I've been thinking for a while about buying a slow cooker. I've never owned one and up until recently, have never considered buying one. But I keep on seeing gorgeous recipes for soups, meals and all kinds of interesting foods, made using a slow cooker. Plus it strikes me that, at this time of year when it's cold outside, it would be lovely to fill the house with the smell of winter cooking . . . without my having to spend all day cooking. Of the recipes I've spotted recently, here are three of my favourites.