Saving Time with Slow Cookers

Okay, fine. I’ll admit it. I am a 21-year-old that uses a Crock-Pot and vehemently believes in its greatness. Slow cookers are wonderful for people on the go. Simply spend 20 minutes or so preparing the ingredients, put them in the cooker and leave it for several hours while your food cooks and you get on with your daily activities.

If you’re assuming this week’s recipe is going to be for some form of pot roast, think again. Sure, pot roast is great, but slow cookers are able to do so much more. I recently discovered that with just 25 minutes of prep-time and four to six hours of cooking, I can have lasagna for dinner.  Additionally, I discovered they can be used to make desserts like hot fudge brownies for sundaes and cheesecake.

So, before you rule out slow cookers keep in mind the benefits. Slow cookers allow you to ditch the Lean Cuisines after work or school and have a nice meal without much effort. They also give you a variety of meal options and even dessert possibilities. They are perfect for people who love home cooked food, but need to get other things done at night or are too tired to cook.

As an experiment, try out this recipe for Barbecue Beef Brisket Sandwiches from Delish.com provided by Country Living.  This meals serves eight, so plan to have leftovers.

Ingredients

• 1  (pound ) brisket, trimmed
• 1 1/2 teaspoon(s) coarse sea salt
• 3/4 teaspoon(s) pepper
• 1 tablespoon(s) vegetable oil
• 1 large onion, coarsely chopped
• 1 1/2 tablespoon(s) garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup(s) dark beer, (such as porter or stout)
• 1 tablespoon(s) Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoon(s) lemon juice
• 3 tablespoon(s) honey
• 1/2 cup(s) ketchup
• 1 teaspoon(s) paprika
• 8  kaiser (or other sandwich) rolls

Directions

1. Cook the brisket: Season the brisket with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the brisket, brown on all sides, and transfer to a slow cooker.
2.  Add the remaining ingredients to the slow cooker and stir well. Slow-cook, covered, until the meat is very tender — 8 hours. Remove the meat, place it on a cutting board, and let it rest for 15 minutes. Reserve the sauce.
3. Carve brisket into thin slices and divide it among kaiser rolls topped with reserved sauce. Serve warm.

Remember, nutrition is important to staying healthy and energized when leading a busy life. While this recipe is delicious, consider adding vegetables on the side. Be sure to check back for more recipe ideas.

– Emilly

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