I knownthat it is early days yet to be thinking out loud about Christmas and what I might be getting for those on my list, but for at least one friend, I might be going way off book and doing something that nobody would expect and I just thought that this might be the forum to put my thoughts down on virtual paper. Why would this blog be an appropriate forum for this? Well, the reason is that one of my friends really loves her home kitchen slow cooker; it is a Rival Crock Pot brand slow cooker - I couldn't tell you the model name or even the size, but I will find those things out when it is time to. It will be time to know these things soon because my bright idea is to kidnap her trusty slow cooker and restore it to fine working order with the appropriate application of some much needed rival crock pot parts. You see, my friend really, really, really loves her slow cooker and has said to me more than once how loath she is to give up on it but that at the same time it is in dire need of a new lid and maybe even a new handle for the outer shell. So, when it is time to move ahead with my nefarious plan I will discreetly seize her kitchen appliance, get the pertinent information from it and replace it, leaving her none the wiser about my intentions towards the humble appliance. Once I am pretty sure that I will be able to find the needed crock pot parts either at a local kitchen parts store or hardware store and if not then I will take my search online and locate the parts I need that way. Of course ordering anything online adds time to the equation so I have left myself enough leeway or lead time to make this doable. Once I have the needed parts on hand, I will once again acquire her slow cooker and go to town cleaningit up and restoring it to its former slow cooker glory.
There may be some of you wondering how I know that this won't blow up in my face when another friend of hers, fed up with listening to her moan on an on about her beloved slow cooker, goes and decides to get her another slow cooker for Christmas. Not a problem. The fact is, my friend has her birthday coming up pretty close to Christmas but early enough before then that if I give her back her crock pot - fully restored - in time for her Birthday, it will be soon enough before the holidays so that nobody else is likely to get her a new crock pot for Christmas. Sneaky? Yes.
I like to think that I have done my best to think of everything.
Stay tuned...
12.11.09
8.9.09
Slow cookers, spare time and an opportunity missed.(at least by some)
A slow cooker prepared meal should mean more spare time for you to get things done, so why are some people not taking advantage of it?
This is a special post for me on here seeing as how it is my first attempt at an opinion piece of sorts. Of course by offering a review of aproduct I have already been offering an opinion - my opinion, of something in the form of the review.(obviously) However this time around, I want to share my feelings on the subject of slow cookers as a time saving household appliance in general. I think that it is fair to say that everyone who is familiar with the concept of cooking with a slow cooker of any brand - regardless of whether it is a Rival Crock Pot brand slow cooker, a Sunbeam, Hamilton Beach or Proctor Silex brand of slow cooker, I think that most would agree that they all offer the same basic tenet or concept of convenient meal preparation for the user. This is pretty much a given; however what does not seem to be so obvious to some is the idea that your slow cooker is not some young infant that has to be babied. I don't really know why, but it seems that some slow cooker users - and again it is not something that is isolated to fans or loyal devotees of just one brand of appliance - are almost loathe to take the time that they are potentially saving by using their slow cooker in the first place, and putting it to good use somewhere else. Too many times i hear people discussing how they stayed home to be around while their slow cooker ... cooked. The idea of set it and forget it is aspecial one for slow cooking, and is one that should afford you the time to get other things done away from the home - if you do not have other household management obligations , such as young children or sickly or infirm adults to look after. If your attention is not going to be needed in the kitchen fior the next few hours, why not get yourself out and about to get some other things done? Or even get yourself outside, even if it is just to enjoy some decent weather, since that seems to be an activity that many of us do not seem to be able to follow habitually enough for our own physical and psychological well being. Maybe even just getting out and going down the street to a local park or similar green space, or going out to a movie or the local library or even going out for a coffee just to get away from your routine environment.
If you have a dinner entre that you are going to prepare in your Crock Pot, and it won't require much prep time for any needed side dishes, you have a lot of potential free time there when you think about it. To start with you have a meal that might take between four to six hours to complete cooking depending on whether you are using the low or high setting on your slow cooker appliance. Second, you might be using one of those new-fangled programmable slow cookers that lets you choose your start and end times for cooking which potentially gives you more time to work with. Finally, you might have a slow cooker that keeps itself on a warm setting for a set amount of time after it completes its cooking assignment which would then give you even more time to work with. Really, why would you want to waste this potential goldmine of spare time in your busy schedule? To me, this is even more of a no-brainer than the concept of lengthening the lifespan of the slow cooker or crockpot in your kitchen by maintaining it with the right choice of, say, Rival crock pot replacement parts if and when they are needed to keep it running smoothly.
