Tips For Cooking Crockpot Beef Stew

When you are cooking a Crockpot beef stew, there are some important tips to keep in mind. While there are certainly a number of different recipes you can find, they all have different variances to them and the process can become very confusing. As long as you focus on these tips, you will be able to successfully create any of the different choices that you might find online.

The first tip is probably the most important. When you are making this Crockpot beef stew, it is important that you choose a fatty cut. While many people pick up lean pieces of meat, they do not offer the same flavor and the grease from these meats will end up giving your meal the depth you might find that they are normally missing.

Your next tip to keep in mind is that some vegetables should wait until later in the cooking process to be placed into the mix. The longer that these items cook, the mushier that they are going to be. Potatoes and similar vegetables are fine to put in at the start. These tend to need some extra time to cook. Carrots and celery can be added at the start if you want them to very mushy. If you wait until an hour before you serve them, you should find that they are tender and perfect.

Your third tip in the process of making a Crockpot beef stew is that using gravy mix in place of flour will add in some additional flavor. We find that this move not only deepens the flavor, but it should also help to maintain a good consistency inside of your stew. The best choice would be brown gravy mixes in this case as it is designed to help bring out the flavors of beef more than other choices.

Finally, for the perfect flavor consider adding in your spices at the start and use less than you might think. While these spices have all day to break down and mix with your stew, they will intensify. Putting in too much at the start will only result in your mixture being too spicy to eat. Here is a simple choice for a Crockpot beef stew that you can make.

Toss and Walk Beef Stew

What You Will Need

1 pound stew meat4 large carrots cut1 chopped onion4 stalks chopped celery2 diced potatoes1/2 teaspoon of thyme1/2 teaspoon of oregano2 cups of water1 packet of brown gravy mixSalt & pepper

How to Make It

Begin by preparing and washing all your vegetables, and then place them in the Crockpot with water. Next, add in your seasonings and your gravy mix. Blend it well until it has combined. Finally, add in your stew meat and stir well. Cook on low for about 8 hours and serve warm.

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Cooked Moose Meat: Good To Eat - Or Not?

I do not know what you have heard or what you may know about cooking moose meat, but I think it is about time we dispelled some of the myths that surround it. Contrary to popular belief moose meat is not normally gamey in flavor... if prepared correctly.

As a matter of fact, moose meat is delicious and in our house we eat more moose meat than any other red meat. The primary key in getting good flavored meat starts in the field, as soon as your get your moose. KCSC or Kill it, Clean it, Skin it and Cool it as quickly as you can, you have better meat for following this simple rule. When my dad was younger he would hunt for moose, but he and my mother decided they did not care for the taste. Now in his later years and having mastered the art of KCSC, my parents eat moose meat on a regular basis... you should too!

Another one of the tricks to preparing wild game is to remove the areas from the meat that may contain undesirable flavors; these include the silver-skin, fat, and sometimes the bone. I find this very helpful when preparing other game such as deer.

We recently cooked a sirloin tip moose roast in our slow cooker with bacon and Dijon mustard, and what a roast moose this turned out to be! I would defy you to tell the difference between our roast and that of a beef one. The roast turned out extremely tender, so much so that a knife really was not required. It turned out so delicious that instead of having leftover to make lunches with, we only managed one more meal!

Everyone who has seen this recipe asks us where their sample is? What we say in response is, you will have to do one of two things. Get your own moose and cook it using our recipe or come over to our house for dinner. We entertain quite a bit so we do not mind a few extra mouths to feed at dinner time. You can get the recipe for this roast and see a picture of it on our website.

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Save Some Time When Making Crockpot Beef Stew

Chances are that when you are making a Crockpot beef stew that you are already pressed for time. You want to be able to create the perfect meal for your family, but you do not want to take too much time making this dish. Instead, you just want to toss it together and move on to the next thing on your list of chores.

One of the best ways to begin making your Crockpot beef stew is to line up all the different items you are going to be putting in it. This includes your carrots, potatoes and any other item you are going to be placing inside of it. If you have a food processor, turn it on to the chop setting. This will help you to cut down these items without turning them into mush. Take a moment to get these items down to 1 inch cubes and you will be able to quickly serve this deal meal to anyone who you might think will enjoy it. Best of all, it will have taken almost no time at all on your part.

If you would prefer, you can find bags of frozen stew vegetables in the frozen aisle of the grocery store. These items are perfectly chopped and designed to allow you to simply dump the contents into your slow cooker and let you get to your Crockpot beef stew faster than if you had to do this part all by yourself.

Another way you can save some time is using a packet of stew base maker. This usually has bullion, cornstarch, and other items in it. When you do this, your water begins to fill with flavor and you can cut back down on the process of making this part of the foundation to serve to your family. You may however want to check several different choices as the salt content and flavors will vary from one packet to the next.

You can also choose to purchase cubed stew meat as well. In the grocery store, you will find perfectly cut meat ready to go into your Crockpot beef stew. All you have to do in some cases is lightly brown it first, depending on the recipe. When this is done, you have a delicious meal you can offer to your friends and family and it will taste amazing without any extra work being done.

Remember there is no right or wrong way to make this meal. Just take your time and think about the different flavors you want to have in this dish. The find the simplest method to getting the process done and enjoy the meal you have created quickly with your family.

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Prime Rib Roast - How To Cook One

There are varying ways of cooking different cuts of meat. Some are best when cooked in a liquid and others are better without the liquid. The way a cut if meat is cooked will be the deciding factor in how tender the finished product will turn out. For example, a cut of meat that is not very tender, such as round steak, is better covered and cooked in a liquid for a longer period of time than you would normally cook a rib-eye steak.

The prime rib roast, also called a standing rib roast (because with the ribs left in it will stand by itself) is my favorite cut of meat from the entire steer. A full prime rib roast consists of seven rib bones. Starting at the sixth rib at the shoulder of the steer, a full rib roast continues back to the last or twelfth rib at the loin making up the seven ribs. This piece of meat is where the rib-eye and rib steak are cut from.

Many butchers will name the rib steak a "bone-in rib-eye" but it is actually called a rib steak. Nevertheless, the rib-eye and rib steak are the same piece of meat, it's just the rib-eye has had the bone removed.

