The two main advantages of crockpot cooking are that they:
* Save Time
* Save Money
Time-Saver
Crockpot cooking for me is synonymous with time-saver. We each have different phases of life and this season is definitely my crockpot phase -- maybe out of desperation. No matter what stage we're in though, crockpot cooking can always be a benefit.
Here's a scenario: It's five o'clock and you've finally finished helping with the homework with two of your children, and then your third child returns from piano -- ready to start homework -- and has a question about algebra. Soccer practice starts in exactly one hour. And not to mention that you've got three loads of laundry spewed across your bed and ready to be folded. The phone rings -- a reminder to bring snacks to soccer practice, it's your turn. The kids are hungry, hubby will be home in thirty minutes. Do you make that call? "Honey, could you bring home In & Out again, the usual?" Or do you simply whip up a salad to go with your chicken cacciatore that's been cooking slowly and succulently in your crockpot all day. This truly is my life and I'm working towards the latter scenario becoming a more prevalent one.
Perhaps you remember crockpots back when you were a kid -- along with Barry Manilow, mood rings, and banana seats -- all popular in the 1970's. Crockpots are now making a comeback, and for Vegas supporters, so is Barry Manilow. The essential ingredient here is not that we're all going retro but rather that life is busy and we're seeking time-management helps that work. Five o'clock can be the busiest, so preparing food the night before and putting it in containers overnight or chopping and dicing earlier in the day can be the most convenient and healthy solution.
Money-Saver
This type of cooking saves money on many levels. As I mentioned earlier, if you're organized and have your pizza in a pot cooking all day -- you won't be tempted to call Dominos at five pm. Eating out does get expensive, especially for an entire family and if it becomes a habit. Cooking in the crock is a longer process than in the oven or on the grill and because of this meats are really tender, even with cheaper cuts of meat. Therefore it really has the potential of reducing our grocery bills.
In the summertime it's hot -- especially where I'm living in the desert -- so any excuse not to heat up the house is a good one. Energy bills are definitely affected.
There are numerous crockpot cookbooks out there with healthy and tasty family-friendly recipes. Incorporating crockpots back into our lives can be one of the first and simplest of many steps in achieving organization and balance in our lives.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Crockpot Cooking's 10 Essential Tips
If you're new to crockpot cooking and have decided you want to give it a try -- whether it's to save time, money, or just to add some variety to your cooking methods -- then you may want to read up on the essential crockpot cooking tips.
1. For meat dishes, defrost meat completely -- especially if you're using roasts. Why? The center of the meat may encourage bacterial growth if it remains cool long enough. You can thaw food overnight in the refrigerator or use the microwave just before adding to the crockpot.
2. You may need to cut and trim the meat before you place it into the crock. It's best that roasts and other large cuts fit into the crockpot, but if not, trimming is better than stuffing! If taste and health are important, get rid of extra fat and skin also. This will decrease the fat content and take away any oily flavor. If veggies are part of the recipe, cutting meats and vegetables the same size will ensure even cooking.
3. Before adding anything, spray your crockpot with cooking oil as it will make cleaning much easier.
4. If your recipe is a mixture of meat and root vegetables -- such as potatoes, carrots and onions -- put vegetables in the bottom of the pot and then place the meat on top of the vegetables. This will enable more even cooking as these root vegetables usually cook more slowly than meat. Now if you use vegetables to garnish and to add some color to your dish -- such as red or green peppers, herbs or tomatoes -- then these would be added on top when the cooking is almost complete.
5. Now that you've decided how to layer and if to layer, you're ready to fill the crock. Most crockpots are about 1/2 to 2/3rds full for all recipes. Check the guidelines that come with your crockpot as it will give you a recommended capacity level.
6. If you're adapting one of your recipes from the oven to the crock, you may have to reduce the amount of liquid in a recipe. Crockpots retain their moisture much better than other cooking methods.
7. Crockpot recipes usually take about 7-9 hours on the low setting. So plan accordingly. Temperatures can range from about 170-300 degrees.
8. Do not remove the lid while the food is cooking, unless it's specifically required -- such as adding garnish or dairy products at the end. If you do, the heat will escape which will reduce the temperature and add about another 20 minutes to the cooking time. General rule: One peek and add 20 more minutes to wait, two peeks and 40 more minutes to wait etc...
