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Pop your Collar(ds)

By now, it’s no secret I love my hand blender. (What? You mean you didn’t know?) However, I must admit to being quite intimidated by some of the other appliances loafing around my kitchen. For instance? How about the Super Scary Slow Cooker!

*Cue the Twilight Zone music to play in the background*

But everyone knows that the only way to get over a fear is to face it head-on. So, one dark and cold morning, I put on a brave face (CCK-warrior face!) and pulled out that slow cooker. For my first battle with the slow cooker, I tried my hand at a southern staple: collard greens. And I discovered the slow cooker’s not so scary after all!

slow cooker collard greens

A delicious southern-comfort meal: Collards, roasted red peppers, an apple, seitan with ketchup, and wheatberry pilaf. On another occasion, I enjoyed my collards with chickpeas:

chickpeas collard greens

Collards à la CCK

  • A 1lb bag of chopped collards (such as Glorybrand)
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 cup broth (I use Imagine No-Chick’n Broth)
  • 1-2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • up to 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Turn the slow cooker onto high power and put in the chopped onion, salt, garlic, and a little broth or oil. After about 10 minutes, stuff the collards into the crock pot, and change the setting to low. Leave on for 6 hours, stirring every few hours. Turn off the crock pot and add the vinegar. Stir again. Enjoy your victory over the slow cooker. Muahahahaha!

Published on December 22, 2008

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30 Comments

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  1. Ricki says

    I understand the fear of slow cookers–I don’t even have one! But those collards look mighty fine. I bet I could just cook ’em for a reeeeaaaaalllllyyyy long time. . .

    Congrats on your award–well deserved! 🙂

  2. Erin of Care to Eat says

    THIS IS PERFECT. I’ve never made collards but we’re having them for Christmas and I needed a vegan recipe. YOU SAVED ME CCV!
    ANd anything I can throw in the slow cooker is fine by me! 😀

  3. ConsiderEatz! says

    You are such a doll!
    What a perfect post to be shouted out to on too! I loooooove me some collards! Any green is a winner in my book, but these babies are close to my heart for sure 🙂

  4. shelby says

    I LOVE your post title…so cute!

    Mmm, I wish I had the patience to cook in the slow cooker. I’ll admit I’m a little scared of how to use it but the big reason I don’t use it is because I would be sneaking peaks and wanting to eat the food within the first hour!

  5. Robin says

    I’ve never tried collards – in fact am a little wary of them, but if I ever see them in the UK I’ll definitely give the a shot. Anything green I love!

  6. Fitnessista says

    YES! i’ve been waiting for someone to post a recipe on how to cook collards since i’m always afraid to buy them. YOU ARE A GENIUS MISS CCV! thank you thank you thank you!

  7. Virginia says

    i love my slow cooker…i use it for soups, chili, beans, and to keep things like mashed potatoes warm when serving to company!!

  8. lighterportions says

    Just the WORD slow cooker scares me. There is one lying hidden in the highest, most inaccessible cupboard in our kitchen… dare I pull it out one of these days? Maybe maybe!

  9. Vegan_Noodle says

    Had to laugh at your post title!

    I need to get me a slow cooker… but more importantly I need to overcome my fear of collards! I love kale and chard, so I’m sure I would like collards too!

    Hope you’re having a wonderful holiday!

  10. TavoLini says

    I loooooooooove collards! Congrats on getting over your fear of the crock pot!

    It’s always interesting to cook with a new gadget. I’ve had a pressure cooker for a few months now…and am too scared to try it. I think it’ll be my New Year’s resolution 😉

  11. vegannurse says

    I just recently had some kale greens done the southern way and I really liked ’em!

    I agree about the slow cooker, it’s so scary! But I may have to brave it to, since it produced such a yummy veggie for you!

    As for the question on my blog:
    You can totally do a post about your gift, if you so wish. 😀 You didn’t have to ask me, though I thank you for your consideration.

    3 days til Christmas! 🙂

  12. Ruby Red Vegan says

    Your southern-comfort meal looks so amazing! I also like how you prepare your meals quickly but eat ’em nice and slow. That is an awesome mindset. And it must be nice to have a slow-cooker to be scared of; I don’t have one but would probably be too lazy to prep my veggies 6 hours in advance. I am so bad about doing everything at the last minute!

  13. Jackie says

    Never bothered to get a slow cooker, pressure cookers are more my style, half an hour and everything is ready.

    I had a hand blender for years and never used it until I found nothing in my kitchen made hummus properly except it, now virtually all blending I do with it.

  14. Animal-Friendly says

    I really have to use my slow cooker more. My mom’s recently become obsessed with it, but I want to get in on the fun! And I’ve never had collard greens, but they’ve got to be awesome and I think it’s about time I made some myself.

  15. Melody Polakow says

    Collards rock! Glad you got over your fear of the slow cooker. I used to be afraid of pressure cookers, but am super thrilled I got over that!

  16. russ says

    i like the sound of your blender – i’m hoping santa has overheard me yell at the top of my voice how much I want one too!

  17. Vegetation says

    I adore my slow cooker! I’m glad you finally won over your fear of yours, may you both have many happy years left together 😛

    (Oh and the collards look yum too! I wish we got collard greens over here!)

  18. River says

    I have an irrational fear of slow cookers. The food sitting in there for hours freaks me out!

    Congrats on your Proximity Award!!

  19. Veggie Cookster says

    OMG, I would NOT SURVIVE without my slow cooker! Seems like that’s all I’ve been using to cook lately, LOL Made a florentine vegan mac and cheese in it today!!

  20. Bethany says

    Awww! Thanks, you really do deserve it. you’re an awesome blogger and your posts are funny!

    Collard lovers unite! form of a hungry person! form of a super hungry person!

    I love collards. They are also really cool looking. Like a big fancy fan.

    If you want to try another collards recipe, Chessa posted the smoky collards recipe from the class we took at PCC (not at the same time, unfortunately). They are yummy good.

  21. Chris says

    Just want to say THANK YOU for the recipe. I have the collards in my “small” slow cooker right now and some Moraccan Chicken Thighs in my “big” one. It’s going to be a good night for dinner in the Midwest!

  22. maria nieves says

    Been looking for a collard green recipes, found your blog, AWESOME got much more, waiting for a printer, diffaut for me , thank you,! Love all your recipes.

  23. Gee says

    I would like to know if the recipe for the greens can be cooked stove top instead of a slow cooker. I look forward to your response…
    Thanks,
    Gee

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