Slow cooking

Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, December 2, 2003

Settle into fall with some hearty, comfort foods, cooked in your slow cooker.

Slow cookers can create everything from amaretti pear crisp to double chocolate caramel or classic home-style meatloaf to slow-cooked macaroni and cheese.

“The Best Family Slow Cooker Recipes” by Donna-Marie Pye has more than 125 recipes developed for busy people. The book, published by Robert Rose Inc., is available in paperback for $18.95.

“Whether you are on a tight schedule or just love leisurely cooking, slow cookers can provide good, healthy food without requiring you to spend hours over a hot stove,” says Pye.

This family-oriented cookbook will help create simple, classic and hot favorites for your home.

To purchase the book, visit www.amazon.com or call 800-387-5085.

Phyllo pastry is a great addition to any kitchen.

The paper-thin sheet of dough is easily layered, formed and then baked, creating a light, flaky crunch. It can be used for cold or hot appetizers, desserts or entrees.

Most typically used in Greek cuisine, phyllo dough allows cooks to make creative, layered foods such as spanakopita, baklava and tiropita. Adventurous cooks can use phyllo during the holidays to make puff pastry Christmas Trees or just to add a crisp twist to a sweet potato.

Phyllo pastry is typical available in your grocer’s freezer.

Athens Foods, makers of phyllo dough, offers a free cookbook with phyllo dough recipes. In addition, holiday puff pastry recipes can be found at www.puffpastry.com or by calling 800-762-8301.

Why not try something new for Christmas?

Tapas, Spanish for “little dishes” typically are served as appetizers. Taking the pressure off of the traditional sit-down meal, guests are allowed to eat at their own pace with tapas.

In Mediterranean countries, tapas were originally served between meals, but as an alternative to a large midday meal.

Traditional tapas can include choices such as marinated vegetables, beef skewers or bruschetta. They are easy to make in advance and allow creativity in their presentation. Many recipes feature early preparation and variety. Last-minute dishes can be tossed together and displayed on a buffet table.

Tapas also offer flexibility to the more adventurous diner. Typically small in size, a variety of tapas are usually available and range from appetizer bites to dessert items.

Make these exciting finger foods part of your new holiday tradition.

A few tapas cookbooks available include “New Tapas: Today’s Best Bar Food from Spain,” “The Essential Finger Food Cookbook” and “The Complete Spanish Cookbook.”

These books are available at www.amazon.com and at major bookstores.