For busy cooks wanting to prepare a tasty and healthful meal, with minimal preparation time, a roast prepared in your crock pot with vegetables is hard to beat! After a few minutes preparation, you simply flip on your crock pot and about 12 hours later, you have a delicious meal. The best part is that this hearty meal cooks, without you having to tend to it, while you work or sleep.
Following are seven tips for preparing the perfect roast in your crock pot.
Tip One - choose a good quality cut (eye of round is my favorite, and rump roast is also good). A great thing about preparing roast in the crock pot is that you can use cheaper cuts and they will come out very tender due to the long cooking time. Whatever type of roast you choose, be sure to trim any excessive fat that is present on the sides or bottom of the roast.
Tip Two - many people like to brown their roast in a skillet before adding it to the crock pot. This adds flavor and enhances the appearance of the cooked product. To save time and add excellent flavor, use a product like Kitchen Bouquet, which you brush on the meat before cooking. It adds color and flavor at the same time.
Tip Three - buy a package of frozen mixed vegetables (carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, or whatever you prefer). You can add these to the crock at the very beginning, but it is a good idea to let them thaw before adding. If you use a frozen product such as "California Blend" that has many small pieces, it is best to thaw in warm water and add them in the last 3-4 hours of cooking. Otherwise, the smaller vegetable cuts tend to turn to mush. If adding potatoes, cut them into chunks and add at the beginning of cooking - potatoes need the full cooking time.
Tip Four - use about 3/4 cup of a beef broth. Pour this into the crock before beginning cooking. This adds flavor and helps make a hearty gravy that you can use with other dishes (such as mashed potatoes). Prepare the broth with a premium quality broth mix, or bouillon cube.
Tip Five - salt and pepper the roast, or use a seasoning blend. I use a Cajun pepper blend that includes salt, because I like the extra spiciness. Use whatever you like, but salt and pepper alone will give excellent results. Cook the roast for 10-12 hours on LOW. This allows a long, moist cooking time that will result in a tender, melt in your mouth roast.
Tip Six - avoid the temptation to lift the lid for a better look while the roast is cooking (unless you are adding thawed frozen vegetables as mentioned in tip three above.) Particularly when the crock pot is set on low, this allows a lot of heat to escape and can increase the cooking time.
Tip Seven - If you have any leftovers, chop them up the next day and add your favorite barbecue sauce. Heat through. This makes a delicious barbecue beef sandwich that will outshine any that you can buy!
Use these tips to make a mouthwatering roast dinner that is delicious, easy, and a sure hit every time!
Showing posts with label cooking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cooking. Show all posts
Saturday, 5 September 2009
Saturday, 8 August 2009
The History of Chinese Cuisine
In China, food and its preparation has been developed so highly that it has reached the status of an art form. Rich and poor, the Chinese people consider that delicious and nutritious food is a basic necessity. There is an old Chinese saying Food is the first necessity of the people.
This art has been cultivated and refined over hundreds of years. Legend has it that the culture of Chinese cuisine originated in the 15th century BC during the Shang dynasty and was originally introduced by Yi Yin, it's first Prime Minister.
The two dominant philosophies of Chinese culture both had extreme influences on the political and economic history of the country but it is less well known that they also influenced the development of the culinary arts.
Confucius emphasised the artistic and social aspects of cookery and eating. The Chinese don't gather together without involving food - it is considered to be poor etiquette to invite friends to your home without providing appropriate food.
Confucius established standards of cooking and table etiquette, most of which remain to this day. The most obvious example of this is the cutting of bite-sized pieces of meat and vegetables during the course of the food preparation in the kitchen, rather than using a knife at the table which is not considered to be good manners.
Confucius also encouraged the blending of ingredients and flavourings to become a cohesive dish, rather than tasting the individual components. Harmony was his priority. He believed and taught that without harmony of ingredients there could be no taste. He also emphasised the importance of presentation and the use of colour, texture and decoration of a dish. Most importantly, cooking became an art rather than a task to be endured and certainly he was instrumental in promulgating the philosophy of "live to eat" rather than "eat to live".
