Williams Sonoma The New Slow Cooker Cookbook

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· 95 ratings · 11 reviews

Start your review of Williams-Sonoma the New Slow Cooker: Comfort Classics Reinvented

Aha ha ha ha ha....no no no no no. This is the anti-slow-cooker book, how to use a slow-cooker in the worst way possible. For 1 recipe I counted 7 pans that were used for 1 slow-cooker meal. SEVEN PANS TO BE WASHED. There is a time and place for fussy meals, but not when you want to use your slow-cooker. Also, so many of the recipes needed attention after 3 hours, the author just doesn't get the purpose of the crock-pot, I AM NOT HOME. I laughed and laughed. Aha ha ha ha ha....no no no no no. This is the anti-slow-cooker book, how to use a slow-cooker in the worst way possible. For 1 recipe I counted 7 pans that were used for 1 slow-cooker meal. SEVEN PANS TO BE WASHED. There is a time and place for fussy meals, but not when you want to use your slow-cooker. Also, so many of the recipes needed attention after 3 hours, the author just doesn't get the purpose of the crock-pot, I AM NOT HOME. I laughed and laughed. ...more

I generally associate slow cookers with fairly unsophisticated meals. So I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book takes crock-potting up a notch. Since I checked it out at the library last week, I've made two meals: Winter Vegetable Stew, and Spicy Red Bean and Chorizo Stew. Number three is at this moment in process in my crock pot: Short Rib Ragu.

Typical instructions for recipes include sauteeing onions and other vegetables and browning meat before putting it in the pot, and then addi

Typical instructions for recipes include sauteeing onions and other vegetables and browning meat before putting it in the pot, and then adding something fresh in at the very end (e.g.lemon zest and fresh herbs, chutney, or salsa). While these added steps make it less of a throw-it-all-in-and-go meal, they also add the flavors, colors, and textures that (let's face it) something that's spent an entire day in a crock pot really need.

I don't think I'll go out and buy the book, but I feel like it's given me the techniques necessary to change my "real" recipes into more convenient crock pot recipes without sacrificing flavor.

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Best slow cooker cookbook I own. I have yet to make a recipe I haven't loved. Best slow cooker cookbook I own. I have yet to make a recipe I haven't loved. ...more

Nov 10, 2020 Maria U. rated it did not like it

Every single recipe you start on the stove and then finish up in the slow cooker. What's the point then?! I wanted recipes you dump ingredients in the crock and can leave all day. Would give 0 stars for the recipes, but gave 1 star because the pictures the physical book has. I do like when cookbooks have a picture for each dish.

4.5 stars

The New Slow Cooker is my new favorite cookbook. Not only does everything I've made so far taste fantastic -- which hasn't been a common experience with other cookbooks -- it's lured me out of my comfort zone to try new ingredients (wine isn't just for drinking) and reintroduced me to how rich and tender slow cooker food can be. My husband and I are also less tempted to eat out since we've been reminded of how much cheaper it is to make restaurant-quality cuisine at home, and how nothin

4.5 stars

We were looking through new 2013 recipe books at the store and this was the only one with a ton of fresh, new ideas we wouldn't have thought of on our own. New twists to common recipes are present, like Buffalo-style chicken, smoky beef chili, stews, and risotto, but just to name a few of the exciting new recipes:

+ beef and pumpkin stew made with dry red wine and cinnamon sticks
+ Thai-style brisket made with dry white wine plus pineapple relish
+ pork with spicy squash plus Asian lime vinaigrette
+ ale-braised sausages with broccoli rabe
+ braised chicken made made with dry white wine plus summer orzo salad
+ herbed chicken made with dry white wine plus zesty potato salad
+ braised salmon made with dill and cumin plus cucumber-yogurt salad
+ Spanish-style cod made with red bell pepper, dry white wine, and orange
+ butternut squash and apple soup made with floral white wine and heavy cream plus curried yogurt dressing and fried shallots
+ spicy red bean and chorizo stew plus jicama salad

Keep in mind that while some recipes take an hour or less of prep time and three hours of slow-cooking before eating, other recipes require over an hour of prep time and several hours of slow cooking, then may need more ingredients added for an additional hour or more of slow-cooking before eating. I recommend planning your meals the week before so you know how much time each recipe takes, especially if you're on a tight or late work schedule.

More bonuses to this cookbook:

+ it's hardcover with thick, full-color pages and photos of most recipes
+ includes brief instructions in the opening chapters about how to convert recipes for oven and stove-top cooking
+ almost everything was made from scratch and most ingredients can be found even in a small grocery store
+ there are instructions to make your own pesto, vinaigrettes, and beef, chicken, veggie, and fish stock
+ sauces and side dish recommendations/instructions with some recipes seem like they can be mixed and matched with other recipes if desired for even more variety in our diet

The only thing I'd like to have added are the "nutrition facts" for each recipe if followed exactly, like calories. But pretty much every recipe is designed to be 4-6 servings, so adjusting the ingredients and amount of each is up to the chef. I cook for a family of two, so there are tasty leftovers for us to take to work the next day. And we totally don't mind having leftovers anymore.

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Apr 20, 2017 Lauren rated it really liked it

Enjoyed this cookbook, there are recipes I look forward to making.

Sep 25, 2015 Julie rated it really liked it

I purchased this book a while back and just recently started trying some of the recipes. To my surprise, everything was super tasty, which is what I'm basing my 4 star rating on.

With that said, there are definitely some flaws here. To begin with, many of the recipes require you to brown meats or sauté veggies before actually putting them in the crockpot, which not only takes time, but also additional pots/pans. I typically brown meats anyway before putting them into the crockpot, and now that I have a anodized insert that allows me to use it on the stove, I save myself from dirtying and washing additional pans. I imagine that many people who don't have this type of crockpot insert will scoff at these suggested extra steps. To add to this, most of the cook times for the recipes are 5 hours or under, which again seems counterintuitive for using a crockpot since I'm normally using it on the weekdays when I'm at work for 8+ hours. Luckily, my crockpot has a timer that I can set, but if yours doesn't, let it be known that in my experience there's little difference between cooking chicken thighs or pork loin for 5 hours vs. 8 hours—they come out the same.

An apt cook will know how to tweak the recipes to their liking, which I found myself having to do with some of the recipes. This is probably not the best book for crockpot beginners or people who are not naturals in the kitchen, but if you can read between the lines and work around some of the complexities of the recipes, you will undoubtedly find something delicious!

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Dec 27, 2012 Nancy rated it did not like it

Beautiful book with really yummy-looking recipes, but almost every one of them calls for wine or sherry to cook with. I know for many, many people, this makes a good recipe great; but alas, I am not one of those people. And my husband is even less fond of cooking wine than I am. I am heartbroken... Sigh....

One of the best recipe books I've read recently. Learning to better use my slow cooker and this provided good suggestions regarding optimizing flavor. Cooking completes in 3-4 hours for chicken, 6-7 hours for beef or pork so more difficult to set prior to leaving for work (will likely overcook). Perfect for weekend cooking. One of the best recipe books I've read recently. Learning to better use my slow cooker and this provided good suggestions regarding optimizing flavor. Cooking completes in 3-4 hours for chicken, 6-7 hours for beef or pork so more difficult to set prior to leaving for work (will likely overcook). Perfect for weekend cooking. ...more

Oct 13, 2014 Mark marked it as skimmed

Has far less basic info than I was hoping for but did have quite a few interesting looking recipes. Will scan a few.

This slow cooker recipe book has some wonderful recipes in it. I love the pictures that go along with the recipes. This is a well crafted recipe book.