Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Martha Stewart's Slow Cooker

Martha Stewart admits she did not grow up with a slow cooker nor did she ever use a slow cooker until she decided to write this book. But she's a convert now.

The second cookbook I received (after, of course, the ubiquitous Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook) at my wedding shower was a crockpot recipe book. This was the 70's and I was determined to both work and cook well for my man. The crockpot cookbook was perfect for us. I'd start it up at seven before I left for work and, when we arrived home at five, we had a pot of amazing food.

So we (my man has learned to use the slow cooker, too, over the years) have continued to use this cookbook for the past forty years. I thought I knew everything about crockpots.

Then I read this book. 

Martha Stewart had the luxury of having a panel of editors and recipe developers create and test recipes that enhanced the strengths of a crockpot for more than a year. Martha shares a list of ten Slow Cooker Commandments, all new to me, and a list of tips for best using the crockpot (all new to me). These alone are worth the price of the book.

Then I tried out the recipes. My husband and I sticky-noted recipes that sounded good to us---Chili Chicken Tacos, Sausage and Vegetable Ciambotta, Brisket and Onions---and over a few weeks, we tested Martha's testers.

Our results? 

We've set our tattered and splattered forty-year-old crockpot standard in the pantry for now, and replaced it with Martha's shiny new book in our cookbook stand. 

Here's one of our (new) favorites:


Martha Stewart's Slow-Cooker Brisket and Onions

Ingredients 







For more wordless photos, go to Wordless Wednesday.

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20 comments:

  1. The 70's that was the last thing on my mind getting married. As to the slow cooker or crockpot, it's something my wife has mentioned getting but we never got around to buying. Like you we have cookbooks we like using and one which comes to mind is the Good Housekeeping on. We got rid of the first one we had when we did some work on the house and it took me a few years to locate another as it had gone out of print. The other is Mrs Beaton's. I bought it for my with but it has never been used

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  2. Deb,

    Like many newlyweds, we had a crock pot. I think I used it a handful of times before I got rid of it. I never felt good about leaving any device on while I was away at work or out running errands. It just seemed unsafe. After I took early retirement to raise our children, I found slow cooking in the oven worked beautifully for my needs. I'm not sure if I had the crock pot by this point or not. It's possible I did and when I realize that I didn't need to take up counter or closet space with that gadget anymore then I got rid of it. :) The recipe sounds yummy. I'm ready for homemade soup with these bone chilling temps. Actually, I'm ready for spring. Have a good day and happy WW! ;)

    Curious as a Cathy

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  3. That looks like a good project in hand.
    Happy new year!
    Happy WW!

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  4. Since 2 years now I have retired from cooking ! We have a group of housewives who love to cook for others and it is not expensive at all. A very nice service, and good food !

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    1. I’ve never heard of anything like this. Interesting.

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  5. Great foodie shots and info about the slow cooker ~

    Happy Week to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  6. I love my crockpot and will add this recipe to my stack of others to try this month. Another great cookbook (for using a crockpot) is SkinnyTaste. Lots of great recipes!

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  7. Yummmm! Martha Stewart's recipes are usually really reliable.

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  8. Need a slow cooker of crockpot.. :) Sounds really easy, so easy that even I can make some delicious food.

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  9. My slow cooker gets used, mostly for the same old stuff. Maybe it is time for an update.

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  10. At this moment my house is full of the delicious smell of beef and vegetables cooking in my slow cooker. The aroma is one of my favorite features of slow cooking. I can't quite figure out what I'm seeing in your photo of beef and onions -- the onions look almost raw, but when I slow cook them they almost disappear into the sauce.

    You didn't mention that Instant Pots have been replacing slow cookers as the most up-to-date appliance of choice. Have you tried one? (not me)

    best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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    1. I love the aroma, too.

      The photo might be confusing because I took it when I first started cooking. They did become very soft.

      I didn't mention Instant Pots because I don't know anything about them. One of the detriments of not watching tv, I suppose....

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  11. I was a dedicated slow cooker user until I discovered the new to the scene Instant Pot- I love it and use it for everything. ( It also contains a slow cooker but I only use the fast pressure cook mode) . Martha Stewart has proved she can be trusted for recipes and ideas.. sounds like a good book to have

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  12. I hadn't used a crockpot in years, and then got one for Christmas last year. I've only used it once. The recipes that came with the pot were not appealing...but now I must explore Martha Stewart's recipe book! Thanks for sharing.

    Here are MY SATURDAY SNAPSHOTS

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  13. Looks delicious! My husband and I had a crockpot when we first married (in the early 1970s) but we didn't use it much. After reading your post, I think it's time for us to try again. I imagine the newer ones are better than earlier versions, especially when used to prepare Martha Stewart's recipes.
    My Saturday Snapshot post features White Christmas photos.

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  14. I have only had marginal success with my slow cookers. I'll give her book a go. Cheers

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  15. My mom used a crockpot when I was a kid and then I got one when I got married. It's my favorite kitchen appliance and I think I'm on my 5th or 6th one. I'll be checking out this cookbook!

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  16. My mom was an awesome cook and never used too many recipes that I remember--she was good at 'playing it by ear' as she would call it and that's how I usually cook. I'm glad you found a great cookbook!

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  17. Hmmm, I'm going to have to check this one out. Lately, I've been using my Instant Pot more than my crock pot, but some recipes just need a slow cooker and I'm always looking for new ones.

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  18. I love my slow cooker. I definitely need to treat myself and buy this cookbook.

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