Necessary Staples When Crock Pot Cooking
Fresh Herbs – Herbs can dramatically change the flavor of almost any meal. Herbs come dried, but release a better flavor if they are fresh. Home grown herbs can be mastered right in your own home in small pots. Just find a sunny spot, some good soil and fresh water and watch them thrive. Home grown herbs can be dried to extend their life, making them easy to keep around without the worry of waste.
Flour or Cornstarch – Flour and cornstarch are used for thickening and browning. Applying a light coating of flour to meats and brown them in a little oil. This will create flavorful meats that can be added to the crock pot. At the end of a meal, adding cornstarch to the remaining liquid can create creamy gravy for dishes like rice or potatoes. Flour can be used as a thickener also.
Broth – Anything cooked in the slow cooker needs a liquid to start the process. This will keep meats and vegetables from sticking to the bottom and burning. Instead of always adding water, try broth. Chicken, beef, and vegetable broth are available in most grocery stores for very little money or make some from scratch. Most varieties of already prepared come seasoned and it’s a quick and easy way to add flavor to meat dishes.
Vegetables – The average household have a few potatoes stashed away. They are a versatile food. Mash them, fry them, stew them or throw them in the crock pot. Potatoes add density to soups, stews and meats. Because they, and other fibrous veggies like turnips and carrots, take longer to cook, they can be thrown in the cooker with the meat and allowed to cook all day. Less fibrous vegetables such as mushrooms, corn and fresh vegetables should be added the last hour of cooking time.
Beans – Beans are a cheap source of protein that cooks well. Each bean has its own flavor which is enhanced by the spices you use to cook them. Beans can be used as a meal base when meat is present or if you are a vegetarian looking to create an easy dish without much fuss. Whether those beans are navy, lentil, Northern or black, beans will help in creating some remarkable crock pot meals.
With these ingredients on hand, you can create any number of basic meals in a crock pot. By keeping these items on hand in the pantry you will find numerous ideas for cooking up a great dinner in a crock pot.
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