Salinas Press - The Slow Cooker Cookbook: 75 Easy, Healthy, and Delicious Recipes for Slow Cooked Meals

THE BASICS

W hen you think about slow cookers, what comes to mind? If you answered hearty winter meals such as savory stews or pot roasts, you are not alone. For many, this is the only type of food for which they use their slow cookers. This is great if you love these kinds of dishes, but what if you are looking for something different?

You dont have to look anymore. Cooking in a slow cooker can be easy, fun, and delicious. Its something that you can do on a daily basis to get dinner on the tableeven if that dinner is a sharp and cheesy lasagna or a light and flavorful salmon chowder. You can make just about anything in a slow cooker, and The Slow Cooker Cookbook will show you how to prepare easy dishes ranging from breakfasts to desserts (yes, desserts!).

What Is the Difference Between a Crock Pot and a Slow Cooker?

There is no difference, except that the term Crock Pot is a trademark owned by Rival; they invented the concept of a slow cooker back in the 70s. They are the same thinga pot with a high and low setting that cooks for long periods of time at a low temperature.

Basics of Slow Cooker Cooking

So, first up, what is a slow cooker, and who would want to use it? Well, truth be told, its one of the simplest appliances in your kitchen. It might also be the one that will get the most use if you know how to use it correctlywhich you will after you have read this book.

With just two settings, high and low, a slow cooker works its magic by transforming the ingredients you throw into the pot into a yummy meal at a slow and steady pace. In fact, even the high setting is not really high; its around 300 degrees Fahrenheit, which is pretty low compared to typical oven settings. But this is where the slow cooker shines. It works by heating foods at a low temperature for a long period of time, with the end result being tender meats, flavorful vegetables, and delectable dishes that benefit from all those aromas being trapped in the pot for hours at a time.

Who has eight hours to wait for dinner to be ready? Everyone, including you. Youre at work all day, right? If so, you are the person for whom the slow cooker was invented. Unlike traditional cooking in which you would have to spend an hour or so in the kitchen preparing your meal, the slow cooker works while you do. You simply get it started in the morning, and when you come home, your dinner is ready. No more getting home after a long day and wondering what youre going to do for dinner. You can eat immediately upon arrival and spend the rest of your evening doing what you enjoy. You wont even have a lot of dishes to wash because, for the most part, your meal was cooked in one pot.

Two Types of Cooking

There are two types of slow cooker cooking; one is easier than the other, although neither is really difficult. However, the end results will be much different.

The first method is the easiest, and one that you may rely on when you want the simplest way of cooking possible. You put everything in the potmeat, vegetables, and ricecover it, turn it on, and go. After eight hours, you come home to a meal, with no cleanup whatsoever.

The other method is similar, except that you will prepare some of the ingredients in another pan before throwing them in the cooker. You brown the meat, saut the vegetables, or otherwise prepare the ingredients for their long day of cooking.

Why would you want to use the second method, since it is obviously more trouble than the first? The reason is pure and simple: flavor. The slow cooker will tenderize the roast, and soften up the vegetables, but there is nothing quite like the aroma and flavor you get from a good browned crust on a pot roast.

While the recipes in this book usually give you instructions for the second method of cooking, feel free to skip the preparation steps and throw your ingredients into the pot as is. All of the recipes in this book work either way.

Before you get started, there are several things that will make using a slow cooker more enjoyable and give you better results. If youve never used a slow cooker before, these tips will prove to be very helpful. This is the easiest form of cooking youll ever do, but it doesnt hurt to know a bit before you begin.

The Basics of a Slow Cooker Pantry

You can use a slow cooker for just about any meal. Its great to have when you know youll have a busy day and just want to have dinner ready when you get home.

If you want to be able to put together some dishes fast, having the right ingredients available will be a big time saver. Keep these items on hand, and youll be able to put together a delicious meal at a moments notice.

Refrigerated Items

• Unsalted butter
• Heavy cream
• Cheese
• Whole milk
• Fruit
• Fresh lemons, oranges, and limes
• Fresh herbs to add at the end of cooking

Frozen Items*

• Meats, such as frozen chicken breasts, roasts, and pork chops
• An assortment of fruits and vegetables

* Do not put any frozen food in your cooker, including vegetables. They will reduce the temperature of the cooker and add extra moisture. Always thaw these ingredients before use.

Canned Goods

• Beans
• Tomatoes
• Tomato paste
• Chicken, beef, and vegetable broth
• Canned chilies
• Prepared salsa

Oil/Vinegar/Flavoring

• Vegetable oil, for sauting foods when you dont want to add a lot of flavor
• Olive oil, for adding a depth of flavor to certain dishes
• Sesame oil, for Asian dishes
• Balsamic vinegar
• Apple cider vinegar
• Red wine vinegar
• Soy sauce
• Mustard
• Tabasco or your favorite hot sauce

Starches

• Hard durum wheat pastas, which are best for the slow cooker
• Brown, white, wild, arborio, and jasmine rices
• Grains such as barley, bulgur, and millet
• Dried beans, peas and lentils

Dried Herbs and Spices

• Allspice
• Basil
• Bay leaves (always remove these before serving, as they can be a choking hazard)
• Cayenne pepper
• Chili powder
• Cinnamon (both ground and whole sticks)
• Cloves
• Coriander
• Cumin (ground)
• Curry powder
• Fennel seeds
• Herbs de Provence
• Jerk seasoning
• Marjoram
• Powdered mustard
• Nutmeg
• Oregano
• Paprika
• Rosemary
• Saffron (its expensive, but a little goes a long way)
• Sage
• Thyme

Cooking Methods

Youll find that while you can cook almost anything in a slow cooker, some foods work better than others. The following foods can be put in the cooker and will be tender and delicious after an eight-hour slow braise:

• Tough cuts of meat such as whole chuck roasts, pork roasts, chicken breasts and thighs, lamb, and veal
• Hearty vegetables including potatoes, carrots, turnips, beets, and celery
• Greens including spinach, kale, collards, and mustard greens
• Cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower
• Beans and lentils

Some foods will not be able to withstand that much cooking. The following list contains foods that either need a much shorter cooking time or must be added near the end of the cycle:

• Dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and sour cream, all of which should be added just before serving or they are likely to curdle. Some dairy products may be added in the beginning but cooked on the low setting.
• Fresh herbs, which should be added in the last 15 minutes of cook time, with the exception of rosemary, which can be added at the beginning.