Slow Cooker Experiment

DanaC · 01-08-2008, 01:30 PM

Well....okay, experiment sounds way more exciting than this thread actually is, so please forgive me dragging you in here under false pretances *grins*

I just acquired my first electric slow cooker. Never used one before. I do like throwing bunches of different stuff into a big pan and cooking for a few hours with constant stirring and adjusting of water and adding more stuff and generaly faffing about.

This is my first attempt at using it and I have, straight away, abandoned this whole 'cut away all the fat from the meat and use only the leanest cuts' healthy nonsense. The fat's where the flavour is damnit!...bones if you can get 'em.

So. Pork chops (with some of the fat removed, cut into cubes, quick fried to seal em. Then sliced onion dropped into the fry pan with them, along with three cloves of garlic, peeled but uncut. Once onions caramelised and garlic partially smoked from sitting on top, time to go into the crockpot. First into the pot some sliced carrots, and cubed potatoes, then the onions and garlic, then the pork. Little salt, pepper and a sprinkling of chilli flakes along with some dried sage and parsley. Boiling water on top of that. On full for half an hour just to get it bubbling then diwn to slow for about four and a half hours. After that I added some tinned beans (without sauce) and some defrosted frozen cauli and broccoli. Also added a vegetable stock cube and a dash more herbs. Leaving it now for another couple of hours on slow.

I'll let ya know how it turns out

aimeecc · 01-08-2008, 01:35 PM

Sounds wonderful

If you venture into the pot roast realm, substitute the water in the recipe for diet coke. No, don't laugh! The acid (or something like that) keeps the meat juicy. You can't taste it after its been roasting for 8 hours (my guests had no clue and raved about it... then my husband gave away my secret)... and the meat will slice like melted butter.

Cloud · 01-08-2008, 01:56 PM

does it have to be diet?

aimeecc · 01-08-2008, 02:02 PM

All the recipes I saw called for a "diet coke". I'm sure it can be diet pepsi or diet RC or diet whatever cola... but I'm not sure it can be regular. Never tried it. Might have something to do with the chemical interaction with nutrasweet.
Also, I do cook the vegetables with the meat - and there is absolutely no cola taste absorbed by the vegetables. I worried about this the first time I tried.

Shawnee123 · 01-08-2008, 02:02 PM

Hmmm, I really need to try that. Thanks!

DanaC · 01-08-2008, 02:16 PM

Oooh. Might try that. I can imagine the sweet taste just adds body in the same way red wine vinegar, or a spoon of strawberry jam in onion gravy does.

Clodfobble · 01-08-2008, 05:41 PM

I've also seen several versions that call for root beer, usually with pork roast instead of beef.

Radar · 01-08-2008, 05:58 PM

I'm so happy you made this thread. I've only recently gotten into the slow cooker thing. I have been playing around with it. From what I gather, pork is difficult to do with a slow cooker without drying it out.

I've got the most amazing, delicious and easy pot roast recipe if you are interested though. It's great. It takes 5 minutes and everyone thinks you're a great cook.

I did also buy some slow cooker cookbooks. The one thing I've learned from them all is to make good meals, you don't just toss ingredients into the slowcooker and expect magic. You've got to do some prep work which takes a bit of time, but if you do it, you get some wonderful results. For instance, most of them suggest you sear or brown your meat before putting it in the slow cooker to get more flavor.

Sperlock · 01-08-2008, 09:39 PM

I just got a slow cooker myself for Christmas, though I have not used it yet. I do want to try this chicken tortilla soup recipe that one of my friends told me about:

4 chicken breast halves
2 15-oz cans of black beans, undrained
2 15-oz cans Mexican stewed tomatoes, or Rotel
tomatoes
1 cup salsa
4-oz can chopped green chiles
14.5-oz can tomato sauce

torilla chips
2 cups grated cheese

1. Combine all ingredients except chips and cheese
into slow cooker
2. Cover. Cook for 8 hours on low.
3. Just before serving, remove chicken breast; slice
into bite-sized pieces
4. To serve, put a handful of chips in each
individual soup bowl. Ladle soup over chips. Top
with cheese.

Radar · 01-09-2008, 12:17 AM

The Best Slow Cooker Pot Roast Ever!

....in my humble opinion

INGREDIENTS

1 - 3lb Beef Roast (any kind....Chuck roast, rib roast, etc.)

1 - 1 1/4 ounce package dried brown gravy mix (or 2 small packets)

1 - 1 1/4 ounce package dried Italian salad dressing mix (or 2 small packets)

1 - 1 1/4 ounce package dried ranch dressing mix (or 2 small packets)

1 cup - water

1 - 1 lb bag of peeled baby carrots

1 - 1 lb bag of pearled white onions (peeled)

6 - 8 small red potatoes

5 - garlic cloves

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Pour all of the dried packets into a bowl and mix them together.

2. Peel the garlic cloves and slice them lengthwise once.

3. With a very sharp knife make little slices into the meat and put a half a garlic clove into the little slit all around the roast.

