Simply Delicious Crock Pot Cookbook E-Book

Anne Schaeffer

• Herausgeber: Fox Chapel Publishing
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Seitenzahl: 113

Beschreibung

There's nothing better than coming home after a long day at work, and dinner is already done! Perfect for family dinners, poker nights, watch parties, and bonfire bonding, Crock Pot Essentials features 101 delicious slow cooker recipes that are easy to make, take minimal effort, and can either feed a couple or a big crowd. This collection of crock pot recipes includes ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert to satisfy any appetite or occasion! From breakfast burritos and blueberry cobbler to jambalaya, beef stew, barbecued ribs, and so much more, Crock Pot Essentials has all the inspiration you need to make the most of your slow cooker.

Leseprobe

© 2023 by Fox Chapel Publishing Company, Inc., 903 Square Street, Mount Joy, PA 17552.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright holders.

Recipe selection, design, and book design © Fox Chapel Publishing. Recipes and photographs © G&R Publishing DBA CQ Products, unless otherwise noted.

Shutterstock images: Dychkova Natalya (Verso Folio illustration), (22, 32, 38, 44, 50, 56, 62, 66, 102, 154, top); Elena Veselova (1); Keya (2), (21, 27, 29, 31, 37, 43, 49, 55, 59, 65, 69, 71, 113, 141, fork and spoon illustration), (34), (46, 142); Iryn (5, 6, 80, illustration); Ronald Sumners (8); bsd studio (9, top); TMA Harding (9, bottom); Bernd Schmidt (10); Barnawi M Thahir (11, pan illustration); Jiri Hera (11, bottom left); juliawhite (11, top); Lifestyle Travel Photo (11, bottom center); New Africa (11, bottom right); Angelika Heine (12); sherwood (13); robtek (16, bottom right); FoodAndPhoto (17, bottom); ungvar (17, top); Askhat Gilyakhov (18, 144); AS Foodstudio (22); Tunsale Ismaylove (24); tetiana_u (40, 152); oksanashu (73, bottom); Charles Brutlag (92); cupuuu25 (94); Back one line (104); Sahs (108); suns07butterfly (110, right); Brent Hofacker (112); Irina Rostokina (113, bottom); Yanina Nosova (52, 136, illustration), (118); Simple Line (126, 148, 156).

Print ISBN 978-1-49710-390-0eISBN 978163741236

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023936991

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CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

Your Cookware

Kitchen Accessories & Must-Haves

Food Safety

SOUPS & STEWS

Homemade Stock

Vegetable Stock {vegetarian}

Chicken Stock

Beef Stock

Crab Chowder with Roasted Veggies

Slow & Easy French Onion Soup

Savory Beef Stew

Creamy Broccoli-Cheese Soup

Cheesy Grilled Steak Sandwiches

Beefy Chipotle Chili

Canadian Bacon Chowder

Cabbage Roll Soup

Mexican Rice & Bean Soup {vegetarian}

Crockin’ Taco Soup

Vegetable Beef & Barley

Corn Chowder with a Kick

Tomato-Basil Soup {vegetarian}

Pesto Chicken on Ciabatta

Old-Fashioned Beef & Noodle Soup

Bean, Andouille & Spinach Soup

Turkey & Wild Rice Soup

Cheesy Potato Soup

Buffalo Chicken Roll-Ups

Beef Fajita Soup

Hearty Ham & Bean Soup

Easy Minestrone

Creamy Cauli ower-Parsnip Soup

Loaded Italian Grilled Cheese

Turkey Pot Pie in a Bowl

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Almost Lasagna Soup {vegetarian}

Granny Smith Squash Soup

Turkey-Brie Sandwiches

Southwest Chicken Stew

Shortcut Meatball Stew

Buffalo Chicken Noodle Soup

Chunky Couscous Soup {vegetarian}

Veggie & Hummus Pita {vegetarian}

Spicy Italian Sausage Soup

Meatballs & Tortellini Soup

Thai Pork Stew

Summer Pesto Soup {vegetarian}

Taste of Tuscany Chicken Soup

Veg-Out Sandwiches {vegetarian}

Eastern Clam Chowder

Split Pea & Smoked Turkey Soup

Hot & Sour Soup {vegetarian}

Teriyaki Pork Wraps

Classic Chicken Noodle Soup

Loaded Vegetable Soup {vegetarian}

Bacon Cheeseburger Bowls

Chicken Enchilada Soup

Chicken Tortellini Soup

Homestyle Chili

BREAKFAST

Overnight Apple Pie Oatmeal {vegetarian}

Coffee Cake Surprise {vegetarian}

Blueberry French Toast {vegetarian}

Sausage & Egg “Bake”

