Am I the only one using a Crock Pot?

[rob62521]

I've been using a Crock Pot or slow cooker for over 18 years to fix meals. I have been finding it an economical way to save money by buying cheaper cuts of meat. With all the free recipes from cooking sites like http://www.cookingcache.com/crockpot.html there is quite a variety of meals to be made. If I do a beef roast, I include potatoes and carrots and can use the leftovers as "T.V. dinners" for lunches. If I fix a pork roast, the left over pork can be torn apart and fixed with sauces for barbecue sandwiches. I know Banquet now has stuff you can buy already fixed to put in the Crock Pot, but I worry about the preservatives in stuff like that. Am I the only one using the Crock Pot to save money?

[Fern]

Nope, I use a crock pot, too, but not nearly as often as I should. It's mostly a winter time thing for doing stews and such. Well, actually, my crock pot is actually a pressure cooker. Guess this is different. It greatly reduces the amount of cooking time, thereby saving on electricity or gas, whatever you use. And yeah, it's great with cheaper cuts of meat which taste very tender. I also do vegetables like acorn squash that otherwise would take forever in the oven.

[CheaplyClever]

No, I use a crock pot too. I really like it this time of year because I don't have a cooktop or oven adding unwanted heat to the kitchen.

I have a large crock pot and found that I can put a stainless steel bowl of vegtables on top of the meat and cook them both at the same time.

As for the Banquet crock pot meals...we tried the beef stew and did not like it. A friend said that anything chicken was ok.

[rob62521]

Glad to know about the Banquet meals. I probably won't use them, but if someone asks, I can say I heard about them.

[jaksilee]

No your not!!! I love mine and use it a least once a week! A site I like for recipes is http://crockpot.cdkitchen.com/

[Tree0164]

We use the crockpot atleast once or twice a week. So easy to use and evening by home all day. I just pop something in around 11am and it is done by 6pm dinner time.

The Banquet meals do not appeal to me at all. They cost almost $6.00 here and do not look tasty at all.

[CheaplyClever]

My "bestest" friend gave me her beef stew recipe. This meal is served at least once a month at my house.

Bestest Beef

1 lb cheap cut of beef, trimmed of fat
1 large onion, cut into rings
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
1 c water
1 can Golden Mushroom soup (not cream of mushroom)

Leave the beef steak whole, do not brown. Place on bottom of crock that has been sprayed with non-stick spray. Cover with onions. Mix soups with water and pour over top. Cover and cook on low heat for at least 8 hours. Meat will shred with two forks. Serve over hot rice with a green vegtable.

[kashi]

I haven't been using mine since winter, but you all have inspired me to go pop something in it for dinner tonight. I like using it, but I have trouble thinking up vegetarian meal ideas...

[pennywise]

I love my crock pot. When I am working dinner cooks all day. Now that it is summer, I put the crock on the outside porch and let it go, no extra heat in the house. I like the idea of a stainless steel bowl for steaming vegetables. Thanks for that idea. I think I will ammend it and buy at the $1 store a 3 hanging thing (I hope you know what I mean) and take it apart to put the veggies on so the steam will go throughout. I need one that is the diameter of my crock pot. All cooked in one, all at one cost to heat the crock. Love it! My best is chili in the crock, another favorite is spaghetti sauce. I agree, I prefer fresh foods only. There was an article in the Wall Street Journal yesterday that said even minute (scant) amounts of chemicals are causing diruptions in the human body, the government is aware but does nothing (look up the Tuskegee study to see how you cannot trust your government). Bye.

[rob62521]

Hey, thanks for the site and the recipe those of you who posted. I have a roast in mine as we speak.

I noticed there is a bread baker attachment you can buy for the Rival Crock Pot. Anyone ever try it?

[rob62521]

Originally Posted by pennywise

I love my crock pot. When I am working dinner cooks all day. Now that it is summer, I put the crock on the outside porch and let it go, no extra heat in the house. I like the idea of a stainless steel bowl for steaming vegetables. Thanks for that idea. I think I will ammend it and buy at the $1 store a 3 hanging thing (I hope you know what I mean) and take it apart to put the veggies on so the steam will go throughout. I need one that is the diameter of my crock pot. All cooked in one, all at one cost to heat the crock. Love it! My best is chili in the crock, another favorite is spaghetti sauce. I agree, I prefer fresh foods only. There was an article in the Wall Street Journal yesterday that said even minute (scant) amounts of chemicals are causing diruptions in the human body, the government is aware but does nothing (look up the Tuskegee study to see how you cannot trust your government). Bye.

Pennywise, I agree, fresh is best. I like the convenience, the fact I control what is going in, and hopefully save a little moolah besides.

[CheaplyClever]

Another recipe favorite.......

Caramelized Onions

6-8 large Vidalia onions (or other sweet onion)
4 Tbsp butter
10 oz can of vegtable broth (can use chicken)

Clean and peel onion. Leave whole and place side by side on bottom of crock. Dot with butter, pour soup on top and cook on low for 12 hours.

Save the juice to season another meal of soup or stew.

[cicy33]

I use mine frequently. made chicken twice this week.
First time, put chicken in crockpot and covered with cream of mushroom soup
Second time, covered with Italian dressing.

Soooo good. love the beef one, am going to try it.

[CheaplyClever]

Originally Posted by cicy33

I use mine frequently. made chicken twice this week.
First time, put chicken in crockpot and covered with cream of mushroom soup Second time, covered with Italian dressing. .

This sounds good too. Did you brown the chicken first? Was it a whole chicken or pieces?

Thanks in advance!

[cicy33]

Sorry for delay, super busy weekend. Nope, I put the chicken in raw. I use leg and thighs but that is because I don't like the breasts.

[catlover15]

I've never used one.

[mom-from-missouri]

I have 3, and use one at least 2-3 times a week in the summer, and often 5 days a week in the winter. I also like to simmer drinks in them in the winter--cider, hot orange tea, or cocoa. Makes the house feel warmer and cozier, smells good, and you can drink it!

[rob62521]

What an excellent idea -- using it to simmer drinks!

[jaksilee]

This is one of my Fave Chicken recipes
(from the Saving Dinner Cookbook)

Lemon Roast Chicken

1 1/2 t. Oregano
3 cloves Garlic, pressed
1 Whole Chicken, with skin removed
1 tblsp Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper to taste
1/4 c. water
3 tblsp lemon juice

Sprinkle half of the oregano and garlic inside of the chicken. In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Brown chicken on all sides then place in crockpot. Add Remaining oregano and garlic, salt and pepper to taste.
Add water to skillet and use a wirke wisk to loosen brown bits. Pour the skillet water in to crockpot.
Cook on low 8 hours. Add lemon juice for last hour of cooking. When chicken is finished, pour cooking juice into sauce pan and heat over medium high heat; allow to simmer. The sauce needs to simmerr for about 10 min to reduce, then serve over rice or potatoes.

Now a few tips from me.....
~I don't always brown the chicken before I put it into the crock...it doesn't really need it except to make the chicken look a little more golden when done. If I don't have time I don't do it!
~ use a little chicken broth instead of the water and your finished sauce will have a richer flavor when it's done.
~ Use the consept to make the recipe your own! Some times I use Rosemary and tyme instead of oregano and leave out the lemon. Try what ever spices you like the best!

[rob62521]

Sounds yummy! Thanks!