9. Add any dairy products -- creams, cheeses -- during the last hour of cooking. And if these are used to thicken sauces at the end of cooking, you may want to turn up the heat setting.
10. Buy a crockpot cooking book! This may be the best tip as you'll be given recipes with step by step guides. The more you follow the specific crock recipes, the easier it will be to adapt your own.
1. For meat dishes, defrost meat completely -- especially if you're using roasts. Why? The center of the meat may encourage bacterial growth if it remains cool long enough. You can thaw food overnight in the refrigerator or use the microwave just before adding to the crockpot.
2. You may need to cut and trim the meat before you place it into the crock. It's best that roasts and other large cuts fit into the crockpot, but if not, trimming is better than stuffing! If taste and health are important, get rid of extra fat and skin also. This will decrease the fat content and take away any oily flavor. If veggies are part of the recipe, cutting meats and vegetables the same size will ensure even cooking.
3. Before adding anything, spray your crockpot with cooking oil as it will make cleaning much easier.
4. If your recipe is a mixture of meat and root vegetables -- such as potatoes, carrots and onions -- put vegetables in the bottom of the pot and then place the meat on top of the vegetables. This will enable more even cooking as these root vegetables usually cook more slowly than meat. Now if you use vegetables to garnish and to add some color to your dish -- such as red or green peppers, herbs or tomatoes -- then these would be added on top when the cooking is almost complete.
5. Now that you've decided how to layer and if to layer, you're ready to fill the crock. Most crockpots are about 1/2 to 2/3rds full for all recipes. Check the guidelines that come with your crockpot as it will give you a recommended capacity level.
6. If you're adapting one of your recipes from the oven to the crock, you may have to reduce the amount of liquid in a recipe. Crockpots retain their moisture much better than other cooking methods.
7. Crockpot recipes usually take about 7-9 hours on the low setting. So plan accordingly. Temperatures can range from about 170-300 degrees.
8. Do not remove the lid while the food is cooking, unless it's specifically required -- such as adding garnish or dairy products at the end. If you do, the heat will escape which will reduce the temperature and add about another 20 minutes to the cooking time. General rule: One peek and add 20 more minutes to wait, two peeks and 40 more minutes to wait etc...
9. Add any dairy products -- creams, cheeses -- during the last hour of cooking. And if these are used to thicken sauces at the end of cooking, you may want to turn up the heat setting.
10. Buy a crockpot cooking book! This may be the best tip as you'll be given recipes with step by step guides. The more you follow the specific crock recipes, the easier it will be to adapt your own.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Cooking Schools in Tuscany
Situated in northwest Italy, the city of Tuscany is considered an important seat of art and learning. Apart from its famed wines, steak and olive oil, the picturesque landscapes of Tuscany boasts of innumerable castles and an endless countryside. These schools in Tuscany are popular with tourists, as they prove to be a perfect blend of travel and cuisine. In order to find a cooking school in Tuscany, people may opt to consult tour operators or directly contact the establishments via the Internet or telephone.
It is advisable to make reservations in advance to guarantee a smooth trip. These holiday options are considered to be complete and they offer the authentic Italian taste. The trips are well-planned activities that allow the tourists to experience the true essence of Tuscany, rather than visit otherwise commercial landmarks and hotels. They comprise of detailed itineraries that include visits to cultural and historical sites, apart from stopovers at olive oil, vinegar and local wine makers. The tourists are allowed to spend adequate time in such places, to be able to enjoy the experience. The tourists may even engage in local activities and acquire the local recipes.
A cooking school experience in Tuscany is available in various packages. This includes weeklong tours, premier tours and custom made tours. The cooking lessons are conducted at restaurants, homes, inns, hotels and wineries. People may opt to travel alone or in groups, to be part of quality cooking workshops. The culinary skills revolve around famous Tuscany wines, cheese and meat. It is important to carry an adequate amount of money when traveling overseas. People should be attentive towards their visa terms and carry all the relevant travel documents. Travelers also need to enquire about the availability of English speaking staff, in case they are not conversant with Italian.
