This isn’t just about cooking food slowly although it is indeed that, it’s about using a slow cooker. It’s a great way to cook as it allows you to get the meal going and just leave it for a few hours. It uses very little power so it’s safe to leave switched on for a long time without giving you a nasty bill. Now, that’s something to think seriously about in these times of fuel price increases.
The author, Carolyn Humphries, takes you through the basic method of slow cooker or crockpot cooking. She encourages us to buy local produce in season. The book is divided into months, and each month has a list of fresh ingredients which are at their best, and then it’s on to the recipes with a nice bit of advice or a description before each one. Every month has a selection of seasonal recipes for fruit, vegetables, meat and fish.
I admit to using my slow cooker mainly for casseroles and soups, and most often in the winter, but Carolyn tells me that in May I could have Hot Mango Mousse or how about Sardines with Herbs, Garlic and Lemon. The advantage of using a slow cooker for fish is that it doesn’t dry out. It’s a very forgiving method of cooking.
Cheesecake is something I would never have thought of cooking in a Slow Cooker but Carolyn informs us that “Rich Cheesecakes are often baked in a very slow oven and, while the results are usually delicious, a cheesecake from a slow cooker will be moister, softer and beautifully pale.” Oooh, that sounds nice! It’s an easy recipe and you won’t have to hover by the cooker in a state of anxiety. Put the cake in the pot and forget about it for 3 or 4 hours. It’s only using the same power as a light bulb!
Slow Cooking – Through the Seasons is full of great new ideas and easy to follow recipes. This is just one from the series of Slow Cooking books, the others being Slow Cooking from Around the World, from Around the Mediterranean, for Vegetarians, and Slow Cooking – Curry and Spice Dishes.
Slow Cooking – Through the Seasons
Author: Carolyn Humphries
Published by: Foulsham
Price: £8.99
ISBN 978-0-572-03421-4
Cookbook review by Chrissie Walker © 2018
See more books by Carolyn Humphries here