On the other hand, Tao encouraged research into the nourishment aspects of food and cookery. Rather than concentrating on taste and appearance, Taoists were more interested in the life-giving properties of food.
Centuries on, the Chinese have discovered the health-giving properties of all sorts of roots, herbs, fungus and plants. They have taught the world that the nutritional value of vegetables is destroyed by over-cooking (particularly boiling) and in addition have found that things with a great flavour also have medicinal value.
Home cooked Chinese food is extremely healthy, even though much of it is fried. This is due to the use of polyunsaturated oils (used only once and discarded) and the exclusion of dairy products. In addition the inclusion of animal fat is minimal because portions of meat are small.
This art has been cultivated and refined over hundreds of years. Legend has it that the culture of Chinese cuisine originated in the 15th century BC during the Shang dynasty and was originally introduced by Yi Yin, it's first Prime Minister.
The two dominant philosophies of Chinese culture both had extreme influences on the political and economic history of the country but it is less well known that they also influenced the development of the culinary arts.
Confucius emphasised the artistic and social aspects of cookery and eating. The Chinese don't gather together without involving food - it is considered to be poor etiquette to invite friends to your home without providing appropriate food.
Confucius established standards of cooking and table etiquette, most of which remain to this day. The most obvious example of this is the cutting of bite-sized pieces of meat and vegetables during the course of the food preparation in the kitchen, rather than using a knife at the table which is not considered to be good manners.
Confucius also encouraged the blending of ingredients and flavourings to become a cohesive dish, rather than tasting the individual components. Harmony was his priority. He believed and taught that without harmony of ingredients there could be no taste. He also emphasised the importance of presentation and the use of colour, texture and decoration of a dish. Most importantly, cooking became an art rather than a task to be endured and certainly he was instrumental in promulgating the philosophy of "live to eat" rather than "eat to live".
On the other hand, Tao encouraged research into the nourishment aspects of food and cookery. Rather than concentrating on taste and appearance, Taoists were more interested in the life-giving properties of food.
Centuries on, the Chinese have discovered the health-giving properties of all sorts of roots, herbs, fungus and plants. They have taught the world that the nutritional value of vegetables is destroyed by over-cooking (particularly boiling) and in addition have found that things with a great flavour also have medicinal value.
Home cooked Chinese food is extremely healthy, even though much of it is fried. This is due to the use of polyunsaturated oils (used only once and discarded) and the exclusion of dairy products. In addition the inclusion of animal fat is minimal because portions of meat are small.
Tuesday, 4 August 2009
Cast Iron Cookware: The Cookware Our Ancestors Used
Cast iron cookware has been around for more than a hundred years and was once the favored type of cookware. In fact, many iron cookware pieces have been passed down from generation to generation - providing not only a necessary cooking utensil, but also a way to pass on memories and family traditions.
When searching for this type of cookware, yard sales, antique auctions and flea markets are always a good place to start. If brand new cookware is desired, many retailers still offer cast iron in many different varieties - from skillets to Dutch ovens to grill pans and more.
Why Use Cast Iron Cookware?
Many professional chefs choose cast iron cookware over other types. The reasons for this include the ability of the iron to retain heat as well as distribute the heat evenly throughout the cooking surface. In addition, the cookware is extremely durable and can endure extremes in heat.
Once seasoned properly, the cookware becomes non-stick and is especially good for cooking such items as eggs, grilled sandwiches and steaks or burgers.
Seasoning
Seasoning is essential with cast iron cookware. When purchasing the cookware new from a retailer, please follow the directions that come with it. Many of the new iron cookware is specially coated with substances in order to keep food from sticking.
With used or handed down cookware, the following instructions should keep the iron seasoned.
1. If the cookware is rusted, scour out the rust with steel wool.
2. Using vegetable oil, bacon fat, lard or other hardened fat, coat the cookware thoroughly and evenly.
3. Put cookware in oven upside down (do not forget to put some tin foil down to catch drippings and keep oven clean) and bake for anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours at a medium-high temperature.
