Slow Cooker Revolution Volume 2 Author: Editors at America's Test Kitchen | Language: English | ISBN:
1936493578 | Format: EPUB
Slow Cooker Revolution Volume 2 Description
- Paperback: 326 pages
- Publisher: Boston Common Press (September 1, 2013)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1936493578
- ISBN-13: 978-1936493579
- Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
- Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
I got this book two days ago and have already tried two recipes,the Garlicky Poached Shrimp and the Fudgie Brownie Wedges. Both recipes were amazing and highlight the fact that this cookbook has much more than the typical set-and-forget braises you find in most slow cooker recipes (though there are still plenty to satisfy). I was pleased by the number of soups which look bright and fresh.
I also appreciate that America's Test Kitchen listened to the complaints from volume 1. Volume 1 recipes required a good deal of prep and took much of the convenience out of using a slow cooker. As the "easy prep" volume, all recipes require 15 minutes or less of preparation. This is very convenient and means I will be cooking from this cookbook in years to come.
Given the choice between volume 1 and 2 I would pick volume 2. It is the unequivocal winner. You will learn to use your slow cooker in creative ways and get the convenience of a slow cooker mixed with ATK's near perfect recipes.
Update (11/16/2013): Since purchasing this book, I have made 17 of the recipes contained in the book. Of those recipes only one was a recipe I will not be making again (Tortellini with Creamy Wild Mushroom Sauce). The rest of the recipes are fantastic. These recipes came from various sections including desserts, recipes for two, casseroles, and appetizers.
In response to some comments which have criticized the use of convenience products and the nutrition of some recipes, please understand that this book focuses first on flavor and second on convenience. This book is balanced in its use of convenience products (only when necessary to prevent problems that plague slow cooking) and contains a fair balance of healthy and unhealthy recipes.
Pros:
Even though there aren't many recipes I'm excited about, I find the Test Kitchen tips invaluable. Things like "rather than cook aromatics and spices on the stovetop to bloom their flavors, we simply microwaved them for a few minutes"--brilliant. And that will improve all my slow cooker dishes. I also love learning what supermarket brands won the taste tests (e.g. Chaokoh coconut milk for savory dishes and Kame for sweet ones).
The authors mention the convenience of using a slow cooker for vegetable sides or desserts in order to leave your oven open for cooking something else, and if you typically run into trouble trying to bake many things at once (I do not), then maybe this will be helpful for you.
Cons:
I get that these recipes are supposed to be quick (15 minutes of prep time), but I was disappointed to see that many of the recipes use processed ingredients like condensed soups and grocery store pre-cooked rice. This is old school crockpot and very unlike the other Test Kitchen books I love.
These recipes are also not very healthy or kid friendly. I know the book wasn't marketed that way, but I expect many of you looking for a quick prep slow cooker book are working parents like me who care about healthy as well as quick. (In this book, you can even see oil floating on top of most of the soups and stews, yuck.) Very heavy on heavily-spiced Mexican and Italian dishes; very light on vegetable dishes and vegetables in other dishes.
A lot of these aren't typical slow cooker recipes--but maybe that's because the cooking times are inconvenient.
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