Cooking RecipesSimple and Easy Cooking Recipes

Stews can be made in variety of utensils, but the container must be strong and thick to withstand long slow cooking without burning. For oven use, ovenproof  glass or earthenware may be used which can go straight to the table. If you like cooking a lot of stews and casseroles, it is worth buying a cast iron casserole which can be used on top of the stove and in the oven. This will allow you to cope with the initial frying of ingredients and the later stewing, all in the same pan on top of the stove if you prefer, or in the oven. Most stews can be cooked entirely on top of the stove in an ordinary thick saucepan, but this must be watched carefully to prevent burning.

Slow cooking is the basic requirement for making good stews. Stone pots were first used for cooking as far as 7000BC , but today there is a demand for a modern version heated by electricity. The low wattage of the electric slow cooker means that it uses only as little electricity as a light bulb and the cooker can be left to cook food while you are out. No stirring is needed and no moisture evaporates. The cooker has three settings, low, auto and high and the following recipes (Pork and Pineapple Curry Recipe and Chicken with Barbecue Sauce Recipe.) show how it can be used.