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Archive for July, 2010

Slow cookers have come into their own in recent years and developing a knack for how to use them only comes, for most, with trial, error and time. I’ve had my slow cooker for upwards of two years now and as a family that regularly feeds six (plus friends and relatives) it has been a blessing and a learning curve rolled into one. To help you with your learning curve, I hope you enjoy the read as I share with you my top tips to help you use your slow cooker.

Preparing to Slow Cook

For quick and easy clean up, use a cooking spray or a little oil to the inside of the walls and the base of the pot before adding your ingredients.
Just like any recipe, be sure to read all the instructions before preparing food for the slow cooker. Believe me, I have had my share of oopsie’s!

Converting Recipes

For every hour of cooking time in a traditional oven you will need to allow either 4-6 hours on ‘high’ or 8-10 hours on ‘low’ in the slow cooker.
Cheaper and tougher cuts of meat come out better when on ‘low’ and giving them time to become tender. Factor in extra time for those meat cuts that may need it.
Slow cookers retain moisture by the collection and return of condensation collected on the lid. You may need to reduce the amount of liquid for recipes where rice or pasta are not being used. Recipes with rice and pasta are also the only ones that can truly ‘burn dry’ by absorbing all the liquid in the recipe.

Use of Your Slow Cooker

A slow cooker can take up to 20 minutes to come back up to temperature after having the lid removed. Unless your recipe calls for stirring then keep a lid on it! Also, never use the slow cooker without the lid in place.
Refer to the manufacturer’s information to find out where the heating element is located. Using slow cookers with elements in the side means that your recipe should not need stirring. If the element is at the bottom then stirring every couple of hours is an idea ensuring that you add fifteen to twenty minutes each time you remove the lid.
Most slow cookers have two temperature settings: ‘low’ is just below boiling point and ‘high’ above that allowing your recipe to simmer.
Slow cookers work best when filled from sixty to seventy-five percent capacity. Be sure to adapt your recipe so that it fills at least that amount of your pot. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for information on the minimum fill capacity.

Preparing Ingredients

Dry beans take longer to cook if they are not prepared first. Soaking the beans overnight can reduce their cooking time by up to 75 per cent.
Do not add meats that are still frozen to your slow cooker as they may not cook thoroughly. This is not a problem with vegetables though!
Dense vegetables such as potato and carrots take longer to cook than meat. Layer these under any meat to ensure they are cooked to perfection also.

Retaining Colour and Flavour

If you have a dish that is being cooked over several hours be sure to check on the flavours created by herbs and spices. Using such cooking long cooking times means that herbs and spices may need to be ‘topped up’ as they compete the flavoursome main ingredients. Alternatively, you may wish to add fresh herbs within the last hour of cooking so they are fresh and full flavoured.
Slow cooked vegetables will change in appearance as time passes. To maintain the attractiveness of a dish dress it up with beautiful garnishes of fresh salad vegetables, herbs, or sour cream sprinkled with some bright spices.

Tips for Perfection

Soups and stews need to ability to simmer on ‘high’ without spilling over the edge of the dish. To achieve this be sure to leave approximately five centimetres (or two inches) space from the top of the cooker.
Thickening the liquid in the slow cooker can be easily achieved by mixing a tablespoon of corn flour with two tablespoons of water. When adding it to the slow cooker be sure to stir it through well to prevent lumps forming and within an hour it should start to thicken to a gravy-style consistency.
A long cooking time can cause dairy products to curdle so it is an idea to consider adding your milk, cream, sour cream or cheese near the end of the cooking time.

Left with Left Overs?

Once your slow cooked dish is cooked be sure to pack away left overs promptly to avoid the build up of bacteria. Store remaining food in shallow dishes or zip lock bags that can be laid flat for quick chilling and refrigerate or freeze as desired. Do not heat your left over food in your slow cooker.

Kristy A. Bennett is a time-pressed, work-from-home, home educating mother of three children and soon expecting her fourth! As a business consultant and home maker she believes that the effective use of time should extend well beyond the office and is always looking for ways to make her household operate more effectively. Kristy openly shares her insights into personal and household management on the web site Baby Steps Resources – BabySteps.com.au as well as at speaking engagements.

Baby Steps Resources is not just about finding articles, recipes, hints and tips but it is also a community where we encourage you to contribute your own content to share with others as well. With a primary focus on environmentally conscious options with an attitude that this needs to be balanced with life situations – we have a huge range information and many opportunities available for you to share your experience!

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Auto insurance or vehicle insurance is insurance that is purchased for your vehicles. The primary purpose of auto insurance is to safeguard against any losses that may result from accidents and legal responsibility that could be incurred in an accident.

The auto insurance market in the USA is wide and it covers any liability for injuries and damage done to the property of others. Its enforcement differs from state to state. For example in Virginia, the residents need to pay an annual fee of $500 in case they do not buy any liability insurance. While in North Carolina, you have to have liability insurance even before you are issued a license.

Factor affecting your insurance

Did you know that your credit history has a great influence on your chances of getting approved for a loan? Most people are unaware of the fact that their credit scores actually determine what they pay for insurance. The insurance companies like to keep this tactic as their secret but will inform you once their insurance rates have increased. This happens mostly with people whose credit scores have fallen. Any credit score that is in the range of 600-650 is considered to be fair whereas a credit rating over 700 is quite good. The insurance companies use credit scores to evaluate an individual and the risks involved. A person who is less likely to incur losses will be rewarded with lower premiums.

Discount Auto Insurance

Even though you know that there are some auto insurance discounts available, you may not have realized that there is still a long list of available discounts depending on the state of your residency. By being down to business and doing the homework you will be able to save large amount of money on the car insurance premiums. Some discounts offer as little as 3% off on the base premium, some can actually save you 25-30% off the price of your vehicle insurance.

I am a professional writer with over 4 years of experience in content writing. Additionally I manage a blog at Coffee Table Talks.

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