Comments on Magpie Musing: Slow Cooking vs. Fast Eating

That's completely the issue. I always felt so...

2012-01-14T04:39:05.181-05:00

That's completely the issue.

I always felt sort of thrifty and virtuous sticking that crap in the crock pot.

It's sad--I made a couple of REALLY delicious things and then I forgot how I did it. Really--my husband was raving about how my daughter devoured it. I tried to reproduce it and she's hated every one since.

For something quick and easy, we make wraps. My fa...

2012-01-12T14:45:24.638-05:00

For something quick and easy, we make wraps. My favorite are "Peking Chicken Roll-ups" -- we use leftover cooked chicken and I don't remember the ingredients of the sauce (probably soy sauce, garlic, and a few other things) for heating up the chicken and giving it some new flavor, drizzle some hoisin sauce on a wrap, add the chicken, some green onions and roll it up. I think I'm missing something in the assembly, but you get the idea, right? :)

Bread, cheese and prosciutto. Or salami. Or any hi...

2012-01-11T15:57:45.804-05:00

Bread, cheese and prosciutto. Or salami. Or any high-quality sausage.

If it's hot outside: plain yogurt with olive oil, fresh mint and salt and some almonds (on the side!) for protein.

Now I'm hungry.

Peanut butter slathered onto bites of apple.

2012-01-11T10:15:19.605-05:00

Peanut butter slathered onto bites of apple.

Cheese with pretty much anything.

2012-01-10T21:15:43.123-05:00

Cheese with pretty much anything.

Only three radishes? I hope you slathered them in ...

2012-01-10T20:21:10.778-05:00

Only three radishes? I hope you slathered them in butter and sea salt :)

Saute an onion with some herbs, add a can of black...

2012-01-10T18:31:57.245-05:00

Saute an onion with some herbs, add a can of black beans, throw in a bag of frozen mixed vegetables and some water; presto! soup.

Brown rice (I cook a big pot and freeze it in smal...

2012-01-10T17:57:21.624-05:00

Brown rice (I cook a big pot and freeze it in small portions once a month or so) with refried beans, diced onions, diced green chiles and a little shredded cheese.

made some nachos in the convection oven last night...

2012-01-10T16:50:00.349-05:00

made some nachos in the convection oven last night...salsa, provolone, pepperoni. YUM! Took about 8 minutes, then we sat at the table picking and talking :-)

You would not believe the number of slow cooker co...

2012-01-10T16:32:12.397-05:00

You would not believe the number of slow cooker cook books I pored over trying to find something that wasn't like the brisket recipe you describe (well, YOU probably would, but most people would not). I ended up buying a vegetarian one, but then the problem is that vegetables lose their vibrant color... When I sit down to a meal, I want a lot of variety in texture, color, and taste on my plate, which means I would still have to make other food to go along with whatever comes out of the pot.

Fast meal? Sandwiches. You can put a lot of different flavors in between slabs of good bread.

Hummus and tortilla. Tear up the tortilla and dip ...

2012-01-10T16:02:09.166-05:00

Hummus and tortilla. Tear up the tortilla and dip each piece in the hummus. No dishes.

The slow cooker is a good thing with good ingredients, though. Chilis and stews and everything else. You can also prep the night before and put the inner pot thing in the fridge. Get up in the morning, put it in the cooker part and you're off to the races.