Oh well, I guess some people just have a really difficult time grasping the concept of household freedom...
This is a special post for me on here seeing as how it is my first attempt at an opinion piece of sorts. Of course by offering a review of aproduct I have already been offering an opinion - my opinion, of something in the form of the review.(obviously) However this time around, I want to share my feelings on the subject of slow cookers as a time saving household appliance in general. I think that it is fair to say that everyone who is familiar with the concept of cooking with a slow cooker of any brand - regardless of whether it is a Rival Crock Pot brand slow cooker, a Sunbeam, Hamilton Beach or Proctor Silex brand of slow cooker, I think that most would agree that they all offer the same basic tenet or concept of convenient meal preparation for the user. This is pretty much a given; however what does not seem to be so obvious to some is the idea that your slow cooker is not some young infant that has to be babied. I don't really know why, but it seems that some slow cooker users - and again it is not something that is isolated to fans or loyal devotees of just one brand of appliance - are almost loathe to take the time that they are potentially saving by using their slow cooker in the first place, and putting it to good use somewhere else. Too many times i hear people discussing how they stayed home to be around while their slow cooker ... cooked. The idea of set it and forget it is aspecial one for slow cooking, and is one that should afford you the time to get other things done away from the home - if you do not have other household management obligations , such as young children or sickly or infirm adults to look after. If your attention is not going to be needed in the kitchen fior the next few hours, why not get yourself out and about to get some other things done? Or even get yourself outside, even if it is just to enjoy some decent weather, since that seems to be an activity that many of us do not seem to be able to follow habitually enough for our own physical and psychological well being. Maybe even just getting out and going down the street to a local park or similar green space, or going out to a movie or the local library or even going out for a coffee just to get away from your routine environment.
If you have a dinner entre that you are going to prepare in your Crock Pot, and it won't require much prep time for any needed side dishes, you have a lot of potential free time there when you think about it. To start with you have a meal that might take between four to six hours to complete cooking depending on whether you are using the low or high setting on your slow cooker appliance. Second, you might be using one of those new-fangled programmable slow cookers that lets you choose your start and end times for cooking which potentially gives you more time to work with. Finally, you might have a slow cooker that keeps itself on a warm setting for a set amount of time after it completes its cooking assignment which would then give you even more time to work with. Really, why would you want to waste this potential goldmine of spare time in your busy schedule? To me, this is even more of a no-brainer than the concept of lengthening the lifespan of the slow cooker or crockpot in your kitchen by maintaining it with the right choice of, say, Rival crock pot replacement parts if and when they are needed to keep it running smoothly.
Oh well, I guess some people just have a really difficult time grasping the concept of household freedom...
8.6.09
The future of slow-cooking convenience might already be here: A review of the Rival 5 quart Versaware Crock Pot
One of the more modern developments in crock pot technology and styling is represented by the Rival 5 quart Versaware crock pot, a slow cooker that has been gaining increasingly in status ever since its release. Unlike the heavier stoneware crocks found in many slow cookers, this one is made of lightweight Extreme Temperature Cookware (ETC), also called VersaWare, a stoneware so handy it can be used on a stovetop, in an oven, below a broiler, and within a microwave. The lid is also made of ETC, which makes the five-quart pot perfect for storing pre-assembled foods in the freezer or fridge, and baking covered dishes in the oven. The idea is an intriguing one to be sure: a removable stoneware crock liner or insert that you could use on top of the range to "Sauté, Cook, Serve, Store and Reheat all in one pot!" according to the product sheet. The reality has not been everything the manufacturer's promo material promised, but on the whole the product is sound in more than one way and makes for a refreshing and novel approach to slow cooking.
First, allow me to bring up the product's downside. (sorry for the pun) Sorry, but I have to say that there is no way that this unit sautés suitably; Of course, you can put the Versaware liner on top of the range, yet it's not supposed to be over a high heat, and if, like many folks, you use electric the insert must sit on top of a diffuser. Sensibly, no high heat means no saute – and that's just by definition of the technique of saute cooking. Another catch with the versaware is that you cannot use conventional metal utensils inside of it without using tremendous vigilance. (better not to attempt using them with it in the first place) For those who are use to continually using metal utensils and feel the itch to use them in the kitchen regardless of the situation would probably find themselves walking on egg shells throughout the cooking process.
