Slow cooker / crock pot?

[neihu]

As a busy mom, I am thinking about getting a slow cooker to save time making dinner in the winter- (I am not much of a cook these days - bbq meat and salad most of the time)
Is it worth it while eating low carb? Does anyone have any recipes that don't use high carb veggies? I usually eat about 55 carbs per day.

Thanks!

[Duinai]

Re: Slow cooker / crock pot?

Is the best thing I ever invested my 50$ in my lifetime.

You dont even NEED any recipes. you just drop your chunk of meat in it while getting ready to go to work... you come back home and your entire house smells like heaven.... tender wonderful dinner is ready.

I cook pork, beef, chicken, lamb in it. you drop all kind of vegetables ( carrots cabbage onion etc..). I often add 4-5 potatoes for my DH as well.

You follow basic instructions which are included with your pot. If you really WANT to... you check 1000 Internet forums and get all other kinds.. even soups.


Go for it!


Dui

[kellyf48]

Re: Slow cooker / crock pot?

I use mine alll the time. I make pulled pork,pork roast and saurkraut,all kinds of roasts and cabbage. I marinate steak and slow cook it all day mmmmmmm.

[jimmie 48]

Re: Slow cooker / crock pot?

i couldn't live without my crock pot! slight exaggeration but i do use it alot.

the other day i put a pork roast in with some fresh carrots and onion with a bit of broth from another dish.

[apple]

Re: Slow cooker / crock pot?

I have 2 crock pots...I'm like a crock pot junkie (I think that's a good thing?). One is actually HUGE compared to the other one, and I use it more for bigger dinners.

But! Tomorrow I'm putting a beef roast in the smaller one with about 2 cups of water, seasoning, and shredded cabbage. Flipping the lever to high and letting 'er cook. Hubby comes home during the day so he can turn it down to med if he thinks it needs, but most of the time we let it just cook away until we get home. I love my beef falling apart with my cabbage.

I have another recipe that I found with putting frozen chicken breast in a crock put with a can of green chili sauce (avoid ones that have starch), and onions. Just before serving mix in about a cup of shredded cheddar cheese and sourcream. I think I'll be making this one mid week and enjoy left overs with a salad. I'll serve this with sliced cucumbers and tomatoes with the meal.

[Elizellen]

Re: Slow cooker / crock pot?

Duinai is right - you dont need a fancy recipe to make delicious lowcarb meals in your crockpot.
I just lay chopped celery or mushrooms on the bottom of the pot then brown the meat in a frying pan and lay it on top. Then I add maybe 1/2 a cup of water or stock and spices to the frying pan and mix it up to get all the yummy pan juices and pour the liquid over the meat and slap the lid on.
With mine I usually set it to 'high' for the first 15 minutes or so then turn down to the 'low' setting for the rest of the day.
Lately we have been able to buy good deals on pork chops so I cook the whole pack (6 or more chops) and we eat one each drained with the drained celery as a veggie the first day and I use the rest for snacks or quick curries through the week.

[BluegrassMama]

Re: Slow cooker / crock pot?

I have 2 crock pots...I'm like a crock pot junkie (I think that's a good thing?).

Oh, it's so a good thing--I have three!

One of the different things I do is a low carb cream/cheesy soup. Start with a can of chicken broth, a block of cream cheese and about 1 cup of shredded cheddar (or whatever you like). Depending on how I'm feeling, I add a meat and some veggies, and you have a YUMMY creamy, cheesy soup. My favorites are chicken/broccoli, and ham/cauliflower/asparagus.

Makes a bunch, and great left overs for lunch.

[not2late]

Re: Slow cooker / crock pot?

As a busy mom, I am thinking about getting a slow cooker to save time making dinner in the winter- (I am not much of a cook these days - bbq meat and salad most of the time)
Is it worth it while eating low carb? Does anyone have any recipes that don't use high carb veggies? I usually eat about 55 carbs per day.

Thanks!

At 55 carbs daily, you should be able to afford high carb veggies like carrots, winter squash, etc. !

I love my crockpot. Chicken is a breeze: put chicken pieces into the pot with onion, carrot, celery, salt, pepper, herbs and spices, and water. Cook on low until the chicken is tender. Then remove the chicken. I get 2 foods and 1 dish from this: one is boiled chicken that can be used in chicken salad, salads, quiche fillings, etc. and the other is homemade chicken stock and chicken soup!

I cook beef stew, chili, short ribs, lamb shanks, etc. in the crockpot.

[Duinai]

Re: Slow cooker / crock pot?

HOW TRUE HOW TRUE...


You folks are FANCY!!! like I said... most of the time, I just dump everything in there, turn it ON and go about my business Sometimes my DH would sneak in behind my back and add some cooking wine


Is DA BEST INSTRUMENT in my house!!


Dui

[Stefanie]

Re: Slow cooker / crock pot?

Neihu: I'm glad you posted this!

I got a small crock pot for Christmas a couple of years ago when I moved out of my parents' house. I have never used it because I didn't know what to do with it and I forgot all about it until now!

Just to make sure.... when cooking chicken in the crock pot...you just put it in there raw, right? I am so afraid of undercooked chicken, I cook mine on my foreman grill for like 11 minutes to make sure it's absolutely done, lol. I am a very inexperienced cook, so I need every detail of what to do

More recipes would be greatly appreciated!!

[ttdriver]

Re: Slow cooker / crock pot?

I use mine for "fall off the bone" baby back ribs.


YUM.

Betty

[Elizellen]

Re: Slow cooker / crock pot?

Sorry for the threadjack that follows

Betty - your pm box is full so I couldnt send a message so am posting here instead.

I just had to tell you how great you look in your new photo - you are a testament to the efficacy of Atkins and exercising!!

Keep up the good work - you are an inspiration!

[CATBLUE]

Re: Slow cooker / crock pot?

Check out your local thrift store... they usually have three or 4 crock pot cookbooks from the 1970's. They tend to be more low carb than newer recipes.. there are lots of great ways to fix meat in them. One of the nicest things about it is you can use an inexpensive cut and make it taste wonderful.. I will often get a tri tip on sale and add onions and garlic, salt & pepper. Put it in at night and the next morning the house smells wonderful Then I'll use that meat as a base for other dishes... Add horse radish dill, sour cream and mushrooms and you have Stroganoff. Put it in a pan with a little salsa or mexican spices and you have shredded beef for taco salad. Add a little red wine and you can serve it with asparagus and mushrooms as beef burgundy. melt a little blue-cheese into a bit of cream and pour over the sauce and you have a real treat!

All of these are quick and simple. Cooking is like making love... as long as you enjoy it, you are doing it right!

[ttdriver]

Re: Slow cooker / crock pot?

Sorry for the threadjack that follows

Betty - your pm box is full so I couldnt send a message so am posting here instead.

I just had to tell you how great you look in your new photo - you are a testament to the efficacy of Atkins and exercising!!

Keep up the good work - you are an inspiration!

Oh girlfriend, thank you!! That is such a compliment coming from you!!!

I love ya, girl!

I am off to delete some of my PMs!!!

Betty

[Elizellen]

Re: Slow cooker / crock pot?

Wow Catblue - what great suggestions!!