Finally bought a crockpot - anyone got any good recipes?

[Zarabelle]

Re: Finally bought a crockpot - anyone got any good recipes?

You're welcome Party. I hope you like them. I know you can mix some pork and beef mince (ground meat) together but I didn't fancy that. x

[snap]

Re: Finally bought a crockpot - anyone got any good recipes?

I bought a crockpot a few years ago. I dunno why actually being as I had no idea what to do with it. All my friends have them so I guess I figured I should have one also. I have never used mine. It just sits in the cabinet. This thread has me wanting to take it out and give it a try. I have some pork tenderloins. Not chops...those steak looking things. (See... I am hopeless!) What can I do with my tenderloin thingies in a crockpot? I need to go have dinner with some of you ladies!

[earlychildhoodeducator]

Re: Finally bought a crockpot - anyone got any good recipes?

Snap..Just season them with like salt and pepper and whatever other seasoning you like. throw them in with a tad of water and close the lid for 5 hours. Then if you want to add Veggies... go for it. Just throw them right on top of the meat and cook for another 2-3 hours.

seriously MEAT + YOUR FAVORITE SEASONINGS + 6-8 HOURS = LOVE

Less water and you'll have just like roast meat... more water and you'll have stew or soup.



My Crockpot sat in the cupboard for years. I used in off and on but basically forgot about it. Last year I decided to just keep it out on the counter permanently. Now I use it at least twice a week. I don't like washing it, but technically it cuts down on dishes since everything is made in one dish.

Today I'm making artichokes in the cock pot. I put a bit of water at the bottom and turned it to low. it's been just over 5 hours and they pretty much look done but I'm gonna leave them in there till just before dinner in about another 4 hours. I've never done them this way before but they just take sooooo loooong on the stove I figured why not try. I'll let you know how they turned out.

~V

[FunnyActressInLA]

Re: Finally bought a crockpot - anyone got any good recipes?

My Crockpot sat in the cupboard for years. I used in off and on but basically forgot about it. Last year I decided to just keep it out on the counter permanently. Now I use it at least twice a week. I don't like washing it, but technically it cuts down on dishes since everything is made in one dish.

~V

Oh ITA on the cleaning of the crockpot, I have the kind with the removeable ceramic pot do you? Even so that can be hard to clean too! BUT they now have Reynolds Crock Pot Liners which are great except if you have something with a lot of bones it can sometimes rip but for the most part they are pretty good.

Can wait to cook my pot roast in mine tomorrow! Gonna pick up some radishes for the "potatoes". Oh and what I like to do is add 2 cups of water and a pack of onion soup mix or beefy onion mix, then what I do is take the leftover roast meat add some veggies and make a beef soup so I get another meal out of making a pot roast. And I know people say there is no such thing as a whooshie food but I swear I ALWAYS get a visit from whooshie fairy. I think she like my pot roast!

[earlychildhoodeducator]

Re: Finally bought a crockpot - anyone got any good recipes?

ya, I have the removable kind too... I just hate dishes. I saw those liners during the holidays but never bought them. I can't find them now.... not that I've looked incredible hard but I have tried to keep an eye out for them and just over looked them I guess. I'll make a point to get some next time and try them out.

If any of you like spicy, I sometimes dump a huge jar of pepprochinis, juice and all over a roast while it cooks mmmmmm spicy. I usually don't eat the cooked pepper, just use it to spice things up.

[snap]

Re: Finally bought a crockpot - anyone got any good recipes?

Okay... the challenged chef is back with another question...

What constitutes a little water? And how will I know when my tenderloin thingies are done?

[partytrouble]

Re: Finally bought a crockpot - anyone got any good recipes?

you can also spray the ceramic thing with PAM to cut down on the sticking. i like the idea of those bags tho!

[earlychildhoodeducator]

Re: Finally bought a crockpot - anyone got any good recipes?

I'm no chef by any stretch of the imagination but here's what I've done.

I put water on the bottom of the crock pot just to cover the bottom, like an inch or so. But I'm not even sure IF you even need water?? Anyone? anyone? Just seems like you wouldn't want it to get tough on the bottom where it has contact with the pot.