You should never pay as much per pound for the rib steak as the rib-eye because with the rib steak you are also paying for the weight of the bone. As far as flavor, I personally cannot tell a difference, whether with the bone or without.

When I buy a prime rib I always buy it with the bones. I will usually ask the butcher to cut the rack from the meat though and tie it back on. That way it will be easier to carve after it is cooked. And when I cook it, I always put it in the pan with the ribs down and the fat side up. That way the fat will baste the meat as it cooks.

As far as seasonings, I have tried several different rubs with salt and I have liked them all. Some people say you should never use salt on a prime rib because the salt will draw out the moisture as it cooks but I have always had a nice juicy roast. The most important thing when cooking a prime rib is the internal temperature. That is what determines how done it is, whether you like it rare, medium rare, medium, medium well or well done.

There is some controversy as to what is rare and medium rare but no matter how you like it, when you know the temperature that you want it to get to you should take it out of the oven 10 degrees before the temp you want it at because during the resting period it will continue to rise in temperature about 10 degrees. And the resting period should be at least 15 to 20 minutes before carving. That will ensure a juicier roast. If you carve it too soon you will lose a lot of juices and it will not be as good.

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Crock Pot Chili

What food will warm you up right through without the worries of having to come home from a long day of work and slave over a hot stove. The answer to that is crock pot chili. What better way to go about your dinner plans than make them the night of morning before and when you come home you have a wonderful worry free meal.

Many people are no stranger to chili cooked on the stove top but the crock pot just made it that much better. That whole time your chili is simmering in the crock pot it is making that chili of yours more and more flavorful. Most people have their basic chili just with kidney beans and meat.... and not a whole lot else. Very boring chili if you ask me.

My recipe has a couple things most people would not think to put in their chili. For example, how about pineapple, yes pineapple. I know that sounds like a strange thing to put into your chili but the outcome of it is just fantastic. That few bites of tangy flavor it gives you here and there is worth it. I myself am not even a big pan of pineapple, however in my chili I absolutely love it!

Yet again I myself am a hunter. 90% of the people will read this will say ew. However to anyone else out there who enjoys their game meats I have also made the chili with some ground venison. Even for those people who don't like that "game" flavor, the chili will hide it.

I hope people are interested in my recipe and would like to give it a try. Here is where you can find my crock pot chili recipe. http://crockpotchili.blogspot.com/

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Frugal Recipes: Easy Beef Stew For Less Than 15 Dollars!

Everybody eats, but not everyone's got money to spare! That's okay, though, because with a few basic tools, cooking techniques, and ingredients, you can cook some seriously tasty and frugal meals. Here's a recipe for my favorite beef stew that you can replicate for less than 15 dollars...

Step 1: Cheap Beef and Veggies

Head on out to your favorite supermarket or budget food store to gather the ingredients for this frugal recipe. You'll need a store that has at least a basic meat counter or butcher's section, as well as some decent produce.

At the meat counter, look for a cheap, somewhat fatty cut of beef. Chuck is my favorite, and you can find it for just two to three dollars per pound if you check the right places! Don't worry about the fat, either, as much of it will render, or melt off, during the cooking process.

After you've picked a good two, three, or perhaps four-pound roast, head on over to the produce section to get your favorite stew veggies. The staple vegetable of this hearty frugal recipe is the potato, but look out for deals on carrots, celery, and onions - this humble but potent combination adds a wallop of flavor to any meal!

After getting the beef and veggies, you should be right at about 12-15 dollars. This dish is going to take some herbs and spices, as well, but you should have those on hand. If you don't, you'll want to go ahead and buy some, but remember that those products are going to stretch a lot farther than just this meal!

Step 2: Prepping the Stew

You could simply chop up the veggies, cut the meat into a couple of big hunks, and toss the whole pile into a crock pot with some water. That wouldn't make a half-bad stew, either, but if you really want to kick the flavor up a notch on your frugal recipes, take 15-20 minutes to do a more involved prep job.

First, heavily salt and sear the chuck roast on high heat in a cast iron skillet. Putting a golden-brown coat on the outside of the meat will go a long way in enhancing and deepening the flavor!

Next, chop your celery, onions, and carrots if you bought them, and throw the lot into the cast iron pan where you seared the meat. Add some olive oil or canola oil to cook them well on medium heat.

When the veggies are soft, it's time to add some liquid. If you're seriously short on ingredients, water will definitely do the trick. However, if you've got some cheap beer or chicken stock on hand, try throwing that in and reducing the liquid volume by half with the heat for a rich, deep flavor.

Finally, add plenty of dried herbs and spices to the veggie mixture in the pan. I like garlic, thyme, rosemary, and marjoram, but you can use whatever you've got.

When the meat is seared, and your veggie-spice mix is done, throw the lot into the crock pot with as many chopped potatoes as you like. I love potatoes, so I usually fill the pot nearly to the brim with all of that good stuff. Add some water or chicken stock to bring the liquid level to about one inch below the rim of the pot.

Step 3: Easy Cooking

Now that everything's in the pot, just set it to low and give the stew a good eight to ten hours to cook. If you can't wait half a day, you might try the high setting, but slow and low is the way to go for the best flavor! At the end, you'll have one of the best frugal recipes for an insanely low price.

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How To Choose The Best Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

There has been a very high demand for healthy slow cooker recipes in recent times. More and more people have discovered that crockpots are not only a healthier cooking alternative, but they can also be used to make a number of mouthwatering dishes. They can also prove to be much more economical in terms of power consumption and the money spent on buying raw materials. However, it's always important to remember that cooking with crockpots is different than conventional cooking. This means that healthy slow cooker dishes need to be made by following certain guidelines in order to be a success.

Understanding How It Works

Before getting into healthy recipes, it's important to know exactly how crockpot cooking is healthier. First of all, the very style of crockpot cooking is healthier than most other cooking methods. With this, the food basically cooks in steam and soaks in its own juices over a span of a few hours. This is beneficial in two ways. One, it seals in any vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that the food has. As no evaporation takes place at any time during cooking, all these nutrients are simply reabsorbed into the food. This is an effective alternative to methods like boiling, where the most precious minerals and nutrients end up being cooked away. This slow cooking method also cuts down any risk of burning and frees up a number of hours where you can be away from the kitchen while the food cooks on its own.

