Some women get excited about new shoes. I get excited about new kitchen gadgets. The WonderBag is new to the U.S. and I was curious when asked to test it out. Our favorite pumpkin carving party was coming up and it gave me an opportunity to test out this latest gadget.
This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and WonderBag, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #WonderBag http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO
The WonderBag acts like a slow-cooker, but without using electricity. This fits two important needs in anyone’s kitchen.
- Save times and money
- Safe around young children
The WonderBag allows me to use less energy in my kitchen, and I don’t have to worry about a hot slow-cooker on the counter and little hands accidentally touching it. For my experiment, I used it to make Butternut Squash Soup for a party. I was crunched for time so I was able to make most of the soup at home, pack it in the WonderBag, bring it to the party to let it finish cooking and finish it up with an immersion blender.
The WonderBag fits short handle pots best so be mindful of that. My large dutch oven wouldn’t fit, but my tall stockpot fit fine as it can hold up to a 9 quart pot. After I unpacked the soup, the temperature was 130 degrees after about three hours. (Yes, I am a kitchen gadget geek and packed a thermometer.) I wanted to make sure the food would stay a safe temperature and be ready to serve guests.
I would rather spend less time in the kitchen and more time with this guy.
Turns out, this new gadget is one with a cause. For every bag sold, one is donated to a family in need in Africa. Where water and energy resources are so scarce, this product can be life changing for families there. They can’t plug-in a crock-pot, so the WonderBag functions as a portable slow cooker without the use of additional fuel. An average African family can reduce their fuel usage by up to 30% using the WonderBag. The women creating the meal get more time with their families instead of standing by the fire to finish cooking their meals. Learn more about how eco-friendly the bag is by visiting the WonderBag Facebook page, plus get new recipe ideas.
The WonderBag is available now on Amazon, after quickly selling out. This would be a great holiday gift for someone who entertains often, needs a second slow cooker, and those who often tailgate or picnic. You can make chili in it, then easily bring it to the game piping hot. Plus, which each purchase a family in need also gets one.
The only negative thing for me is the size of the bag. It’s rather large, as it can hold up to a 9 quart pot. It’s not something I can easily keep in my kitchen, but I do plan to use it next time I’m bringing a stew to a potluck dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 butternut squash peeled deseeded and cut into 1" cubes
- 1/2 red onion finely diced
- 1 medium apple peeled and cut into eighths
- 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil or olive oil
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 4 cups vegetable or chicken stock
Instructions
- Heat oil over in a large pot on medium-high heat. Add onions and sauté for about 5 minutes.
- Add squash, apple, thyme and stock.
- Increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered for 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and transfer to WonderBag for a minimum of 2 hours. (If you don't have a WonderBag, continue to cook for another 15 minutes or until squash is fork tender.)
- Puree with an immersion blender or food processor.
I received the WonderBag to test out and share a recipe with you. All opinions shared here are my own. Amazon links are affiliate links. Learn more about how the WonderBag helps women and families worldwide by connecting with them via Twitter or Instagram.
