cooking Archive

I’m having an affair with my slowcooker

Published: August 27, 2011

Yes, it’s true. I am having an affair with my slow cooker. We spend long and leisurely nights together, the two of us.

The “Cooker”, as I fondly refer to him, will simmer for hours and hours at a time. His aroma is luscious whenever he’s turned on – basil, lemon, thyme and sage all rolled into one.

He’s in no hurry to please. He will cook low or on high, depending on my patience. There are no fights between the two of us. Just an agreement for him to please. He will make the food to my taste while I enjoy the feast.

I’ve tried to keep my affair a secret. But I think my husband has caught on. He’s suspicious of all the homecooked dinners – sensing my guilt.

He’ll come around though, I am sure. Once he sees the benefits to my one-night stands with the Cooker. Benefits that include Chicken Parmigiana, Leg of Lamb, and Beef Stew.

Slow Cooker Beef Stew

  • 2 lbs. beef stew meat, cut into 1 inch cubes
  • 1/4 c. flour
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tsp. paprika
  • 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 onion
  • 1-1/2 c. beef broth
  • 3 potatoes, diced
  • 4 carrots, sliced
  • 1 celery stalk, chopped

Place meat in slow cooker. In a small bowl mix together the flour, salt, and pepper; pour over meat, and stir to coat meat with flour mixture. Stir in the garlic, bay leaf, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, onion, beef broth, potatoes, carrots, and celery. Cover, and cook on Low setting for 10 to 12 hours, or on High setting for 4 to 6 hours. Source: Allrecipes.com

Slow Cooker Chicken Parmigiana

  • 1 egg
  • 1tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. pepper
  • 6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
  • 1 cup Italian bread crumbs
  • 2-4 Tbsp. butter
  • 14-oz. jar pizza sauce

Beat egg, salt and pepper together. Dip chicken into egg and coat with bread crumbs. Saute’ chicken in butter in skillet. Arrange chicken in slow cooker. Pour pizza sauce over chicken. Cover and cook on Low 6-8 hours. Layer mozzarella cheese over top and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Cook an additional 15 minutes. Source: Fix-It and Forget-It Big Cookbook

Slow Cooked Leg of Lamb

  • 1 leg of lamb with or without bone
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 1 Tbsp. rosemary
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 tsp. pepper
  • Chicken or beef stock

On a chopping board, pat your lamb dry with paper towels. Finely grate about half the zest off the lemon and grind into a paste with the garlic, rosemary, oil, salt and pepper using a mortar and pestle. Rub the paste all over the lamb. If you like, let it sit on the countertop for half an hour or so, or refrigerate for a few hours or overnight. Put it into the CrockPot. Add about half a cup of liquid. Squeeze the juice of the lemon overtop too. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Source: DinnerwithJulie.com

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23 Genes and 3 Bean Salad

Published: April 17, 2011

I’m reading Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters and I have decided that if I ever went back in time and had to do it all over again, I would become a biochemist.

I would have worked on the Human Genome Project and tried to discover some of the 30,000-70,000 unidentified human genes. I would have been like Elizabeth Blackburn, that scientist who co-discovered telomerase enzyme in the telemore gene (the longevity gene). In a lab, maybe I would have figured out how to prevent telomere-shortening and avoid the mutations that cause cancer and chromosomal abnormalities.

Beans, beans and more beans

OK, back to reality. I have put the book down now. So you may be wondering after reading above how on earth I will be able to segue from writing about telomere genes and cancer, to posting a food recipe. Don’t worry, I always find a way.

Although I may not become a biochemist in this life, there’s no reason why I can’t look for ways to prevent cancer, right? My answer to cancer prevention: Eating beans. OK, in all honesty, this is not a new idea. Years ago researchers at University College London discovered that a natural compound (inositol pentakisphosphate) found in beans inhibits the activity of an enzyme involved in tumor growth.
In my small effort to help increase longevity and prevent cancer, I am posting a recipe today from the Bacon Family Cookbook for Three Bean Salad. Eat more beans!

Three Bean Salad

Recipe by Amy Clay Hodge
  • 1/2 c. sugar
  • 1/4 c. chopped green pepper
  • 1/2 c. vinegar
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 Tbsp. soy sauce
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 tsp. celery seed (or celery salt)
  • 1/4 tsp. pepper
  • 1/4 c. oil
  • 3 (16-oz.) cans beans (green, yellow, kidney or garbanzos), drained. If you’d like to convert those canned beans to dried beans, here’s a handy canned bean and dried bean conversion calculator.

Combine everything in a large bowl. Mix well. Cover. Refrigerate for several hours. Serves 8 to 10.

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A storm, a dog and a margarita

Published: April 10, 2011

Growing up my dad would run around the house unplugging things before a big storm. And my grandmother? Well, she was just plain terrified. She would hide in her stairwell. We’d sit there with her, waiting for the storm to pass.

My dog apparently does not like storms either. We’re due for a big storm and my Golden is pacing around the house, panting. He follows me to the kitchen, to the living room, to the garage. I step backwards bumping into him and realize he’s become a big, furry tripping hazard. He continues to follow me until I sit down again and he is at the chair, ready to lick any bare patch of skin he finds. After being violated by this 75-pound fur monster, I am ready for a margarita and a bath. The latter will have to wait because there is a storm coming so I’ll just settle for a margarita.

Margarita Recipe

  • Ice
  • 1-1/2 ounces tequila
  • 1-ounce lime juice
  • 1/2 ounce Cointreau
  • Salt (optional)

Moisten the rim of a glass then dip it in salt. Add ice, tequila, lime juice, and Cointreau and then stir. Serve immediately.

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