Another benefit of these healthy slow cooker recipes is that you attain a rich and hearty flavor without having to resort to methods like deep-frying. A good example is a simple potato dish. Many people prefer deep-fried potatoes because they are very filling when compared to something like a potato salad. However, French fries are not a very healthy way to eat potatoes. A crockpot recipe like cream cheese potatoes can be much more filling, tastier, and far healthier than French fries. This dish basically consists of cream cheese, potatoes, and onions, but this method makes this a robust and delicious meal that is much healthier than a serving of French fries.

Some Useful Tips

When trying to choose the best healthy slow cooker recipes, it can be helpful to keep the following hints in mind when cooking. Try not to use your crockpot to thaw frozen foods or to reheat food. It's important to know that food needs to reach certain temperatures in order for harmful bacteria to be killed, and crockpots are not always the best way to do this. Remember that slow cookers are well adapted to cooking tougher cuts of meat, so you can save a few pennies by buying some cheaper cuts. Make sure that you trim the fat and remove the skin before putting it in the cooker.

Whether you're looking for vegetarian slow cooker recipes or nonvegetarian healthy slow cooker recipes, opt for recipes that are low in salt, fats, and carbohydrates. Many recipes call for wholesome natural ingredients rather than packaged or processed foods. These are not only healthier, but they are much more economical as well. Due to the slow cooking method of crockpots, you'll find that even relatively simple dishes will have a rich and hearty flavor that is both satisfying and filling.

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How to Make 2 Easy Crockpot Beef Stew Recipes

Today, more and more people are making great use of their crockpots while cooking meals for themselves or for their families. Using your crockpot to make meals and snacks for your family is a real time saver whether you work away from home or not. When you make use of your crockpot, you simply add the ingredients you need for the recipe and then cover with the lid. You set the heating temperature and then you let it cook for the amount of time needed to blend the flavors and cook the ingredients until they are tender and delicious.

If you are ready to save time in the kitchen and still make a mouthwatering meal that will satisfy you and your family, you might like to learn how to make these two easy crockpot beef stew recipes.

Recipe for Crockpot Hamburger Stew

What You Need
1 pound hamburger or ground beef1 Tablespoon seasoning salt3 cups water3 sliced carrots2 cubes beef bouillon2 chopped onions1 package mixed frozen vegetables 10 ounce1 ? cups canned tomato? teaspoon pepper

How to Make It

Mix the pound of hamburger or ground beef with the seasoning salt and combine well. Using a large saucepan or skillet, brown the meat over a medium high heat. Cook until done and then drain the oils off of the meat.

Add the 3 cups water to the crockpot and set the heating temperature to low. Add the sliced carrots, the beef bouillon, chopped onions, mixed frozen vegetables, canned tomatoes, and pepper. Stir to combine while melting the beef bouillon.

After cooking the meat in the skillet or saucepan and draining the oils off the meat, add the browned seasoned hamburger or ground beef to the crockpot. Cook on low heat for about 10 to 12 hours. Of you prefer you can also cook on a high heat setting for about 5 to 6 hours or until the vegetables are tender.

Recipe for Crockpot Steak and Mushroom Gravy

What You Need
? cup flour? teaspoon salt? teaspoon pepper3 pounds cubes steak? cup water1 can cream of mushroom soup 10 ounce1 can drained sliced mushrooms 4 ounce? teaspoon garlic salt

How to Make It

Mix together the flour, salt and pepper and combine well. Add the steak cubes; roll in flour mixture to cover meat completely. Set aside until needed.

Set the crockpot on the lowest setting. Into a medium size mixing bowl you will add the water, cream of mushroom soup, the drained sliced mushrooms, and garlic salt. Stir to combine well. Place the floured steak cubes into the crockpot and then pour the mushroom gravy mixture over the floured steak. Cover and then cook for about 6 to 8 hours on low. If you are in a hurry, you can also cook the dish on high for about 3 to 4 hours. After cooking serve over a bed of rice or pasta noodles.

If you enjoy making a simple yet delicious crock pot beef stew you might want to learn how to make another mouthwatering beef stew recipe. If so, be sure to visit us on our website today. We have many more great tasting meal planning ideas to share with you.

Make Something Ordinary Into Something Extraordinary - EasyStewRecipes.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=KC_Kudra

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How To Make The Most Of Healthy Slow Cooker Dishes

Many people today are turning to healthy slow cooker meals in order to save time and money and to make more nutritious meals. These are all real benefits of switching to crock pot cooking. However, it's important to understand that cooking with a crock pot is very different from conventional cooking methods. In order to get the healthiest and tastiest meals possible, it's important to understand how to use a slow cooker.

Planning Is Everything

When it comes to making food with a healthy slow cooker, it's important to remember that planning is everything. This is a style of meal preparation that does require planning hours in advance. So, if you feel like you might be rushed on a particular day and may end up cooking something fast for dinner at the last minute, don't plan to it. The truth is that these recipes often involve planning a few hours in advance. You will need to add on a few hours to this if you need to thaw out meat for your cooking. However, this doesn't necessarily need to be a disadvantage.

It is not uncommon to find a vegetarian crock pot or other slow cookers that are designed to pretty much cook on their own. In fact, there are many cutting-edge slow cookers available today that have a number of advanced features. For many cooker models, you simply add the ingredients, program it accordingly, and that's it. These kinds of cookers allow you to set the pot in the morning, head off to work, and come home to a delicious meal. Of course, you should always check with your healthy slow cooker recipe first. Some recipes may call for adjusting temperatures after a number of hours have elapsed. Other factors, like the addition of spices, dairy products, and vegetables should also be taken into consideration.

Saving Money

These meals are not just better for your body; they are healthier for your wallet as well. Because this style of cooking allows meats to soak in their own juices and tenderize over a number of hours, you can easily opt for cheaper cuts of meat for cooking. Not only does this save money, but the meat will be as soft and tasty as a prime cut because it has been slow cooked. You'll find that elaborate dishes that you may not have thought of preparing at home can be easily made with a crock pot. Now, there's no need to go out the next time you want some chili, roasted chicken, or vegetarian lasagna. All these can be prepared easily at home. Best of all, you can use fresh ingredients, ensuring that your meal is completely healthy and free of unnecessary additives and preservatives.

