recipe. Start off on high then turn down to low. Chicken cooks quicker than lamb or beef. When I get home I put Aunt Bessie frozen dumplings on top then they are ready in about 20 to 30 minutes. Perfect

[@fionasaunders7646]

Dumplings yummy idea 👏

[@apace903]

Looks very nice. You made good choices. 😊

[@anneharrington7951]

Use the slow cooker on the lowest setting as a heat mat to quick-sprout a tray of seeds. Some water inside, a tray of seedling cells on top. Sprout anything in 2 days.

[@eleanorandrew7789]

Sean you can use slow cooker 2 make chicken stew any stew or spaghetti bolognaise I got 1 last year for myself it's really good what you dont use put in tub and then in fridge or freezer elle x

[@karenandriancontainergardening]

Hardy soup or stew and freeze it in single serving portions. Watching you sowing seeds feels good. It’s like you are getting into a routine in your new home. Yes, it’s exciting watching you getting settled. 8 weeks, wow! Time do flies. Enjoy your tea and take care

[@ingridbond3432]

am amazed at how much i enjoy a very simple visit/chat w you, sean. you have such a way that you could/can do nothing and it would still be an enjoyable visit. what is that?

[@yvonneturner5505]

Stew and dumplings are great in slow cooker also bolognaise chilli and gammon just you tube some great recipees enjoy

[@tenminutetokyo2643]

Slow cook a whole chicken with some onions, garlic, pepper, and tumeric and cummin. Let it simmer for a few hours, then turn it up hot for 30 mins. Out of this world. And it makes the chicken so tender it melts in your mouth.

[@janecox4173]

As you say Wales is a good busy.

[@pam14321]

3bed house and 3 adults, two of which are home all day every day, we’re with octopus and pay £160 and month,currently £360 in credit. Give them a try for sure.👍🏻👍🏻

[@jeangpayne3925]

Loving views of Wales as we used to live in Porth and miss the valleys a lot. The problem with just heating 1 room is condensation and damp in other areas as well as being costly. Might be better using central heating to cut in and out on a timed basis so nowhere gets really cold. Husbands advice ex heating and electrical repairs worker. A heated throw is a good idea.. I think many people working from home. Use them. Best wishes

[@SausageFingers73]

If it has an auto setting that is to use when you put meat in without it being fried off first, it will automatically start it off on high and change itself to low. I usually do chilli con carne, curries and casseroles, including sausage casserole

[@annwright7552]

Talking heating, home is all electric and pricey so I limit heating to 2 hours in evening. If it's chilly before heating comes on I use an electric throw on sofa, very economical and warms you, not wasting heat warming ceiling etc. just a thought 🤔

[@LandGirlGB]

You will absolutely love the crock pot! You can place it on low and leave it for hours! Yes it’s safe! In the US you can place a whole chicken with veg on low for 6-8 hours and your home will smell amazing and it’s so delicious- you can also make a yankee pot roast - a small rump roast with one can of condensed mushroom soup do not dilute the soup just place on top of the roast you can place carrots onions potatoes in the pot turn on low and let it cook for 8 hours yes 8 hours - you will absolutely love it. If you wish to place gravy inside the pot you can after it’s cooked and mix with the soup mix. You can have the roast with mashed potatoes, or what we call in the US an open faced sandwich. Which is 2 pieces of bread toasted and smoother the meat and gravy on top! It freezes well - Enjoy!❤

[@SausageFingers73]

I have a slow cooker but its a lot smaller. Don't fall in to the trap of thinking if it doesn't say slow cooker on the packet that you can't use it in a slow cooker. I use a lot of jar sauces and can use all of them in the slow cooker and the liquid doesn't disappear. With yours being, i'd say too big for one person, maybe the sauces would dry out a bit as it would be more spread out

[@joythorp4688]

I Cook a joint of roast beef in mine, then use the water for the gravy

[@mrsb_96]

Keep your big pot! You will always need it. I love my slow cooker, but sometimes you need to cook something more quickly and that's one of the ways your big pot will come in! Slow cooker is great for joints of meat (instead of roasting), sausage casserole, stews, soup, rice pudding to name a few things. I never bother browning the meat or sausages first as it doesn't seem to make any difference. You don't need as much fluid as you would cooking on the hob. It's important to be organised to chop and throw it all in the pot in the morning, then you can go out all day leaving it on the low setting. It will all cook beautifully and smell wonderful when you come home!

