For anyone who enjoys good food but has little time to spend cooking, as well as a household budget to manage, an electric slow-cooker can be the perfect solution.

They can be used day or night, and you don't have to stay in to keep an eye on the pot while you produce hearty family food. Warming Soups to try include Chicken Noodle Soup; Slow-cooked Onion and Cider Soup; and Italian Vegetable and Bread Soup. Starters and Light Bites include Blue Cheese Fondue and Beef and Ale Pâté. Comforting one-pot Meat dishes include Provencal-style Daube of Beef; Slow-Braised Lamb Shanks with Red Wine, Rosemary and Garlic; Meatballs in Red Pepper Sauce; and Moroccan Lamb Tagine. Deliciously easy recipes for Poultry and Game include a classic Coq au Vin; Lemon Chicken with Herbed Dumplings and Chicken Jalfrezi. Try a healthy recipe for Fish and Seafood such as Mediterranean Chunky Fish Stew or Keralan Coconut Chilli Prawns. Nourishing Vegetarian and Vegan Dishes include Root Vegetable Ragù; Smoky Hotpot of Great Northern Beans; Fennel and Mushroom Risotto; and Thai Red Pumpkin Curry.