Huevos Rancheros {vegetarian}

SIDES & SNACKS

Loaded Potatoes

Bacon-Wrapped Corn

Creamy Loaded Corn

Fruited Rice Pilaf

Cooker Cornbread {vegetarian}

Green Beans Alfredo {vegetarian}

MAINS

Easy Slow Cooker French Dip

Chili Orange Chicken

Saucy Meatballs

Vegetable Lasagna {vegetarian}

Chicken Cordon Bleu

Jambalaya

Turkey Dinner

Cran-Orange Bread {vegetarian}

Italian Beef

Teriyaki Pork

Buffalo Chicken Pasta

Fiesta Mac & Cheese {vegetarian}

Honey-Apple Pork

Beef Brisket in Beer

Slow Cooker Kielbasa & Beer

Hawaiian Pizza

DESSERT

Pumpkin Dessert {vegetarian}

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake {vegetarian}

Deluxe Brownies {vegetarian}

Double Berry Cobbler {vegetarian}

MEALS FOR TWO

Apricot Oatmeal {vegetarian}

Hash Brown Casserole {vegetarian}

Mexican Egg “Bake”

Loaded Tater Tot “Bake”

Cheesy Salsa Chicken

Vegetarian Minestrone {vegetarian}

BBQ Ribs

Ham & Bean Soup

Bacon-Apple Chicken

Meatball Sliders

Italian Potatoes {vegetarian}

Shrimp Creole

Beef Stroganoff

Stuffed Peppers {vegetarian}

Jerked Pulled Pork

Black-Bean Tortilla Soup

Asian Orange Chicken

Pizza Pasta Casserole

Pepper Steak

BBQ Pork Chops

Garlic Smashed Potatoes

Cheesy Potatoes & Ham

Glazed Sweet Potatoes {vegetarian}

S’mores Brownies {vegetarian}

Stuffed Apple Duo {vegetarian}

Caramel-Rum Fondue {vegetarian}

Blueberry Cobbler {vegetarian}

Orange Cheesecake {vegetarian}

Introduction

Ah, the slow cooker. Just as the name implies, it is a vessel of cooking that takes delicious ingredients and slowly cooks them to perfection. The slow cooker is one of the most convenient and hassle-free ways to cook your favorite soups, stews, breads, desserts, and more. All you have to do is prepare your meal components and let your slow cooker take care of the rest—in the morning before work, pop in some ingredients. Throughout the day, your house will slowly fill with the delicious smell of food until finally you come home to dinner ready to be served. What could be better?

If you are a beginner at slow cooking, have no fear. I’ll provide some tips and tricks on how to get started. The most popular type of slow cooker is called the Crock Pot. You can find these at almost any kitchen supply store, and even some grocery stores. The recipes in this book will cover all major meals and some mini slow cooker ideas, depending on how many people you plan to cook for. Whether it’s the whole family or just you, there’s something for everyone within these pages and underneath the lid of your slow cooker of choice. So, shall we get started?

YOUR COOKWARE

The most common size of slow cooker is in the 5- to 7-quart range. However, some of these recipes were made and tested in smaller pots, ranging from 1½ to 7 quarts. Don’t panic! All recipes can be readjusted to your slow cooker size. All recommended sizes are listed with the recipes, but feel free to use this conversion chart for your convenience.

If you have a half-quart slow cooker, round up to the next whole size. For example, if you are converting a 6-quart recipe to fit your 1½-quart slow cooker, base your measurements off the 2-quart conversion. Also, the multiplications factors are quite specific. In most instances, you can eyeball the math and convert it to your taste.

Always fill your slow cooker halfway with components, but never more than two-thirds full. This is to ensure food quality and safety when cooking. The less full your slow cooker is, the faster it will cook. Also, your slow cooker insert can crack when exposed to sudden temperature changes. If the insert was refrigerated, let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before heating it up. After cooking, let it cool down for at least 30 minutes before refrigerating.

