Dust Off Your Old Crockpot & Make Some Delicious Meals.
Hello!
This Arctic-like weather is perfect for cozy moments in front of a fireplace, sipping steaming tea and nourishing your body with comforting soups and stews.
One of my favourite ways to make winter soups and stews is in a crock pot. Slow cooking allows spices and herbs to release their fabulous flavours and seep into the other ingredients.
Chances are you have a crockpot collecting dust in the back of a cupboard or somewhere in your basement or garage. Consider dusting it off, or look for one in a second-hand store and bring it back to life.
The crockpot, also known as a slow cooker, was patented over 40 years ago. It remains popular because it requires little effort to prepare and clean up, uses little electricity, and can cook for hours while you are out.
You may wonder, why not just use an Instapot, as they will cook everything faster? I have an Instapot that I’ve never used, as it seems very complicated for my brain with one too many buttons. I also think the slow, long cooking makes a difference in flavour. They are also less expensive.
There are some safety dos & don’ts with crockpots:
Do not put frozen food in a crock pot because defrosting it might take too long.
Do not reheat cooked food in a crockpot.
Do not overfill the crockpot.
If you plan to leave your crockpot for a few hours, it should not be on a wooden countertop or near any walls. Placing it on top of a turned-off stove or ceramic tiles is a safer option.
If you are going to be gone for hours, keep it on the low setting. If you're concerned about this, consider a crockpot with a timer.
Recipes
It’s hard to go wrong with a crockpot. The above recipes are delicious, but you can create your own soup or stew if you don't have the ingredients. Chopped onions, garlic, celery, and carrots always make a great base. Cans of kidney beans, chickpeas, crumbled tofu, or other types of protein can be added. For grains, rice, quinoa, barley, or millet give it a heartiness.
For flavour, add a can of diced tomatoes, coconut milk, regular or vegan cheese, nutritional yeast, and broth.
Spice Suggestions
Indian Cuisine- cumin, coriander, turmeric, garam masala, ginger, garlic, cayenne, and chili peppers.
Mexican Cuisine- oregano, cumin, chili powder, and cilantro.
Italian Cuisine- basil, oregano, garlic, parsley, and red pepper flakes.
African Cuisine- cumin, coriander, ginger, thyme, and mint.
Thai Cusine- lemon grass, chili, cumin, garlic, coconut cream, oyster sauce, and green chilies.
Safe money, time and eat well crockpot cooking.
Keep warm and bon appetit!
Anita
DISCLAIMER; The information provided on County Yoga Loft’s website blog is for general health care informational purposes only. All information on the site is provided in good faith. However, it should not replace consultation or advice from a physician and/or other healthcare practitioners. The use or reliance of any information contained on this site is solely at your own risk. There are so many amazing crockpot recipes available. One of the most beneficial things about using a crockpot is its versatility; you can create your own delightful and nutritious creations.