4. Remove from oven and let cool completely.
5. Wipe out remaining fat or oil
6. Repeat seasoning steps as necessary
7. Store without lid on
Using Cookware
For cooking with cast iron cookware, it is recommended that the pan be preheated before adding food. To know when the pan is ready for cooking, add a few drops of water and make sure the water sizzles. Once it sizzles, it is time to add the food.
Cleaning the cookware is easy, but must be done by hand. Do not place the cast iron cookware in a dishwasher. Using dish soap and water scrub out the cookware and dry immediately. If seasoning is starting to wear off, add a very light layer of oil or fat to the pan before storing. Moisture leads to rust, so always store with the lid off.
Immediately after cooking, remove food from the cookware. The cast iron in the cookware is not good for storage of leftovers and may actually seep iron into the food, especially if cooking tomato-based sauces or acidic type foods.
Conclusion
Cast iron is a tremendously good type of product to cook with. Not only have our ancestors used this type of cookware almost exclusively, it has many enduring qualities to provide even heat and durability.
For the small amount of work put into the care and upkeep of the cast iron, it can provide years of service as well as many happy memories for generations to come.
When searching for this type of cookware, yard sales, antique auctions and flea markets are always a good place to start. If brand new cookware is desired, many retailers still offer cast iron in many different varieties - from skillets to Dutch ovens to grill pans and more.
Why Use Cast Iron Cookware?
Many professional chefs choose cast iron cookware over other types. The reasons for this include the ability of the iron to retain heat as well as distribute the heat evenly throughout the cooking surface. In addition, the cookware is extremely durable and can endure extremes in heat.
Once seasoned properly, the cookware becomes non-stick and is especially good for cooking such items as eggs, grilled sandwiches and steaks or burgers.
Seasoning
Seasoning is essential with cast iron cookware. When purchasing the cookware new from a retailer, please follow the directions that come with it. Many of the new iron cookware is specially coated with substances in order to keep food from sticking.
With used or handed down cookware, the following instructions should keep the iron seasoned.
1. If the cookware is rusted, scour out the rust with steel wool.
2. Using vegetable oil, bacon fat, lard or other hardened fat, coat the cookware thoroughly and evenly.
3. Put cookware in oven upside down (do not forget to put some tin foil down to catch drippings and keep oven clean) and bake for anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours at a medium-high temperature.
4. Remove from oven and let cool completely.
5. Wipe out remaining fat or oil
6. Repeat seasoning steps as necessary
7. Store without lid on
Using Cookware
For cooking with cast iron cookware, it is recommended that the pan be preheated before adding food. To know when the pan is ready for cooking, add a few drops of water and make sure the water sizzles. Once it sizzles, it is time to add the food.
Cleaning the cookware is easy, but must be done by hand. Do not place the cast iron cookware in a dishwasher. Using dish soap and water scrub out the cookware and dry immediately. If seasoning is starting to wear off, add a very light layer of oil or fat to the pan before storing. Moisture leads to rust, so always store with the lid off.
Immediately after cooking, remove food from the cookware. The cast iron in the cookware is not good for storage of leftovers and may actually seep iron into the food, especially if cooking tomato-based sauces or acidic type foods.
Conclusion
Cast iron is a tremendously good type of product to cook with. Not only have our ancestors used this type of cookware almost exclusively, it has many enduring qualities to provide even heat and durability.
For the small amount of work put into the care and upkeep of the cast iron, it can provide years of service as well as many happy memories for generations to come.
Monday, 27 July 2009
The Art And Delight Of Mexican Cooking!
Ah, we have all heard of the joys of rich, spicy and varied Mexican cooking and enjoyed the zesty flavors in a restaurant so many times; besides being a way to partake of a new country's culture and food habits, Mexican cooking is a great style to learn for the number of specialty dishes it has to offer.
The basics of Mexican cooking involve the most fundamental meal that Mexicans have as part of their daily fare: some of these staple food items include Ancho Chiles, (dried Poblano Chiles that are used for making a marinade, and really chili-hot), Cilantro (the fresh herb is preferred to the dried version, especially when making salsa sauce or guacamole).
