365 SLOW COMFORT FOODS &ndash Easy Recipes for the Busy Kitchen (Catlett, VA)

365 SLOW COMFORT FOODS &ndash Easy Recipes for the Busy Kitchen

Local pick-up preferred but will ship at the buyer s expenseKingston Books 15 IMG_7302Author Mary B. JohnsonPublisher Sterling InnovationIllustrated in ColorSterling Publishing There s nothing like slow-cooked comfort food from savory stews brimming with irresistible aromas to luscious desserts bursting with old-fashioned goodness. Serving any of the 365 easy and homey recipes is sure to keep family and friends coming back for more Pull out your slow cooker or preheat your oven and let the flavors of our traditional favorites international classics and new dishes develop to their fullest.Over 200 recipes are listed with their ingredients. Including prep time cooking time and serving size.INTRODUCTIONWHILE WE ALL HAVE AN IDEA of what comfort food is you might ask What exactly does slow cooking mean Slow Cooking is a simple efficient method of food preparation using a slow cooker a small appliance that became popular in yje 1970 s. Now available in a range o models and sizes this ingenious cooking appliance consists of a galzed ceramic container an outer metal casing that contains an electrical heating system and a tight fitting lid that seals in liquid and helps retain both heat and flavor.Slow cooking is terrific for dishes that you would otherwise cook on a stove top such as soups stews and chili s. Mini slow cookers are also great for making sauces melting chocolate or stewing individual pieces of fruit. You can easily convert your favorite recipes from stove top to slow cooker with the following conversion information STOVE TOP COOKING TIME SLOW COOKING TIME HIGH TEM LOW TEMP15 30 minutes 1 - 2 hours 4 8 hours35- 45 minutes 3-4 hours 6 -10 hours50 minutes 3 hours 4-6 hours 8-16 hoursRemember low heat is equal to approximately 200 degrees F and high heat to approximately 300 degrees F. Cooking on the low setting generally takes twice the time of cooking on high. Also note when cooking at high altitudes (3 500 feet above sea level) add an additional 30 minutes for each hour specified by the recipe.Slow cooking has stood the test of time because of its many advantages. To begin with this form of cooking is extremely convenient and a real time saver Add your ingredients first thing in the morning and your home cooked meal will be ready and waiting by the end of the day. At the same time this choice of method improves nutritional content Since the food is cooked slowly at low temperatures it retains essential vitamins and minerals. A Slow cooker is also much more energy efficient hence more economical than a conventional oven in fact when working properly your slow cooker should use about the same amount of electricity as a light bulb Finally the food you prepare is just simply delicious because slow cooking allows meats to become the most tender vegetables to completely absorb stocks and spices and flavors to generally develop to their fullest.When using your slow cooker here are some important tips to keep in mind. You ll get the best results when the cooker is filled to at least two-thirds its capacity. On the other hand do not add too much liquid as the tight lid will prevent it from simmering down in general never add more than one cup of liquid unless you plan on making soup. Also once cooking has begun do not lift the lid Each and every time the lid is removed precious heat and steam is lost adding 30 minutes to overall cooking time. Therefore remember to stir your ingredients before turning on the heat but do not use metal utensils because they may damage the inside of the pot instead opt for rubber plastic or wood.Regarding your ingredients Fresh vegetables should be placed on the bottom of the cooker because they take longer to cook and meats layered on top. Fresh vegetable like potatoes and carrots take the longest while frozen vegetables take the least time so they can actually be pl aced on the top of the meat. It is a good idea to brown meats and certain cuts of poultry before putting them in the cooker because it significantly adds to the flavor and no browning will occur in the cooker itself. Dairy products like milk and sour cream tend to break down when slow cooked to avoid curdling try not to add the until the last hour. Generally pasta or instant rice is not to be added until the last 30 minutes but always check your recipe s individual instructions.This collection offers and impressive array of 365 tempting recipes for homey comfort foods perfect for entertaining and sure to keep you family and friends coming back for more. About two-thirds of the recipes are slow-cooker recipes the other third are pure comfort foods. Recipes include hearty soups stews and chilis such as Seafood Gumbo veal Stew with Tomatoes and Turkey Sausage Chili as well as tasty vegetables and sides like Balsamic Glazed Asparagus Savory Corn Pudding and Butternut Squash Gratin. Meat poultry and fish recipes range from old favorites like Chicken Pot Pie and Beef Pot Roast to more adventurous dishes like Lamb Casserole with Dill and Feta and Braised Halibut with Fennel Plus international recipes such as Moroccan Chicken and Lentils Hungarian Goulash and Teriyaki Pork Ribs. To finish off your meal you ll even find a long list of irresistible desserts Butterscotch Pudding Coconut Custard Pie Apple Brown Betty and much more. So preheat your oven or pull out your slow cooker and let s get started.Contents by ChapterIntroduction ..7Chili and Soup ..10Side Dishes ..70Fish ..134Beef and Veal ..148Pork ..220Lamb and Game ..272Poultry ..306Vegetables Pasta and Eggs ..358Breads ..390Desserts ..408Index ..474Metric Measurements ..480Hardcover with jacket 479 pages ISBN-13 978-1-4027-4793-9