Not Only Kebab! - Turkish Kitchen

By Veronica Carrillo

Think of savory soups or stews, cooked long and slow at home. Then casseroles, big pots of baked beans, chili and cabbage rolls. These are often made on the stove top or in the oven. Then in 1971, the Crock Pot by Rival came onto the marketplace and expanded the possibilities in home cooking. Today, the generic term slow cooker is used alongside the brand name Crock Pot. The various modern models are the busy home cook's friend. Many classic comfort foods are also slow cooker classics, easy to make and easy to serve in bowls to warm family and friends snowy winter evenings. The original Crock Pot was an innovation at that time. I remember when these came out, and they were as hot as any modern, small kitchen appliances you see advertised now.

You should never hang kitchen utensils behind the stove, hot plate or grill. This is because when you reach over to get a utensil you might have to reach over a hot saucepan or other hot surface and put yourself in danger of getting burnt.

If your hob or hotplate has front and back burners or elements then always use the back ones when you can and turn the saucepan handles away from the front. This prevents children, pets or yourself from getting burned by brushing against or knocking over a hot cooking utensil. Never leave hot items like spoons or ladles near the edge of the work surface where a child or pet could reach them.

The innovations found in today's cookers are born directly from customer experience over the years. Stoneware inserts are removable for cleaning. Temperature controls allow for a broad range of cooking methods, and programmable features let you control the settings as your dish cooks. Some even include a probe which is inserted into the meal, to monitor the progress of recipes that require the food to reach a certain temperature.

You can get a new crock-pot at almost any store. The variety of colors and sizes is wonderful, so you can find the perfect fit for your kitchen. The simplest models offer a dial to choose from "low" or "high." I highly recommend you get a slightly nicer model that offers a "warm" option as well - it comes in handy. You can also get digital, programmable crock-pots, which can be especially good if you're a busy working mother and need to get out the door early.

You won't want to save your slow cooker for annual potluck dinners once you discover all the luscious recipes that you can make with your cooker. Everything from a hot breakfast to a hot toddy can be made in a slow cooker. - 30289

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