Slow cookers
I've noticed an upswing in the use of slow cookers...maybe because I use one, too!
I went to a dinner party and the hosts served beef brisket that they had cooked in the crock-pot. They used a recipe they got off (I think) a southern food web site. The sauce was made with dark beer and a little brown sugar. It was delish.
My brown rice and chorizo is cooking back home. When I get home tonight at 6pm, the house will smell good. It's a Spanish rice dish that I got from "Not your mother's slow cooker cook book," which has lots of good recipes.
I've also adapted the long cooking, traditional Italian red sauce for the slow cooker, and it is mighty tasty.
What are some of the things you like to make in yours? Are there sites and cookbooks that you like?
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
Start Talking!
Need a question answered? Have advice to share? Start a Talk topic now!
Sign up to get your questions answered and share advice.
7 Comments:
I'm all about the slow cooker. I think it makes the best barbecued baby-back ribs ever, with not a whole lot of effort.
I like to improvise too, as long as I'm using meat that can stand up to long, slow cooking -- any kind of ribs, brisket, any cartilaginous cuts.
The other night I browned floured and seasoned meaty country-style pork ribs, sauteed onions, leeks and green garlic, and put it all in the slow cooker with lots of carrots and fresh herbs and about half a bottle of white wine wine -- no other liquid, since the slow cooker doesn't need much. About an hour before we were ready to eat, I buried a bunch of little new potatoes under the meat. A delicious, reasonably healthy and not heavy meal (the country-style ribs are not particularly fatty), making use of seasonal produce, too. And I didn't have to light the oven or stand over the stove. Lots of leftovers for another meal, too.
I'd love to see the recipe for brown rice and chorizo -- sounds like something we'd love!
Julie at 11:43AM on 07/21/08
I love slow cookers! I just wish I could find some really delicious and HEALTHY recipes -- ones without processed soups and canned whatever -- to cook in mine.
I do beans, vegetarian chili in mine, and that's about it. Does anyone have a site where I can find recipes that have fresh ingredients??? I'd be REALLY grateful!
Brownie at 4:00PM on 07/21/08
I have two slow-cookers (different sizes), and I love them. I use them for so many things - stocks, stews, meatballs, stuffed cabbage, "baked" beans, brisket, you name it!
I don't ever use any canned soups or whatever, even though I don't have any special recipes. I simply adapt my "regular" ones - pretty much anything that requires braising/ "low & slow" cooking can be done in a slow-cooker, you just need to take into account the fact that there is little to non evaporation in a slow cooker and adjust the amounts of liquids accordingly. Also, the searing part (for meat and/or vegetable braises) has to happen in another pan (or, in some cases, in the oven - I bake my meatballs before I introduce them to the sauce, as opposed to pan-searing, it's less messy and actually faster. But mostly, less messy:-)) since you won't be able to do it in a slow cooker. Otherwise - the sky is the limit, I'm telling you!
brooke29 at 4:50PM on 07/21/08
It's hot where I live and I had a craving for roast pork fried rice over the weekend. I took some boneless country-style pork ribs, cubed them, threw them in a crockpot along with crushed pepper and garlic and a generous dousing of soy sauce. A few hours later I had tender, simply flavorful pork to toss with my fried rice. Sounds way too pedestrian to taste so good but it was, in fact, very tasty and I remained as cool as a cucumber.
holdthemayo at 7:53PM on 07/21/08
I make Green Chile Pork Carnitas in mine. You can google it and get many many recipes for it and they are all similar. One thing I do differently is to put the meat in a 400 oven at the end of cooking in the slow cooker to brown it and crisp it a little. Roll in warm tortillas with avocado and salsa.
ocarol at 10:52PM on 07/21/08
I have been meaning to make carnitas in the slow cooker. I've also been meaning to make salsa genovese (braised pork shoulder in red sauce) in the slow cooker, too. So many recipes, so little time...
@Brooke29: absolutely, it's all about adapting foods that would stew/braise, with less liquid. And I'm with you about not using canned soups! Make it fresh!
@holdthemayo: those pork ribs sound good! My mouth is literally watering, and it's only 8:30 a.m.!
@julie: ditto, I'd love to try your country ribs recipe. I've never done spare ribs, but short ribs, yes. They were om nom nom!
Have you ever done "barbecue" pork shoulder in the slow cooker for southern pulled pork sandwiches? Some pickles, some baked beans, some cole slaw on the side, and you will be crying tears of awesome.
Brown rice and chorizo, courtesy of "Not your mother's slow cooker" cookbook: 1 lb. chorizo (COOK first!!), diced; 1/2 cup chopped onion; 1 clove crushed garlic; 1 chopped red bell pepper; 3/4 cup short grain brown rice; 1 1/2 cups water; 1 TBSP. chile powder; 2 tsps Worcestershire sauce; 1 chopped jalapeno pepper; 2 cups chopped tomatoes (okay to use canned). Put it in the slow cooker, stir everything to mix, and cook on LOW setting for 8-9 hours.
Yesterday I skipped the jalapeno and the chile powder and used a mix of red, green, yellow and orange mini sweet peppers, as well as a can of corn, to make it all colorful. A simple one pot meal, but very tasty.
LadyMarmalade at 8:39AM on 07/22/08
Crockpots are soo handy! My grandma made cholent every week in hers, and now my brother carries on the tradition. It's so delicious especially when you know it's been cooking all day, the flavors really come out!
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 5:09PM on 07/22/08