Switching to healthy slow cooker meals is a smart move in more ways than one, particularly if you're used to eating out or depending on frozen entrees and microwave meals. Not only are slow cooker foods healthier, but they taste great, and they are more economical. With the right kind of planning, there's no reason why you can't have healthy and hearty meals every single day. All it takes is the right recipes, ingredients, and planning so the meal is ready when you are!

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Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes That Are Easiest To Prepare

There are innumerable healthy slow cooker recipes to try. So, if you do not have a slow cooker, get one immediately, and feel the difference of cooking in a crockpot!

Do you know crockpots are used to add sensuality in dishes? The slow, uniform cooking quality of these pots helps to release the aroma of the food gradually, enveloping every chunk of food. When you lift the lid after the food gets cooked, you get mesmerized by the heavenly aroma that gushes out of the pot. When you take a spoonful, the food tends to sensationalize every corner of your mouth, giving you an enriched experience in eating.

For centuries, it has been the favorite cooking appliance of chefs. It was their tool to seduce their customers with food. Today, crockpots have made a comeback. It's getting huge acceptance in modern kitchens. People have no time to cook a healthy meal. Healthy slow cooker recipes give you a chance to relish food with all its nutrients, tastes, aromas, and sensations put together.

How To Bake Or Roast Vegetables In A Slow Cooker

When you bake food in the oven, it takes time, and you need to be present. Baking is relatively easier. You can also bake without oil or herbs. When you bake vegetables, water is not needed because vegetables have sufficient water content in them. Because of the slow cooking quality, they do not dry up fast, unlike in the oven. Many of these recipes include baking.

You can easily bake a big yam or potato in about 4 hours at low. If you keep at high, it takes 2 hours. Potatoes and root vegetables, when cut in large chunks, take less time to bake. The flavor of roasted or baked vegetables in a crockpot is tantalizing. Serve them with garlic bread, fresh salad, noodles, or fried tofu for a hearty meal.

To experience the joy of cooking, try this recipe. It is one of the easiest healthy slow cooker recipes.

Spicy Apple Squash Dish

YOU NEED: one butternut squash, 4 apples, half onion diced (the white variety), ? cup dried cranberries, 1-1/2 tsp ground nutmeg, and 1 tbsp cinnamon ground.

DO THIS: Peel and seed the squash. Cut into cubes. Peel and core the apples. Slice them. Put together all the above ingredients. Set the cooker at high. Cook for 4 hours or until squash cubes become tender. Stir occasionally.

Feel every bite of the dish as it melts in your mouth. The aroma stimulates all your senses and soothes you like nothing ever did before. Stress-what's that!

There are more such healthy slow cooker recipes that de-stress you. The good thing about vegetarian slow cooker recipes is that they are easy to prepare. If you love cooking, slow cooking can become one of your biggest stress busters.

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Crockpot Beef Stew On The Go

Vegetables are healthy to eat and add great flavor to crockpot meals, especially crockpot beef stew. Tomatoes, corn, green beans, potatoes, and onions are common to most of us. Not so common are some unusual vegetables that make nutritious add-ins. Make it easier to get your family to eat the foods resulting in a healthier lifestyle.

Turnips are usually white inside, with rough leaves having a hairy appearance. They grow best in cool weather. Turnips have been a popular root vegetable for thousands of years, because they are easy to grow nearly anywhere. The leaves have more nutritional value than the turnip itself. Both the leaves and the root are good to use in soups, stews, and salads.

A hybrid of the turnip is the rutabaga, generally yellow on the inside, with smooth leaves, almost like a cabbage. It is also a cool-weather grown vegetable, and takes longer to maturity than the turnip. It holds texture better than the turnip when cooked, and is more nutritious. Although it is a staple crop in northern Europe, it has never caught on as a popular vegetable in North America. It is grown in North America in low quantities and sold in produce markets and sections.

Parsnips are a root vegetable related to carrots and celery. Sweeter than the carrot, parsnips have a carrot appearance, but are closer to a creamy white color than orange. They can be eaten cooked or raw. Some people mash them, like potatoes, or roast them. They are another cool weather plant. When allowed to stay in the ground until late fall when it turns cold, the starches turn to sugars. Select parsnips as you would carrots, buying them crispy and firm. Limp parsnips are like limp carrots: they are not the best choice. Large parsnips are overgrown, so choose small and medium. When peeled, parsnips turn dark as they are exposed to air, just like potatoes. They are good in salads, soups, and stews.

Swiss Chard is a root vegetable primarily grown for the shiny green leaves. The stalks are slightly bitter at maturity, but lose the bitterness as cooked. Young leaves are great when used raw in salads. It looks quite a bit like spinach, and indeed cooks down like spinach. It is a member of the beet family. Chard is one of the Slow Foods. The nutritional value is incredibly high.

On The Go Crockpot Beef Stew

Beef and vegetables go together, with the flavors blending dramatically to make a fragrant, tasty main dish. Start this in the crockpot before you leave for work and enjoy a delicious meal when you arrive home.

What You Need:

1 pound stew meat, cut in bite-sized pieces4 medium potatoes, peeled and cut in small pieces1 package stew seasoning1 medium onion, peeled and chopped2 stalks celery, thinly slicedCelery leaves from stalks, rinsed and cut1 and 1/2 cups water1 pound carrots washed and sliced. Peeling is optional1 can tomato soup

How To Make It:

Mix the water and stew seasoning together. Put the meat in the bottom of the dish, and add the vegetables.

Mix the soup with the seasoned water, blending well. Pour it over the vegetables and beef. Cook on low heat for 10 hours. Add water if needed.

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Crock-Pot SCVT650-PS - The Ultimate In Slow Cooker Convenience And Style

If you are a person who loves healthy home cooked meals, you are going to love the all new Crock-Pot SCVT650-PS. Enjoying home cooked meals has never been easier even if you are someone with a hectic lifestyle or very busy schedule.

The Crock-Pot SCVT650-PS is a 6.5 Quart Oval Shaped Slow Cooker, that is just right for cooking anything from dinner for 2 right up to a dinner party for 8 or 9 people. Due to the oval shape of the crock, it can take a 7 pound roast and cook it to perfection and is absolutely marvelous when cooking curries, stews, casseroles, soups and almost anything else you would care to think of.

