The Not-Your-Mother series of cookbooks by Beth Hensperger is geared towards providing modern cooks with updated versions of traditional favorites. Slow Cooker Family Favorites continues that trend with easy crockpot meals that will appeal to both kids and adults.
Slow Cooker Tips
While slow-cooker cooking is fairly straightforward, there are a few tips that will guarantee a more successful result. Some ideas included in this cookbook are:
- No sudden changes, such as adding cold water to a hot pot
- Don't preheat an empty crock.
- Coat the inside of the crock with cooking spray for easy cleanup
- Keep pot between halfway full to an inch from the top
The Recipes
There's a little something for all family members in this book that's divided into nine chapters: Hot Drinks and Dips; Favorite Family Breakfasts; Slow Cooker Main-Dish Salads and Sandwiches; Soup, Beautiful Soup; Roasts, Ribs, and Other Good Stuff; Great Tasting Dinners on the Wing; Satisfying Stews and Comforting Chilis; Crocked Sides and Veggie Main Courses; Pasta, Polenta and Rice.
Recipe Excerpt:
Creamy Tomato-Basil Soup
Serves 6
Cooker: Large round or oval
Setting & cook time: Low for 8 to 10 hours, or High for 4 to 5 hours, then low for 15 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 6 medium-size carrots, chopped
- Three 28-ounce cans Italian plum tomatoes in puree
- 1 tablespoon crumbled dried basil
- One 14.5-ounce can low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons minced fresh basil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Plain thick yogurt (preferably Greek-style) or sour cream for serving
Directions:
- Combine the olive oil, onion, carrots, tomatoes with their puree, dried basil, and broth in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 4 to 5 hours or on low for 8 to 10 hours, until the carrots are soft.
- Puree the soup using an immersion blender, or transfer to a food processor or blender and puree in batches. Stir in the cream and fresh basil, and season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook on low for about 15 minutes to heat through. Adjust to keep warm until serving; do not let it come to a boil.
- Ladle the hot soup into bowls and top with a dollop of cold yogurt.
Summary
Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Family Favorites is a great cookbook for busy families. While the recipes are not meant for entertaining, they are family favorites that will be made again and again. The Slow-Cooking 101 chapter has all the information anyone new to slow cooking will need to feel comfortable with this very useful kitchen appliance.
Title: Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Family Favorites
Author: Beth Hensperger
Publisher: Harvard Common Press, 2009, 261 pgs., $14.95
ISBN: 978-1-55832-409-1
More great cookbook choices:
Slow Cooker Ready & Waiting
Trevy Thomas - After more than a decade of food writing, Trevy Thomas joined Suite 101 as Feature Writer for the Home Décor and Cookbooks ...
