Slow Cooking For Two By Cynthia Graubart

Open Preview

See a Problem?

We'd love your help. Let us know what's wrong with this preview of Slow Cooking for Two by Cynthia Graubart.

Thanks for telling us about the problem.

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Community Reviews

· 82 ratings · 17 reviews

Start your review of Slow Cooking for Two: Basics, Techniques, Recipes

I found about five recipes I really liked. My problem is, I don't really like tomatoes, and this book had tomatoes in almost every recipe! I did really like the cooking conversion chart in the beginning of the book, so that if you want to make a dish in the oven, you can figure out how long to cook it for. Not the best book for me, but perfect for a tomato lover :-)

Aug 01, 2017 Katy rated it did not like it

i made 2 recipes, but wasn't crazy about them. great concept, but not tasty food. i made 2 recipes, but wasn't crazy about them. great concept, but not tasty food. ...more

Nov 25, 2019 Kathy rated it it was amazing

Added to want to purchase list. Got several ideas. Especially like the idea of "Double Dinners" using to crock pot liners to cook two meals at the same time. Added to want to purchase list. Got several ideas. Especially like the idea of "Double Dinners" using to crock pot liners to cook two meals at the same time. ...more

Nov 13, 2017 Donna rated it really liked it

Love it when I find a cookbook with pictures... just sayin'! *grin* Love it when I find a cookbook with pictures... just sayin'! *grin* ...more

Aug 29, 2013 Darren rated it really liked it

Do you want to get into this slow cooking lark, a means of cooking that is enjoying a bit of a renaissance presently? Whilst there is no shortage of "slow cooking" books available, does this relatively slim, colourful book have what it takes to stand out from the crowd?

Certainly the book is well-illustrated and it tends to draw the reader's attention in, starting with a relatively basic but clearly-written introduction to the art of slow cookery. However one feels that more could have been said about the benefits of slow cookery, such as the ability to use cheaper cuts of meat and make greater household economies, backed up with clear examples. Perhaps greater focus on the dietary and health benefits on offer too, particularly when you consider that many people use "lack of time" and "lack of knowledge" as reasons for using factory-made microwaveable meals instead of batch cooking or cooking from fresh.

The recipes themselves seem to be a good, balanced selection split between the entire range of meal types, desserts included. Each recipe is concise and to-the-point but reasonably understandable even to an absolute beginner. It would have been nice for each and every dish to have had its own colour photograph, especially when you see the quality of food photography used within this book, to further underline some of the wonderful stuff you can make with your slow cooker.

Our usual niggles are to be found in this book. A lack of a clearly stated preparation and cooking time (the latter can be found by digging in the recipe) as well as the use of sole U.S. measures. Burying a small conversion table after the very detailed index at the rear is no solution. It just feels a pathetic sop to international readers.

It is hard to see, particularly with this book's price point, anything overly special with this book that would differentiate it from any other comparable slow cookery book. A good book but not an exceptional book, in other words.

Slow Cooking for Two: Basic Techniques Recipes, written by Cynthia Graubart and published by Gibbs Smith. ISBN 9781423633839, 160 pages. Typical price: USD20. YYYY.

// This review appeared in YUM.fi and is reproduced here in full with permission of YUM.fi. YUM.fi celebrates the worldwide diversity of food and drink, as presented through the humble book. Whether you call it a cookery book, cook book, recipe book or something else (in the language of your choice) YUM will provide you with news and reviews of the latest books on the marketplace. //

...more

Jul 16, 2014 Lisa rated it it was amazing

I know a lot of people think of a crockpot as a winter thing – full of chili or pot roast or beef stew. Fact is, a crockpot is great for cooking in the summer. You don't heat up the house, there's not standing over a hot stove, but you still get a hot meal at the end of the day. And you are certainly not limited to stews and chili; you can make seafood, vegetables, lasagna, even bake a cake in your crockpot. I have been having some fun, testing out new recipes for the coming months.

Slow Cooking

Slow Cooking for Two: Basics, Techniques, Recipes is a very handy resource for single folks and small families, especially if they are new to slow cooking. There are excellent sections on tips for using a crockpot, cooking times, and equipment. The recipes really run the gamut – everything from Spiced Mixed Nuts (page 136) and Banana Bread (page 126) to Cornish Hen Dijon (page 54) and Mushroom Risotto (page 106). There is a great section of desserts – Vanilla Custard, Lemon Cake and Apple Crisp – as well as a good section on some recipe basics. I never thought of roasting garlic in the crockpot, but you would really get that low-and-slow taste with this method.

In my house, my crockpot is a stock machine – I make chicken stock, beef stock, vegetable stock, all in the crockpot. My favorite method is to throw all the ingredients in, pour boiling water over them, turn the crockpot on low and then go to bed; I wake up in the morning to a house that smells like heavenly and I'm ready to make a terrific soup or stew.

Probably the most interesting section for me was the chapter on "Double Dinners" – basically, take a big chuck roast or pork tenderloin, cut it in half, then make two dinners at once in the same crockpot. Of course, the secret is using those crockpot liners (terrific for sticky, messy dishes). you simply put half the meat in each bag, add the other ingredients, and place the closed bags next to each other in your big crockpot. It's perfect if you don't like eating the same leftovers day after day until they're gone. This way, you've got two entirely different meals.