Cooking a culinary masterpiece just doesn't get any easier than this. All you do is put your ingredients into the crock, place the crock inside the cooker, put the lid on and set the cooking time using the eLume Touchscreen. The digital timer then counts down, so you always know how much time remains, then automatically switches to keep-warm mode for anywhere up to 6 hours.

It's easy to see that Crock Pot have put a lot of thought into the design of this remarkable slow cooker. Each of the components are easily cleaned by hand including the stoneware crock which also doubles as a serving dish, and the see through glass lid. They are also dishwasher safe. The outer part of the Crock-Pot SCVT650-PS is made of polished stainless steel and has stylish metal side handles with special silicone "stay cool" wraps to ensure safe handling. This incredible product is extremely versatile as well being beautifully designed, and measures a whopping great 16 1/2 x 8 2/3 x 12 1/5 inches. The warranty period is your standard 12 months from date of purchase and has some limitations.

As well as all this, just in case you don't know what to cook first, Crock Pot are throwing in a bonus cook book with a fantastic assortment of great recipe ideas.

So to recap, here are the outstanding highlights of what Crock Pot are calling, "the ultimate in slow cooker convenience and style";

- Oval Shaped Crock that doubles as a serving dish.
- eLume Touchscreen Control Panel
- Up to 20 hours programmable cooking time
- Polished Stainless Steel exterior
- Metal handles with silicone stay cool wraps
- Dishwasher safe crock and lid
- Bonus Cook book
- 12 month limited warranty

This product is perfect for;

1. Mums on the go...
2. Business or Career people that don't have time to cook once they get home
3. Bachelors, with more on their minds at night than cooking a meal...

The ultimate in slow cooker convenience and style, The eLume Programmable Slow Cooker SCVT650-PS from Crock-Pot is priced around the hundred dollar mark and is true value for money.

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Making Meatloaf In The Crockpot

Sometimes when we look for the best Crockpot recipes, we need to take a moment to consider some important things. While we know the basics of what we can cook in this slow cooker, we often overlook some other delicious ideas. It is because of this that we need to break the mold and start trying to make delicious dishes that the entire family will be able to enjoy. One of those is meatloaf and while it is often a favorite made in the oven, it can be brought to life in the slow cooker as well.

One thing you want to keep in mind when you are making the best Crockpot recipes is that meats should be fattier. This helps to keep everything juicy and moist while they are in the slow cooker. Along with this, you will want to be sure that there is always some kind of liquid in the unit, otherwise foods can burn and become too dry.

Whenever you are creating new recipes, you will normally want to do a trial run first. This will give you the chance to explore the flavor and textures that you will end up with. While the first run can always be with your family around the table, you might find that this alternative method turns out better if you are concerned about a particular dish.

Keep I mind also that the spices and flavors in the best Crockpot recipes will begin to intensify as time progresses. This means you should not flavor your dish for that particular moment at higher levels as it can quickly make the dish that you are preparing one you might not enjoy.

Above all, when you are considering all your different options for meatloaf and creating the best Crockpot recipes, you need to remember that you can adjust each dish to fit your tastes. Use more or less seasoning, replace beef for ground turkey. There are an endless number of choices you have for creating the perfect dish. Just make sure when you do move forward with this idea, you consider all the different factors you should find that you end up with a family favorite that is easy to make.

Crockpot Meatloaf

What You Will Need

1 cup whole milk3 slices of bread2 pounds ground beef2 large eggs1 chopped onion2 teaspoons salt1 teaspoon pepper1 teaspoon dry mustard1 large can tomatoes

How to Make It

Take your bread and your milk and mix them together inside of a mixing bowl, this will allow the bread to absorb the milk. Then begin to work it down into smaller crumbs. When this is done, mix in your meat with the mixture and add in your eggs. Beat the mixture on low and then mix in the onions and spices. Take the meatloaf out of the mixer and place it in your slow cooker. Drain your tomatoes and then cover the meat with them. Cook on low for about 6 hours. When this is done, uncover and cook on high for an hour to reduce the liquid and create a quick sauce.

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Basic Crock Pot Tips

Basic tips for using a slow cooker.

A slow cooker possesses a glazed ceramic container or crock, encased in an outer metal outer shell. Within the metal case is an electric heating element. A tight fitting clear dome lid allows condensation to run down inside forming a water seal that aids in the retention of flavor and heat. These small electrical appliances became popular in the 1970's. Today, a wide range of slow cookers are available. The one quart model is popular for singles and couples, the four to six quart for families, and the twelve quart for entertaining or large group meals.

When purchasing a crockpot, search for one with a easily-removed liner. They're just far more easy to maintain. Line your crockpot using a cooking bag and you should need hardly any cleanup whatsoever. Spray the inside of the liner using cooking spray prior to filling it in order to make cleaning easier.

Only fill up the crockpot half to two thirds full. The goodies will definitely not cook sufficiently in the event that the appliance happens to be filled up to the brim. If the food and liquid level is lower, the meals will certainly cook too soon.

The initial temperature of the crock pot should be as high as possible. You can do this by browning the meat in the crock pot before cooking.

140 degrees is the temperature the food ought to reach as fast as possible. In the event that you happen to be at home throughout the cooking times, examine the food temperature after four hours of cooking on LOW - the temperature should be at least 140 degrees. If it is not, there's a problem with your crockpot and you need to get a new one.

Generally, low means the food will be cooking at 200 to 240o F. High means the foods will be cooking at 300 to 340o F. Some models have a variety of settings between low and high. As a rule of thumb, cooking on low takes about twice the amount of time it takes to cook the same recipe on high. The high setting can cause caramelization of foods and allow them to dry out.

The high setting is about 300 degrres while the low setting is about 300 degrees. Take note that both of these temps are well above the minimum safe temperature of 140 degrees.

Professionals propose everyone do not place frozen foods in the crockpot. All foodstuff needs to be defrosted prior to cooking so the food temperature can attain 140 degrees promptly.

Most meats require 8 hours of cooking on LOW. Utilize less costly cuts of meat - you don't only spend less, but these types of meats are better in the crock pot. More cost-effective cuts of meat possess far less fat, making them far more appropriate to crockpot cooking. Moist, long food preparation periods lead to very juicy meats.

Ground meats have to be cooked properly in a skillet before cooking in the crockpot.

