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Do You Own a Slow Cooker?

YumSugar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:15:40 -0700

I often forget that I own a slow cooker, but whenever I remember to use it, I'm in love with it. All I have to do is dump a bunch of stuff in the pot before I leave for work, turn it on, and I come home to a delicious aroma and a dinner that's ready to be eaten. The only catch for me is that I've got to be home at a certain time, otherwise my meat will get overcooked and tough.

For those of you who own a slow cooker, do you feel the same way?

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Pulled Pork Sandwiches Two Ways - Beginner and Expert

partysugar — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 11:08:31 -0800

If you are searching for something to serve a crowd on Super Bowl Sunday, think about making pulled pork sandwiches. Super-moist, melt-in-your-mouth pork piled high on a soft bun is both filling and celebratory. The pork is slow cooked and best made in advance, giving you plenty of time to enjoy company and the game. You don't have to be a chef to make these hearty sandwiches, a home cook with elementary culinary skills can master them. For two recipes - one easy and another that requires a little more time - read more.

Beginner Pulled Pork Sandwich
From Kraft Foods

1 boneless pork shoulder (3 lb.)
1 bottle (18 oz.) barbecue sauce
Juice from 1 medium orange
1/2 cup mayonnaise
12 sandwich rolls, split, toasted

Place meat in slow cooker; top with barbecue sauce and orange juice. Cover with lid.
Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours (or on high for 4 to 6 hours).
Remove meat from slow cooker; cut into small pieces or shred with fork.
Return meat to slow cooker; stir until meat is evenly coated with the barbecue sauce mixture.
Spread mayo onto cut sides of rolls. Fill rolls evenly with meat mixture.

Serves 12.

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Expert Pulled Pork Sandwich
From Bobby Flay

4 to 6 cups chicken stock or water
1 (3 lb.) boneless pork butt
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
BBQ Sauce, recipe follows
8 to 12 soft buns with sesame seeds
Pickled jalapenos, recipe follows

Preheat the grill to medium heat (the grill should maintain a constant temperature of 350°F). Place a drip pan filled halfway with the chicken stock on the briquettes.
Season the pork butt with salt and pepper and place on the grates of the grill over the drip pan. Close the cover of the grill and let the pork cook for 1 hour.
Turn the pork over and continue grilling for 2 to 3 hours, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 160°F. More chicken stock may be needed to refill the drip pan during grilling.
Remove the pork from the grill and let rest for 15 minutes. When it is cool enough to handle, shred the pork into strands with your fingers. Add the shredded pork to the BBQ Sauce and serve on sandwich buns with the pickled jalapenos.

Makes 8-12 sandwiches.

BBQ Sauce:

1 tbsp. canola oil
1 small Spanish onion, finely diced
1 jalapeno, finely diced
2 tomatoes, coarsely chopped
1 (15-oz.) can diced tomatoes
2 cups cider vinegar
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
Salt

Heat oil in a medium saucepan on the grates of the grill.
Add the onion and jalapeno and cook until soft.
Add the fresh tomatoes, canned tomatoes and juices, vinegar, honey, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce, and cook until the sugar has completely melted and the sauce is slightly reduced and thickened.
Season with salt, to taste. Add the shredded pork and stir to coat.

Pickled Jalapenos:

3 cups rice wine vinegar
3 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. white peppercorns
1 tsp. coriander seeds
1 tsp. mustard seeds
1/2 tsp. cumin seeds
2 tbsp. kosher salt
3 jalapenos, sliced in half lengthwise
7 sprigs fresh cilantro
Special equipment: 1 (8-oz.) jar

Combine the vinegar, sugar, peppercorns, seeds, and salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Let boil for 2 minutes, and then remove from the heat and let sit until cooled to room temperature.
Place the jalapenos, stem side up, into the jar and pour enough cooled vinegar mixture over them to cover. Pack the cilantro sprigs into the jar. Cover and refrigerate for at least 24 hours and up to 4 days.

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Name That Dish!

partysugar — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:30:26 -0700

The dish pictured below is definitely something you will want to make if you win one of our crock-pots. The French creation consists of meat braised in red wine with mushrooms and onions. Do you know what it's called?

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 Dinner: Crockpot Pork Roast

YumSugar — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 09:01:33 -0700

Although summer is over and fall is kicking in, there's still a lot of sunlight each day. During this time of year, where the weather is still nice - at least it is here! - but hearty fall flavors are calling your name, do yourself a favor and make a crockpot meal. Cooking with a crockpot - or slow cooker as it's also known - means that a filling meal will be waiting for you after a full day of playing outdoors. So gather up your ingredients, stick them in the crockpot and enjoy your day! To get the recipe for this simple, but delicious meal, read more

Crockpot Pork Roast Dinner
From Linda Larsen at About.com
Image Source

1 pound small red potatoes, cut in half
16 oz. pkg. baby cut carrots
3 pounds boneless pork loin roast, trimmed of fat
1/4 cup Dijon mustard (or mustard of your choice)
1/2 tsp. dried tarragon leaves
1/2 tsp. dried thyme leaves
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups beef broth

Makes 6 servings.