All in all, a good reference with some great recipes. I like the Potato Gratin, the Pork Tenderloin with Cabbage, and I am looking forward to trying to Spinach Lasagna. My copy of Slow Cooking for Two: Basics, Techniques, Recipes came from my personal library.

...more

Oct 27, 2014 Sarah rated it really liked it

Since I purchased a slow-cooker last week, I've been obsessed with finding great recipes that spark my imagination and make my mouth water. Graubart delivers an excellent start! The book jumps in with a few tips on using a slow-cooker, but the assumption is that you know what you're doing and just need recipes for your 3.5 quart cooker (all the recipes are for the same size cooker); there's even a section specifically for preparing a larger cut of meat two ways to help prevent leftover fatigue. Since I purchased a slow-cooker last week, I've been obsessed with finding great recipes that spark my imagination and make my mouth water. Graubart delivers an excellent start! The book jumps in with a few tips on using a slow-cooker, but the assumption is that you know what you're doing and just need recipes for your 3.5 quart cooker (all the recipes are for the same size cooker); there's even a section specifically for preparing a larger cut of meat two ways to help prevent leftover fatigue. Some of the recipes are a little elaborate and the dessert section is a little bizarre, flavor-wise, but the overall collection gives me a lot to think about, and plenty to add to my grocery list! ...more

Oct 21, 2016 Leigh rated it really liked it

I bought this book because I was searching for a way to slow cook dinners in small portions. This book is perfect for that purpose. The recipes are yummy and the photos are handsome. There is a section suggesting how to stock up your pantry and also some useful kitchen accessories. I wasn't able to find a slow cooker that is the suggested 3 1/2 quart but I did find a four quart, so I use that instead.

I am going to look for some more books by this author, she seems to have lots of good recipes.

...more

Apr 20, 2014 Jim Cabaj rated it it was amazing

I love cooking in the slow cooker and this was the perfect book for meal. I loved these easily to prepare dishes to come home to after a long day. I love the smells once you come home and the only thing you need to do is serve.

I had allot of favorites here in the book including: Peanut Chicken, Asian Wings, Carmelized Onions, Mediterranean Chicken, etc.

The author has allot great tips to use again and again. Her cooking time guide will help you adjust family recipes for the slow cooker.

I look for

I had allot of favorites here in the book including: Peanut Chicken, Asian Wings, Carmelized Onions, Mediterranean Chicken, etc.

The author has allot great tips to use again and again. Her cooking time guide will help you adjust family recipes for the slow cooker.

I look forward to the authors next cookbook.

...more

Feb 04, 2016 Salsabrarian rated it really liked it

I like that these are smaller-sized portions; sometimes with slow cooking you end up with leftovers for days. Winners: Peanut Chicken 32, Honey Ginger Chicken Thighs 42, Cornish Hen Dijon 54, Braised Short Ribs 56, Foil Pouch Lemon-Dill Salmon 86, Potato Gratin with Fresh Herbs 92, Glazed Carrots 96. Try: Smoky Chipotle Butternut Squash Soup 26, Chicken Thighs in Dijon Artichoke Sauce 37, Cornish Hen in Port Wine 52, Shrimp in Herb Butter Sauce 88.

This book has made me realize that even though I only have two people living in my house, I like to cook for a small army. I made the banana bread and it was pretty tasty (but I still have to figure out how to make it a little more moist). I made the red wine flank steak and it was pretty ok! Not the best thing I've ever made, but not the worst either. Worth a shot! This book has made me realize that even though I only have two people living in my house, I like to cook for a small army. I made the banana bread and it was pretty tasty (but I still have to figure out how to make it a little more moist). I made the red wine flank steak and it was pretty ok! Not the best thing I've ever made, but not the worst either. Worth a shot! ...more

Jan 06, 2014 Kayla rated it liked it

Its a cookbook so I mostly just skimmed through. I made notes of some delicious recipes to try and I can't wait to taste them! Yum! My only issue with this book is that there was not enough pictures of the potentially delicious food! If it is pleasing to my eyes, I'm most likely going to throw it in the crockpot and give it a whirl! Its a cookbook so I mostly just skimmed through. I made notes of some delicious recipes to try and I can't wait to taste them! Yum! My only issue with this book is that there was not enough pictures of the potentially delicious food! If it is pleasing to my eyes, I'm most likely going to throw it in the crockpot and give it a whirl! ...more

Jan 25, 2017 Joe W rated it really liked it

I liked the layout of recipes based on main ingredient items and most of the recipes are simple enough for anyone to perfect. I would have liked if it had some of the recipes that of the same title book of a different author.

Jan 15, 2016 Lori rated it it was amazing

Since Steve and I are using the crock pot again, our dear friends gave us this delicious read by Cynthia Graubart. I learned a lot ranging from the size of the crock pot (3 1/2 quart cooker for two people) to ingredients and recipes. I am looking forward to trying some of the recipes in here. :)

Dec 28, 2014 Emma rated it liked it

We've tried several recipes from this book so far. We've liked the lemon chicken but not the others we've tried. There are still plenty of others to check out so my rating might go up next year. We've tried several recipes from this book so far. We've liked the lemon chicken but not the others we've tried. There are still plenty of others to check out so my rating might go up next year. ...more