There are so many reasons to extol the virtues of a slow cooker. Most of them center around this appliance’s convenience. While the slow cooker does earn its reputation from its need for minimal prep, the few extra steps required in each of these recipes by cookbook author Neela Paniz are worth it for the nuanced flavors that result. Rather than thinking of the slow cooker as a shortcut to Indian food, consider it a tool for making it well.
The slow cooker is arguably the most convenient appliance in the kitchen. With minimal attention it turns out satisfying meals from breakfast through dessert. Run it all day, or let it do its thing all night — both work equally well. Just be sure you have these tips down for successful slow-cooking every time.
Mushrooms duxelle is just a fancy French term that refers to sautéeing finely chopped mushrooms, onions, and herbs for a long time until they form a paste-like texture. The creamy mushrooms are delicious when spread over crusty bread. But an even better use is to add some sour cream and make a sumptuous gravy to pour over a warm, buttery biscuit.
Poached eggs are a glorious thing. It’s easy enough to make them on the stovetop when you’re just cooking one or two, but for making a larger batch of poached eggs, it’s time to reach for the slow cooker.
You wouldn’t leave the oven or stove on when you leave the house to run errands or head to the office, so why is the slow cooker an exception? Is it really OK to leave it on all day on your kitchen counter when no one is home?
Having grown up on the East Coast, I’ve only ever known American-made butter to come in long, narrow sticks. Turns out I was living in a butter bubble; it wasn’t until I heard a story one evening on NPR’s Marketplace about the difference between West Coast and East Coast butter that I realized there was a difference to be known at all.
There’s no shortage of desserts out there that won’t benefit from a punch of nutty flavor and texture from peanuts, pecans, walnuts, or almonds. Nuts also give baked goods an extra boost of rich, fatty flavor. And with so many options, there’s a treat out there with your name on it. Time to make a batch of cookies, blondies, or pecan sticky rolls this weekend!
When planning my most recent trip to India, I focused on where to eat, what to eat, and how to eat as much of it as possible. Just as importantly, though, I wanted to be cognizant of local customs, tips, and tricks. Enter Carishma Mehta — Delhi resident, organic farm owner, and intrepid eater.
Breakfast sandwiches are a wonderful canvas (or excuse) for all sorts of delicious ingredients. Pesto, smoked salmon, waffles, steak — if you crave it, it can be worked into your breakfast sandwich. Taste something amazing on your sandwich at your new favorite lunch spot? Add a fried egg and you’re halfway to a whole new morning routine.
If you love a good hollandaise sauce, whether it’s over eggs Benedict on Saturday morning or a plate of asparagus at Easter dinner, then you’re a friend of mine. Maybe you didn’t even know that this creamy, buttery, slightly tangy sauce that you love so dearly could be made at home in about two minutes using just a blender. Want to impress your friends this weekend? Invite them for brunch and tell them you’re making hollandaise sauce.