It is advisable to make reservations in advance to guarantee a smooth trip. These holiday options are considered to be complete and they offer the authentic Italian taste. The trips are well-planned activities that allow the tourists to experience the true essence of Tuscany, rather than visit otherwise commercial landmarks and hotels. They comprise of detailed itineraries that include visits to cultural and historical sites, apart from stopovers at olive oil, vinegar and local wine makers. The tourists are allowed to spend adequate time in such places, to be able to enjoy the experience. The tourists may even engage in local activities and acquire the local recipes.
A cooking school experience in Tuscany is available in various packages. This includes weeklong tours, premier tours and custom made tours. The cooking lessons are conducted at restaurants, homes, inns, hotels and wineries. People may opt to travel alone or in groups, to be part of quality cooking workshops. The culinary skills revolve around famous Tuscany wines, cheese and meat. It is important to carry an adequate amount of money when traveling overseas. People should be attentive towards their visa terms and carry all the relevant travel documents. Travelers also need to enquire about the availability of English speaking staff, in case they are not conversant with Italian.
Cooking Healthy With Oil
There are several oils for healthy cooking. One of the best is olive oil. It has a high smoke point and does not break down quickly as some other types of oils do. When cooking with olive oil it will not lose its health benefits so it is a good oil to use in salad dressings and for cooking with. Extra virgin olive is the best in terms of nutritional value and health benefits. It is good for your heart too.
There are different types of olive oil extra virgin is the best and the least processed from the first pressing of olives. The next type is virgin olive oil which is from the second pressing of olives. Pure olive oil goes through processing and refining and extra light undergoes the most processing of all of the kinds.
When looking for a healthy oil to cook with look at the type of fats it has. Mono saturated fats reduce the level of what is known as bad cholesterol. The oils that have a high level of this fat are olive oil, canola oil and peanut oil. Poly unsaturated fats with omega 3 and 6 are considered healthy fats too. These oils are corn, soybean, safflower, and grape seed. Other good choices for cooking are walnut and flax seed oil. If you are going to do cooking that requires high heat choose peanut or sunflower oil for searing and frying. Oils that are good for baking, sautéing and stir frying are grape seed, safflower or sunflower oil.
Olive oil is rich in vitamins like E which is a powerful anti oxidant. Store the oil in a bottle made of dark glass or a stainless steel container. The container should be air tight because the oil reacts with air and becomes rancid. Olive oil has many uses like drizzling it on salad and bread, using it to make homemade condiments, brushing it on meat and poultry, adding it to soup and stews, on potatoes and vegetables. The flavor is very good.
Instead of sautéing your vegetables you might want to steam them then add olive oil or another cooking oil for flavor. Broiling, grilling, roasting, and baking meat brushed with oil is healthier than frying and sautéing. You can buy a brush and put your favorite oil in a small dish then brush it on meats, fish and poultry quickly just before cooking. You can drizzle oil on vegetables, rice and pasta dishes.
Canola oil is another healthy oil for cooking. It is easy to find on most supermarket shelves. It is low in saturated fats produced from canola plants not rapeseed plants. Store canola oil in a cool dark place when not using it. It is good for frying as the flavor does not overpower the food fried. It goes well in salad dressings and mixes well with other ingredients. It does not separate so the salad dressing or sauce remains consistent. It is healthy oil to be used in baking. Instead of using butter on bread pour your favorite healthy oil on it. When you bake substitute oil for butter you reduce fat about 25 percent.
There are different types of olive oil extra virgin is the best and the least processed from the first pressing of olives. The next type is virgin olive oil which is from the second pressing of olives. Pure olive oil goes through processing and refining and extra light undergoes the most processing of all of the kinds.
When looking for a healthy oil to cook with look at the type of fats it has. Mono saturated fats reduce the level of what is known as bad cholesterol. The oils that have a high level of this fat are olive oil, canola oil and peanut oil. Poly unsaturated fats with omega 3 and 6 are considered healthy fats too. These oils are corn, soybean, safflower, and grape seed. Other good choices for cooking are walnut and flax seed oil. If you are going to do cooking that requires high heat choose peanut or sunflower oil for searing and frying. Oils that are good for baking, sautéing and stir frying are grape seed, safflower or sunflower oil.
Olive oil is rich in vitamins like E which is a powerful anti oxidant. Store the oil in a bottle made of dark glass or a stainless steel container. The container should be air tight because the oil reacts with air and becomes rancid. Olive oil has many uses like drizzling it on salad and bread, using it to make homemade condiments, brushing it on meat and poultry, adding it to soup and stews, on potatoes and vegetables. The flavor is very good.