A storage tip for keeping Cilantro fresh is to wrap it in a moist towel while another handy hint about the famous dried Guajillo Chiles is that they are a whole lot spicier than the earlier mentioned Ancho Chiles; however, the former is sprinkled generously over veggies, fruits, soups and stews. Another must-have in the Mexican pantry is Jicama, a root vegetable similar to potato, which is used for making slaws and salads and sometimes doubles up as a snack!
Dried grains of corn give the Mexicans Masa Harina, which is typically cooked with lime, ground to a paste and when dried of water, becomes flour-like and the raw product used for making tortillas. Cow's milk cheese, Queso Anejo, is used to give the sodium flavor to dishes while Serrano Chiles provides a kick to many others!
A great Mexican cooking for homes are the tortillas, consumed hot, straight off the griddle and supplemented by chilli (roasted over the fire), dried chillies roasted on the griddle and tomatoes cooker in a broiler or fry-pan. All the above are basic components of all Mexican specialties like marinade, salsas sauce, spicy condiments and that are seasoned with onions, Cilantro and Radishes.
Mexican cooking lovers can learn to make many dishes at home, including the famous tortillas with store-bought Masa Harina, made into soft dough and after dividing it inot 12 equal parts, they can roll each part into a ball. With a tortilla press that has been covered with plastic wrap, they can press the dough ball after placing it in the center and twisting the handle side to side (flatten the dough evenly).
After this, you need to lift the press open to give the dough one half-turn and close it once more; then, cook the tortilla in a non-stick pan on medium flame for 15-30 seconds before flipping to cook the other side, then repeating the action for another half minute.
A tasty chicken dish made according to Mexican cooking recipe includes a marinade adobo with pre-sauted and strained red chilies made into a sauce, vinegar, garlic and other spices that are poured over the chicken and roasted with potatoes.
The basics of Mexican cooking involve the most fundamental meal that Mexicans have as part of their daily fare: some of these staple food items include Ancho Chiles, (dried Poblano Chiles that are used for making a marinade, and really chili-hot), Cilantro (the fresh herb is preferred to the dried version, especially when making salsa sauce or guacamole).
A storage tip for keeping Cilantro fresh is to wrap it in a moist towel while another handy hint about the famous dried Guajillo Chiles is that they are a whole lot spicier than the earlier mentioned Ancho Chiles; however, the former is sprinkled generously over veggies, fruits, soups and stews. Another must-have in the Mexican pantry is Jicama, a root vegetable similar to potato, which is used for making slaws and salads and sometimes doubles up as a snack!
Dried grains of corn give the Mexicans Masa Harina, which is typically cooked with lime, ground to a paste and when dried of water, becomes flour-like and the raw product used for making tortillas. Cow's milk cheese, Queso Anejo, is used to give the sodium flavor to dishes while Serrano Chiles provides a kick to many others!
A great Mexican cooking for homes are the tortillas, consumed hot, straight off the griddle and supplemented by chilli (roasted over the fire), dried chillies roasted on the griddle and tomatoes cooker in a broiler or fry-pan. All the above are basic components of all Mexican specialties like marinade, salsas sauce, spicy condiments and that are seasoned with onions, Cilantro and Radishes.
Mexican cooking lovers can learn to make many dishes at home, including the famous tortillas with store-bought Masa Harina, made into soft dough and after dividing it inot 12 equal parts, they can roll each part into a ball. With a tortilla press that has been covered with plastic wrap, they can press the dough ball after placing it in the center and twisting the handle side to side (flatten the dough evenly).
After this, you need to lift the press open to give the dough one half-turn and close it once more; then, cook the tortilla in a non-stick pan on medium flame for 15-30 seconds before flipping to cook the other side, then repeating the action for another half minute.
A tasty chicken dish made according to Mexican cooking recipe includes a marinade adobo with pre-sauted and strained red chilies made into a sauce, vinegar, garlic and other spices that are poured over the chicken and roasted with potatoes.
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