Crock-Pot cooking . . . . mmmm, good!

[Bucky]

Here it is, September - the temperatures are getting cooler here in the U.S.  Before long, we'll all be transitioning from short sleeves, shorts and sandals to sweaters, jeans and covered shoes or boots.  Oh, and worst of all . . . coats, winter boots, hats and gloves (at least here in Central IL).   

But . . . along with the changing seasons out comes the crock pot!!    Now granted, many people use their crock pot year-round.  But, for myself, once the temperatures get cooler I tend to cook more in the crock pot.  MMMMMM, to smell the wonderful aromas of dinner slow cooking for hours.

The internet has gobs and gobs of recipes.  I've seen some really yummy looking ones.

I'll have to stop at the grocery store within the next couple weeks and get a roast - they smell sooooo good as they are cooking.

Anybody else a crock pot person (ok, let me clarify - does anybody use a crock pot to cook in, not IF you are a crock pot!!  LOL).

If you have any yummy recipes - please share.

I know a few members even use a crock pot as a room humidifier.

It seems the older I get, the more I am embracing the idea of slow is the way to go . . . . in every aspect of my life.   

Happy crock pot cooking!!  Share what you're cooking - your successes and "I'm not going to try that again" choices.   

Bucky

[Head2Toe]

I just got my crock-pot for Christmas last year so I'm a late bloomer - but - I make the most delicious bread pudding in it!  You can use any generic recipe - but here are my secrets:  I use cranberry bread instead of regular bread, and throw in a handful (each) of additional dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds.  This is dessert - so I also use about a third of a cup of sugar.  Well - I say it's dessert - but I eat it for breakfast and/or lunch too.  Anyway - I cook it on low for about 4 or 5 hours - and Voila!

The last time I made bread pudding I made it at my manager's request.  I told her I made the BEST bread pudding - and she challenged me - so I had to defend my honour.  Now she's constantly asking me when I'm making more...  She has (jokingly) even used it as a negotiating tactic - e.g. 'Sure you can do such-and-such, IF you bring me some bread pudding...'

If you like bread pudding, don't be afraid to make it in a crock-pot - and don't be afraid to be adventurous with it!

[meow]

Love Crock-pot cooking.

Easy pork roast: get a boneless pork roast, coat it with garlic salt and red chile powder. A LOT. Cook it 10 hours on low. Pull it apart with forks and serve on buns with pickles, sliced onions, and BBQ sauce if you want. The end. OMG, the best!

[harrigan]

Daughter number 1 has returned from Uni a vegetarian and created a delicious veg curry that even her sceptical, veg avoiding brothers loved!  its economical too:
diced potatoes, carrots, parsnips, onions, lentils, veg stock and a tin of tomatoes and tikka massala paste.  Throw it ll in for 6 hours on slow and serve with a spoonful of natural yoghurt, fresh corriander and naan bread.

just the thing for when it is getting colder.  xx Ailsa

[Thea]

I just got a slow cooker a couple of months ago. We don't eat meat, so I'm working on assembling some really tasty dishes that don't cook the dickens out of the veggies. I've had a couple of hits and a couple of misses! But I love being able to do the work early in the day when I'm fresh and have supper ready when I get back in from the barn.

[Lotus1]

I've just used my crock pot for the 1st time making chicken & lamb bone broth.
The broth tastes so nice in gravy & soup, mmm.
Even hubby liked it!!
Apparently very healthy too.
Oh, can someone explain how I get the smiley face onto this message.  I tried dragging/clicking.

Lotus1

[Xina]

Before my many food allergies, I used to make this in the summer but it would work during the fall and winter too. I take a steak, about a 1lb or 2 depending on the size of  your family. Add some chopped onion, maybe green pepper and cover it all in a taco seasoning packet. Let it cook for 4-6 hours and when its done, put it on flour or corn tortillas with your toppings of choice. And it smells wonderful while its cooking!

Now I rarely use my crock pot.

Oh another one I used to make is, a can of green beans, can of baked beans, can of green chiles, can of kidney beans, a can of tomato paste, and about 1/2 cup of sweet and spicy BBQ sauce. Cook 1 lb of ground beef and add about a 1 chopped onion.  Add all in the crock pot and cook for as long as you need. I served with a nice roll. Before the food allergies

Oh how I miss those days...

[SjoGirl]

Made crock pot apple crisp last night. Modified it to make it gluten free. Generally good but have to work on the topping which wasn't crisp enough.

[irish]

I had found a GF recipe years ago that used shredded cheese in the crisp itself plus some on top with the brown sugar and rice flour. I don't know if this would crisp up in the crock pot, but it is sure yummy made in the oven. I just add whatever amount I want. Irish

[meow]

Boneless, skinless chicken breast halves--4
2 cans cream of chicken soup.
2 T butter
chopped onion
chopped green chile

cook 6 hours on low.
YUMMY

[susanep]

I love anything cooked in a crock pot. Great smells through out the house. Meat is so tender as in fork pull part tender. Vegetables like carrots, onions, celery, and potatoes smell and taste so much better.

I have cooked dried pinto beans in the crock pot with a bit of ham, and it is so good.

Now I am hungry. 
susanep

[Carebear]

Oh boy!  I have chili in the crockpot and it smells so good.  Supper tomorrow will be de-licous!   

[Bucky]

Mmmmm, lots of good cooking going on with our crock pots!   

Tonight, I have the lovely aroma of a pork roast w/potatoes, carrots and onions cooking for dinner.  It smells sooooo good in the house! 

Has anyone used those crock pot cooking bags that are suppose to make clean-up a snap?  I've seen them in the store, but I've never used one.

Good eating at my house tonight!!    Mmmm, Mmmm, Mmmm. Hubby will be thrilled!  LOL

Bucky

[A66eyroad]

I had a crockpot with a crack starting and so I bought those bags to make sure that my meal didn't become a disaster! They worked perfectly! (And I found a brand new crockpot at the Goodwill store for $3!)

[meow]

Another hit:

1lb polish sausage, like Hillshire farms, sliced into 1/2 inch rounds
4 red potatoes, scrubbed and diced
1 green apple, peeled and diced.
1 can sauerkraut, drained
1/2 onion, chopped
1/4 c apple cider vinegar
8 slices of crisp bacon, drained and chopped.
2 cans cream of potato soup.
celery seed if desired, salt and pepper

Put everything in the crockpot except the bacon. Stir it well. Cook on high for 5 hours, or low for 7-8. Add the bacon in the last 15 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste.