Mention crock-pots to my friends and they'll probably think of me. I'm a crock-pot nut. If I can crock it, I can cook it. I've made just about everything in my crock-pot, from stews to lasagna to fruit cobblers to cake, even bread. If someone wants to get under my skin, all they have to say is their crock-pot is better than mine. Of course, it won't be true, but I'd still sulk for awhile. If I was only allowed to have one kitchen appliance, it would be my crock-pot. If I could take something while stranded on a deserted island, it would be my crock-pot and a very long extension cord.
There are many recipe books for crock-pots. Most are too complicated and use fancy ingredients you don't regularly have. That defeats the purpose of slow-cooking. Two of the best recipe books out there are 101 Things To Do With A Slow Cooker and 101 More Things To Do With A Slow Cooker by Stephanie Ashcraft and Janet Eyring. I recommend these books to everyone. The recipes are easy, fast and use ingredients you have in your cupboard. Not only that, but they always turn out perfect. I mean, how hard is it to toss some chicken into your cooker and pour some cream of chicken soup and salsa over it? It's even better when you use Trader Joe's habenero salsa. Shred up the chicken, add some Spanish rice and corn and wrap it up in a warm tortilla. With recipes that simple, anyone can be a great cook.
The other day my husband came home with a 15 pound bag of potatoes. It was $2 for the bag, so he couldn't pass it up. So what does he end up making? A huge bowl of macaroni salad. Doh! I am trying to decide to make Bacon-Potato Soup or Spicy Potato Soup in my crock-pot today. If I make the first one, I'll have to break open one of Rick's packages of bacon. Since it was his idea to buy all these potatoes, I guess he can sacrifice 6 slices of his precious bacon for the cause.
Hey Rena! Even I think of you when I hear the word crockpot! I love my crockpot! It's so nice to just toss dinner in there and it takes care of itself.
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed with your husband's bargain of $2 for 15 lbs of potatoes. That is a very good deal these days. I paid $3 for 5 pounds the other night.
Thanks for inviting me to your blog, I think it's great!
Erin
Hi Erin! Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I'm new to all this blogging stuff, but it seems fun so far. I decided on the Bacon-Potato Soup. I've never made it, so I hope it turns out okay. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Rena! I still have that crockpot lasagna recipe you gave me so long ago - its definitely a keeper! I love using the crockpot, but use it mostly in the winter, when the outside grill is out of the question. Oh, and my crockpot is better than yours -- joking! Honestly I think its time for me to get a new one - a much bigger one to cook enough food for four hungry boys!
ReplyDeleteJeannine
OMG! I love my crockpots! I have seven...I do buffet style dinners all the tiime...meat, vegetable, desserts...
ReplyDeleteWhen we were building our house the contractor said to me...I bet you want a big kitchen...my hubby and I laughed so hard it became a lot of snorting (I don't cook)...I told the contractor I need only one cabinet that was big enough to my crocks in...
I Heart my Crockpot...grin...
Lilfix (blueboards)
Jeannine -- LOL @ yours better better than mine. I have the one pictured here and I love it. That lasagne recipe is great, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteBrenda -- You sound like my kind of cook! I used to have 3, but I got rid of 2 when I moved out of state. Still slapping myself for that. Now I have the one pictured here and a tiny 1.5 quart one. I like the little one, but I haven't figured out what to make in it yet. Not many recipes are for cookers that small.
BTW -- the Bacon-Potato Soup turned out yummy! Everyone ate it and said it was really good, which surprised me. My girls aren't much into soups, so I was shocked they liked it. My boys are 8 and 6 and are a totally different story. I'm a short-order cook for them.
I love my crock pot, too! I was around for their first incarnation in the 70s. (Gulp.) I never gave up on mine when they went out of fashion there for a while. The crock is one of a writer's best friends (or anybody else who doesn't have time for a lot of labor in the kitchen).
ReplyDelete