4. Place the roast on a plate and sprinkle the powder mix over all sides of it.

5. Cut the red potatoes into quarters and line the bottom of the slow cooker with the pieces.

6. Pour the bag of baby carrots into the slow cooker evenly over the potatoes.

7. Pour the peeled pearled white onions evenly over the potatoes and carrots.

8. Put the roast into the slow cooker on top of the vegetables.

9. Pour the remaining powder mix over everything in the slow cooker (especially the roast)

10. Pour the water over the roast and vegetables.

11. Cover the slow cooker and cook for 8-10 hours.

I've tried this recipe and it really is fantastic and really easy. Setup is about 5 - 10 minutes and the results are amazing.

BrianR · 01-08-2008, 11:54 PM

I live out of my slow cooker.

It doesn't even have to be diet...it's the acid, not the sugar content. I sometimes use Coke (Aspartame gives my headaches and blurred vision). You can also use vinegar.

DanaC · 01-09-2008, 05:19 AM

Hmm....reckon that'd work if the ingredients were halved? Mine's quite a small slow cooker compared to many (as is appropriate for my teeny tiny house). Sounds bloody lovely though. As does the Mexican chicken dish.

Update on pork broth:

Was very nice. Very nice indeed. I wasn't sure when I first started eating, thought maybe the seasoning wasn't quite there, but couldn't quite put my finger on what was up. As I ate though, I started to really like it. I think I am just used to much more heavily seasoned (i.e prepackaged stuff) food and have got out of the habit of 'real' food.

D liked it too. He had two bowls

I did take a couple of pics of the pot whilst it was cooking (camera seems to be working again yey!) had intended to also do a shot of it with the lid off looking steamy, but then D arrived and I got distracted and forgot that's what I was gonna do :P

Will post pics later, when I have more time.

glatt · 01-09-2008, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanaC

had intended to ... , but then D arrived and I got distracted and forgot that's what I was gonna do :P

"got distracted", huh? Is that what they are calling it these days?

busterb · 01-09-2008, 09:03 AM

Radar's recipe has pearl onions. Anyone have tips on peeling the little bastards? Think the last bag I had, said something about boiling water. Whatever, I must have done it wrong.

melidasaur · 01-09-2008, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by busterb

Radar's recipe has pearl onions. Anyone have tips on peeling the little bastards? Think the last bag I had, said something about boiling water. Whatever, I must have done it wrong.

You can also buy them frozen, already peeled.

I had a cookbook that was all slow cooker recipes, even desserts! I need to find that bugger. I tried a few of the recipes and they were very good.

01-08-2008, 01:30 PM	#1
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Slow Cooker Experiment Well....okay, experiment sounds way more exciting than this thread actually is, so please forgive me dragging you in here under false pretances grins I just acquired my first electric slow cooker. Never used one before. I do like throwing bunches of different stuff into a big pan and cooking for a few hours with constant stirring and adjusting of water and adding more stuff and generaly faffing about. This is my first attempt at using it and I have, straight away, abandoned this whole 'cut away all the fat from the meat and use only the leanest cuts' healthy nonsense. The fat's where the flavour is damnit!...bones if you can get 'em. So. Pork chops (with some of the fat removed, cut into cubes, quick fried to seal em. Then sliced onion dropped into the fry pan with them, along with three cloves of garlic, peeled but uncut. Once onions caramelised and garlic partially smoked from sitting on top, time to go into the crockpot. First into the pot some sliced carrots, and cubed potatoes, then the onions and garlic, then the pork. Little salt, pepper and a sprinkling of chilli flakes along with some dried sage and parsley. Boiling water on top of that. On full for half an hour just to get it bubbling then diwn to slow for about four and a half hours. After that I added some tinned beans (without sauce) and some defrosted frozen cauli and broccoli. Also added a vegetable stock cube and a dash more herbs. Leaving it now for another couple of hours on slow. I'll let ya know how it turns out

01-08-2008, 01:56 PM	#3
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	does it have to be diet? __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

01-08-2008, 05:58 PM	#8
Radar Constitutional Scholar Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 4,006	I'm so happy you made this thread. I've only recently gotten into the slow cooker thing. I have been playing around with it. From what I gather, pork is difficult to do with a slow cooker without drying it out. I've got the most amazing, delicious and easy pot roast recipe if you are interested though. It's great. It takes 5 minutes and everyone thinks you're a great cook. I did also buy some slow cooker cookbooks. The one thing I've learned from them all is to make good meals, you don't just toss ingredients into the slowcooker and expect magic. You've got to do some prep work which takes a bit of time, but if you do it, you get some wonderful results. For instance, most of them suggest you sear or brown your meat before putting it in the slow cooker to get more flavor. __________________ "I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death." - George Carlin