Instead of sautéing your vegetables you might want to steam them then add olive oil or another cooking oil for flavor. Broiling, grilling, roasting, and baking meat brushed with oil is healthier than frying and sautéing. You can buy a brush and put your favorite oil in a small dish then brush it on meats, fish and poultry quickly just before cooking. You can drizzle oil on vegetables, rice and pasta dishes.
Canola oil is another healthy oil for cooking. It is easy to find on most supermarket shelves. It is low in saturated fats produced from canola plants not rapeseed plants. Store canola oil in a cool dark place when not using it. It is good for frying as the flavor does not overpower the food fried. It goes well in salad dressings and mixes well with other ingredients. It does not separate so the salad dressing or sauce remains consistent. It is healthy oil to be used in baking. Instead of using butter on bread pour your favorite healthy oil on it. When you bake substitute oil for butter you reduce fat about 25 percent.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Improve Your Health, Home and Cooking Skills
Health and cooking skills. What does mean to have a good Health? What do we make for having a good health? First thing in mind is eating good food and make some sports. Food means have a diet or choose fresh meals...drink natural juices and natural water. Eating meat, fresh vegetables and fruits ... everything you want. Or take a vegetarian stile! It's up to you! Cooked by your own recipes or other. How we make the choose? What is good for us? Sometimes is good to visit a nutritionist or read more from e-books first. The nutritional supplements are good for us? Maybe yes. Regarding the sports, what sports we choose? When was the last time you went in a gym classroom or in a bodybuilding center?... Many of people will say "Sorry...I don't find the time for doing that..". But in there home they made any gymnastic exercises, or aerobic, or fitness? Or some of them had an organized room for bodybuilding? Give some answers to these questions and get you general answer about your health and how good is your breakfast and dinner...You can also look in the mirror and take a deep look at yourself, specially in your eyes and tell yourself the truth. And what do you want to do for improving this situation, in case it is not so good?
Home. The place where you live, how important do you think it is? This is the place where you breath, eat, rest, study, play, listen to the music, develop your hobbies... It is a clean place? Do you have a house cleaner? Or do your cleaning by yourself? In that case let's say that you enjoy a little time a sport house... That's something good for your shapes! Do you have plants, flowers in your home? Do you like to design your room by your own inspiration? Do you have a positive ambient in your whole home? What about a garden in Your backyard, or a pool for swimming? Do you know that gardening is relaxing?...
Friendship and love. When you have a good health, a clean and beautiful house with plants, flowers... you have a beautiful smile on your face, you become a magnet for people who desire to be your friend! They want to share friendship and love with you! So, smile them, embrace them and let them be your friend. They will want to share there stories, lifestyle, deep feelings with you.
Work and travel. When you have a good health, a beautiful home, many friends, and you are happy, the daily job became to you something not so heavy, you will hate no more working because you have an open mind and you can manage easily the job tasks. When the holidays arrived, you will take a travel wherever you like to go, because you have friends all over the world! If not, you can meet me and my friends on my forum.
Home. The place where you live, how important do you think it is? This is the place where you breath, eat, rest, study, play, listen to the music, develop your hobbies... It is a clean place? Do you have a house cleaner? Or do your cleaning by yourself? In that case let's say that you enjoy a little time a sport house... That's something good for your shapes! Do you have plants, flowers in your home? Do you like to design your room by your own inspiration? Do you have a positive ambient in your whole home? What about a garden in Your backyard, or a pool for swimming? Do you know that gardening is relaxing?...
Friendship and love. When you have a good health, a clean and beautiful house with plants, flowers... you have a beautiful smile on your face, you become a magnet for people who desire to be your friend! They want to share friendship and love with you! So, smile them, embrace them and let them be your friend. They will want to share there stories, lifestyle, deep feelings with you.
Work and travel. When you have a good health, a beautiful home, many friends, and you are happy, the daily job became to you something not so heavy, you will hate no more working because you have an open mind and you can manage easily the job tasks. When the holidays arrived, you will take a travel wherever you like to go, because you have friends all over the world! If not, you can meet me and my friends on my forum.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
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