Slow Cookers
February 2003
Regardless
of the size of your boat, galley storage space is always in short supply. One
item that has earned a permanent spot in Solitaire’s galley is my West Bend 4
Quart Oblong Slow Cooker (item number 84624). It can function as an oven, an
extra burner, or even a griddle – and it lets me bake while keeping the galley
cool in the summer months.
Just about any recipe can be adapted for slow cooking. You can bake potatoes
or even a roast by wrapping them in foil and just placing in the slow cooker.
Since liquids don’t boil away as in conventional cooking, you may need to
reduce the amount of liquid by about one-half. Most ingredients do not need
advance preparation – you can simply put the meat, vegetables and liquids in
all at once and just let in cook all day on low. One exception is milk or
cream – add that during the last hour. For most recipes, plan to cook for 8-10
hours on low. Here are some recipes specifically for a Slow Cooker:
Crazy Standing-up Pork Chops -
Stand up 4-6 Pork Chops in your slow cooker on their edges. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and other spices of your choice.
Slice two medium onions, separate into rings and lay on top of chops. Add about one tablespoon butter. Cook on low heat for 6 to 8 hours.
Chops will be moist, tender and brown.
These make a tasty contribution to a Dock potluck. Mix together 2 cups brown sugar, 2 cups catsup and 4 ounces of whiskey.
In your slow cooker, layer about 5 pounds of sausage with the sauce. Cook 8-10 hours.
French Dip Sandwiches
This is much better tasting than you’d ever imagine from just reading the ingredients.
Place a 3 pound beef chuck roast (trim fat off), 2 cups of water, ½ cup soy sauce, 1 teaspoon each dried rosemary, thyme and garlic powder,
1 bay leaf and half a dozen pepper corns. Cook on low for about 9 hours. Remove beef from broth, shred with forks and keep warm.
Strain broth, skim off fat and pour into small cups for dipping. Serve on buttered French rolls.
Cream Cheese Potatoes
Lightly grease slow cooker. In a small bowl, combine 2 T. dried onions, 1 Tsp. Garlic powder, 1 Tsp. Salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper.
Slice about 6-8 potatoes. Cut up one 8-ounce package of cream cheese into cubes.
Place alternate layers of potatoes, seasonings, and cream cheese into slow cooker, ending with a layer of potatoes.
Cook on high 3-4 hours. In the last hour of cooking, stir the potatoes to distribute the cream cheese.
Mix 4 T. Butter, 2 T. Worcestershire sauce, ½ tsp. Garlic powder, ½ tsp. Onion powder, ¼ tsp. Tabasco in your slow cooker.
Add 2 cups each Corn, Rice and Wheat Chex cereal. Plus 1-cup peanuts and 1-cup pretzels or whatever else strikes your fancy.
Cook uncovered in your slow cooker on low for 3 to 4 hours – stirring (and nibbling) every 30 minutes.