My eldest sister got me a totally rad and fancy and impressive slow cooker for Christmas. But my sweetheart was back on the East Coast for quite some time, and during his absence, there was little need to cook a gigantic, gorgeous meal on slow-mo for just me and the cat.
In fact, there was barely any need (or, rather, desire) to cook at all. Therefore, most of my meals over the last two months consisted of:
Because when you're cooking something for 10-12 hours, you must begin to cook in the A.M.
In fact, there was barely any need (or, rather, desire) to cook at all. Therefore, most of my meals over the last two months consisted of:
- Toast
- Tea
- Soup (from a can... heated in the microwave)
- Oatmeal (from a packet... heated in the microwave)
- Takeaway (often sushi)
- Beer
- Wine
- Grilled cheese (thousands)
Truly.
Once in a while I got fancy and made some quinoa I then forced myself to eat for the following seven days (because one cup of uncooked quinoa becomes 8,294 pounds of cooked quinoa - magic!) - but those times were few and far between.
(The cat mostly ate cat food.)
Often when I would return home from work, I would creepily linger in the hallway before putting my key in the lock, and savor the scents drifting from others' apartment kitchens, wondering what they were going to enjoy that evening for supper. Whatever, I already said it so you don't have to. Creep.
Once in a while I got fancy and made some quinoa I then forced myself to eat for the following seven days (because one cup of uncooked quinoa becomes 8,294 pounds of cooked quinoa - magic!) - but those times were few and far between.
(The cat mostly ate cat food.)
Often when I would return home from work, I would creepily linger in the hallway before putting my key in the lock, and savor the scents drifting from others' apartment kitchens, wondering what they were going to enjoy that evening for supper. Whatever, I already said it so you don't have to. Creep.
Anyway. Now that my sweetheart has returned, so has my overwhelming and uncontrollable desire to cook bountiful feasts in all forms! This has naturally brought about the perfect time to christen the slow cooker.
Which is just what we did this morning.
Morning! That's right.
For the slow cooker's maiden voyage, we decided to try some homemade beef stew (click that link for the recipe I followed).
Which means this morning, post-toast-and-tea, was spent in the company of celery, carrots, potatoes, onion, beef, flour, paprika, salt, pepper, and a little worcestershire sauce. It felt very strange indeed to put on a coat and head out to work after all of that chopping and dashing and heating and mincing. Would have been much more appropriate to open a bottle of wine and sit down for a flick while the stew did it's thang.
Who cares if it was 8 o'clock in the morning. You know I'm right.
Anywho, the day at work came and went, and upon returning home, I was greeted by a truly marvelous aroma I couldn't believe was coming from my own apartment (because OMG I haven't been home cooking all day!!![???]).
Though there was still time left on the... timer, together, we peeked under the lid, and were hit with the full effect this beef stew's splendor.
... almost exactly. I was rather beat from the day at work, and not in the mood to hover over a frying pan, on constant guard against self-detonating bubbles of hot oil and kernals, turning lumps of dough over until they browned perfectly and glistened with divine grease.
I know they would have been completely delicious if I fried them, because Mom's always are, and as she so rightly put it earlier that day, "Some things need a good ol fashion fry!" But I chose the easier, faster, though not necessarily quite as sinfully magnificent option - which was also the option that afforded me time to enjoy a glass of wine. (This also happened to be the healthier option. However, that was not my chief motivator. The wine was.)
I scooped heaping tablespoonfuls of the mixture into the cubbies of a greased muffin tin and baked at 350° for 15 minutes.
And they.
Though there was still time left on the... timer, together, we peeked under the lid, and were hit with the full effect this beef stew's splendor.
Yeeeyahhh!
With an hour left before the masterpiece finished, I followed the magically magical recipe my mother shared with me for her supremely famous corn fritters...
... almost exactly. I was rather beat from the day at work, and not in the mood to hover over a frying pan, on constant guard against self-detonating bubbles of hot oil and kernals, turning lumps of dough over until they browned perfectly and glistened with divine grease.
I know they would have been completely delicious if I fried them, because Mom's always are, and as she so rightly put it earlier that day, "Some things need a good ol fashion fry!" But I chose the easier, faster, though not necessarily quite as sinfully magnificent option - which was also the option that afforded me time to enjoy a glass of wine. (This also happened to be the healthier option. However, that was not my chief motivator. The wine was.)
I scooped heaping tablespoonfuls of the mixture into the cubbies of a greased muffin tin and baked at 350° for 15 minutes.
And they.
Turned.
Out.
Awesome.
Totally delicious! Surprisingly so. Moist from the corn, perfectly cooked through, satisfying in their density but not overly-filling-- the ideal compliment to...
The main attraction.
Glad to report the beef stew was perfect. Hearty broth, insanely tender meat, evenly cooked vegetables. Only now am I remembering I 100% forgot to add the green peas at the end... (@#$%^&*) but I can do that tonight, as we made the perfect amount for two (perhaps three...) servings each. (With 5 mini corn things to spare!) (I don't want to call them corn fritters, because there's little frittery about them.. what should I call them? Corn bakies. Corn kitties. Corn pals. Not quite corn muffins... help!) (Two parenthetical sentences back to back, is this legal? Egads, now it's three! I'm outta here.)
Bon appetit, friendos!