In all honesty, however, these drawbacks are too little to get a thumbs down on this Crock Pot. Though it is not destined for intense heat, the Versaware insert is good on top of the stove, in a microwave, or (and here I am just guessing) atop a hot plate to keep the contents heated enough while sitting out on the table. Peculiarly enough, the crock liner also rests in the slow cooker base with an atypical cradle design, and sports a design that features four metal legs with rubber stopper feet. I was able to fit an intact roast inside it without having to cut it up in advance, and I think you could without difficulty get a four-pound entire chicken in the unit. I enjoy the preference of high or low cooking settings (the former about twice as rapid as the latter) and the warm setting to keep stuff hot when the cooking is done. A single knob sets the cooker at low, high, and maintain warm, a handy setting for maintaining cuisine at just the suited serving temperature. With these abovementioned two cook settings, low and high, this crock pot can slow cook a broad variety of stews, roasts, and soups, recipes for which are printed in an included 79-page recipe booklet. Meats can be braised initially on the stovetop, and casseroles can be browned underneath the broiler just previous to serving. Though the basic piece is $59.99, I’d say pay out the extra $20 for the automatic, which switches to warm after the built-in timer (you set it in half-hour increments) has completed its countdown. Both the base and crock sport loop-style handles for easy lifting. Measuring 9 by 13 by 10-1/2 inches, with internal dimensions of 9-1/2 by 4-1/2 inches, the slow cooker comes with a short, 32-inch cord that removes from the base unit for storing and lets the intact piece stand alone on a serving buffet. The crock and top go right into the dishwasher for clean-up. If you choose to wash the versaware crock by hand, don't be surprised if you find that the mass of the liner and cover make washing more difficult. Rival covers the slow cooker with a one-year warranty. Overall, the Rival Versaware crock pot is an user-friendly slow cooker with an exemplary degree of control that sports a number of convenient features. If the versaware is a sign of where the crockpot is going, in that case the prospect for Rival cookware is looking pretty positive.
10.3.09
The new Rival eLume reviewed
A review of the new Rival eLume slow cooker.
The Rival eLume Programmable Crock Pot slow cooker is a very appealing kitchen appliance. The stainless steel exterior is quite something and seems very easy to keep clean of any smudges and fingerprints. Rival added a nice touch with the eLume's handles: they seem to be made of metal but have a silicone coating that makes them easier to hold and safer than with earlier models of similar size Rival crock pot slow cookers. Phil tells me that the black stoneware crock liner is very easy to wash and doesn't seem to leave any residue after cleaning. He said that that has been a problem with other black crock liners that he has used in the past.
The digital programmable feature is easy to use and set and lets you choose the hours and minutes for each available temperature setting; once the eLume crock pot auto-switches to the warm setting, it begins to countdown from 4 hours to let you see just how long your food has been kept on the warm setting. Some kitchen cooks might be annoyed by the fact that you have to turn the eLume slow cooker off and then back on again to change from the High to Low setting but this is not really a big deal. The eLume's digital touch controls make it easier to keep the front of the unit clean, however, as is common with digital controls on any appliance, they are somewhat difficult to see in a brightly lit area. Honestly though, you will probably find this to be a minor hinderance considering how sleek the crock cooker looks and how convenient the touch controls make it to use the appliance.
With regards to its performance, the eLume cooked very well, according to Phil, and the slightly larger 6.5 Qt size of the crock size was suitable enough for him to prepare a 4lb meatloaf and even a whole chicken. The eLume came with a recipe booklet with over 80 recipes, hints and tips. If I recall, Phil told me that he tried out the Lemon roasted whole chicken recipe as well as a fish recipe and a beef stew recipe. All turned out very well. Overall, the Rival eLume slow cooker was apleasure to use.
The Rival eLume Programmable Crock Pot slow cooker is a very appealing kitchen appliance. The stainless steel exterior is quite something and seems very easy to keep clean of any smudges and fingerprints. Rival added a nice touch with the eLume's handles: they seem to be made of metal but have a silicone coating that makes them easier to hold and safer than with earlier models of similar size Rival crock pot slow cookers. Phil tells me that the black stoneware crock liner is very easy to wash and doesn't seem to leave any residue after cleaning. He said that that has been a problem with other black crock liners that he has used in the past.
The digital programmable feature is easy to use and set and lets you choose the hours and minutes for each available temperature setting; once the eLume crock pot auto-switches to the warm setting, it begins to countdown from 4 hours to let you see just how long your food has been kept on the warm setting. Some kitchen cooks might be annoyed by the fact that you have to turn the eLume slow cooker off and then back on again to change from the High to Low setting but this is not really a big deal. The eLume's digital touch controls make it easier to keep the front of the unit clean, however, as is common with digital controls on any appliance, they are somewhat difficult to see in a brightly lit area. Honestly though, you will probably find this to be a minor hinderance considering how sleek the crock cooker looks and how convenient the touch controls make it to use the appliance.
