Delicious and Dependable Slow Cooker Recipes - Softcover

Finlayson, Judith

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0778800539 ISBN 13: 9780778800538

Publisher: Robert Rose, 2002

Synopsis

Slow cookers have been rediscovered by a whole new generation of busy people. The reason is quite simple: imagine being able to throw some wholesome ingredients into a cooker, close the lid and come home to a hot, satisfying meal at the end of the day. A perfect mealtime solution! However, every memorable meal begins with innovative and creative recipes. In Delicious and Dependable Slow Cooker Recipes, you will discover mouthwatering recipes that allow you to create outstanding meals with a minimum of effort. This extensive collection of over 175 recipes contains a wide range of dishes from starters to soups, beef to seafood, and even desserts. Whether you're serving a weekday meal to your family or entertaining special guests, there's a recipe here to delight and satisfy everyone.

Here are just some of the delicious and dependable recipes you can enjoy: Spicy Artichoke Dip, Peppercorn Pâté, Creamy Corn Chowder, Mulligatawny Soup, Classic Beef Stew, Sauerbraten, Saucy Pork Chops with Cranberries, Chicken in Onion Buttermilk Gravy, Mussels in Lemongrass Tomato Broth, Turkey and Sausage Chili, Tomato Mushroom Lasagna, Cider Baked Beans, Hot Breakfast Cereals, Double Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake, Apricot Almond Pudding.

over 175 recipes for everything from appetizers to desserts
more than 50 full color photographs
helpful pantry notes
vegetarian recipes
extensive tips and techniques for foolproof results
make ahead ideas
recipes for every occasion

About this title

About the Author

Judith Finlayson is a journalist and author with a life-long love of cooking. She began her career writing feature food articles, reviewing restaurants and developing recipes for magazines. This is the second slow cooker book she has written which integrates a wide range of cooking influences into an eclectic collection of recipes. She is also the author of the bestselling The 150 Best Slow Cooker Recipes.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Chicken 'n' Dumplings

Serves 4 to 6

There is something quintessentially comforting about chicken and dumplings. Perhaps it is the familiar flavors in the simple chicken stew or the gentle blandness of the dumplings, which suggests a willingness to accommodate whatever comes their way. In any case, this is delicious family-style fare.

1 tbsp (15 mL) vegetable oil

3 lbs (1.5 kg) chicken pieces, skin on breast, skinless legs and thighs

2 medium onions, finely chopped

4 carrots, peeled and thinly sliced

4 stalks celery, peeled and thinly sliced

1 tsp (5 mL) dried tarragon or thyme leaves

1 tsp (5 mL) salt

1/2 tsp (2 mL) cracked black peppercorns

1/4 cup (50 mL) all-purpose flour

1 cup (250 mL) condensed chicken broth, undiluted

1/2 cup (125 mL) dry white wine or condensed chicken broth

1 cup (250 mL) green peas, thawed if frozen

1/2 cup (125 mL) whipping cream, optional

Dumplings

1 1/4 cups (300 mL) sifted all-purpose flour

2 tsp (10 mL) baking powder

1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt

1/4 cup (50 mL) finely chopped fresh parsley, optional

2 tbsp (25 mL) melted butter

3/4 cup (175 mL) warm milk

In a nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken, in batches, and brown lightly on all sides. Transfer to slow cooker stoneware.
Reduce heat to medium. Add onions, carrots and celery to pan and cook, stirring, until vegetables are softened. Add tarragon, salt and peppercorns and cook, stirring for 1 minute. Sprinkle flour over mixture, stir well and cook for 1 minute. Add chicken broth and wine and cook, stirring, until thickened.
Pour mixture over chicken. Cover and cook on Low for 5 to 6 hours or on High for 3 hours, until juices run clear when chicken is pierce with a fork. Stir in peas and whipping cream, if using.
Dumplings: Turn slow cooker heat to High. In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt and parley, if using. Add butter and milk and stir just until moistened (lumps are fine). Drop dumpling dough, by spoonfuls, onto hot chicken. Cover and cook on High for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center of dumplings comes out clean.

TIP:
There are several steps you can take to ensure that your dumplings are as light and fluffly as possible. Preheat the slow cooker to High so the stew will be bubbling when you add the dumplings. Sift the flour before measuring and warm the milk before adding to the dry ingredients. Drop the batter directly onto pieces of chicken. If the batter is submerged in the liquid, the dumplings with be soggy.

MAKE AHEAD:
This dish can be partially prepared the night before it is cooked. Complete step 2, heating 1 tbsp (15 mL) oil in pan before softening vegetables. Cover and refrigerate overnight. The next morning, brown chicken (Step 1), or if you're pressed for time, omit this step and place chicken directly in slow cooker stoneware. Continue cooking as directed in Step 3.

PANTRY NOTES
Cracked Peppercorns
I recommend the use of cracked peppercorns rather than ground pepper in many of my recipes because they release flavor slowly during the long cooking process. "Cracked pepper" can be purchased in the spice sections of supermarkets, but I like to make my own in a mortar with a pestle. A rolling pin or even a heavy can on its side will also break up the peppercorns for use in slow cooked dishes. If you prefer to use ground black pepper, use one-quarter to one-half the amount of cracked black peppercorns called for in the recipe.

Edition details

• Publisher: Robert Rose
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0778800539
• ISBN 13: 9780778800538
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 256