Kathy Hesteris at it again! This time she’s saving the day with a Vegan Slow Cooker book that’s for small families, or perhaps one like mine, where all of us can’t agree on one single dinner so the kids get PB&J or vegan ramen if I know they aren’t going to want what’s on the menu (shhh). Almost all of the recipes are low-fat or oil free, are simple to prepare and use ingredients that most of us all ready stock in our fridge or pantry. You will need however, one very important item,a 1.5 quart or 1.5 liter slow cooker to make these recipes. I bought mine for $10 ages ago. You can find one online or at a big box or kitchen store. Believe me, it’s worth the investment (says the girl with 6 slow cookers of various sizes).
I also own her book,The Vegan Slow Cooker, which is absolutely amazing and perfect for larger families or for making enough to have leftovers to freeze for busy days. I reviewed her awesomeThe Great Vegan Bean Booka few months ago and her Lentil Quinoa Bolognese recipe I shared from that book is still getting loads of traffic on my site (yes, it’s so delicious!). TodayI’ll be sharing (with her permission) the recipe for a gorgeous and perfectly portioned Lemon Blueberry Cakelater in this post, but first feast your eyes on some of the other creations I made from Vegan Slow Cooking for Two or Just for You. Ooey Gooey Bananas Foster. This little ditty can cook overnight and welcome you to the breakfast table with glee. If you add her Butterscotch Rum Sauce to this dish, like I did, be prepared to start putting that stuff on and in everything… You won’t be able to stop!
I made this bad boy gluten-free using this GF blend. No one was the wiser… Oh and it got a dosing of the Butterscotch Rum sauce as well.
Hearty Lasagna Layered with Nut Ricotta. My family pretty much has a lasagna fetish, this one definitely met our high-standard approval rating.
Gimme That! Need I say more?
Every Season Minestrone. This recipe is excellent for using up whatever veggies you may have around. It’s both light and comforting, which is perfect for the cool weather that’s arrived.
Blueberry Lemon Cake
*Soy-Free *Gluten-Free Option *Oil Free Option
When you bake a cake like this one in your slow cooker, it becomes moist and sumptuous. But you don’t want the condensation making it wet and preventing it from baking, so use a clean dish towel under the lid to soak up the moisture. Just make sure to fold the towel in quarters so it doesn’t touch the hot sides of your slow cooker.
For the Dry Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (60 g) whole-wheat pastry flour (for gluten free, use GF baking mix)
- 1/4 teaspoon stevia plus 1 teaspoon agave nectar or sweetener of your choice, to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
For the Wet Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) unsweetened nondairy milk
- 1/4 cup (36 g) blueberries
- 1 teaspoon ground flax seeds mixed with 2 teaspoons (10 ml) warm water
- 1 teaspoon olive oil (for oil free, substitute applesauce or pumpkin puree)
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon lemon extract
Spray the crock with oil or line with parchment paper to make the recipe oil-free. Mix the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet ingredients in another. Then add the wet to the dry and mix until combined.
Pour the mixture into the slow cooker and spread evenly on the bottom. Put a clean dish towel or paper towel between the lid and slow cooker to absorb the condensation.
Cook on high for 60 to 80 minutes or until the middle is solid and doesn’t indent when you touch it.
Buy “Vegan Slow Cooking for Two or Just for You” in paperback format on Amazonhereor get the Kindle versionhere.
VisitKathy Hesterat her siteHealthy Slow Cookinghere.
Visit the“Vegan Slow Cooking for Two or Just for You” Blog Tour pagehereto get some other great recipes from this book!
For a chance to win a copy of this amazing cookbook, Click on the link below to enter theGiveaway! This contest isopen to entrants in the USA only.You must also follow this blog by email or RSS feed to qualify.You have until Friday the 4th of October to enter! I will notify the winner by email on Monday the 7th of October.GO!!
FAQs
Most slow cooker meals take 8-12 hours on low or 4-6 hours on high, but there are also recipes for slow-cooked meat that take up to 24 hours. If you want to avoid overcooking your dish, follow the given guidelines as closely as possible.
Do you need liquid in a slow cooker? ›
Water or liquid is necessary to create steam. When cooking meat or poultry, the water or liquid level should cover the ingredients to ensure effective heat transfer throughout the crock. Some manufacturers of slow cookers recommend adding liquid to fill the stoneware 1/2 to 3/4 full.
Can you cook dry beans in a slow cooker? ›
Put beans into the slow cooker and add enough water to cover beans by 2 inches. Turn cooker to HIGH and cook beans until they're tender and cooked through, about 5-6 hours for unsoaked beans. (You can also cook the unsoaked beans on low, which would take about twice as long.) Drain beans.
Where to place a slow cooker? ›
The Smartest Place to Set Up Your Slow Cooker: The Stovetop!
