“Nothing says loving like something from the oven” is more than a catchy slogan, it has sold millions of products for Pillsbury because it is true. We equate cooking with love, conditioned, I expect, from pleasant memories that connect food and family. Coming home to good smells of food cooking makes all of us happier and increases our sense of well-being. An entire industry understands this as potpourri sales of “fake food” smells indicate.
Those good cooking smells as we come home are gone for many families, a casualty of moms who spend most of their day away from home. There is a way to get these smells back into the home, as well as to save preparation, cooking and cleanup time, to make the time away from home work for you, and to serve great tasting meals everyone will enjoy.
The Crockpot is the best appliance at making that time work: without any supervision or concerns about burning, food is ready to eat. With a few hints, the next homecooked meal you have could virtually cook itself while you are away from home.
Roasts, pork chops, chicken, meatloaf, venison, soups, stews, beans, etc., are a few of the meals possible. Layer chunks of roast for chops, or chicken pieces with sliced onions and spices, and pour over all a sauce like cream of mushroom soup mixed with dried onion soup mix and thinned with water. Layering meat with onions and covering with barbecue sauce tastes home-made good. Spaghetti sauce or chili can simmer all day. Quick and good homemade vegetable soup can be made from mixed frozen vegetables simmered all day in tomato juice (or spaghetti sauce and water) with meat or chicken chunks and chopped onions. Beans of any variety cook all day and never stick or burn. Creole dishes like a thick stew of chicken, sausage, shrimp, onions, bell peppers and tomatoes (again, use spaghetti sauce and Creole seasonings) are hearty and healthy. Add rice, salad and hot bread and dinner is served.
Cleaning the kitchen is a snap in most cases as the crock pot cooks a truly “one-dish” meal. Preparation time Is also quick. Most of it can be done other than during busy morning or evening times. Veggies and meat can be stored in bags and added to the crock pot when ready. Preheating the food in the microwave (while in the crock pot container, if you can) gets it all off to a fast start.
Saving time on doing routine errands and chores gives working families more time to spend together which means less stress and pressure caused from trying to fit it all in. Kids aren't the only winners, though. As parents find it possible to do less work and achieve more, everyone becomes a winner at ”beat the clock” by making time work for them.
Darby Kethan has a master's degree in child development, and has experience as a social worker, educator of young children, educational consultant, and as a professional trainer for a national educational foundation providing professional development to teachers. Visit her website at darbykethan.com.