Sea food preferably should be added during the final hour of cooking time, or it will overcook and have a rubbery texture.

Large bits of meat can be browned prior to cooking in the crockpot, but this step isn't mandatory. Browning adds color and helps in flavor development.

One hour on HIGH is similar to 2 hours on LOW.

Cayenne pepper and Tabasco sauce usually tend to become bitter if cooked for a long time. Use small amounts and add toward the end of the cooking time.

Add tender fruit and vegetables like tomatoes, mushrooms and zucchini during the last forty-five minutes of cooking time so they don't overcook.

To speed up the cooking time for most recipes, including soups and stews, follow the rule that 1 hour on high is equal to 2 hours on low.

Steam collects on the slow cooker's lid and the contents can get watered down. Use thickeners like flour or cornstarch thicken dishes if needed.

Remove cooked food from the crockpot or liner before storage. Because the liner is made of such thick material, the food won't cool down quickly enough to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.

Stir in spices for the last hour of cooking. They will lose flavor if cooked with the rest of the ingredients for the long cooking period.

Follow the layering instructions carefully. Vegetables do not cook as quickly as meat, so they should be placed in the bottom of the appliance.

uncover the pot, you lose enough heat to slow the cooking process thirty minutes or more. Because the slow cooker doesn't allow steam to escape, the food inside retains all the moisture originally there. Ingredients should not dry out or burn, so there is no need to peek or stir your recipe.

Handle you crock pot with care. Follow the manufacturer's cleaning instructions. Be careful of extreme changes of temperature, as the crock may easily break. Handle it gently and it will last forever.

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2 Delicious And Easy To Make Crockpot Recipes With Fruit

If you have your own crockpot you may already be using various types of recipes to make some delicious dishes and desserts. New models generally include a few recipes that you can try, but eventually you will want to find and use more. You might find them in various cookbooks, shared recipes, or even while searching for them online.

Using a slow cooker helps save you time, since you can mix together the different ingredients you need to make a particular recipe and then simply set the dial to the temperature you need for cooking. After placing the ingredients in the crockpot in the order called for in a recipe, you simply cover it with the lid and then allow it to cook for a predetermined amount of time.

The Best Crockpot Recipes are Good Foods and Desserts

Some of the different dishes you might consider making may include anything from different types and cuts of meat, an assortment of vegetables and fruits. Of course, there are many other types of ingredients you may include such as herbs and spices to enhance the flavors and aromas of the dish you are preparing.

For instance, here we have two delicious and easy to make recipes that you can make in your slow cooker that are fruit dessert recipes. You might like to try making and serving a curried fruit bake or maybe some garnet pears. You can delight the children and the old folks alike while serving either of these mouthwatering desserts. Either will taste wonderful warm or chilled, you might want to serve the dish as it is or you may want to add a dollop of whipped topping or even some vanilla ice cream for an extra special after dinner treat.

Recipe for Crockpot Curried Fruit Bake

What You Need

1 package pitted prunes 16 ounce1 package dried apricots 11 ounce2 large cans drained pineapple chunks1 large can sliced peaches1 cup brown sugar? teaspoon curry powder1 ? cups ginger ale

How to Make It

Add the pitted prunes, dried apricots, pineapple chunks, sliced peaches, curry powder, and ginger ale into the bottom of your crockpot. Stir and then cover with the lid. Cook this dessert on low for 4 to 5 hours, or until done.

Recipe for Crockpot Garnet Pears

What You Need

3 packages black cherry jello gelatin 3 ounce1 ? cups boiling water1 cup cranberry juice1 cinnamon stick6 whole cloves1 large can drained pears

How to Make It

Using a removable liner you will add the blackberry cherry jello gelatin and the boiling water. Mix well to combine.

Stir in the cranberry juice, cinnamon, and cloves. Add the pears into the mixture and stir well but do not crush the pears.

Place the liner in the bottom of the crockpot. Cover with the lid and then cook for about 3 to 4 hours on high or 5 to 6 hours on low.

You can serve this dish warm or cold, with or without the syrup that makes in the dish while cooking.

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Three Best Crockpot Recipes

What dinner meal takes normally fifteen minutes to prepare but tastes delicious? A meal made in a slow cooker of course. If you really want to save time but still make a great dinner for your family, then take a few minutes in the morning to get the ingredients ready, toss them into the cooker and go.

There are tons of good recipes available now days, but how do you know which are the best crockpot recipes? Should you select chicken or beef, soup or stew, spaghetti or pizza?

We've taken some of the guess work out of it all and provided a few of the best crockpot recipes (in our opinion anyway.)

Easy Crockpot Beef Stew

6 large potatoes, peeled and cut into pieces
6 large carrots, peeled and cut in 1 1/2 inches
3 lbs of beef stew meat
1/3 cup soy sauce
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp. pepper
3 Tbsp of flour
1-12 oz bag of onions
1 cup condensed beef broth
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 tsp. salt

Layer potatoes, then carrots on the bottom of the slow cooker, line top with beef. Sprinkle with soy sauce, salt, pepper, and flour. Mix the beef broth and tomato sauce and pour over everything and cook on high setting for 5-7 hours.

Tortilla Chicken

1 doz. corn tortillas
3 cans cream of mushroom soup or cream of celery soup
1 (8oz) pkg. Jack cheese, grated
1 (8oz) pkg. Cheddar cheese, grated
2 cans (4oz each) chopped chiles
1 boiled de-boned chicken (3 to 4 cups chopped)
1/2 med. onion, diced

Layer in a slow cooker the soup, tortillas, cheese, chicken, chiles, onion, soup; repeat using all of the ingredients. Cook on low setting for 6-7 hours.

Spaghetti Slow Cooker Recipe

2 lbs. ground chuck, browned and drained
1 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cans (15 ounces each) tomato sauce
2 to 3 tsp. Italian seasoning
2 cans (4 ounces each) sliced mushrooms, drained
6 cups tomato juice
1 package (16 ounces) dry spaghetti, broken into 4 to 5- inch pieces

Mix all ingredients, except dry spaghetti, in slow cooker. Stir well. Cook on low 6-8 hours or high 3-5 hours. If cooking on low setting, turn to high during last hour and add dry spaghetti.

