This guide is designed to help you adapt recipes for the Crock-Pot™ Slow Cooker-your own favourites
and prized recipes collected from friends, food companies, newspapers and magazines. Our aim is to
save preparation time with fewer steps and less dirty dishes. and to keep cooking simple. In most
cases all ingredients can go into you Slow Cooker in the beginning and cook all day. Many of the
normal preparatory steps are unnecessary when using the Crock-Pot™ Slow Cooker.
A few hints:
• Allow sufficient cooking time.
• Cook with the lid on.
• Do not add as much water as some non Crock-Pot™ Slow Cooker recipes indicate.
• Remember - liquids do not "boil away" as in conventional cooking. Usually at the end of the cooking,
you will have more liquid than less.
• This is "one-step" cooking: many steps in recipes can be deleted. Add ingredients to the
Stoneware Cooking Pot at one time, adding liquid last, then cook for the recommended time.
•Vegetables do not overcook as they do when boiled on the hob or in the oven. Therefore
everything can go into the Crock-Pot™ Slow Cooker at one time. EXCEPTION: Milk, soured
cream or cream should be added during the last hour of cooking.
TIME GUIDE
Most uncooked meat and vegetable combinations will require at least 8 hours on LOW ( I ).
15 to 30 minutes
31 to 45 minutes
50 minutes to 3 hours
4 to 6 hours
6 to 8 hours
8 to 10 hours
1
1
⁄2to 2 hours
3 to 4 hours
4 to 6 hours
IF RECIPE SAYS COOK ON LOW OR COOK ON HIGH
GUIDE TO ADAPTING RECIPES
•Trim fats and wipe meats well to remove residue. (If meats contain fats, brown in a separate pan
and drain well before adding to the Stoneware Cooking Pot (A)). Season with salt and pepper.
Place the meat in the Stoneware Cooking Pot on top of vegetables.
• For roasts and stews, pour liquid over the meat. Use no more liquid than specified in the recipe.
More juices are retained in meat and vegetables during slow cooking than in conventional cooking.
• Most vegetables should be thinly sliced or placed near the sides or bottom of the Stoneware
Cooking Pot. In a Slow Cooker, meats generally cook faster than most vegetables.
• Because there is no direct heat at the bottom, always fill the Stoneware Cooking Pot at least half
full, to conform with recommended times. Small quantities can be prepared, but cooking times
may be affected.
•Aspecific liquid called for in a recipe may be varied if an equal quantity is substituted. For example,
substituting a can of soup for a can of tomatoes or 1 cup of beef or chicken stock for 1 cup of wine.
• Beans must be softened completely before combining with sugar and/or acidic foods.
(NOTE: Sugar and acid have a hardening effect on beans and will prevent softening).
Dried beans, especially red kidney beans, should be boiled before adding to a recipe. Cover the
beans with 3 times their volume of unsalted water and bring to the boil. Boil for 10 minutes,
reduce the heat, cover and allow simmer for 1
1
/2 hours or until the beans are tender. Soaking in
water, if desired should be completed before boiling. Discard the water after soaking or boiling.
COOKING HINTS AND TIPS
-5-
LAMB WITH BALSAMIC GLAZED VEGETABLES
Well seasoned lamb is balanced by the tart sweetness of the balsamic vinegar glaze and vegetables.
7.5ml (1
1
⁄2 tsp) salt
5ml (1 tsp) freshly ground black pepper
7.5ml (1
1
⁄2 tsp) ground coriander
15ml (1 tbsp) dried rosemary
7.5ml (1
1
⁄2 tsp) dried mint
5ml (1 tsp) dried thyme
5ml (1 tsp) ground fennel
2.3kg (5 lb) lamb joint, (suitable for roasting), trimmed of fat
2 medium red onions, cut into eighths
3 small courgettes, cut into 1cm (
1
⁄2 inch) thick slices
3 small yellow squash (summer squash), cut into bite sized chunks
3 red potatoes, cut into bite sized chunks
75ml (5tbsp) balsamic vinegar
Combine the salt and pepper, coriander, rosemary, mint, thyme and fennel in a small bowl. Rub the
seasonings over the lamb joint. Place the onions in the bottom of the Slow Cooker and add the lamb
joint. Add the remaining vegetables. Drizzle the balsamic vinegar over the vegetables. Cover and
cook on HIGH for 1 hour, then turn to LOW for 10 - 12 hours.
Serves 8.
FRESH VEGETABLE PAELLA
This side dish is a twist on the Spanish classic. You can also serve this as a main course.
275g (10oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
900g (2lb) long grain rice
2ltr (3
1
⁄2 pt) vegetable stock
2 green pepper, deseeded and chopped
2 medium tomatoes, sliced into wedges
2 medium onion, chopped
2 medium carrot, chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed
30ml (2tbsp) flat leaf parsley, chopped
2.5ml - 5ml (
1
⁄2 tsp - 1tsp) saffron threads
5ml (1 tsp) salt
5ml (1 tsp) freshly ground black pepper
2 x 390g can artichoke hearts, quartered, rinsed and well drained
225g (8oz) frozen peas
Combine the spinach, rice, vegetable stock, green pepper, tomato, onion, carrot, garlic, parsley,
saffron, salt and black pepper in the Slow Cooker. Mix thoroughly. Cover and cook on LOW for 4
hours (or on HIGH for 2 hours). Add the artichoke hearts and peas to the Paella 15 minutes before
serving. Mix thoroughly to combine and replace the lid.
Makes 8 side servings.
RECIPES
-8-