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Crock-Pot Slow-Cooker Giveaway: And the Winners Are...

YumSugar — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 07:28:31 -0700

Congratulations to Anned and PLPhillips, who are the two lucky winners of our Crock-Pot Programmable VersaWare Slow Cooker giveaway! Each of these YumSugar readers will receive a fabulous programmable slow cooker for Fall cooking. Thanks to everyone who participated, and keep reading YumSugar for more great giveaways.

Win a Programmable Crock-Pot Slow Cooker!

YumSugar — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 14:34:04 -0700

When Fall rolls around, a Crock-Pot is great to have, which is why we're giving away TWO Crock-Pot Programmable VersaWare Slow Cookers ($79.99) to two lucky YumSugar readers. So, if you haven't already, be sure to enter our Crock-Pot Slow Cooker giveaway!

To enter, all you have to do is log in and take this quiz. (By the way, your eligibility is not based on getting the answers correct, just by taking the quiz once you are logged in.) The contest will end on Monday, Oct. 29, at 1:00 p.m. PDT, and then I'll randomly select two winners from among the quiz-takers. So, log in and take the quiz, and don't forget to e-mail this to all your friends and family so they can have a chance at it too!

Win a Programmable Crock-Pot for Fall Cooking!

YumSugar — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 23:30:01 -0700

When Fall rolls around, a Crock-Pot is great to have, which is why I picked the 6-quart Crock-Pot Programmable VersaWare Slow Cooker ($79.99) as one of my October must haves. If you haven't gotten one yet, don't worry, because this week we're giving away TWO of these digital Crock-Pots to two lucky YumSugar readers. The cooker features an inner pot that can be used on the stove or in the oven, so it's perfect for no-hassle meals in the chilly months.

To enter to win one of the two Crock-Pots, all you have to do is log in and take the quiz below. (By the way, your eligibility is not based on getting the answers correct, just by taking the quiz once you are logged in.) You do, however, need to be a TeamSugar member to take the quiz. So if you're not already a member, just register here for an account. One quiz entry per person; all repeat quizzes will be ignored. Also, this part is important, you MUST be logged in for your quiz to count!

Apologies to our overseas readers, because this giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Interested in more details? Click here for the official rules.

The contest will end on Monday, Oct. 29, at 1:00 p.m. PDT, and then I'll randomly select two winners from among the quiz-takers. So, log in and take the quiz, and don't forget to e-mail this to all your friends and family so they can have a chance at it too!

Take the quiz

Sunday Slow Cooker: Irish Lamb Stew

YumSugar — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 06:00:44 -0700

If you're looking to get into the St. Patty's Day spirit with a hearty Irish dinner, you're in luck: There's no easier way than to make this rustic Irish lamb stew. Not only does it require little to no preparation work, but you can also step away from the stew as it cooks low and slow in a crock pot.

Eight hours later, you've got a festive meal that will pair perfectly with a tall glass (or two) of dark Irish stout. To see the recipe - which is beyond basic - read more.

Irish Lamb Stew
From Eating Well

Ingredients

2 pounds boneless leg of lamb, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 3/4 pounds white potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
3 large leeks, white part only, halved, washed (see Tip) and thinly sliced
3 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
3 stalks celery, thinly sliced
1 14-ounce can reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup packed fresh parsley leaves, chopped

Directions

Combine lamb, potatoes, leeks, carrots, celery, broth, thyme, salt and pepper in a 6-quart slow cooker; stir to combine. Put the lid on and cook on low until the lamb is fork-tender, about 8 hours. Stir in parsley before serving.

Serves 8.

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Must-Read: Slow and Easy

YumSugar — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:00:16 -0800

If you've seen my Sunday Slow Cooker series, you probably know by now that I consider the electric slow cooker indispensable for convenient, low-maintenance cooking. Naturally, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of Slow and Easy: Fast-Fix Recipes For Your Electric Slow Cooker ($15.61), by the Los Angeles Daily News food editor, Natalie Haughton.
Haughton has penned five other cookbooks, including The Best Slow Cooker Cookbook Ever, so she's clearly spent a lot of time with her Crock-Pot. To find out what I thought of the book, read more.

Pros:

The introduction has helpful information from choosing and getting to know your slow cooker to which foods are most forgiving and which are most demanding.
There's a wide range of recipes, from smoky roasted cashews to gingerbread for dessert, and although the the book contains over 250 recipes, it's surprisingly light.
A "cook's notes" sidebar proves helpful, explaining nuances such as the differences in types of paprika available at the grocery store.

Cons:

The book contains no pictures.
If you don't have interest in a slow cooker, then this book isn't for you.
Many of the seafood recipes require adding in the protein near the end of cooking time, which requires more attentiveness on your part.

Recipes: The recipes cover just about everything. Here are some that caught my attention:

Caponata, Edamame Cheese Dip
Shrimp Chowder, Vegetable Stock
Artichoke Pasta Sauce
Shortcut Lasagna
Mac and Cheese
Turkey Molé
Shrimp Veracruz Style
Beef Lettuce Wraps
Tagine of Lamb With Apricots
Asian-Flavored Quinoa With Broccoli and Chard
Spanish Pistou
Blueberry Coffee Cake
Green Pepper Jelly
Flourless Chocolate Torte

Imagery: None.

Overall Rating: If you're a fan of the slow cooker (and aren't bothered that it doesn't contain pictures), then this informative yet innovative slow-cooker guide would be a useful, go-to book to add to your repertoire.

Happy Hour: Autumnal Equinox

YumSugar — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 13:28:33 -0700

Yesterday was the first day of fall, or autumnal equinox. This means it's just about time to put away the ice cream maker and pull out the crock-pot. If this is sad news to you, you may need a drink to help you cope. If it's great news, then you may need a drink to help you celebrate. Either way, I've got the perfect one for the occasion. The drink, aptly titled Autumnal Equinox, is a perfect mix of port wine, Grand Marnier, and amaretto. To get the recipe, read more

Autumnal Equinox
From The Webtender
Image Source

2 oz Port
1 oz Grand Marnier
1/2 oz Amaretto

Fill Old Fashioned Glass with ice.
Pour ingredients into glass and stir.

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Image Source