Cook it Slow - Using a Slow Cooker

Ever have one of the days when you came home wishing your dinner was ready and waiting for you? Slow cookers can help make that wish come true. A slow cooker, or crock pot could turn out to be one of your best kitchen helpers.

You may think slow cookers are old and outdated but today’s modern crock pots have some upgraded features. Crock pots come in variety of sizes and shapes making it easy to find one that is right for your family size or the types of meals you’ll want to prepare. Extra features include programmable timers, latches for safely transporting, as well as removable crocks for easier clean up and storing.

Turning meals into quick work takes just a few simple steps:

• First, you’ll want to find recipes that are designed for a crock pot or slow cooker. Lots of recipe websites will have sections dedicated to slow cookers. Have some frozen chicken you don’t know what to do with? A simple search will yield numerous options. Then you may want to make a few alterations based on portioning or taste. You will be amazed at the variety of things you can cook in your crock pot.

Next is the preparation. You can do this the night before or the morning of. Sometimes you can even prepare your ingredients for freezer storage saving you even more time. Preparation usually involves chopping veggies, preparing any meats with seasoning, skinning or chunking, and adding water, sauce, etc.

A slow cooker is just that. It is designed to cook all day. You may want to invest in a slow cooker with a timer. These models allow you to set the cooking time, with the unit switching to a warm setting when cooking is complete. No more worrying about your dinner being overcooked. Your home will smell wonderful and there is no waiting to eat.

The crock pot can be a great time saving tool. By preparing your meal in the crock pot you can come home to a great meal no matter what your day involved.

Your slow cooker can really help out if you are on a budget as well. You can buy inexpensive cuts of meat and turn them into delicious meals. Meats that are usually tough, practically melt like butter after slow cooking. Simply add a side or two and your done! You can also make large meals to freeze for later use thus saving you even more money.

You may think slow cooking is not for you. Once you discover the array of recipes that are out there and the money and time you can save, you might just wonder how you ever lived without one.

Food Fight

What is the difference between cat food and dog food?

Obviously the cat food has different nutrients from food for dogs but if my cats eat dog food and my dog eats cat food, will harm any of them? Is there really much difference?

Eating foods other occasionally used to make any harm.Dont encourage or leave, because as you mentioned their nutritional needs are not the same, a steady diet of food cats to a dog, or vice versa, would not be healthy at all, but if your dog occasionally sneaks a little cat food, have nothing to worry about.