Fix-It and Forget-It Revised and Updated: 700 Great Slow Cooker Recipes (124 page)

Potatoes, sweet, 1 lb. = 3 medium-sized potatoes = 2 cups mashed

Rice, 1 lb. dry = 2 cups uncooked

Sugar, confectioners, 1 lb. = 3½ cups sifted

Whipping cream, 1 cup unwhipped = 2 cups whipped

Whipped topping, 8-oz. container = 3 cups

Yeast, dry, 1 envelope (¼ oz.) = 1 Tbsp.

Assumptions about Ingredients

flour
= unbleached
or
white, and all-purpose

oatmeal or oats
= dry, quick
or
rolled (old-fashioned), unless specified

pepper
= black, finely ground

rice
= regular, long-grain (not minute or instant unless specified)

salt
= table salt

shortening
= solid, not liquid

sugar
= granulated sugar (not brown and not confectioners)

Three Hints

1
If you'd like to cook more at home—without being in a frenzy—go off by yourself with your cookbook some evening and make a week of menus. Then make a grocery list from that. Shop from your grocery list.

2
Thaw frozen food in a bowl in the fridge (not on the counter-top). If you forget to stick the food in the fridge, put it in a microwave-safe bowl and defrost it in the microwave just before you're ready to use it.

3
Let roasted meat, as well as pasta dishes with cheese, rest for 10-20 minutes before slicing or dishing. That will allow the juices to re-distribute themselves throughout the cooked food. You'll have juicier meat, and a better presentation of your pasta dish.

Substitute Ingredients
for when you’re in a pinch

For one cup
buttermilk
—use 1 cup plain yogurt; or pour 1⅓ Tbsp. lemon juice or vinegar into a 1-cup measure. Fill the cup with milk. Stir and let stand for 5 minutes. Stir again before using.

For 1 oz.
unsweetened baking chocolate
—stir together 3 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder and 1 Tbsp. butter, softened.

For 1 Tbsp.
cornstarch
—use 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour; or 4 tsp. minute tapioca.

For 1
garlic clove
—use ¼ tsp. garlic salt (reduce salt in recipe by ⅛ tsp.); or ⅛ tsp. garlic powder.

For 1 Tbsp.
fresh herbs
—use 1 tsp. dried herbs.

For ½ lb.
fresh mushrooms
—use 1 6-oz. can mushrooms, drained.

For 1 Tbsp.
prepared mustard
—use 1 tsp. dry or ground mustard.

For 1
medium-sized fresh onion
— use 2 Tbsp. minced dried onion; or 2 tsp. onion salt (reduce salt in recipe by 1 tsp.); or 1 tsp. onion powder. Note: These substitutions will work for meat balls and meat loaf, but not for sautéing.

For 1 cup
sour milk
—use 1 cup plain yogurt; or pour 1 Tbsp. lemon juice or vinegar into a 1-cup measure. Fill with milk. Stir and then let stand for 5 minutes. Stir again before using.

For 2 Tbsp.
tapioca
—use 3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour.

For 1 cup canned
tomatoes
—use 1⅓ cups diced fresh tomatoes, cooked gently for 10 minutes.

For 1 Tbsp.
tomato paste
—use 1 Tbsp. ketchup.

For 1 Tbsp.
vinegar
—use 1 Tbsp. lemon juice.

For 1 cup
heavy cream
—add ⅓ cup melted butter to ¾ cup milk.
Note:
This will work for baking and cooking, but not for whipping.

For 1 cup
whipping cream
—chill thoroughly ⅔ cup evaporated milk, plus the bowl and beaters, then whip; or use 2 cups bought whipped topping.

For ½ cup
wine
—pour 2 Tbsp. wine vinegar into a ½-cup measure. Fill with broth (chicken, beef, or vegetable). Stir and then let stand for 5 minutes. Stir again before using.

Kitchen Tools and Equipment You Really Ought to Have

1
Make sure you have a little electric vegetable chopper, the size that will handle 1 cup of ingredients at a time.

2
Don’t try to cook without a good paring knife that’s sharp (and holds its edge) and fits in your hand.

3
Almost as important—a good chef’s knife (we always called it a “butcher” knife) with a wide, sharp blade that’s about 8 inches long, good for making strong cuts through meats.

4
You really ought to have a good serrated knife with a long blade, perfect for slicing bread.

5
Invest in at least one broad, flexible, heat-resistant spatula. And also a narrow one.

6
You ought to have a minimum of 2 wooden spoons, each with a 10-12 inch-long handle. They’re perfect for stirring without scratching.

7
Get a washable cutting board. You’ll still need it, even though you have an electric vegetable chopper (#1 above).

8
A medium-sized whisk takes care of persistent lumps in batters, gravies, and sauces when there aren’t supposed to be any.

