Prep was pretty easy (done in the morning) – beef (browned), onions (softened and mixed with garlic, thyme, salt and pepper and some sugar and flour), some bacon or pork belly (chopped and crisped) – all into the pot with 500ml of beer – it advised a hoppy beer so we went for Stella – although on reflection the carbonnade may have been darker and stickier if we had gone for a dark/brown beer.

10 hours later the house smelt amazing and we cooked up some french fries (that’s the traditional way of eating it – I am advised), and devoured it with crusty white bread and a heavyweight Medoc (which I can feel just behind my eyes this morning).

One point for the slow cooker – it was awesome! I’m having a go at curry today – eek!