Simmer Sauces

Quick and easy meals are a must when you want to go skiing.  Here’s a quick trick to make a hearty meal.  It can be made in your crock pot just as easy.  Trader Joe’s has an extensive array of “simmer sauces.”  As its name implies they’re meant to simmer meats, chicken, fishes and/or vegetables.  Simmer sauce selections are extensive.  They have, but are not limited to, various curries, tagines, as well as cioppino simmer sauces.  Although ideally you want to make these homemade, this is the next best thing to homemade.  I’ve tried most of the simmer sauces, and have to say they’re pretty good.  

Simply brown your meats or chicken and pour the simmer sauce over the “meats” and cook until tender.  You can add vegetables or make it all vegetarian. If you can’t be bothered with browning your meats/chicken, than don’t.  Just pour the simmer sauce over the meats.  However, if using chicken I recommend you skin the chicken.  The stews become very greasy if the chicken is not first browned or skinned.  

As for vegetables and fish, do not slow cook them in a crock-pot.  Cook them stove top for ½ hour.  Slow cooking makes them too soggy and the fish almost unidentifiable.  

These are best served with rice or naan (Indian breads), also available at Trader Joes.