Cooking Article

As I walked through the grocery store aisles a few weeks ago
I noticed the increase in prepackaged slow cooker meals. I’ve been using my slow cooker and reaping the rewards for years
so it was no real surprise to me when others started proclaiming the benefits of cooking with a crock pot. Why did it take the rest of the country so long to catch up? With this increase in popularity
I’ve recently been asked by a few ‘newbies’ ‘What’s so great about slow cooking anyway?’

That’s an easy question to answer even if all you’ve ever done is make chicken stew with your slow cooker. It’s just so dang simple and the food tastes better when cooked slowly and evenly in a crock pot.

I’m a work at home mom. I operate a Family Child Care and also have a busy online business
both of which keep me going all day long. That on top of my daughter’s activities and the in and out nature of my husband’s business
we’re usually searching for time to sit down and eat
especially eating together as a family. There’s where the slow cooker comes in handy. I have tons of slow cooker recipes
and can find just about anything to cook that my kids and picky husband will like to eat.

Since I work at home
having the kitchen stay a comfortable temperature is a must
as I spend quite a bit of time there preparing meals and snacks for my day care kids. I use my crock pot year round
and love its usefulness during the warm weather months when I can fix the beginnings of the meal in the morning when I’ve got other ‘stuff’ out on the counter anyway
put it all in the pot
and then clean up the whole mess when I’m done. The crock pot requires very little clean up itself
so there you have yet another major reason for why slow cooking is so great.

For those of you who work away from home
consider this scenario: As the day goes along
the slow cooker is busy fixing your meal for you
and when you walk through the door at the end of another grueling day at work
your dinner is waiting. All you need to do
depending on the recipe you’ve selected
is prepare a side dish or salad
add some bread
set the table
and call the family in to eat. Simple
simple
simple; and very satisfying to come home to.

Here is a favorite slow cooker recipe that you can try with your family. I’m sure you’ll all love it.

Country-Style Crock Pot Chicken

6 carrots
sliced
6 celery stalks
sliced
8 chicken pieces
1 can (10-3/4 oz) cream of chicken soup
undiluted
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
1/3 c or chicken broth
2 tsp cornstarch

Slice vegetables place in crock pot. Place chicken on vegetables. Spread undiluted soup over chicken. Sprinkle dry onion soup mix. Do not add any water. Cook on High 4 hours
or until chicken is done. Stir often. 10 minutes before serving
mix broth and cornstarch. Pour over chicken
stir well. Serves 4.