The stovetop isn't generally in use at the same time as the slow cooker and is designed to take the heat, moisture, splatters, or drips that might come from the cooker. Ideally you're using this spot when you have to leave the slow cooker unattended all day.
What cannot be cooked in a slow cooker? ›
10 Foods You Should Never Make in a Slow Cooker
- Raw Meat.
- Seafood.
- Pasta.
- Rice.
- Delicate Vegetables.
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts.
- Dairy.
- Wine and Other Liquor.
The difference between "High" and "Low" on slow cookers seems to differ with every brand and model. One thing that is consistent, though, is that food takes seven to eight hours to reach a simmer point (around 210°) on low; versus three to four hours on high.
What are the disadvantages of a slow cooker? ›
For example, you have to know what exact ingredients are going to be used and pre-prepare them properly. You also have to defrost meats well so that they cook completely. Finally, you may have to stick to specific recipes and cooking times (there aren't many chances for improv when it comes to slow cooking).
Can you put raw chicken in a crockpot? ›
Yes, you can put raw chicken in a slow cooker! Slow cookers and Crock-Pots are designed to cook raw meats. The direct heat from the pot, lengthy cooking time and steam created from the tightly covered container destroys bacteria, making slow cooking safe. You can put frozen chicken in a slow cooker, too!
Is it safe to leave a slow cooker on overnight? ›
Is it safe to leave a slow cooker on for 12 hours? Yes, you can use your slow cooker for longer than eight hours, as long as you keep an eye on it. Many slow cookers do have an automatic shutoff after 24 hours.
What beans Cannot be cooked in a slow cooker? ›
Turns out cooking dried red kidney beans and cannellini beans in your slow cooker can make you sick. Find out how to eliminate the toxin that can make you ill and how to safely prepare and cook these commonly used legumes.
Dried beans typically have a moisture content of around 16%. However, as they age, moisture evaporates, giving pectin time to age and harden the skin. These beans can often take much longer to soften while soaking and cooking, up to twice the time!
Can you put raw kidney beans in a slow cooker? ›
Slowly heating raw kidney beans in a slow cooker may increase the toxicity of the beans. Studies have found slow cookers do not reach a high enough temperature to destroy the harmful bacteria in undercooked beans.
What is the best meat to cook in a slow cooker? ›
Choose the right cut: Chuck roasts, short ribs, pork shoulders and lamb shanks (think fatty and tougher meats) become meltingly tender with the moist, low heat of a slow cooker. Leaner cuts like pork tenderloin tend to dry out. Likewise, dark meat chicken — thighs, drumsticks, etc.
Should food be covered with liquid in a slow cooker? ›
If your slow cooker is 3/4 full, no extra liquid is required. However, if you're cooking a smaller amount of food, add 1-2cm of liquid in the bottom of the slow cooker bowl to ensure there's enough liquid for cooking. Don't add too much liquid, because as the food cooks, it produces its own liquid.
Can you overcook in a slow cooker on low? ›
Can you overcook something in a slow cooker? Slow cookers are specially designed to cook food for long periods of time, but yes, you can still overcook in a slow cooker if something is left on the wrong setting for longer than it's supposed to be.
Can I slow cook beef for 12 hours? ›
Can you slow cook meat for 12 hours? This totally depends on the cut of meat and the slow cooker brand. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for optimum cook times. Generally, meat cooked on the Low setting can have up to 8-10 hours of cook time.
Is it safe to cook on low in crockpot? ›
If possible, turn the cooker on the highest setting for the first hour of cooking time and then to low or the setting called for in your recipe. However, it's safe to cook foods on low the entire time — if you're leaving for work, for example, and preparation time is limited.
What is the equivalent of 8 hours on low in a slow cooker? ›
Cooking Conversions for Slow Cookers
| Traditional Oven or Stovetop Low | Low Slow Cooker Setting (about 200°F) | High Slow Cooker Setting (about 300°F) |
|---|
| 15-30 minutes | 4-6 hours | 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 hours |
| 35-45 minutes | 6-8 hours | 3-4 hours |
| 50 minutes- 3 hours | 8-10 hours | 4-6 hours |
Dec 8, 2016
Ooey Gooey Bananas Foster. This little ditty can cook overnight and welcome you to the breakfast table with glee. If you add her Butterscotch Rum Sauce to this dish, like I did, be prepared to start putting that stuff on and in everything… You won’t be able to stop!
I made this bad boy gluten-free using this GF blend. No one was the wiser… Oh and it got a dosing of the Butterscotch Rum sauce as well.
Hearty Lasagna Layered with Nut Ricotta. My family pretty much has a lasagna fetish, this one definitely met our high-standard approval rating.
Gimme That! Need I say more?
Every Season Minestrone. This recipe is excellent for using up whatever veggies you may have around. It’s both light and comforting, which is perfect for the cool weather that’s arrived.
