| Slow cookers or crockpots are one of the easiest | | | | slow cooker on warm or low for serving. |
| ways to prepare a meal for a busy mom that has to | | | | 6. To make the cleaning easier, slow cookers can be |
| be all over the place every day. | | | | sprayed with cooking oil. |
| There are several advantages to slow cookers: | | | | 7. As slow cookers retain the moisture more than in |
| | | | conventional cooking methods, you may need to |
| 1. You can prepare the food on the previous day, | | | | decrease the liquids in a recipe. Be sure the slow |
| keep it in containers in the fridge and quickly get it | | | | cooker is 1/2 to 2/3 full, or the capacity |
| going in the slow cooker in the morning. | | | | recommended in your instruction book. |
| 2. The food remains fresh in the slow cooker for | | | | 8. It may be necessary to decrease seasonings, |
| several hours which means that the food can keep | | | | including salt, as they often become more |
| for a while until the family is ready to eat. This | | | | pronounced with the longer, slower cooking. |
| makes it very easy to fit meal times into everyone's | | | | 9. Normally with a slow cooker, milk, cream, sour |
| busy schedule. | | | | cream, and other dairy products should be added |
| 3. Slow cookers put out very little heat into a room, | | | | during the last hour of the cooking time. |
| making them a wonderful way to prepare hot meals | | | | To start you off, here is a tasty recipe: |
| in the summertime. | | | | Sweet and Sour Pork Chops |
| 4. As you are using the longer cooking times at a | | | | Ingredients: |
| lower heat, you can buy the cheaper cuts of meat | | | | - 4 lean pork chops, trimmed of excess fat |
| and the long cooking process will ensure that the | | | | - 1 tbsp flour |
| meat turns out very tasty and tender. | | | | - Salt and freshly ground black pepper |
| The following guidelines apply to MOST slow cookers: | | | | - 2 tbsp oil |
| | | | - 2 onions, finely chopped |
| 1. It is essential that you always defrost meat and | | | | - 6 tbsp vegetable stock |
| cut it into small pieces. Whole roasts or chickens will | | | | - 4 tbsp soy sauce |
| cook so slowly that the interior of the meat may | | | | - 4 tbsp tomato paste |
| remain cool long enough to encourage bacterial | | | | - 4 tbsp soft brown sugar |
| growth. | | | | - 4 tbsp dry sherry |
| 2. Most slow cookers should be 1/2 to 2/3 full for all | | | | - Plain rice to serve |
| recipes. | | | | Method: |
| 3. The temperatures of most slow cookers vary | | | | |
| from 170 degrees to 300 degrees. | | | | 1. Season the flour with salt and pepper; dust the |
| 4. Unless it is specifically stated in a recipe, do not | | | | chops with the flour, shaking off any excess. |
| remove the lid while cooking. Removing the lid allows | | | | 2. Heat the oil in a frying pan (skillet) and brown the |
| heat to escape, and usually increases required | | | | chops quickly on all sides. |
| cooking time by at least 20 minutes for each time | | | | 3. Transfer to the slow-cooker. |
| you remove the lid. So resist the temptation! | | | | 4. Add the onions to the pan and cook for about 5 |
| 5. It is very important not to reheat food in a slow | | | | minutes, stirring occasionally, until beginning to turn |
| cooker. The food will reheat too slowly in the slow | | | | golden brown. |
| cooker and that increases the danger of bacterial | | | | 5. Stir in the remaining ingredients and bring just to |
| growth which can result in food poisoning. It is safe | | | | the boil. |
| to reheat food to the proper temperature in the | | | | 6. Pour over the chops in the slow-cooker. |
| microwave or on the stovetop, then put it in the | | | | 7. Cover and cook for 5-8 hours on LOW. |