01-08-2008, 09:39 PM	#9
Sperlock Elite Elitist Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 322	I just got a slow cooker myself for Christmas, though I have not used it yet. I do want to try this chicken tortilla soup recipe that one of my friends told me about: 4 chicken breast halves 2 15-oz cans of black beans, undrained 2 15-oz cans Mexican stewed tomatoes, or Rotel tomatoes 1 cup salsa 4-oz can chopped green chiles 14.5-oz can tomato sauce torilla chips 2 cups grated cheese 1. Combine all ingredients except chips and cheese into slow cooker 2. Cover. Cook for 8 hours on low. 3. Just before serving, remove chicken breast; slice into bite-sized pieces 4. To serve, put a handful of chips in each individual soup bowl. Ladle soup over chips. Top with cheese. __________________ Every oak tree started out as a couple of nuts who stood their ground. - Anonymous http://informationthreshold.blogspot.com, http://spiritualthreshold.blogspot.com

01-09-2008, 12:17 AM	#10
Radar Constitutional Scholar Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 4,006	The Best Slow Cooker Pot Roast Ever! ....in my humble opinion INGREDIENTS 1 - 3lb Beef Roast (any kind....Chuck roast, rib roast, etc.) 1 - 1 1/4 ounce package dried brown gravy mix (or 2 small packets) 1 - 1 1/4 ounce package dried Italian salad dressing mix (or 2 small packets) 1 - 1 1/4 ounce package dried ranch dressing mix (or 2 small packets) 1 cup - water 1 - 1 lb bag of peeled baby carrots 1 - 1 lb bag of pearled white onions (peeled) 6 - 8 small red potatoes 5 - garlic cloves INSTRUCTIONS 1. Pour all of the dried packets into a bowl and mix them together. 2. Peel the garlic cloves and slice them lengthwise once. 3. With a very sharp knife make little slices into the meat and put a half a garlic clove into the little slit all around the roast. 4. Place the roast on a plate and sprinkle the powder mix over all sides of it. 5. Cut the red potatoes into quarters and line the bottom of the slow cooker with the pieces. 6. Pour the bag of baby carrots into the slow cooker evenly over the potatoes. 7. Pour the peeled pearled white onions evenly over the potatoes and carrots. 8. Put the roast into the slow cooker on top of the vegetables. 9. Pour the remaining powder mix over everything in the slow cooker (especially the roast) 10. Pour the water over the roast and vegetables. 11. Cover the slow cooker and cook for 8-10 hours. I've tried this recipe and it really is fantastic and really easy. Setup is about 5 - 10 minutes and the results are amazing. __________________ "I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death." - George Carlin

01-08-2008, 01:35 PM	#2
aimeecc Super Intendent Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 249	Sounds wonderful If you venture into the pot roast realm, substitute the water in the recipe for diet coke. No, don't laugh! The acid (or something like that) keeps the meat juicy. You can't taste it after its been roasting for 8 hours (my guests had no clue and raved about it... then my husband gave away my secret)... and the meat will slice like melted butter.

01-08-2008, 02:02 PM	#4
aimeecc Super Intendent Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 249	All the recipes I saw called for a "diet coke". I'm sure it can be diet pepsi or diet RC or diet whatever cola... but I'm not sure it can be regular. Never tried it. Might have something to do with the chemical interaction with nutrasweet. Also, I do cook the vegetables with the meat - and there is absolutely no cola taste absorbed by the vegetables. I worried about this the first time I tried.

01-08-2008, 02:02 PM	#5
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Hmmm, I really need to try that. Thanks!

01-08-2008, 02:16 PM	#6
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Oooh. Might try that. I can imagine the sweet taste just adds body in the same way red wine vinegar, or a spoon of strawberry jam in onion gravy does.

01-08-2008, 05:41 PM	#7
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	I've also seen several versions that call for root beer, usually with pork roast instead of beef.

01-08-2008, 11:54 PM	#11
BrianR Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,338	I live out of my slow cooker. It doesn't even have to be diet...it's the acid, not the sugar content. I sometimes use Coke (Aspartame gives my headaches and blurred vision). You can also use vinegar. __________________ Never be afraid to tell the world who you are. -- Anonymous

01-09-2008, 05:19 AM	#12
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Hmm....reckon that'd work if the ingredients were halved? Mine's quite a small slow cooker compared to many (as is appropriate for my teeny tiny house). Sounds bloody lovely though. As does the Mexican chicken dish. Update on pork broth: Was very nice. Very nice indeed. I wasn't sure when I first started eating, thought maybe the seasoning wasn't quite there, but couldn't quite put my finger on what was up. As I ate though, I started to really like it. I think I am just used to much more heavily seasoned (i.e prepackaged stuff) food and have got out of the habit of 'real' food. D liked it too. He had two bowls I did take a couple of pics of the pot whilst it was cooking (camera seems to be working again yey!) had intended to also do a shot of it with the lid off looking steamy, but then D arrived and I got distracted and forgot that's what I was gonna do :P Will post pics later, when I have more time.

01-09-2008, 09:03 AM	#14
busterb NSABFD Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: MS. usa Posts: 3,908	Radar's recipe has pearl onions. Anyone have tips on peeling the little bastards? Think the last bag I had, said something about boiling water. Whatever, I must have done it wrong. __________________ I've haven't left very deep footprints in the sands of time. But, boy I've left a bunch.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)