We live in Arizona so crockpots or the BBQ are my only form of cooking during the summer months....turning on the oven is NOT an option in 110 degree+ weather. Of course, our sidewalks are literally hot enough to fry eggs...they do it on the news every year, lol.
But I digress...here are a few to get you started:
Pot Roast: Buy a cheap roast because the extra hours in the crock pot will make it tender and moist no matter how cheap a cut! Put in your roast, some halved potatoes (I prefer the red potatoes, but others like russet will work also), carrots cut into large chunks, mushrooms (leave whole). Take one envelope of Lipton Onion Soup mix and sprinkle it over everything. Now pour in enough red wine to come up about half way on the roast. Cover, cook for 8 hours minimum, preferably 10-12 hours. If you like gravy, then remove all the meat/veggies and add a little corn starch for about 15 minutes and it's gravy (or put the juice into a pan and make gravy on the stove top). I usually put the food in a bowl and put it inside the turned off oven to keep it warm while the gravy is cooking. If you prefer not to use wine (I have a friend who is recovering alcoholic), she uses two cans of cola and some water. Her roast is more sweet tasting, while mine is savory. Both are great! Add a salad and you have a very complete meal.
Spaghetti: I make homemade sauce and can it during the cooler months so that I have it on hand for the summer crocking....but store bought sauce works well also. Brown 2 pounds hamburger and drain fat....put in crock pot. Add 2 quarts of sauce and some mushrooms. Mix. I add spices when I make the sauce, but when I've used canned I usually add a Tablespoon or two of garlic and some other herbs because I like more kick than canned usually offers. Ten minutes boiling noodles and your dinner is ready. Add a salad and loaf of bread and it's a meal. I have a friend who throws her raw noodles into the sauce in the morning too, but I find that makes for soggy limp noodles.
BBQ Pork sandwiches: This one requires a little interaction from you throughout the day so it's best for a day when you'll be home. Put the pork in the crockpot, cutting into large chunks if it won't fit. Pour your favorite BBQ on top. I like there to be enough to cover the bottom of the crockpot and whatever went on top of the pork. Turn on high for 10+ hours. Cook for about 2 hours and then every hour after that use two forks to pull apart the meat as it tenderizes. At first this will result in just a little bit coming apart, but after about 5 hours, you'll be pulling off large chunks....pull these apart into little pieces, like you'd put on a sandwich. We serve these on crossiants or good sourdough. Have additional BBQ sauce for those that want it messy!
There are a TON of receipes out there.....on the web, in library books. A lot of it is experimenting to find the ones your family enjoys most.
A suggestion on buying a crock pot if you don't have one already.....get larger than you think you'll need (we use a 6qt for a family of 4) because you'll want leftovers......and buy the kind where the crock lifts out. It's 100% easier to clean than the kind where you have to wrestle with the whole machine in the sink and keep the cord out of the water, don't immerse, etc. Ugh, I hated using the crock when it was hard to clean!
If you have a Sam's club membership, they have one simliar to my newest, about $35.....great thing!
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