100 Great Ways to Use Slow Cookers and Hot Pots

By Simon and Alison Holst

Beef and Beer Casserole with Parsley Dumplings

It may come as no (some) surprise but I do often use a multifunction cooker.  The purchase was not planned and at the time I wondered whether I would use it. 

It is used at least once or twice a week.  Often the recipe is one I have used before on the stove/oven/microwave but adapted for use.

Yet, I did buy some specific cookbooks (thank you Lifeline) for this device.

As my cookbook collection continues to grow it seemed a good opportunity to test this one.

I like dumplings, as long as they are not too dry, too wet or too heavy.  I like beef casserole as long as the sauce is tasty and the preparation is not too involved.

As usual I did not follow the method as specified.  The onions, garlic and bacon were cooked in the multi-function cooker first and then the rest of the ingredients were added.  The meat used was topside or skirt steak.  The bacon was purchased from the local Farmers Market. 

Harper was kind enough to donate a can of German beer for the casserole.  (Would this be a matter for regret?)

After waiting the requisite time, I tasted the casserole.  It was not bad but the brown sugar was required.

Mixing the dumplings was the usual fun of sticky hands, some of the dough taking up residence on my apron, the bench top, but fortunately not in anyone’s hair.  Why the dumpling dough is more contrary than scone dough, I do not know nor comprehend. 

As can be seen from the pictures, the dumpling dough completely concealed the casserole below it.  After waiting the half hour required it was time to eat.

The dumplings were bland and felt heavy and a little dry, despite the sauce of the casserole.  which was not very tasty, too thick and not fun to eat. Harper regretted the beer sacrifice.  The meal was edible but it saddened me to use good ingredients to eat a meal I did not really enjoy.

In the spirit of fairness, I have attempted another meal from this cookbook which will be featured soon.  Everyone deserves a second chance, unless they are a corrupt politician, mass murderer, etc.  Hrmmmm.

Note: My other disappointment was the cook book did not suggest using either the slow cooker/crock pot as an attractive hat, or a vase for a large bunch of flowers etc.  (Yes, I am being silly, but it is my blog (as attempting to gain others input usually involves thumbscrews or hypnotism) and being silly is more fun than eating this casserole was.

I would also like to thank those who have subscribed to this blog (or bolg as I mistyped.) Apologies for the lag between updates.

Chez Kimchi Civic, Canberra. April 2021

Korean Side Dishes

As promised in a previous post, we have now had a chance to review Chez Kimchi.

As you may guess from the name of the restaurant, it is Korean and offers vegetable pancakes, Bi Bi Bap, Bulgolgi etc. It is located in the shop where Sammy’s was originally located.

The hungry group included Harper, Lindsay, Jamie and a guest.

Having read the menu, Harper decided to order Bibimbap with spicy pork in a hot stone bowl ($21.00). Anyone who is familiar with the dish is aware it is not something that can be easily shared.

The rest of us decided to share. The following were the items chosen. For a starter: Deep fried dumplings with veggies ($9.50), then Kimchi pancake ($17.00), Bulgolgi ($20.50) and Tender Long Chicken ($20.00). The menu chosen might indicate hunger, greed or both.

Before the meal was served we were provided with Kimchi and other Korean tastes (love the potato). Very nice and welcoming.

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Jamie
Unfortunately for my table companions, they were disappointed by the dumplings…

because they only received one each and I ate the rest. They were small, crispy in a good way and delicious. There was some mention of ordering more but I was quickly told that there was more than enough food arriving and if I was still hungry after that I could order more. (Why did I agree?)

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• 

Four were served but I was hungry.

I pointedly ignored the Kimchi pancake. It ignored me in return, but was greeted with delight by other people.
Shortly after the Bulgolgi and Long Chicken arrived, looking delectable. Hesitating meant others reached the food first but that was fair after my behavior with the dumplings. Heaping my plate with the chicken, some rice and meat, it was hard to decide which to try first. My chopsticks reached for the chicken without any thought, which I dipped into the accompanying sauce. Quickly conveying it to my mouth I bit to find a crunchy coating, tender chicken in a lovely sauce. The chicken was wonderful without the sauce but it added an extra tang.

I ate another piece but noticed the Bulgolgi was looking a little disheartened. How could I treat it in this way? I quickly ate some and enjoyed the flavor I remembered so well. It reminded me of the first time I’d tried the meal in South Korea and how much I’d enjoyed it. The addition of pear works so well in the marinade.

I kept eating, enjoying the meal and conversation but sadly became full so could not order more dumplings. Sadness. But also happiness at how much I’d enjoyed the food.

I didn’t clean my plate, but my attempt was not half hearted.

Score: 4.9/5

Harper

I like BiBimbap and food in a hot stone bowl. I’d never added spicy pork to it until now, but felt like a change.
Jamie grudgingly gave me a veggie dumpling and watched me consume it, possibly waiting for it to be passed back. I didn’t because I enjoyed it.

The bowl was hot. The pork: spicy. Mixing it around, I added a little Kimchi and tasted. Spicy, hot, fresh flavours all mixed with the paste and egg. Very tasty. I ate contentedly and then tried the Kimchi pancake. It was tasty but a little too oily. Not the worst I’ve had and if it had a little less oil, I would have enjoyed it more.

I cleaned my plate and thoroughly enjoyed the Bibimbap.

Score: 4.8

Both Lindsay and the guest enjoyed the meal but have not yet provided their input due to other commitments. As we attended this restaurant in April, rather than wait any longer, a decision was made to post the review.

Overall
Chez Kimchi provided good quality and tasty Korean food with many options and side dishes. The food was served promptly and the staff were efficient. We will return.

Overall Score: 4.8
If Lindsay has time to contribute the review will be updated.

Cocorea Korean Restaurant, Civic, Canberra, July, 2016.

We were reluctant to review Cocorea, as we eat there regularly and it can be problematic to obtain a table.  The reason we eat there often: the food is consistently good, the staff are polite and efficient, the price is reasonable and the variety satisfies all of us.

Cocorea is situated in Garema place.  There are tables both inside and outside and it has recently been refurbished and the menu has changed slightly.  The food is still good and we are looking forward to trying some of the new menu items.

Random Recipe: Beef Rolls (Rinderrouladen) and Cooked Potato Dumplings (Gekochte Kartoffelkosse) from German Cooking By Moyra Fraser

This book was purchased many years ago and has really only been used as a starting point for developing my own version of Sauerbraten, which is unlike any other Sauerbraten I’ve tried.  (My recipe is a combination of a few different recipes and many trials.  It has never been written down because it is altered slightly each time, depending on the selection of vinegar available.)

With some trepidation the Beef Rolls and Potato Dumplings were selected.  At one stage the accompaniment was Hot Potato Salad, but dumplings are dumplings.  I like dumplings, as does Lindsay.