Keep in mind that some slow cookers have a “hot spot,” so be sure to rotate the insert halfway through cooking if this is the case. Even cooking is very important when using a slow cooker! is also means keeping the lid on for the duration of cooking unless specified otherwise by the recipe. If you remove your lid during cooking, heat can escape, which extends the cooking time by nearly 30 minutes. Also consider that oval cookers tend to hold more quantities and larger pieces of meat, while round cookers are usually best for soups and baked goods.

If you’re looking to buy a new slow cooker, its best to consider how many people you’ll be cooking for. You can reference this chart when shopping:

Number of People

Crock Pot Size

1 to 3 People

1 ½ to 3½ quarts

4 to 5 People

3 to 4½ quarts

6 to 8 People

6 to 7 quarts

9 to 10 People

7 to 8 quarts

There are two types of slow cookers on the market: manual and programmable. Some come with both options! Either will work just fine, but manual means you must keep track of your cooking time and know when to change temperatures. Programmable slow cookers will automatically switch temperatures at the time you tell it to. However, never delay starting your cooker after putting ingredients into the pot. This could prevent your food from cooking safely and cause bad bacteria to grow.

When you’re serving your food, avoid using metal utensils, which can scratch the surface of your slow cooker insert. Instead, use a wooden or nylon serving spoon. Once you’ve packed up your leftovers or devoured your dish, immediately rinse your slow cooker insert with hot water, then fill it with hot soapy water. Let it soak for a few minutes before taking a soft sponge to the inside.

KITCHEN ACCESSORIES & MUST HAVES

Other than your slow cooker, there are appliances and essentials that will be required for most slow cooker recipes. Be sure to stock up on these before you begin cooking!

Immersion blenders are used in a few soup recipes to puree ingredients.

Bouillon powder (chicken or vegetable) is needed for some slow cooker recipes for ultimate flavor.

Skillets are required for many recipes that need pre-browned veggies or meats.

Stock recipes are provided in the beginning of the book, but feel free to buy your own to save time.

Spices are the ultimate must-haves when using a Crock Pot! Be sure to review your desired recipes to buy the ones you need. Of course, it’s always helpful to have a good variety of spices in the kitchen.

Cornstarch and flour are required in many soup recipes.

Oil is used for browning and sautéing ingredients, and for coating your insert for baking recipes.

Slow cooker liners are convenient if you wish to avoid a mess when you’re finished cooking. They’re not necessities but are some people’s go-to accessory.

FOOD SAFETY

It goes without saying that a good bit of preparation goes into slow cooking. When thinking about prep, keep in mind that most meals require six to nine hours of cooking in the pot. Be sure to fully thaw frozen meats and vegetables before adding them to your slow cooker. Putting frozen meat into a slow cooker could cause bad bacteria to grow in your pot, making it inedible. Some recipes call for browning your meat or sautéing veggies before adding them to the slow cooker; we recommend doing this right before you’re ready to add ingredients. When placing ingredients into the slow cooker, put tougher meat and heartier root vegetables in first, on the bottom of the insert. More delicate and fast-cooking ingredients, like broccoli, should go on top.

It also helps to prep your ingredients the night before and refrigerate them overnight to save time the next day. However, don’t store the ingredients in the slow cooker insert while being refrigerated. Remember, this could cause your insert to crack when heated up or take too long to rise in temperature! Of course, you could also prep your meal the day of. It’s your kitchen!

It’s necessary to be aware of the potential food dangers when cooking with a slow cooker. Never delay starting your slow cooker after ingredients have entered the pot. Start your slow cooker immediately. Always fully thaw meats before placing them into the slow cooker. You can do this by planning ahead and thawing your meat in the fridge, or by putting the meat in cold water (while still in its packaging). awing times vary depending on the method.

Always refrigerate your slow cooker meal within two hours after it’s finished, or keep the slow cooker on a warm setting if continuing to serve food. But be cautious of the warm setting— you don’t want to overcook your dish! Try to keep the warm setting on for a minimum of two hours and maximum of four hours. Make sure your meal is fully cooled before putting it in the refrigerator. If you wish to freeze your dish, fill an airtight container to avoid freezer burn and ensure freshness when reheated. Consume within three months of freezing.

Always place meats on the bottom of the slow cooker to make sure they are closest to the heat source, and always keep your lid on unless otherwise specified by the recipe. This ensures even cooking. If you take off your lid, it releases heat. It’s recommended that you push cooking time back 30 minutes if the lid is removed.

Always check your meat’s temperature upon finishing (unless the meat is shredded). The recommended minimum temperature for most meats is 145°F. For specific meat temperatures, use the chart at right.