The Deep Covered Baker – My New Favorite Piece ofKitchenware!!
 |
| Photo Credit: Pampered Chef |
Do you feel like you are constantly rushing around to getdinner on the table and you want something to make your life easier?? If you are thinking "YES!" then KEEPREADING!
I have been a little slack on posting lately… betweenspending time with my precious 4 month old and going back to work aftermaternity leave, I have found little (or no!) time to blog! I HAVE however been putting meals on thetable thanks to my Freezer Stash (from Freezer Cooking 1, Freezer Cooking 2, Freezer Cooking 3 and Freezer Cooking 4) ANDbecause of my new found FAVORITE piece of kitchen equipment: THE PAMPERED CHEF DEEP COVERED BAKER!
I will begin with a little story… back in August I decidedto host a Pampered Chef party at my home because I LOVE to cook and thought itwould be perfect to host a “cooking show” at my house for friends and family toattend… I called on the fabulous Jamie Swanson (check out her Facebook Page "What's Cooking with Jamie" for YUMMY recipes!!) to come on over and share someof her favorite Pampered Chef recipes and products. If you have hosted a PC party then you knowthat you just have to provide all of the ingredients, and your consultant doesthe rest as far as assembly, cooking etc….One of the recipes we were going to prepare (Pesto Tomato Chicken Flat bread) called for 2 cups of cooked chicken… so I had asked Jamie ahead oftime if I needed to have the chicken cooked for her when she gotto my house… She said not to worry about it and that she would take care of itwhen she came over… and in my mind I am thinking – "she is coming over about 30min before the party starts so how the heck is she going to cook the chickenand have it ready in time???"
She arrived atmy house and put the 4 chicken breasts in a piece of stoneware with a lid (Deep Covered Baker) and popped it in my microwave on HIGH for 8 minutes… pulled itout and the chicken was cooked PERFECTLY!I could not believe my eyes! Asif this wasn’t enough… she then proceeded to put an ENTIRE 5 Ib. roasting chicken inthe Deep Covered Baker- covered it in a delicious Pampered Chef rub and put itin the microwave for 30 minutes…. I amthinking, "yea right this chicken is not going to be good! Chicken in the microwave??" I figured it would end up being rubbery ordry… Moment of Truth: the chicken cameout of the microwave and it looked beautiful and SMELLED delicious!!! We dug in and the chicken was so moist andflavorful I could not believe it. I WASSOLD, I knew I had to have one…
 |
| Photo Credit: Pampered Chef |
When my Deep Covered Baker first arrived… I was a bitintimidated by it so it just sat on the kitchen counter staring at me for aweek or two. I finally decided to diveinto the recipes and buy ingredients so I could start actually using this newpiece of equipment that decided to join my kitchen family… the very first thingI used it for was exactly what I had seen Jamie do—make chicken breasts toshred and use in chicken noodle soup! SOEASY. The next thing I made was EasyEnchiladas—can we say 5 ingredients and 15 minutes later we were enjoying adelicious meal and my husband couldn’t believe how good the enchiladas were… oh and Iforgot to mention that HE made them in the Deep Covered Baker because I wasbusy feeding the baby! The other nightI had some ground beef I needed to use up so I decided to see what recipe Icould make in the DCB that I already had the ingredients for… I came across a Meatloaf recipe and threw ittogether in under 5 min- popped it in the microwave for 20 minutes and dinnerwas done… my husband said it was the BEST Meatloaf he had ever had! WOW… this Deep Covered Baker is a keeperbecause it is making life so much easier and keeping food in our bellies!!
 | ||
| Photo Credit: Pampered Chef |
The Deep Covered Baker is really the only reason we actuallyeat a “home cooked meal” most nights!Having a 4 month old and a full time job doesn’t leave much time for menuplanning, food prep and execution. Itseems like our weeknights consist of my husband and I taking turns with thebaby while one of us is running around the house trying to clean up, cook, dolaundry, ect… (You ALL know this story!)My priorities have also changedso much and I would much rather spend an extra 20 minutes with my family thantrying to cook a big extravagant dinner that in the end my husband wouldprobably put ketchup on anyways. Thebaker has easy recipes that require minimal ingredients and minimal prep–time thatyou can assemble day-of or the night before.The baker can be used in the ovenOR in the microwave oven. I have to be honest and say that I have triedalmost EVERY microwave recipe in the recipe book, but I have yet to try an ovenrecipe. The ease of throwing all theingredients in the baker and popping it in the microwave for 10 minutes and adelicious meal coming out is like a new modern crock pot or something! Every family should have a Deep Covered Baker in their kitchen!
 |
| Photo Credit: Pampered Chef |
I have been relying on my DCB so much that I actually justpurchased a second one so I can assemble 2 meals at once to be cooked duringthe work week. I have also learned the“basic” cooking times and concept from using it so much enabling me toadapt some of my own personal recipes and put them in the baker in themicrowave!
One thing I haven’t mentioned is if you ever have a sweettooth- BEWARE, you can put a box of brownie mix in the baker (with the calledfor eggs, water and oil) for approx 6 minutes and BOOM—you have cured yoursweet tooth, which could be dangerous and a good thing all in one!
 |
| Photo Credit: Pampered Chef |
A couple of my favorite things to make in the Pampered ChefDeep Covered Baker:
·Chicken Fajitas
·Beef Tacos
·White Chicken Parmesan (w/Homemade Marinara from Freezer Cooking 3)
·Easy Enchiladas
·Lasagna Soup
·Meatloaf
·Taco Soup
·10 Minute Pork Tenderloin
·Pork Chops & Rice
Moral of the story.... head on over to pamperedchef.com and get yourself a Deep Covered Baker! You will LOVE IT --- dinner has never been so EASY or AFFORDABLE to put on our table!
*Disclaimer: No services, products or compensation were given to me for the purpose of this blog post. All opinions are 100% my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC guidelines.