If I want to make it stewy I add water till it almost covers the meat.

Sometimes I end up adding more water while cooking but usually the meat secretes juices too. mmm now I'm hungry.

edited to add: about cooking time. I've found that almost every cut of meat takes like 6+ hours and I almost never have and overcooking problem. for me the longer it's in the more tender it gets. I'd put them in the crock pot in the morning on low and foeget about it till dinner. Good luck

[FunnyActressInLA]

Re: Finally bought a crockpot - anyone got any good recipes?

I put water on the bottom of the crock pot just to cover the bottom, like an inch or so. But I'm not even sure IF you even need water?? Anyone? anyone? Just seems like you wouldn't want it to get tough on the bottom where it has contact with the pot.

If you cook meat on LOW you don't need to add any water, just remember no peeking! Everytime you lift the lid you alter the temperature inside the crockpot and have to add an extra 1/2 hour to the final cooking time. IF you want to cook the meat on high (say you need it done in 3-4 hours as opposed to 6hrs) then you MUST put at least 1 cup of water in the crockpot. What I do it always put at least 1 cup of water, cook it on high for the 1st hour and then switch it to low if I need to be gone all day. That way I have a nice broth for a "gravy" or soup or stew. HTH!

[Elizellen]

Re: Finally bought a crockpot - anyone got any good recipes?

I use very little water in my crockpot dishes.

I turn it on to high setting then cover the bottom of the dish with chopped celery (quite large chunks - about 2-3 inches long) and sprinkle with herbs/spices while searing the meat in a frying pan over high heat with no fat if it is something like pork chops, a little fat if it is lean like skinless chicken breasts.

Lay the browned meat on top of the celery, put a cup of water in the frying pan to absorb the meat juices and brown 'bits' and stir for a minute or so to let reduce to about half quantity then pour this over the top of the meat.

Cook on high for half an hour or so then turn to low setting and go out for the day. Return to a yummy meal of meat and tender braised celery.

I dont like gravy much so pour off the liquid to use in soups later, but you could thicken up the liquid with xanthum gum or thick'n'thin not starch to make a thick gravy.

I have sometimes forgotten to turn the setting down and all that happened was that the meat was extra tender and fell apart!

[snap]

Re: Finally bought a crockpot - anyone got any good recipes?

I am going to try cooking the tenderloins in my unused crockpot tomorrow. I am thinking it would be tasty to add some green peppers and onions to it. Gee... I am getting hungry just thinking about it!

[earlychildhoodeducator]

Re: Finally bought a crockpot - anyone got any good recipes?

Update on the artichokes..... Pure heaven! 8am - I put 2 cups of water in the Crockpot and 4 med. size artichokes, no seasoning. Turned it to high for 1 hour and switched it at 9am to cook on low for 8 more hours till dinner time. YYYYUUUMMM so tender and moist. The kids gobbled them up like candy and fought over the hearts. I'll never boil them again!

[neihu]

Re: Finally bought a crockpot - anyone got any good recipes?

After reading this post yesterday I threw some pork in the crockpot with some onion soup mix - as suggested by a pp - my husband complains that I when use the crockpot - all the food tastes the same - last night he couldn't stop eating it! It was delish! Thanks for the receipe - and so easy!

If you are planning on getting one - get one that has a removable insert - I can fill it up at night, keep it in the fridge and in the morning just put it back in and turn it on - it is such a huge timesaver. And mine goes in the dishwasher!

Do you guys use it in the summer as well - or is it a winter staple? I bought mine last fall and wondered - thanks!

[Zarabelle]

Re: Finally bought a crockpot - anyone got any good recipes?

Hello all

Some brilliant ideas here. I am so converted to this way of cooking now - it's so easy.

I am going to do pork chops with soured cream (adapted from a recipe I found online) for dinner tomorrow. I was going to cook it today and just browned the pork chops and then realised it would be 11pm before it would be ready!

If it's nice, I will post the recipe.

Happy crockpotting!

[SandyL2002]

Re: Finally bought a crockpot - anyone got any good recipes?

I have a Beef Roast in mine right now with some onions and it smells soooooooo good.. I can't wait for dinner time..