Feature Articles
Use a Crock Pot for a Christmas Morning Treat!
Susan Mills-Gray, Nutrition and Health Education Specialist, Cass County, University of Missouri Extension
One of my favorite holiday memories is my mom’s family gathering for breakfast early on Christmas morning. While the adults really enjoyed the food and fellowship, we younger ones were anxious to open gifts! There's just something very special about a holiday breakfast, whether your family has come from a distance or you see each other every day. This year make the morning smoother with a little planning ahead and have breakfast ready to go upon rising! The following are some tips to improve your crock pot usage and two great breakfast recipes to add to your families’ traditions.
- To make clean up easier, spray liner with non stick spray prior to adding any food or liquid or use a cooking bag
- Crock pots work the best when they are ½ to ¾ full. If you fill a pot to the brim, it can’t regulate the heating of the food correctly; likewise, less than ½ full causes food to overcook
- One hour on a high setting is equal to two hours on the low setting
- A low setting is equal to 200 degrees F. and the high setting is equal to 300 degrees F.
- Want to convert a conventional oven recipe to the crockpot? Use this chart to guide you Cooking/Baking Times
| Conventional Recipe | Crockpot Low Setting | Crockpot High Setting |
| 15-30 minutes | 4-6 hours | 1.5 to 2 hours |
| 30-45 minutes | 6 -10 hours | 3-4 hours |
| 45 minutes – 3 hours | 8 -18 hours | 4-6 hours |
- Each time you lift the crock lid you increase the needed cooking time by 20 minutes. Check progress without lifting the lid if possible. Spin the cover until the condensation falls off – this makes it much easier to see inside
- For food safety purposes you want to get the food inside the crockpot to 140 degrees as quickly as possible (this reduces the chance of bacterial contamination), so use High the first hour, then switch to Low to finish cooking
- Start with thawed foods. Frozen foods take too long to get to 140 degrees. The extreme temperature difference between the frozen food and the crock can cause breakage. If you have to use a frozen cut of meat, add 1 cup of warm water to the pot first, then place the meat in the crock
- If you have a removable liner, don’t store the food you’ve cooked in the crock pot in that same liner. The removable liner is made from a thick insulated material; the food won’t cool down quickly enough to prevent bacterial growth
- Dense veggies like potatoes, carrots and other root vegetables take the longest to cook, so place them on the bottom and cut the pieces no thicker than one inch
- Tender veggies like tomatoes, mushrooms, zucchini and squash overcook easily – add the last two hours
- Anything high in fat cooks quickly – so meats are placed on top of vegetables
- Browning meats before adding to crock reduces fat and enhances flavor and color. Fats melt with long cooking times and can add unpleasant flavor
- Fish and seafood cook quickly – add late in cooking
- Soak dried beans overnight before cooking
- Milk curdles over long cooking times – add sour cream or cream late in cooking
- Condensed cream soups are a good substitute for milk and they don’t break down over long cooking times
- Ground herbs and spices tend to lose their flavor -- so add late in cooking
- Cayenne pepper and Tabasco sauce tend to become
bitter after long cooking times – again add late in
cooking
Holiday Breakfast Casserole
32 oz. bag frozen hash brown potatoes
1 lb. cooked ham, cubed
1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1-1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
12 eggs
1 cup whole milk
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
Spray inside of slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray or use cooking bag. In small skillet, cook onion and green pepper in olive oil until crisp tender. Let cool about 10 minutes. Place one third of the frozen hash brown potatoes in the slow cooker.
Add one third of the ham, onion, green pepper and cheese. Repeat layers, ending with the cheese. In a large bowl, beat the eggs, milk and seasonings until well mixed. Pour over the ingredients in the slow cooker, cover and turn on low. Cook for 10-12 hours, until casserole is set and eggs are thoroughly cooked. Serves 12.
Variations: Try Canadian bacon instead of ham. Use Havarti or Swiss cheese instead of Cheddar. Add some minced jalapeno peppers if you like hot foods.
Breakfast apple cobbler
8 medium tart apples, peeled and sliced
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 lemon (juice and rind of)
1 dash cinnamon
1 1/2 cup granola fruit and nut cereal
½ cup melted butter
Spray the inside of crock pot with nonstick cooking spray or use cooking bag. Place apples in crock. Add sugar, lemon rind, and juice. Mix well. Mix cereal with butter and add to crock. Mix well. Cook, covered, on low for 6-8 hours. Serve hot with cream or vanilla yogurt.
For more information contact your local University of Missouri Extension Center at 660-885-5556 or this faculty member directly at mills-grays@missouri.edu
Last update: Tuesday, February 19, 2008
 |
Site Administrator: |
|
|
|