[@star_etraWrites]

I routinely put the slow cooker on low and keep it low. I hardly EVER cook on high. We cooked a beef roast in it last night and put fajita seasoning and onions/peppers (frozen) on top. It was so good!

[@historybarf]

I’m making cubed steak and gravy in my crockpot today. I’m cooking it on high for two hours and then low for four hours. I’ll serve it over mashed potatoes and cook carrots for a side dish.

[@gaselekrauss415]

Roast beef potatoes and carrots. Add a quarter cup of water and salt and pepper. I cook on low it takes about 6 hours. I add egg noodles the second day and cook on stove the second day for leftovers.

[@maggiej253]

Hi Sean, I'm with Octopus, and I have found them to be an excellent company to be with. I have a two bedroom flat and was paying £137 by direct debit and I'm just under £300 in credit. They contacted me to say they were lowering my payments as my credit balance was quite high. I have my thermostat set at 18.5 C. My flat hasn't felt cold once this winter. I thought your energy bill was extortionate but perhaps it's the difference between a house and a flat, where for me everything is on one level. Really enjoyed watching you explain about sowing the seeds and the temperature for germination. I have tried sowing seeds before in trays for my own tiny garden (without much success 🙈) Enjoy your Sunday Sean! P.s I bet that Welsh lamb dish you make would be lovely in the slow cooker😊

[@judimantos904]

Many people with 9-5 jobs prep food at night, put the food in the slow cooker in the morning on low + go to work. When they come home, dinner is ready. P.S. in the US, they sell slow cooker liners which makes clean up very quick.

[@seanjamescameron]

Great. That's the plan, switch on then off out to get back and eat in the evening.

[@sadiecantle5370]

Hi Sean Glad to see your kitchen is coming together your slow cooker looks great I hope you enjoy using it you can do lovely soups casseroles and pudding take care sadie

[@lyndapet1]

The big pan is ideal for making jam .

[@tassiegirl1991]

I tried one slow cooker with meat following directions to the t, came home the meat was raw. Next day i took it to work offered it to anyone and it was gone. Work colleagues swore by them (nurses) but not for me. Hope you have more success with yours, looks like the same size.

[@dereknash3638]

With regards to your gas/electricity remember your unit charge for gas may be cheaper per kWh, although your daily standing charge is far higher with electricity, mine it’s 44p per day electricity as per 29.60 per day with gas. We never use our electric fire for heat only the flame affect cost minimal, our gas is set at 19 during day, 17 at night, very rarely does it drop below 17 at night. All the rads throughout our bungalow are turned on to full. According to our hive meter our boiler is on for just under a total 3 hours per day.

[@lindastone679]

If you get your lean to outside the back door sorted out, and create yourself a small greenhouse area to potter in, in bad weather, it will keep you very busy, it will take a while to get that how you want it. Maybe a seat in the greenhouse area to sit in, in the mornings, and then work on your back garden in better weather, it will take you this year to get it all how you want it. You will be able to grow your own plants for the garden in your lean to/greenhouse and then look into getting an allotment for next year, and you can use your Greenhouse area to grow your seeds for your allotment. Don't overstretch yourself Sean, you are back in Wales to relax and enjoy your surroundings, if you get too busy with your allotment too soon, you are going to defeat the object of getting yourself fit and healthy in mind and body again. Loving the videos, I am recently widowed and living alone so your journey is spurring me on, Thankyou.

