Tag Archives: slow cooker

Slow Cooker Moroccan Lamb Stew

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Moroccan lamb stew

This slow cooker Moroccan lamb stew is delicious and easy to combine on your cooking day.

In converting the recipe into a make ahead meal kit type recipe, there is a little bit of upfront prep work involved. Don’t let that scare you off.  For simplicity purposes, this recipe has been broken down into four parts:

Part 1 – VEGETABLES – Onions, zucchini, tomatoes and garlic

Part 2 – DRIED FRUIT & NUTS – Dried apricots, dates and almonds

Part 3 – MEAT – Cubed lamb and broth

Part 4 – SEASONING – Moroccan spice mix

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Add the following instructions to “Part 1”:

Slow Cooker Moroccan Lamb Stew
In the slow cooker, place Part 1 (veggies) in the slow cooker. Add Part 2 (dried fruit and nuts). Add broth.  Oil lamb (Part 3) and place over vegetables and broth. Sprinkle Moroccan spice (Part 4) over the lamb. Sprinkle any extra spices around the edges so it flavours the veggies too.

Cook on high for 3 to 4 hours.

Serve with couscous and fresh green salad.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Add veggies and dried fruit to slow cooker:

Moroccan Lamb Stew Vegetables

Add meat, broth and seasonings:

Slow Cooker Moroccan Lamb StewCook on high for 3-4 hours:

Crockpot Moroccan Lamb Stew

Pulling this yummy meal together is super fast and easy to do on the actual cooking day.  Very flavourful, with very little effort.  Perfect for a busy family activity night!

Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes

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slow cooker hasselback potatoesWhy turn on the oven for just baked potatoes? Making baked potatoes ahead of time in the slow cooker not only saves a whole lot of energy by not heating up your oven, but it also saves valuable time in the evening.

Simply place these yummy potatoes in the crockpot first thing in the morning. Come home to already done baked potatoes that are simply just as delicious, if not even better, than potatoes done in the oven. Many slow cooker recipes suggest that you wrap the potatoes in tinfoil, but this extra step is really not necessary.

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slow cooker baked potatoes ingredients

Clean the potato(s) and peel if desired. Skins are okay to leave on, if you prefer not to peel them.

Grease the interior crock with olive oil. Take a paper towel and coat the potatoes with olive oil. In this recipe we’ve sliced the potatoes hasselback style. To slice, simply place the potato in a wooden spoon and slice it thinly without cutting all the way through. This way the butter and seasonings can spread further into the potato making it more flavourful.

Add the potatoes to the slow cooker.  Remember the slow cooker should be at least 1/2 full and not more than 3/4 full.  Season the potatoes with your desired amount of butter, garlic powder and Italian seasoning.

Slow Cooker Baked Potato

Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 5-6 hours.

Potatoes that are smaller in size will cook faster than larger potatoes.

Slow Cooker Tips

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Slow cookers are a life saver when making meals ahead of time.  Although it may seem like one could just throw a few ingredients together and have it cook, there are some slow cooker tips that will make your slow cooking experience better.

  1. slow cooker tipsBe sure to buy the right sized slow cooker, or have a couple of different sized slow cookers on hand. Make sure there is enough food in the crock AND not too much food. The food or liquid must comes at least half way up the wall of the crock insert, as the element is located on the sides of the slow cooker. If only half-filled, check for doneness 1 to 2 hours earlier than recipe. The emptier the slow cooker, the faster it cooks. Alternatively, do not overload the crock pot. Half full to three quarters full is recommended for most crock pots.
  2. Stirring is not necessary when slow cooking and removing glass lid results in major heat loss and the cooking time may need to be extended.
  3. The crock can be pre-warmed by filing it with boiling water first.
  4. Get tender meat by lightly coating the pieces in flour and then browning before adding to the crock. This also helps to seal in the juices.
  5. Fat retains heat more readily than water, so fattier recipes will cook faster than those with less fat. Trim meats and brown them prior to putting them in the crock pot.
  6. Steam accumulates on the slow cooker’s lid and the contents of the crockery tend to get watered down. Use thickeners such as flour, cornstarch and tomato paste to give texture to the dish.
  7. Vegetables: Cut vegetables in small pieces to ensure rapid heat transfer. Always place vegetable in the crock first and then the meat on top.
  8. Dry herbs and spices can lose their flavor when simmering so long, if possible–try adding them the last two hours before the meal is ready to help keep the flavor. Use fresh herbs when possible, these can be added first thing since they’ll hold their flavor better when simmering for hours.
  9. 1 hour on high is equivalent to 2 hours on low.
  10. Don’t set a hot crock on a cold surface. Always place a hot pad or towel under it.

Slow Cooker Benefits

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Slow cookers and making meals ahead of time go hand in hand.  What couldn’t be better than returning home from work to a house filled with mouthwatering smells coming from that little, but powerful kitchen appliance? If you are not yet a proud owner of a slow cooker, after reading these slow cooker benefits, you may want to make the small investment to reap the plentiful rewards!

slow cooker benefits

  1. Convenience: This is probably the number one benefit for most people. Simply put all your ingredients in before you go to work in the morning and come home to a home cooked meal.  To make your slow cooker meal even more convenient, you can prepare your meat and vegetables beforehand and freeze them, so you don’t even have to do any prep work, other than letting it defrost in your fridge before you place them in your slow cooker.
  2. Economical: Slow cookers use the same amount of power as a light bulb.  Low wattage over a longer period of time costs less than high wattage for a short period of time. They are also ideal for less expensive cuts of meat, as the cooking process tenderizes the meat.  The long slow cooking will breakdown the connective tissue of these types of meats without toughening the muscle.  Not to mention softening fibrous vegetables.
  3. Flavourful: Long cooking times make for better distribution of flavours in recipes.  All the ingredients in the one crock pot will share the same delicious flavour.
  4. Burn Proof:  Low temperature of slow-cooking makes it almost impossible to burn food or even over cook. Liquids do not boil away, as they are all contained in the pot. Many models also have a timer or thermostats which bring food to a given temperature and then lower it.
  5. Frees up Oven and Stove Top Space: Perfect for holiday meals, when you run out of space. Simply cook veggies or your turkey dressing in the crock pot. If you are a bulk cooker, it also helps in getting certain meats cooked with little effort for recipes, while you are preparing other meals.
  6. Easy Clean Up: When cooking a meal all in one pot, there is only one pot to clean up and fewer dishes to wash!

What do you like best about your slow cooker?

Slow Cooker Pork Roast

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slow-cooker-pork-roastThis slow cooker pork roast recipe is so simple and a wonderfully warm meal for a dark autumn or winter evening. The delicious aroma will waft through your home as this meal slowly cooks in your slow cooker.

If possible, spend a bit more on a good quality roast. We buy meat that has no added hormones or antibiotics and the end result in taste is definitely worth it!

Tip:  Follow the recipe exactly in order to get the right amount of liquids for this recipe.  Do NOT lift the lid while cooking, as you will lose liquids and possibly cause scorching.  Be sure to cook only on low and not high. If after 6 hours the meat thermometer reads 160 degrees, switch the setting to warm. Finally, make sure your crockpot is the right size.  It should be at least  half, up to three quarters full. 

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