With regards to its performance, the eLume cooked very well, according to Phil, and the slightly larger 6.5 Qt size of the crock size was suitable enough for him to prepare a 4lb meatloaf and even a whole chicken. The eLume came with a recipe booklet with over 80 recipes, hints and tips. If I recall, Phil told me that he tried out the Lemon roasted whole chicken recipe as well as a fish recipe and a beef stew recipe. All turned out very well. Overall, the Rival eLume slow cooker was apleasure to use.
26.2.09
A review of the new Rival Crock Pot Trio Cook & Serve
My friend Phillip has a job in a department store that sees him trying out a variety of kitchen appliances on a regular basis; slow cookers are definitely included on that list.
Recently Phillip had a chance to play around with the new Crock Pot from the Rival company, the Rival Crock Pot Trio Cook & Serve. If you are like me you might not have heard much about this one yet - in fact I am not yet convinced that it will catch on in the average family home setting, more likely it will be popular with those planning to prepare meals for a larger group of guests. I am told that the crock pot trio is an impressive appliance and can make cooking for a group a more pleasant experience. It would not be overkill to use it to prepare a complete meal for just a few people as well.
The Crock Pot Trio really looks quite impressive with its three black 2.5 qt stoneware pots, with each one having its own individual controls all on the same base. You can choose to cook in either one, two or all three crock pots simultaneously. The unit comes with a set of three plastic serving spoons. It also comes with a small recipe book.
Phil told me that the Trio operated pretty well when he tried a couple of the recipes from the included recipe booklet; the chili recipe and the herbed vegetables recipes, I believe. The set is really intended to be a buffet server and will probably do the job well enough for anyone cooking for a family gathering or similar sized group. For someone cooking for a family, the Trio could be useful as a way to easily prepare a complete meal: for example you could prepare some soup in one pot, some veggies in the second pot and an entre in the third pot. The Trio is not programmable but you can set varying cooking times for each pot that you might have in use. As well you can use one pot as a warmer while cooking with the others. It also could serve as a hot beverage serving station for drinks such as apple cider or hot chocolate.
This crock pot set is pretty easy to clean up: the base unit wipes up easily and the stoneware crock pot liners and brushed steel lids are all dishwasher safe. The unit includes a notched area for you to rest the spoons during meal preparation but the spoon balance is somewhat dubious when used since they have atendaency to tip when the crock pot lid is removed. The base unit might be something that you have to store when not using in your home, since it takes up a fair bit of room, measuring out to a length of 32".
Recently Phillip had a chance to play around with the new Crock Pot from the Rival company, the Rival Crock Pot Trio Cook & Serve. If you are like me you might not have heard much about this one yet - in fact I am not yet convinced that it will catch on in the average family home setting, more likely it will be popular with those planning to prepare meals for a larger group of guests. I am told that the crock pot trio is an impressive appliance and can make cooking for a group a more pleasant experience. It would not be overkill to use it to prepare a complete meal for just a few people as well.
The Crock Pot Trio really looks quite impressive with its three black 2.5 qt stoneware pots, with each one having its own individual controls all on the same base. You can choose to cook in either one, two or all three crock pots simultaneously. The unit comes with a set of three plastic serving spoons. It also comes with a small recipe book.
Phil told me that the Trio operated pretty well when he tried a couple of the recipes from the included recipe booklet; the chili recipe and the herbed vegetables recipes, I believe. The set is really intended to be a buffet server and will probably do the job well enough for anyone cooking for a family gathering or similar sized group. For someone cooking for a family, the Trio could be useful as a way to easily prepare a complete meal: for example you could prepare some soup in one pot, some veggies in the second pot and an entre in the third pot. The Trio is not programmable but you can set varying cooking times for each pot that you might have in use. As well you can use one pot as a warmer while cooking with the others. It also could serve as a hot beverage serving station for drinks such as apple cider or hot chocolate.
This crock pot set is pretty easy to clean up: the base unit wipes up easily and the stoneware crock pot liners and brushed steel lids are all dishwasher safe. The unit includes a notched area for you to rest the spoons during meal preparation but the spoon balance is somewhat dubious when used since they have atendaency to tip when the crock pot lid is removed. The base unit might be something that you have to store when not using in your home, since it takes up a fair bit of room, measuring out to a length of 32".
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