9
Get yourself a salad spinner.

Index

A

10-Layer Slow-Cooker Dish,
113

“Absent Cook” Stew,
30

Acorn Squash,
227

African Chicken Treat,
191

A Hearty Western Casserole,
112

All-American Snack,
20

All-Day Roast,
87

Allen’s Beans,
211

Almond Tea,
259

Almonds

Curried Almonds,
19

Ann’s Boston Baked Beans,
218

Ann’s Chicken Cacciatore,
182

Anona’s Beef Vegetable Soup,
30

Another Chicken in a Pot,
171

Apple Bean Bake,
217

Apple-Bean Pot,
217

Apple Cake,
249

Apple Caramel Pie,
248

Apple Honey Tea,
253

Apple Oatmeal,
26

Apple Peanut Crumble,
249

Apple Topping,
242

Apples

Ann’s Boston Baked Beans,
218

Apple Bean Bake,
217

Apple-Bean Pot,
217

Apple Cake,
249

Apple Oatmeal,
26

Apple Peanut Crumble,
249

Apple Topping,
242

Autumn Brisket,
90

Baked Apples with Raisins,
242

Bavarian Cabbage,
229

Blushing Apple Tapioca,
241

Caramel Apples,
243

Charlotte’s Apple Butter,
21

Chunky Applesauce,
246

Cider and Pork Stew,
65

Fruit Compote Dessert,
244

Fruit/Nut Baked Apples,
243

Old World Sauerkraut Supper,
154

Polish Kraut ’n’ Apples,
154

Pork and Cabbage Dinner,
145

Pork and Kraut,
156

Pork and Sauerkraut,
156

Pork Spareribs with Sauerkraut,
157

Raisin Nut-Stuffed Apples,
242

Rhonda’s Apple Butter,
21

Sauerkraut and Pork,
158

Scandinavian Fruit Soup,
244

Shirley’s Apple Butter,
21

Sweet-Sour Cabbage,
228

Applesauce

Dolores’ Apple Butter,
22

Lilli’s Apple Butter,
22

Marshmallow Applesauce Dessert,
241

Apricot-Pineapple Wassail,
256

Apricots

Apricot-Pineapple Wassail,
256

Barbecue Beef,
132

Barbecued Hot Dogs,
162

Fruit/Nut Baked Apples,
243

Golden Fruit Compote,
243

Hot Curried Fruit Compote,
244

Hot Fruit Compote,
245

Peach or Apricot Butter,
22

Pork and Apricots with Mashed Sweet Potatoes,
138

Scandinavian Fruit Soup,
244

Artichokes,
19

Artichokes

Artichokes,
19

Chicken on a Whim,
195

Roasted Pepper and Artichoke Spread,
18

Asian-Style Country Ribs,
149

Aunt Lavina’s Sauerkraut,
155

Autumn Brisket,
90

Autumn Chicken and Veggies,
189

Autumn Pork Chops,
141

Autumn Sipper,
254

Autumn Tea,
254

Awfully Easy Barbecued Ribs,
149

B

Bacon
See Pork, Bacon

Baked Apples with Raisins,
242

Baked Bean Soup,
63

Baked Brie with Cranberry Chutney,
18

Baked Chicken Breasts,
172

Baked Lamb Shanks,
224

Baked Oatmeal,
26

Baked Potatoes in Foil,
232

Baked Steak,
93

Bananas

Fruit Compote Dessert,
244

Hot Curried Fruit Compote,
244

Barbara’s Calico Beans,
215

Barbara’s Creole Chicken,
191

Barbara’s Scalloped Potatoes with Ham,
146

Barbecue Beef,
132

Barbecue Beef Sandwiches,
133

Barbecue Brisket,
106

Barbecue Chicken for Buns,
199

Barbecued Beans,
205

Barbecued Green Beans,
225

Barbecued Ham Sandwiches,
163

Barbecued Hot Dogs,
162

Barbecued Lentils,
222

Barbecued Lima Beans,
202

Barbecued Meatballs,
122

Barbecued Mini-Franks,
162

Barbecued Pork,
151

Barbecued Pork and Beef Sandwiches,
151

Barbecued Pork in the Slow Cooker,
151

Barbecued Pork Steaks,
139

Barbecued Ribs,
150

Barbecued Roast Beef,
105

Barbecued Sausage Pieces,
161

Barbecued Spareribs,
148

Barbecued Spoonburgers,
133

Barbecue Hamburger Steaks,
110

Barley

Chicken Barley Chili,
49

Hamburger Soup with Barley,
37

Vegetarian Minestrone Soup,
70

Barley, Pearl

Beef Roast with Mushroom Barley,
89

Basil

Wild Mushrooms Italian,
230

Bavarian Cabbage,
229

BBQ Meatballs,
120

Bean Soup,
69

Bean Tater Tot Casserole,
117

Beans and Tomato Chili,
67

Beans with Rice,
208

Beans, Baked

Ann’s Boston Baked Beans,
218

Apple-Bean Pot,
217

Baked Bean Soup,
63

Crock-O-Beans,
211

Doris’ Sweet-Sour Bean Trio,
215

Four-Bean Medley,
212

Fruity Baked Bean Casserole,
217

Linda’s Baked Beans,
218

Lizzie’s California Beans,
213

Lotsa-Beans Chili,
45

Lotsa Beans Vegetarian Chili,
68

Main Dish Baked Beans,
216

Marcia’s California Beans,
213