Crock Pot Cooking
Crock pot cooking
I love fall for so many reason but one of my favorite things about the season is pulling out my good old crock pot. Cooking in the crock pot is quick and easy. The best part about it is that you have a home cooked meal when you get home from work. Here are some helpful tips to using your crock pot this season, or any season.
Crock pots come in different sizes and usually have two or three setting; low –200 degrees, high – 300 degrees and warm -165 degrees. Some older crock pots may vary so you’ll want to keep an eye the first few times you use your new or used crock pot.
Fatty foods such as meat will retain heat more. If you are cooking meat it is best to trim off the fatty part or place it on top with your vegetables like carrots and potatoes, such as in a beef stew, on the bottom and sides.
Crock pots are known for simply being able to “set it and forget it”. However, if you have the time to marinate and/or brown your meats and sauté your vegetables it will add more flavor to your meal.
To assure all food is thoroughly cooked you will only want to fill your crock pot about 1/3 of the way full.
Avoid opening the crock pot while it is cooking. If you must open it at anytime make sure to add an additional 20 minutes to your cook time.
Lastly, Enjoy!
Here is one of my favorite crock pot recipes: Beef Stew
Ingredients
• 2 pounds stewing beef
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled
• 2 or 3 bay leaves
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 3 medium potatoes, quartered
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 3 large carrots, sliced
• 3 ribs celery, chopped
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 gallon sized sealable plastic bag
Directions
• Combined salt, pepper, paprika and flour into plastic bag. Add beef to bag coating all sides with mixture.
• In large skillet heat oil on medium/high and brown meat on all sides. Do not cook through.
• Place potatoes, carrots, celery, and onions at the bottom of your crock pot with beef on top.
• Add beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, bay leaves. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours
• For thicker gravy, remove 2 cups of broth from crock pot and combine 2 tablespoons flour in a separate. Mix together until smooth and stir into crock pot. Cook for another 20 minutes.
*Try serving over egg noodles