Friday, September 16, 2011

Call for Crock Pot Recipes (PLEASE!)


 OK, so I really need some crock pot recipes for a 7 qt. slow cooker. I use mine about twice a month in the summer and once a week in the colder months. The problem is, it seems like everything I make tastes similar - either beef stew or chicken soup. I've looked up recipes for other things, but even looking up "spaghetti and meatballs", for instance, leads me to hundreds of recipes that are way different from each other. You see, what I usually do when I Google for a recipe is look at a bunch of different recipes, get the basic idea of the ingredients, then make my own version. I can't do that when there are a ton of extremely different ways to make the same thing! Why don't I just try one? Lots of reasons. Mainly: 1) I don't want to spend money on something that no one in the house will eat more than once; and 2) I don't want to have something cooking all day long and have it turn out like crap.

So, why bother asking for recipes? Well, I've found that bloggers and blog readers tend to be able to find the best of the best and are eager to share their little bits of advice with others. And... I am going to have to start cooking the majority of our meals in the crock pot (or the microwave... or an old electric skillet) for a while. See, Michigan Gas Utilities is calling in all of it's debtors this month. Everyone need to have a zero balance or that's it. They aren't allowed to shut people who rely on gas for heat from October through April, so September is pay up or else month here. And let me tell you, when they say "The 7th", they mean it!

We use gas for cooking, heating, and hot water. Well, we used to! I don't mind not being able to use the stove or oven. It forces me to actually plan meals. Plus, with the slow cooker being so large, I have leftovers to use for lunch the next day or to heat up for dinner a few days later. I can even freeze some for way later - like on that day I forget to plug the stupid crock pot in, maybe (yeah, it's happened more that I care to admit!) I don't mind not having the gas for heat, either. Let me tell you - out furnace has been broken for the past two winters. We bought two small electric heaters and have saved a ton of money! Our place is upstairs in a house-turned-apartments and the insulation between the downstairs apartment and ours is nil. When they turn on the heat, it rises up to us. Plus, our place is so small that those two little heaters keep us toasty on the really cold nights. I hate not having hot water, though. For all I talk about being green and conserving, I have to admit that I am queen of the 1-hour, super-hot shower. Hey, I take quick 10-minute showers all week, but Saturdays are my day to enjoy myself (and the peaceful white noise of the water.)

Anyway, since I'm going to be using my slow cooker about five times a week, I need to start making food that actually tastes like anything but beef stew and chicken soup! So, if you have a recipe posted on your blog (or lots of them!) or you know of a blog with a really great recipe, please link up below. Please don't link up to the main page of the blog - I would really like to be able to click the link and see a recipe (and so would everyone else who clicks!) If you don't have a blog post to link up to, please go ahead and use the comments section to share your recipe.

Thanks In Advance!


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15 comments:

dulce de leche said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I am a crock-pot newbie, but was actually googling recipes this morning and came to the exact same conclusion you did. :D I can't wait to read all the links. <3

Dorothy! said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I really like to use a pork shoulder (aka boston butt) with some bbq sauce. Trim the fat, rub in paprika and brown sugar, add bbq and water to cover and cook 6 hrs. Shred with a fork once tender. (I like to finish this on the stove to thicken the sauce) Serve with rolls and cole slaw. inspired by Aarti's Mango pulled pork which is awesome. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/aarti-sequeira/pulled-pork-with-mango-bbq-sauce-recipe/index.html

Dorothy! said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

When I'm really rushed or busy I like to use one tray italian saugage and one bag of frozen meat balls plus 1-2 cans diced tomatoes and a jar of tomato sauce. Cook for 3+ hrs serve with rolls or pasta. SOmetimes I add spinach or broccoli

Christy said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

OH MAN!! I love my crock pot! I am the queen of lazy cooking. I love nothing better than to already have dinner going by 10am and not have to worry about it all day.
I have so many recipes. A few are already posted on my blog. Do you want me to send you the links??
The ones I know off the top of my head that I have on my blog are Crock Pot Chicken Fajitas and Taco Soup. I even have some dessert crock pot recipes including chocolate lava cake and peach cobbler.
One really easy thing you can do in the crock pot (I do this at least 2 days a week) is throw in some chicken breast and about 1/2 cup of salsa (I like to puree my salsa first). Then when it comes time for dinner you can decide what you want to make it become (I do this when I am tired and have no clue what I want to make haha). Its a great base for any Mexican(ish) dish you can think of that requires chicken. Two easy ones, that would not require an oven, would be chicken tacos (soft or hard shell) or chicken and bean burritos.

