I used to LOVE the part of my day when I cooked dinner. I was creating something wonderful. I would search and search for the best recipes. I had a subscription to Cooking Light and Southern Living. I would cut recipes out and glue them onto cute little notecards. I cooked things with LOTS of ingredients in them. Really good things, that even took some time. Creative things. One of our favorites was a Pork and Pear Saute. We loved that! It's been a thousand years since I made that. What happenned? We had kids. Many kids. Once we started, we just couldn't stop. We have a kid every two years. We love them, but they've taken over dinner time.
I still love to cook, but that time of day is probably the most crazy time of my day. Cooking with Justus pulling on my legs, and "helping" me, and tending to a baby, managing art projects...well, let's just say it's not the same. I now cook things with very few ingredients. Casseroles. Things that can be cooked in one pot.
I feel I am being forced to adopt a new crockpotting lifestyle.
Our semester is back in full swing. For those of you who don't live in a college town, life here still revolves around semesters, even for those of us whose college years are behind us.
Our awesome HOPE group has begun (I love you Bacak groupies!), and we start a new Countdown class tonight. (Check the Countdown link if you don't know about this ministry that Rusty and I love so much!) So those are two very busy nights for us...getting dinner on the table, doing Math, which they do with Lisa in the evening, bath time, and all the chasing, tickling, reading, etc. that must be done before glorious bed time.
Tuesday night was my first HOPE group night since we expanded our family, and trying to cook dinner BEFORE Rusty came home, with all four kids, nearly drove me to drink! So, I've decided I MUST find some new wonderful Crockpot recipes and use this brilliant slow-cooking machine twice a week. For the sake of my sanity. For the children. No one wants me to start drinking, right?
So this is where I am calling to you.
Hear the desperation in my voice?
I need some wonderful crockpot recipes. I have a few, and Heather's new cookbook has provided a few new ones, one in which I'm cooking right now. (Or should I say slow cooking?) But we can't eat these same things every Tuesday and Thursday. I need to expand my reportoire. And not with any kind of beef stew, because I really hate that.
Anyone?
Just one recipe.
Give me one.
Friends, you could e-mail it to me if you want.
Let's have a contest!!! My whole family will be the judges. Whoever gives us the very best recipe wins a special prize.
A prize to be disclosed.
Grab your recipe books and run right back to your computer.
Thanks! The winner will be announced on a future post.
11 comments:
The one in the cookbook that Heather gave us from Wendy is really good.
Also one of Mike's favs is rump roast. I buy the biggest one, well not because we have a lot of children but because Mike eats a lot.
Anyways, you just get a huge one, put 2 cans of french onion soup and then rest water to cover the roast, then I just add baby carrots and new potatoes. Then boil in a bag rice for the side.
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!
cook rice separatley not in the crock pot.
I love boil in a bag!!!!!!!!!
So I don't have a specific recipe, but I googled them and this came up:
http://southernfood.about.com/library/crock/blcpidx.htm
There is even a section on Turkey. I am sure you can find something Emma approved there. :)
OH WAIT!! I do have one I will have to get from my mom and bring to you! It is one of my favorite meals that my mom makes... Have a good day!
Here is a few for ya! The first one is my favorite!
CHICKENETTI
1 cup chicken broth
16 oz. angel hair pasta, cooked
4-6 cups cubed & cooked chicken
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup water
1/2 tsp pepper
1 med onion, grated or minced
1/2 lb velveeta cheese
Pour chicken broth in large slow cooker. Add spaghetti and chicken.
In large bowl combine soup and water until smooth. Stir in remaining ingredients, then pour in slow cooker. Cover and cook on low 2-3 hours.
For a creamier dish, add 1 can of cream of chicken.
MEXICAN CORN BREAD CASSEROLE
16 oz can cream style corn
1 cup cornmeal
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/4 cup oil
1 cup milk
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup taco sauce
2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
1 med onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
4 oz. can green chilies (optional)
1 lb. ground beef, lightly cooked/drained
Combine corn, cornmeal, baking soda, salt, oil, milk, eggs, and taco sauce. Pour HALF into slow cooker.
Layer cheese, onion, garlic, green chilies, and ground beef on top of cornmeal mix. Cover with remaining cornmeal mix. Cover and cook on Low for 6 hours OR cook on high 1 hour and on low 3 1/2-4 hours.
SOUR CREAM PORK CHOPS
6 pork chops
salt/pepper to taste
galic powder to taste
1/2 cup flour
1 onion, chopped or sliced
2 cubes chicken bouillon
2 cups boiling water
2 T flour
1 (8oz) sour cream
Season chops with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, and then dredge in 1/2 cup flour. Lightly brown in skillet over med heat in small amount of oil. Place chops in slow cooker, top with onions.
Disolve bouillon cubes in boiling water and pour over chops. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours (or high for about 3).
Remove chops from slow cooker (careful....they fall apart if cooked correctly). In a small bowl, combine 2 T flour with sour cream. Mix it into the meat juice in the crock pot. Turn on slow cooker on high for 15-30 minutes or until sauce is thick. Serve over chops. Serve with potatoes, rice or noodles.
FAST HAM & POTATOES
4 lb potatoes, sliced
1 1/2 lb ham or sausage, cubed
3 T minced dried onions
1 cup water
2 11oz. cans condensed cheddar cheese soup
Layer potatoes, ham/sausage, and onions in very large slow cooker. Combine soup and water. Pour over layers in pot. Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours.
CHICKEN AND RICE DISH
2 cans cream of celery soup
4 oz. can sliced mushrooms, undrained
1 cup raw long grain rice
4 chicken breast halves, cubed or sliced
2 T dry onion soup mix
Combine soup, mushrooms, and rice in greased slow cooker. Mix well. Layer chicken breasts on top of mixture. Sprinkle with onion soup. Cover and cook on low 4-6 hours.
Judy!!!! Wow!!!
I am touched. You guys are real friends! Amanda and Chelsea e-mailed me others. Y'all are so wonderful!!!!
Keep them coming.
This prize better be good.
jenn
Jenn,
You can put chicken breasts in the crock pot - season as you like - pour in a jar of picante sauce and cook all day.
Also, you can buy packaged crock meals in the freezer section - I think they are made by Banquet (not sure).
Some day you'll be able to cook those fantastic meals again. You are the best mom!
i love you,
mom
Jenn, do not invest in the Banquet frozen meals. I thought it was a great student friendly meal and bought some...The were absolutely disgusting...Just a head's up
Beef tips...
1 pkg beef stew meat
(if frozen 1 can or cream of mushroom for every pkg)
if not frozen add 1/2 a can of sprite or 7-up to tenderize
Make some rice to go with this and it is really yummy I promise!! Much love
These are the easiest of all crockpot recipes, as they are the only ones I have that I know off the top of my head, sorry I'm too lazy to go get my cookbook.
Burritos
a few chicken breasts
cover with salsa
optional: half a packet of fajita seasoning (McCormick)
Cook until chicken is done (2-3 hours on high). Shred with 2 forks. Let it cook a while longer to absorb more of the flavors.
Put in big tortillas with black beans, rice, cheese, avacado...
BBQ sandwiches--super easy style
chicken breasts
bbq sauce
Cover chicken with sauce. Cook on low 5-6 hours or on high 3-4. Shred chicken and let it sit in the sauce for a while. Serve on buns.
Thanks again for calling Rusty for the medicine dosage for me a few weeks ago!
This is so exciting! It takes a long time to type recipes, so truly, THANK YOU friends! I love you! We are going to try all new things. We are also going to buy those crockpot liners, and make clean-up super easy. Lynsey told me about those. Love that!
jenn
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