using things

[mizkit]

Just like everybody else, we have a slow cooker. Just like everybody else, we never use it. But in my quest to use things or get rid of them, I have stated emphatically that I’ll make something with the slow cooker at least once a month, and if I don’t, in six months I’ll get rid of it.

To that end, I’m using it. I got a slow cooker cookbook, and

Comments

[deborahblakehps]

I have a slow cooker and about four or five cookbooks for it. I still don't use it much :-) Although it is great for making applesauce in the fall, when I have a bounty of Golden Delicious from my two trees.

[anthony_lion]

you know, I've only ever seen ONE store here in Norway that sells slow cookers?

And as best as I can figure out, they only sell it because no one else did and they thought they could steal the market. Except, it doesn't seem like anyone is buying them.

[mizkit]

Perhaps Norwegians have an innate sense of what will actually be used, and can take one look at a slow cooker and go "ahahaha no"?

[anthony_lion]

Yeah, right...

Like my waffle iron, toaster, Jello molds or ice cream maker?
That's just some stuff an SEE in my kitchen, and which I know hasn't been used for a year or more... (The toaster hasn't been used yet... )

I even have a pasta maker attachment for my Kenwood somewhere.

Up in the attic I have a fruit/berry drier, a humidifier, at least 3 camping stoves...
A hammock. Don't even have a clue as to where I can hang it.

[bellinghman]

Slow cooking is definitely a different way of cooking. It's all about turning those boot-leather cuts of meat into the most tender and tasty dishes.

Having noted that, one thing you get used to is how some things will not cook at all. At the same time as your ox cheek is turning almost into a jelly, you can have some vegetables almost untouched.

(Our oven has reasonably good low temperature control, so I don't use a stand-alone slow cooker much any more. But a joint of beef cooked at 65C over the day can be rather nice.)

(Yes, yes, I would like that sous-vide machine please.)

[irishkate]

What is a slow cooker?

[pers1stence]

crockpot is technically a brand name, but that's what lots of Americans call it anyways. http://www.crock-pot.com/

[mizkit]

And here I used 'slow cooker' on purpose because I was being Oirish about it and all, since Americans pretty much always call them crock pots. :)

[pers1stence]

I do a lot of soups with it and find it's a good way to get in a bunch of those healthy greens that I don't much care for eating straight up (spinach, kale, chard). I often toss in beans, chicken broth, greens, mushrooms and maybe a bit (less than a full serving) of bacon/ham/prosciutto based on whatever happens to be in the larder. And since they don't have a lot of root veg in them (because I don't like the texture of frozen/reheated taters) or hardly any fat, they freeze and reheat really well. I do them in a big batch and then freeze them in single-serving sizes, so I don't have leftovers for days on end. Plus the freezing means they transport more easily to work (no leaking!) to be defrosted and heated in the microwave at lunch time (thinking for Ted's lunches in that case).