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Making Meatloaf In The Crockpot

Sometimes when we look for the best Crockpot recipes, we need to take a moment to consider some important things. While we know the basics of what we can cook in this slow cooker, we often overlook some other delicious ideas. It is because of this that we need to break the mold and start trying to make delicious dishes that the entire family will be able to enjoy. One of those is meatloaf and while it is often a favorite made in the oven, it can be brought to life in the slow cooker as well.

One thing you want to keep in mind when you are making the best Crockpot recipes is that meats should be fattier. This helps to keep everything juicy and moist while they are in the slow cooker. Along with this, you will want to be sure that there is always some kind of liquid in the unit, otherwise foods can burn and become too dry.

Whenever you are creating new recipes, you will normally want to do a trial run first. This will give you the chance to explore the flavor and textures that you will end up with. While the first run can always be with your family around the table, you might find that this alternative method turns out better if you are concerned about a particular dish.

Keep I mind also that the spices and flavors in the best Crockpot recipes will begin to intensify as time progresses. This means you should not flavor your dish for that particular moment at higher levels as it can quickly make the dish that you are preparing one you might not enjoy.

Above all, when you are considering all your different options for meatloaf and creating the best Crockpot recipes, you need to remember that you can adjust each dish to fit your tastes. Use more or less seasoning, replace beef for ground turkey. There are an endless number of choices you have for creating the perfect dish. Just make sure when you do move forward with this idea, you consider all the different factors you should find that you end up with a family favorite that is easy to make.

Crockpot Meatloaf

What You Will Need

1 cup whole milk3 slices of bread2 pounds ground beef2 large eggs1 chopped onion2 teaspoons salt1 teaspoon pepper1 teaspoon dry mustard1 large can tomatoes

How to Make It

Take your bread and your milk and mix them together inside of a mixing bowl, this will allow the bread to absorb the milk. Then begin to work it down into smaller crumbs. When this is done, mix in your meat with the mixture and add in your eggs. Beat the mixture on low and then mix in the onions and spices. Take the meatloaf out of the mixer and place it in your slow cooker. Drain your tomatoes and then cover the meat with them. Cook on low for about 6 hours. When this is done, uncover and cook on high for an hour to reduce the liquid and create a quick sauce.

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Smart Crock Pot - Slow Cookers Are A Busy Family's Best Friend

Eating out has become a national past time with the average family spending $200 to $400 plus dollars a month on food prepared by someone else. Our busy lifestyles have almost made this a necessity for making sure that our families have an opportunity to eat a warm meal. But nutritious and healthy meals are not a top priority for most restaurants and our national health has suffered as a result. A smart crock pot provides a viable solution for preparing your family healthy, nutritious meals that are ready when you walk in the door at night. Here are the advantages to owning a smart crock pot and making them a main stay for your preparing family's meals.

The cost to purchase a slow cooker ranges from $9.99 on up with the average price for a slow cooker, larger enough to produce a meal for a family of 6, around $19.99. That is significantly less than the cost to feed a family of 4 at any fast food restaurant.

Most recipes for slow cookers don't require long extensive lists of ingredients and the items that most recipes rely on are readily available in the supermarket. Less expensive cuts of meat are perfect for use in the smart crock pot. Due to the low temperature and the length of time required to cook the meal, you can take an inexpensive cut of meat and turn it into a tasty tender meal.

Slow cookers are very energy, cost and time efficient. They do not heat up the kitchen in the summer time and they the only pot that needs to be cleaned when the meal is done. Once you place the ingredients in the pot, there is no tending necessary, you can walk away and come back hours later to a complete meal. Can it get any easier?

It is easy to modify the recipes to make them lower in calories, sodium and fat by using fat-free, lower sodium or salt free materials. There are very, very, very few recipes that involve anything that has been deep fried and should a recipe call for anything that is high in calories or fat there is always a substitute that will work.

Smart crock pots are more than just for cooking pot roast. It is fun to explore all of the versatile possibilities that you have when cooking with this convenient and appealing method of meal preparation. You save time, money and the ease of cooking a healthy family meal with a smart crock pot can help bring the family back to the kitchen table to enjoy quality time at the end of the day and share stories about the day's events.

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Crock-Pot SCVT650-PS - The Ultimate In Slow Cooker Convenience And Style

If you are a person who loves healthy home cooked meals, you are going to love the all new Crock-Pot SCVT650-PS. Enjoying home cooked meals has never been easier even if you are someone with a hectic lifestyle or very busy schedule.

The Crock-Pot SCVT650-PS is a 6.5 Quart Oval Shaped Slow Cooker, that is just right for cooking anything from dinner for 2 right up to a dinner party for 8 or 9 people. Due to the oval shape of the crock, it can take a 7 pound roast and cook it to perfection and is absolutely marvelous when cooking curries, stews, casseroles, soups and almost anything else you would care to think of.

Cooking a culinary masterpiece just doesn't get any easier than this. All you do is put your ingredients into the crock, place the crock inside the cooker, put the lid on and set the cooking time using the eLume Touchscreen. The digital timer then counts down, so you always know how much time remains, then automatically switches to keep-warm mode for anywhere up to 6 hours.

It's easy to see that Crock Pot have put a lot of thought into the design of this remarkable slow cooker. Each of the components are easily cleaned by hand including the stoneware crock which also doubles as a serving dish, and the see through glass lid. They are also dishwasher safe. The outer part of the Crock-Pot SCVT650-PS is made of polished stainless steel and has stylish metal side handles with special silicone "stay cool" wraps to ensure safe handling. This incredible product is extremely versatile as well being beautifully designed, and measures a whopping great 16 1/2 x 8 2/3 x 12 1/5 inches. The warranty period is your standard 12 months from date of purchase and has some limitations.

As well as all this, just in case you don't know what to cook first, Crock Pot are throwing in a bonus cook book with a fantastic assortment of great recipe ideas.

So to recap, here are the outstanding highlights of what Crock Pot are calling, "the ultimate in slow cooker convenience and style";

- Oval Shaped Crock that doubles as a serving dish.
- eLume Touchscreen Control Panel
- Up to 20 hours programmable cooking time
- Polished Stainless Steel exterior
- Metal handles with silicone stay cool wraps
- Dishwasher safe crock and lid
- Bonus Cook book
- 12 month limited warranty

This product is perfect for;

1. Mums on the go...
2. Business or Career people that don't have time to cook once they get home
3. Bachelors, with more on their minds at night than cooking a meal...

