I SWITCHED the slow cooker on for the first time today and I'm already looking forward to the smell of beef stew greeting me when I get home.

Stewing steak, parsnip, potatoes, carrots, leek, onion and a couple of cloves of garlic were slung in alongside a tin of tomatoes, a glug of red wine and some hot water. And I chucked a bay leaf in for good measure. No frying, no flour, no faffing.

While I was looking for inspiration I came across this recipe, from our Taste section.

Pork, orange and star anise casserole

Serves 4. Preparation time: 20 minutes; Cooking time: 8-10 hours; Cooking temperature: lowl slow cooker size: standard

1tbsp sunflower oil

4 pork shoulder steaks or boneless spare rib chops, about 700g (1lb 7oz), each cut into three

1 onion, chopped

2tbsp plain flour 4

50ml (3/4 pint) chicken stock grated rind and juice of 1 orange

3tbsp plum sauce

2tbsp soy sauce 3-4 whole star anise

1 fresh or dried red chilli, halved (optional)

salt and pepper

grated orange rind, to garnish

To serve: Mashed potatoes mixed with steamed green vegetables, such as peas and cabbage.

Preheat the slow cooker if necessary – see manufacturer’s instructions.

Heat the oil in a large frying pan, add the pieces of pork and fry over a high heat until browned on both sides. Lift the pork out of the pan with a slotted spoon and transfer to a plate.

Add the onion to the pan and fry, stirring, for five minutes or until lightly browned.

Stir in the flour, then mix in the stock, orange rind and juice, plum sauce, soy sauce, star anise and chilli, if using. Season with salt and pepper and bring to the boil, stirring.

Transfer the pork to the slow cooker pot and pour the sauce over it.

Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours. Serve with mashed potatoes mixed with steamed green vegetables and garnish with grated orange rind.

Warn diners not to eat the star anise.

If you don’t have any star anise, use a cinnamon stick, broken in half.

If you like garlic, add two cloves, finely chopped, just after frying the onions.

Do you have a slow cooker? What's your favourite recipe? Do you add flour and fry the meat first or just whack it all straight it? Let us know in the comments.