[@susanmatthews7761]

Was very basic with my slow cooker - if I was going to work I put it on low when I left the house and served up when I got home around 6/6.30. When I left it later and didn’t use it till lunch time, I would put it on high for a few hours (2-3) before turning it to low. Another tip, if you have loads of veg and stuff which may spoil, is to prepare the ingredients and create a bag of prepared veg and meat, label and freeze. Then if you are rushing about, you can take it out of the freezer, throw it in the slow cooker and head off for the day. No waste kitchen 👍

[@justmenicole4842]

The slow cooker, personnaly , i dont leave plugged in , unless in use. The button is easy to turn and i always worry that i inadvertently turn it on . its great for meals, spaghetti sauce , but also for cooking down tomatoes to make sauce for canning. :)

[@sheila4694]

Best thing we ever bought were slow cooker bags. Once you've finished cooking just take the bag out and put in rubbish bin. My husband does chilli, mince in gravy, stews, bolognese. Always best to preheat the cooker first.

[@donnastacey7227]

I was going to say the same thing, slow cook liners save messy clean up and any extra portions you can just lift out to refrigerate or freeze. About £1 for 5. Electricity is a lot more expensive than gas Sean, I guess what will happen is the kWh rate will reduce but they will keep the standing charge the same 😢

[@Kathlee-l4z]

Put your name on the list for a plot if a suitable on comes up and your offered it then make up your mind then. I think you should use your central heating what’s the point in heating just a tiny space using electric heating your need the whole house reasonably warm even if it’s only two hours each evening if your not all ready close the curtains every evening get some for kitchen window .

[@Kathlee-l4z]

My gas and electric combined came to £124 for January my bills are variable each month so the gas is a lot lower in the spring summer months I cook on gas cheaper in my opinion I’m retired but not using any heating during the day . I never overfill the kettle a money wasted if you do . Next washing machine use around 2 times a week on a 30 wash during the summer I select a slightly longer washing time it a slower spin but the washing goes out side so drying is outdoors .

[@TR-jc8pc]

Same slow cooker I have,many meals been made and very economical

[@Shantelle6253]

Probably best to keep the pot for if the electricity goes out. Also, to avoid parasitic draw from your small appliances it's best to leave them unplugged when not in use.

[@seanjamescameron]

My cooker is electric.

[@Shantelle6253]

@@seanjamescameron I'd then suggest, once you've settled in, you start thinking about emergency preparedness. Each Country and County I've lived in was very different and had different expected emergency scenarios so I don't know what that looks like for Wales. However, a gas stove is essential during outages. I have a few portable propane and/or butane stoves that I use for camping and tiny ones I used while backpacking. A good cup of tea can improve even the most dire emergencies.

[@Cotswoldsaily]

Hi Sean. I thought this may be useful for you. My cat wears a collar with an air tag in it so I know where she is all the time! It’s brilliant. And should they get over 150m away it alerts you. So much less stressful! Warm regards Paul x

[@marionquinlan4757]

You can make loads of difference foods in your slow cooker. Curry's, stews, Bacon &cabbage, soup, even roasts. How are your cats settling in. Hope you are settled and well also.

[@margaretalice6343]

Upcycling the cat box impressive 👍. Perfect size tbh. Ya don’t need any thing else.

[@paulhollens1519]

Great video 😊 Switch to Octopus as soon as you can! They are the cheapest around .Also using gas for heating is far cheaper than electric. Best look into it . Jen and Paul x

[@ajonthe_edge]

Slow cooker chilli, veggie curry, lasagna sauce.. freeze single portions and you'll be set, slow cooker that size makes enough for about 6-8 meals. Recipes BBC good foo, slow cooker section. Enjoy!

[@cherryrotella3714]

Hello Sean 👋🏻 Thankyou for your video. Loads of recipes online for slow cooker. I am with Octopus and am very happy with them. Don’t have large bills. I give them my meter readings regularly. I live in a one bedroom little house similar to yours. Have a nice Sunday. It’s yet another rainy day here in Devon 🙆🏼‍♀️ My garden is like a quagmire 😮

[@raphaelahons3479]

Hope your weather will ease enough 🙏🏼