With the arrival of fall, life’s pace seems to quicken. Vacations are over, classes have begun and folks are back at work. This is the time to get out the crockpot.
And "Pillsbury’s Slow Cooker Recipes" ($19.95) has 140 recipes that show you how to use it.
The beauty of cooking with a slow cooker is tossing a few ingredients in the pot in the morning before leaving home and returning to dinner that evening. Pillsbury recognizes this, so the book doesn’t fuss with a lot of ingredients or hands-on preparation. Most of the recipes keep the preparation work to about 15 minutes or less.
The five chapters include "Meaty Main Dishes," "Busy-Day Chicken and Turkey," "Super Soups, Stews and Chilies," "Slow Cooked Sandwiches" and "Very Easy Vegetables and Sides." Many of the recipes are illustrated with color, glossy photos so you know what you’re going to end up with.
Perhaps the biggest revelation is that the crockpot doesn’t limit a cook to stews and lifeless lumps of overcooked meat. Many of these dishes, such as the cranberry-orange pork roast, are attractive and elegant enough to serve to weekend guests.
Each recipe includes nutritional information, dietary exchanges and serving suggestions.
Cranberry-orange pork roast
Place pork roast in 3 1/2- to 4-quart slow cooker. In small bowl, combine cranberries, broth, orange peel and 1/4 cup of the cranberry juice cocktail; mix well. Pour over pork.
Cover; cook on low setting for 7 to 9 hours. Remove pork from slow cooker; place on serving platter. Cover with foil. Pour juices from slow cooker into medium saucepan; if necessary, skim off any fat.
In small bowl, blend remaining 1/4 cup cranberry juice cocktail and cornstarch until smooth. Stir into juices in saucepan. Cook over medium heat until bubbly and thickened, stirring constantly. Cut pork into slices. Serve pork with sauce. If desired, garnish with additional shredded orange peel.
Makes 6 servings. Per serving: 330 calories; 5 grams saturated fat; 85 milligrams cholesterol; 150 milligrams sodium; 25 grams carbohydrate; 1 gram fiber
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
