Comments on Magpie Musing: Goulash

Anything from Molly Steven's "All About B...

2012-01-19T07:56:07.873-05:00

Anything from Molly Steven's "All About Braising"-- any slow braise recipe, really-- can be cooked in a slow cooker on low if you double the time, I have found (I think she might even say so in her foreword). I don't skip the step of browning the meat/vegs before I dump everything in, though, because it's such a key flavor step. I usually cut the liquid by about a third, that or take out the liquid and reduce it a bit in a saucepan before serving, since the cooker makes the ingredients throw off more liquid than they would otherwise. (IDK why, someone email the Times! : ))

And Ina Garten's Chicken w/40 Cloves of Garlic from her Barefoot Contessa in Paris in the Cooker. Goodness.

I don't have a slow cooker -- can't bring ...

2012-01-12T14:38:18.062-05:00

I don't have a slow cooker -- can't bring myself to buy one. I figure I have just enough time when I get home from work to put a decent meal on the table. Also, I have a small kitchen. And I can think of other gadgets I'd buy before a slow cooker (and yet still haven't bought these other gadgets either! Combo of the small kitchen and being cheap).

that sounds amazing! I bought a fresh ham hock in...

2012-01-10T16:48:01.637-05:00

that sounds amazing! I bought a fresh ham hock instead of a smoked one for the New Years black eyed peas...and found a pretty amazing recipe for it using the slow cooker!

I got a slow cooker for my birthday and it has bee...

2012-01-10T07:35:15.354-05:00

I got a slow cooker for my birthday and it has been awesome! It's allowed my family more homemade meals since I returned to teaching. Would love a recipe swap some day.

I use my slow cooker all the time! In fact just ye...

2012-01-09T16:28:44.785-05:00

I use my slow cooker all the time! In fact just yesterday I made a kind of Cuban beef stew. It's the best way to cook meat, in my opinion: get the fattiest piece out there and simmer it until it falls apart with a fork. De-lish.

Crock pot screams lazy? I've only heard "...

2012-01-09T14:29:27.696-05:00

Crock pot screams lazy? I've only heard "convenient" and "godsend" coming out of it. Maybe it's just me.

Either way I love the crockpot; we've even named ours and I've a whole post devoted to it and my cooking pains, turned cooking gains thanks to --that's right, the almighty crockpot.

If you care for a read: http://anamiracanstory.com/2010/09/27/cooking-gains-the-sequel-to-cooking-pains/

Definitely try the BLT Steak recipe for Braised sh...

2012-01-09T13:59:46.645-05:00

Definitely try the BLT Steak recipe for Braised short ribs. You have to brown them, and you need to reduce the sauce BUT SO WORTH IT.
HSBFF

I love my crock pot!!! Check out Skinny Crock Pot...

2012-01-09T09:43:04.172-05:00

I love my crock pot!!! Check out Skinny Crock Pot on facebook...they have wonderful recipes!

I'm a whore for what we in the Midwest call th...

2012-01-08T23:18:21.357-05:00

I'm a whore for what we in the Midwest call the crock pot. Actually, growing up in Montana, I always loved my dad's pork chops in--get this!--cream of mushroom soup done in the crock pot. Because I loved it as a kid, and because I miss him so, we make that easy dish at least once a month. If you can get over the cream of mushroom soup aspect, I'd recommend it: stick some pork chops in the slow cooker (as many as you want); pour a can of cream of mushroom soup over it. Leave all day. Come home. Pour a huge glass of wine. Serve pork chops over rice (all the better if you have a rice cooker, speaking of making things 12 hours ahead!).

Ah, yes. The term "slow cooker" does sma...

2012-01-08T21:16:20.174-05:00

Ah, yes. The term "slow cooker" does smack a little of dry chicken breast and cream of mushroom, but I must say it's gotten a bit of a face life in recent years. I find that pork shoulder and brisket work best but it's also great for soups and chili.

Bwah-ha-ha. You're on to me now, but it's...

2012-01-08T21:04:27.475-05:00

Bwah-ha-ha. You're on to me now, but it's too late. I'm already up to the Ws.

I have not utilized my slow cooker too much because many of the recipes are not "lazy" enough. I definitely want to dump in the ingredients and forget about it, not fuss around with browning, etc. However, my daughter is very gung-ho to get up early and make her own lunch so perhaps in the next year I can get her trained on some basic slow-cooker recipes. She actually made a pasta dish in it (I didn't want her handling boiling water) that wasn't great by adult standards, but the kids thought it was totally kapusta!

My favorite pork recipe ever. It never makes it to...

2012-01-08T20:37:03.535-05:00

My favorite pork recipe ever. It never makes it to the BBQ sauce. In honor of my friend Jody, whose husband went vegan so she can't make it anymore!
http://memegrl.blogspot.com/2008/10/best-crockpot-pork-roast-ever.html

I actually love the slow cooker--especially if I c...

2012-01-08T20:25:36.623-05:00

I actually love the slow cooker--especially if I can prep everything the night before and then put it in come morning. I think it's perfect for pork because slow cooking is the best way to do it.