Place potatoes and baby carrots around bottom edge of 4-6 quart crockpot.
In small bowl, combine mustard, rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper and spread over pork roast.
Place roast in crockpot and sprinkle with chopped onion.
Pour beef broth over all.
Cover crockpot and cook on low for 8-9 hours until pork is thoroughly cooked and vegetables are tender.

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Yum Market Finds: Splendid Super Bowl Stuff

partysugar — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 03:37:12 -0800

Browsing the Yum Market is one of my favorite activities at work. Not only do I get to see all of the amazing items you share, but I learn about new and exciting websites. This week I was looking for fun football related finds that can take a Super Bowl party to the next level. Here is what I L-O-V-E:

Crispet1 found this football shaped crockpot that actually functions! How crazy cool is that? I may run to Target the day after the game to see if they are on sale and send one to my sports-fanatical brother (seriously I call his apartment the ESPN zone!) as a half birthday gift.

Two more so, read more

Worried that all those guys are going to destroy your beautiful kitchen table? Take rubialala's advice and cover it with a bright green football field tablecloth. This could work double duty at a little boy's birthday party as well.

LizaToad's dark whole hazelnut chocolates are perfect for my football shaped candy dispenser. I was looking for a dark brown colored candy to make the clear dispenser appear more like a football and these nutty chocolates are perfect (not to mention they are called Ritter Sport!). Thanks for helping me out Lizatoad!

Don't know how to save on TeamSugar? geeksugar's guide can teach you how to submit your stuff to the Yum Market.

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!

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.

Yum's October Must Haves

YumSugar — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 07:30:33 -0700

October is that magical time of the year where the weather starts to change, fall hits us hard and the holidays are just around the corner. It also happens to be National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and - on the lighter side of things - National Cookie Month. To get you prepared for a fabulous October, I've rounded up some great products that you simply must have.

First on the list are these Limited Edition Riedel Pink Vinum Rosé Wineglasses. The pink stems represent Riedel's support of Living Beyond Breast Cancer and a portion of the proceeds is contributed to support breast cancer diagnosis and management. A set of two glasses can be yours for $40.
Next up is this American Honey Flight. Produced by artisanal beekeepers, there are nine different glass vials of raw honey, such as Maine Blueberry and Washington Buckwheat. Each vial is hand-corked and sealed with beeswax. Cost: $72.
An important part of October is the Halloween decor and pumpkin carving. To make your pumpkin carving an easy experience, get your hands on one of these Van Vacter Pumpkin Knives. It has a rounded safety tip and fine serrations for easy cutting. The dishwasher safe knife also features a non-slip handle and a stainless steel blade. $19.95 for one.
During the fall, a slow cooker is definitely a must have. This 6 Quart Premium VersaWare Slow Cooker from Rival features an inner pot that can be used directly on the stove. Now you can brown your meat directly in your slow cooker pot, and toss it in the oven to reheat. You can also store the pot in the freezer, or pop it in the microwave. Available for $54.99.
This month's final must have is a Baker's Half Sheet Pan with Storage Cover. The rust proof aluminum pan is perfect for even-heating and offers great cookies each time. The cover is an extra bonus, you can easily transport bar cookies, regular cookies and even cupcakes.

Sunday Slow Cooker: Chicken Rarebit

YumSugar — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 06:00:36 -0800

If you're in search of a dramatically different recipe for dinner this Winter, take a stab at Welsh rarebit, a classic British dish made of bread topped with a melted cheese mixture.

This contemporary rendition not only makes use of a low-maintenance crockpot, but also incorporates bacon and chicken to add flavor and substance. To get the crowd-pleasing recipe, read more.

Chicken Rarebit
From Better Homes and Gardens

Ingredients

1-3/4 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 14- to 16-ounce jar cheddar cheese pasta sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 large onion, halved crosswise and thinly sliced
6 pumpernickel or rye buns, split and toasted, or 6 slices pumpernickel or rye bread, toasted and halved diagonally
4 slices bacon, crisp-cooked, drained, and crumbled (optional)
1 tomato, chopped (optional)
Kosher dill pickles (optional)

Directions

Cut chicken diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices; set aside. In a 3-1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker, stir together pasta sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Add onion and chicken slices.
Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 4 to 5 hours or on high-heat setting for 2 to 2-1/2 hours.
To serve, spoon chicken and sauce mixture over bun halves. If desired, sprinkle with crumbled bacon and tomato. Serve with dill pickles, if desired.

Makes 6 servings.

Calories 340, Total Fat (g) 12, Saturated Fat (g) 4, Cholesterol (mg) 102, Sodium (mg) 823,
Carbohydrate (g) 21, Fiber (g) 3, Protein (g) 36.

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