Graubart - Slow Cooker Double Dinners for Two : Cook Once, Eat Twice!

SLOW COOKER DOUBLE DINNERS FOR TWO

Cook Once, Eat Twice!

Cynthia Graubart

Photographs by Rick McKee

S LOW C OOKER D OUBLE D INNERS FOR T WO

C OOK O NCE, E AT T WICE!

Digital Edition 1.0

Text 2014 Cynthia Graubart

Photographs 2014 by Rick McKee

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any means whatsoever without written permission from the publisher, except brief portions quoted for purpose of review.

Gibbs Smith

P.O. Box 667

Layton, Utah 84041

Orders: 1.800.835.4993

www.gibbs-smith.com

ISBN: 978-1-4236-3626-7

Acknowledgments

I owe a debt of gratitude to the incomparable Nathalie Dupree for her friendship, mentorship, and most of all, the idea for this book! Im still loving our near thirty-year journey together and treasure your support.

My team is simply fabulous: photographer Rick McKee shot these taste-tempting photos (with the patience of a saint); talented food stylist Nan McCullough brought out the very best in my recipes (its our second book together); Elise Garner is my right hand in times of crisis, exemplifying all you could want in an assistant; and Rebecca Battle, who has the most gentle and professional manner, was my double in thought, word, and deed when my energies had to be focused elsewhere during shooting.

My publishing team at Gibbs Smith gives me plenty of reasons why producing a book with a small publisher is such a pleasure. Deep thanks to my editor extraordinaire, Madge Baird. Thanks also to all of those who perform duties behind the scenes that when put together make a wonderful book that Im proud to put my name on.

My family has enjoyed this journey with me and provides such love and support. Thank you to my husband, Cliff, and my children, Norman and Rachel.

Slow Cooker Double Dinners for Two

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

The Rival brand Crock-pot in avocado green, circa 1970, was the slow cooker I grew up with. It was the appliance that revolutionized my mothers kitchen as she raised two children while working and attending college. Having dinner ready and waiting was a boon to her then, and has remained so for me even today.

This countertop treasure has been there as an extra pot to hold side dishes warm for parties, has made dinner while I carpooled to baseball games and ballet lessons, and now provides portion-friendly dinners for just my husband and me.

I truly enjoy what I call recreational cookingwhen I have music playing in the background, my favorite retro apron tied on my waist, and lots of pots and pans simmering, boiling, roasting, and baking, with my thoughts on the friends and family that will gather at my table to share these dishes made with love.

What I find most challenging in the kitchen is putting a regular meal on the table night after night. While raising my family, I was a master at meal planning and always knew what we were having for dinner. Now with my nest empty, Ive felt a little lost.

One of the biggest transitions from cooking for my family to cooking for two has occurred at the grocery store. Those family packs of chicken thighs still cackle their siren call toward me from the meat case, and I must say I find it difficult to resist. But honestly, why do I need ten chicken thighs? Even regular-sized packages serve at least four people!

Thats when I realized that I could still purchase the regular pack, but instead of making a full recipe of a dish that would yield leftovers, I could do two different preparations, yielding two completely different flavors. Using slow cooker liner bags as cooking bags, I could separate the two recipes to keep them from commingling in the crock and thus produce what Im calling Double Dinners . Now you can cook two different meals in the same slow cooker at the same time, yielding one dinner for tonight and a second meal for another night this week, or wrap it to freeze for another time. Cook once, eat twice! Now theres a real time-saver!

So now you see why I think that every cook passes through one phase or another where a slow cooker can be a lifesaveror at least a sanity-saver! Whether you are a newlywed, an empty nester, living in a small apartment, or cook in a place where the slow cooker might be the only appliance available (vacation cabin, boat, or RV), this book is for you.

The recipes do not call for browning or other additional preparation steps requiring another appliance such and a stove, oven or microwave. Each recipe is designed for two, with a little left over for lunch or perhaps a second light meal or a third drop-in diner. All of the ingredients can be found in your local grocery store, without an extra trip to a specialty store.

SLOW COOKER SAFETY

Read the manufacturers guide that came with your slow cooker. It contains information unique to your appliance. Never use an extension cord to plug in a slow cooker. The cord is purposefully short to prevent the appliance from accidentally tipping over.

The outside of a slow cooker gets hot, so keep it away from children and pets, low-hanging cabinets, and walls.

Do not wash a slow cooker insert until it has cooled or the pot might crack .

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

First, obtain the slow cooker liner bags. They are essential to the success of the recipes. At the present time, Reynolds brand is the most widely available, usually found on the same grocery aisle as plastic bags and aluminum foil. Regency Wraps, Inc., also makes liner bags, found online or at some specialty retailers. Reynolds and Regency liners are BPA-free and approved by the FDA for cooking.

The recipes have been created in pairs (As and Bs) to make it easy on the cook. Each pair calls for a common package size of chicken, beef, lamb, or pork to split between two liner bags. Each A and B will have separate preparation directions, and at the end of recipe B will be the cooking directions for cooking both bags in the same slow cooker.

Ive tested all of these recipes in my Cuisinart 3 1/2-quart slow cooker. A 4-quart slow cooker is also a good size here. For a variety of slow cooker recipes for two, including everything from the classic pot roasts, to Cornish hen, to side dishes of potato gratin and ratatouille, see my previous book, Slow Cooking for Two: Basics, Techniques, Recipes (Gibbs Smith, 2013).

WHY SLOW COOKING?

Slow cooking is an ideal cooking method to tenderize tough cuts of meat. Its also a boon to the busy cook who could benefit from a recipe that cooks unattended. A slow cooker uses about the same amount of electricity as a 75-watt bulb.

ABOUT SLOW COOKERS

SELECTING A SLOW COOKER

Slow cookers are available in many sizes, from just 1-quart all the way up to 7-quart. For a typical family, a 5- to 7-quart size is ideal, but its too large when cooking for two. Ive found the best size for me is the 3 1/2-quart slow cooker. There are a few choices in that size range; I like one with these handy features:

• High, Low, Warm, and Off settings

• Programmable Timer

• Auto switch to Warm at the end of cooking time

• Power indicator light

• See-through lid

• Removable crock

• Oval shape (more accommodating to irregular-shaped foods)

IMPORTANT RECIPE TIPS