The ultimate in slow cooker convenience and style, The eLume Programmable Slow Cooker SCVT650-PS from Crock-Pot is priced around the hundred dollar mark and is true value for money.

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Save Some Time When Making Crockpot Beef Stew

Chances are that when you are making a Crockpot beef stew that you are already pressed for time. You want to be able to create the perfect meal for your family, but you do not want to take too much time making this dish. Instead, you just want to toss it together and move on to the next thing on your list of chores.

One of the best ways to begin making your Crockpot beef stew is to line up all the different items you are going to be putting in it. This includes your carrots, potatoes and any other item you are going to be placing inside of it. If you have a food processor, turn it on to the chop setting. This will help you to cut down these items without turning them into mush. Take a moment to get these items down to 1 inch cubes and you will be able to quickly serve this deal meal to anyone who you might think will enjoy it. Best of all, it will have taken almost no time at all on your part.

If you would prefer, you can find bags of frozen stew vegetables in the frozen aisle of the grocery store. These items are perfectly chopped and designed to allow you to simply dump the contents into your slow cooker and let you get to your Crockpot beef stew faster than if you had to do this part all by yourself.

Another way you can save some time is using a packet of stew base maker. This usually has bullion, cornstarch, and other items in it. When you do this, your water begins to fill with flavor and you can cut back down on the process of making this part of the foundation to serve to your family. You may however want to check several different choices as the salt content and flavors will vary from one packet to the next.

You can also choose to purchase cubed stew meat as well. In the grocery store, you will find perfectly cut meat ready to go into your Crockpot beef stew. All you have to do in some cases is lightly brown it first, depending on the recipe. When this is done, you have a delicious meal you can offer to your friends and family and it will taste amazing without any extra work being done.

Remember there is no right or wrong way to make this meal. Just take your time and think about the different flavors you want to have in this dish. The find the simplest method to getting the process done and enjoy the meal you have created quickly with your family.

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Crockpot Appetizer Recipes for Your Next Potluck

Tired of the same old casseroles at potluck lunches and dinners? There are alternatives to the boring that are easy to make and take along. Make your next family get-together or potluck a success with easy crockpot appetizer recipes. For many of us, the slow cooker is a must for taking food to office, church or family gatherings.

With all of the innovations in crock pots, there's no reason to dread the pot luck anymore. There are slow cookers made for staying at home or for traveling, such as the Hamilton Beach Stay or Go slow cooker. You can even snap your ladle right on the top. What's not to love about that?

The following are a couple of great cheesy dip crockpot appetizer recipes to try out:

Chili Cheese Dip

1 lb. ground beef
1 can chili without beans
1 lb. mild Mexican Velveeta cheese, cubed

Brown hamburger; drain and place in slow cooker. Add chili and cheese; cover and cook on low until cheese is melted, about 1 to 1-1/2 hours, stirring occasionally to mix ingredients. Serve warm with tortilla chips.

Broccoli Cheese Dip

2 (10 oz.) boxes of frozen chopped broccoli
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1/4 cup sour cream
1 lb. regular Velveeta cheese
1 tbsp. garlic salt

Melt cheese in slow cooker on low setting for about an hour and a half to two hours. Cook and drain broccoli. Mix soups, sour cream, broccoli and garlic salt. Mix into melted cheese. Great with crackers or pita chips.

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Crockpot Beef Stew On The Go

Vegetables are healthy to eat and add great flavor to crockpot meals, especially crockpot beef stew. Tomatoes, corn, green beans, potatoes, and onions are common to most of us. Not so common are some unusual vegetables that make nutritious add-ins. Make it easier to get your family to eat the foods resulting in a healthier lifestyle.

Turnips are usually white inside, with rough leaves having a hairy appearance. They grow best in cool weather. Turnips have been a popular root vegetable for thousands of years, because they are easy to grow nearly anywhere. The leaves have more nutritional value than the turnip itself. Both the leaves and the root are good to use in soups, stews, and salads.

A hybrid of the turnip is the rutabaga, generally yellow on the inside, with smooth leaves, almost like a cabbage. It is also a cool-weather grown vegetable, and takes longer to maturity than the turnip. It holds texture better than the turnip when cooked, and is more nutritious. Although it is a staple crop in northern Europe, it has never caught on as a popular vegetable in North America. It is grown in North America in low quantities and sold in produce markets and sections.

Parsnips are a root vegetable related to carrots and celery. Sweeter than the carrot, parsnips have a carrot appearance, but are closer to a creamy white color than orange. They can be eaten cooked or raw. Some people mash them, like potatoes, or roast them. They are another cool weather plant. When allowed to stay in the ground until late fall when it turns cold, the starches turn to sugars. Select parsnips as you would carrots, buying them crispy and firm. Limp parsnips are like limp carrots: they are not the best choice. Large parsnips are overgrown, so choose small and medium. When peeled, parsnips turn dark as they are exposed to air, just like potatoes. They are good in salads, soups, and stews.

Swiss Chard is a root vegetable primarily grown for the shiny green leaves. The stalks are slightly bitter at maturity, but lose the bitterness as cooked. Young leaves are great when used raw in salads. It looks quite a bit like spinach, and indeed cooks down like spinach. It is a member of the beet family. Chard is one of the Slow Foods. The nutritional value is incredibly high.

On The Go Crockpot Beef Stew

Beef and vegetables go together, with the flavors blending dramatically to make a fragrant, tasty main dish. Start this in the crockpot before you leave for work and enjoy a delicious meal when you arrive home.

What You Need:

1 pound stew meat, cut in bite-sized pieces4 medium potatoes, peeled and cut in small pieces1 package stew seasoning1 medium onion, peeled and chopped2 stalks celery, thinly slicedCelery leaves from stalks, rinsed and cut1 and 1/2 cups water1 pound carrots washed and sliced. Peeling is optional1 can tomato soup

How To Make It:

Mix the water and stew seasoning together. Put the meat in the bottom of the dish, and add the vegetables.

Mix the soup with the seasoned water, blending well. Pour it over the vegetables and beef. Cook on low heat for 10 hours. Add water if needed.

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