Do you have a waffle maker? My friends oven just died and I helped her come up with some great meal plans not only using her crock pot but also her waffle maker, electric skillet, and deep skillet. She also has a rice maker (lucky!).
With a waffle maker you can make more than waffles. You can also make brownies (YUM!) and even pizza crusts. I have been planning to make the pizza crusts to post on my blog. They make individual crusts that you can then let everyone build their own pizza on. You are supposed to put them in the oven for a few minutes to melt the cheese but I am sure the microwave wold work too. Or make them fresh out of the waffle maker so that the dough is still nice and hot.

Unknown said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

@Christy
THANK YOU for linking up! I headed to your site, but wasn't quite sure where to look.

We don't have a waffle maker or rice cooker :( I picked up a giant box of minute rice at the store the other day. I can't believe how much more expensive it is!

I really like the idea of just tossing in chicken and salsa and deciding what it will become later on. In the morning,my stomach just isn't ready to think about dinner.

Unknown said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

@dulce de leche Thanks so much for sharing this on FB. I can't believe I came up in a search! LOL

Unknown said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

@Dorothy! Those both sound great! Thanks for sharing them.

Christy said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Yes, chicken and salsa is my go to when I am tired and I just have no clue what to make for dinner because it is so versatile. I also like Chicken and BBQ Sauce. You can make a lot with chicken and BBQ Sauce too. Or Pork and BBQ sauce. My fav is pulled chicken or pulled pork BBQ sammies.

I don't have anymore crock pot recipes on my personal blog but I know I have some up on the blog I shared with 2 friends called 3 Moms and a Kitchen. I will have to post those up too. That's where the chocolate lava cake recipe is.

Another easy one I love is to take a beef roast, season it with whatever seasonings you like and place in the crock pot. Mix together 1 can of mushroom soup and 1 packet dry onion (or onion and mushroom) soup. Pour over roast and cook on low 6-8 hours. Makes pot roast with a mushroom gravy, sooooooo good! Not sure how you could make them w/o an stovetop but the gravy is good over mashed potatoes. Maybe buy some instant and heat the water in the microwave?

Zoie @ TouchstoneZ said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I do a ton of crock pot meals, but no longer follow recipes anymore. These are all super easy, from scratch family recipes: Pizza fondue, vegan chili topped with corn bread crust, mexican pot roast, cuban chicken, among others.

I did share the most incredible Chicken Tikka Masala recipe in your linky above. I stretch it out by adding chickpeas and pouring over steamed broccoli & cauliflower on top of rice when serving. My family loves this!

I have several of crock pot recipes prepped as blog posts, but feel like they would be out of place on my blog. If I get them up somewhere someday...

I hope you do a follow up post with what was good/cheap/easy from the recipes you receive.

Jen Crum said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I'm cheap, I like crock pot lasagna. I dump all the ingredients that I prefer in my lasagna into the pot - I use whatever noodles I have on hand - pour in the sauce and a jar of water, stir, and cook on low/medium all day.

I love this because Manasseh can make it.

Lisa - the Granola Catholic said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I have a bunch of crock pot recipes, the key is to over season all everything as the crock pot dulls the flavor over time.

A BIKER BABES & A TRUCKER'S GIRL RECIPES said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

PLEASE "LIKE" MY RECIPE PAGE AND ENJOY ALL OF THE RECIPES MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE ALWAYS ASKING FOR!! THANKS IN ADVANCE AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY THEM AS MUCH AS WE HAVE! PLEASE FOLLOW THE LINK! http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/A-Biker-Babe-a-Truckers-Girl-Recipes/198651910197798

Michael said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Hello! I linked up a bunch of my family favorite crock pot recipes. Hope you enjoy!
Aimee @ ShugarySweets

Unknown said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

@Christy
Thank! I've got this in the pot and ready to cook tomorrow. It sounds amazing - we love mushrooms here :)

teresa said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I'm so glad you did this post!!! I'm just going to benefit from whatever recipes you collect here!!
Thanks!!
I want to use my crock pot more. So far I'm a terrible crock pot chef.