I'm late to the game, but I finally got a slow-cooker this year and ever since I've been making up for lost time with it! I've made chili, stews, pot roast and even dessert in it. Today I am taking dinner to some friends, so I have the slow cooker going while I work. The thing is, I associate slow-cookers with cold weather and comfort food. And today is going to be one of the first spring-like days this year -- sunny and upper 60s. Fortunately, the cranberry-chipotle beef I am making is served with lime and tortillas, making it a bit less wintery.
Slow-cookers make it easy to take your hospitality on the road. Mine comes with a locking lid, so I can just unplug and go. I've probably taken my crock-pot out more than I've used it at home, delivering meals to the sick, the busy, and the pregnant among my friends and family. It stays warm a long time and easily heats up upon arrival.
Earlier this year, I bought a Better Homes & Gardens slow-cooker specialty magazine and I've been testing the recipes in there. The cranberry-chipotle beef recipe BHG has online is similar to what's in the magazine, but not exactly the same as it is served over brown rice instead of tortillas. The magazine edition recommends garnishing with lime wedges, salsa, and (de-seeded) jalapeno peppers over tortillas. That's what I'm trying today.
My favorite dish to make is the gingerbread pudding cake. It fills the house with a wonderful aroma and takes less time to make and cook than the typical slow-cooker recipe. Served warm with vanilla ice-cream -- yummy! Makes me feel like I am back in London for some reason.
What's next to try? Well, though magazines and cookbooks are helpful for finding new recipes, I'm more excited when people I know post online what they like and recommend. My friend, Rebecca, is an excellent cook and her latest series on her blog about her favorite slow-cooker recipes has my mouth watering. I am eager to try a few of her recommendations, too!
(Images from the Better Homes & Gardens recipes.)
Pea Soup
1 Bag split peas
1 Carton beef broth
2 Bay leaves
ΒΌ Cup finely chopped onion
Place split peas in slow cooker. Cover with beef broth and add onions and bay
leaves. Cook for three to four hours on high or longer on medium heat, stirring
each hour, until soup is a smooth consistency. I like to use an immersion blender to blend it all really smooth when it's done cooking.
Posted by: Sarah Bosse | February 17, 2011 at 12:23 PM
My favorite slow cooker resource (which has now also become two great cookbooks) is the blog A Year of Slow Cooking (http://crockpot365.blogspot.com). Many awesome, delicious ideas!
Posted by: Sarah Fowler | February 17, 2011 at 01:06 PM
Wow, this plus the Crock Pot love letter on Stuff Christians Like makes me think I should really invest some time in learning to use a slow cooker. Thanks! :)
Posted by: Lily | February 17, 2011 at 01:07 PM
Slow cooker "12 hour stews" - favorites for me also. Cold weather and comfort food, absolutely! Unfortuntely... though I love the results, my kids usually don't! (Oh well, more for me that way....)
{;-)
Prayers from here, Carolyn.
Posted by: KCAlb | February 17, 2011 at 06:53 PM
Yum. I love my slow cooker, and use it all the time. I have lots of recipes from here and there and I think the Taste of Home Slow Cooker compilation. One of my favorite stews in the winter is very easy and works equally well with either chicken breasts or thighs or with pork chops or cutlets. Chop up 2-3 pounds of potatoes (fingerlings are especially nice) several carrots, an onion cut into wedges. Put the potatoes, carrots, onions in and layer the meat on top. Dump one can of (low sodium) mushroom soup and one can (low sodium) cream of chicken soup over the top, sprinkle with fresh ground pepper, and cook on high for 8 hours.
Posted by: Michelle | February 17, 2011 at 10:53 PM
Oh I love this post and all the comments...drool drool.
Posted by: Liz | February 18, 2011 at 04:29 PM
Here is an amazing slow cooker Baked Potato Soup!
http://theazrussums.blogspot.com/2011/02/best-baked-potato-soup.html
Posted by: Jen | February 19, 2011 at 03:25 AM
May I ask what size you bought? I'm not sure which size would be practical for me. I cook for others sometimes, but I live by myself.
Posted by: KS | February 24, 2011 at 01:22 PM
In retail, the month when crockpots start flying off the shelves is called "Crocktober."
Posted by: Tawn O'Connor | March 07, 2011 at 09:43 PM