Warsaw Community Public Library News
By KATHY STUTZMAN
WCPL Public Relations Manager
I love my slow cooker! I can leave it on while I’m at work, at church, or just shopping and if I’m late getting home, it’s no big deal. I can do complete meals, side dishes, and desserts including cakes! What’s not to like?
Fortunately, a lot of slow-cooker recipes and cookbooks can be found nowadays. My daughter, Rene, practically swears by the Fix-It-Fast series and encouraged me to try it. I have to say I was impressed with the simplicity of some of the recipes and found myself using a lot of sticky notes as place markers. Just the idea of mouthwatering meals waiting for me when I got home from work reduced any stress from the day.
With the holidays coming and with it lots of visiting relatives or friends, a slow-cooker could become your best friend. You can get a meal started while you’re running holiday errands, or taking part in holiday activities.
Why not try it yourself to prepare some holiday treats or meals? WCPL has Cooking Light Slow Cooker/ Terri Laschober cookbook with low-fat and low calorie recipes. Many of the recipes can be made without meat which is perfect for vegetarians. There’s even The Italian Slow Cooker/Michele Scicolone cookbook! This is great for those of Italian heritage and includes mouth-watering pasta sauces, risotto, polenta, and lamb recipes. The back cover states, “Plug it in, walk away, and cook like an Italian grandmother.” Bolognese sauce, anyone?
Not Your Mother’s Slow Cooker Family Favorites/Beth Hensperger sounded intriguing. It includes kid-friendly food that’s wholesome, economical, and appealing to adults, too. It’s basically a lifeline for busy families who want delicious, homemade meals. In 3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Comfort Foods/Robert Hildebrand takes “slow-cooker cuisine to the next level with dishes you never thought you could make in a slow cooker”. How about wilted greens with bacon dressing or warm honey gingerbread?
For the budget conscious, there’s Crazy About Crockpots!:101 recipes for entertaining at less than 75 cents a serving / Penny E. Stone. In addition to casseroles, there are recipes for dips, drinks, and desserts. A crockpot is for more than soup! A timely cookbook is the Church Potluck Slow Cooker: Homestyle recipes for Family and Community Celebrations/Linda Larsen. With the holidays coming up, it could prove to be a lifesaver! The recipes will give you more time to socialize and gather with friends and family instead of being hidden away in the kitchen.
For those with Southern roots and taste buds, there’s Southern Living Slow-Cooker Cookbook/Jane E. Gentry and Southern Living Dinner in a Dish/Susan Ray. Recipes include oatmeal, pulled pork, breakfast casseroles, and more. Keep in mind Paula Deen and you’ll have a good idea of what to expect.
Are you ready to join the thousands of slow cooker fans? These were just a sampling of the resources Warsaw Library has on its shelves. With the ever increasing busy lifestyles of people, slow cookers may well be the way to get families back to the table and out of the fast food takeout line.
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