John Chatham - The Slow Cooker Cookbook: 87 Easy, Healthy, and Delicious Recipes for Slow Cooked Meals

The Slow Cooker Cookbook

Copyright 2012 by Rockridge University Press, Berkeley, California

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ISBN: 978-1-62315-016-7

Chapter 1

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 your Crock Pot can be easy, fun and delicious. Its something that you can do on a daily basis to get dinner on the table even if that dinner is a sharp and cheesy lasagna or a light and flavorful salmon chowder. You can literally make anything in your slow cooker, and in this book, youll be amazed by recipes youd never dreamed that you could prepare so easily, ranging from breakfasts to desserts (yes, dessert!).

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 thing a pot with a high and low setting that cooks for long periods of time at a low temperature. The terms are interchangeable, and youll see both used throughout this book.

Basics of Crock Pot 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 correctly which you will after you have read this book.

With just two settings, high and low, a slow cooker does exactly that. It works its magic by transforming the ingredients you throw into the pot into a yummy meal, and does so at a slow and steady pace. In fact, even the high setting is not really high; its actually around 300 o , which is pretty low compared to typical oven settings. Have you ever set your oven to 300 o ? Rarely, if ever, right? 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, or delectable dishes that benefit from all those aromas being trapped in that 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 dont even have to do a lot of dishes since, for the most part, your meal was cooked in one pot.

Two Types Of Cooking

There are two types of Crock Pot cooking; one is easier than the other, although neither is really difficult. However, the end result 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, veggies, and rice cover 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 your ingredients in another pan before throwing them in the cooker. You brown your meat, saut your veggies or otherwise prepare your 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. Your slow cooker will tenderize your roast, and soften up your veggies, but there is nothing quite like the aroma and flavor you get from a good browned crust on your pot roast or the sweating of garlic and onions.

While the recipes in this book will most often rely on 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 will work that way, unless there is a note stating otherwise (ground meats always need to be browned), in which case you should just follow the directions or choose another recipe.

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

Before You Begin

• Slow cookers come in a variety of sizes, and, yes, size does matter. If you dont already have one, you should ask yourself how many people you are going to feed on a regular basis, and buy accordingly. For the best results, you do not want to fill the pot less than half or more than three quarters full. This means if you buy an extra large pot, youll be making extra large amounts of food. If youre not sure what capacity to get, or you think you will alternate the amount of food you cook in it, get two. Theyre not that expensive, and the quality of your dishes will be worth it. On average, a 4-5 quart slow cooker will generously feed a family of four. This is the size of the slow cooker that will be used for the recipes in this book, unless otherwise noted.