Crockpot and Easy Meals "Index post 372"

[richmond282]

Made the Buffalo Chicken dip (I know it's on this thread SOMEWHERE...) I'm not big on spicy stuff, but DH loves it! Has anybody ever made it with just BBQ sauce instead of wing sauce?

 

[minniemair]

Hi

I love following this thread.....

Does it matter which size crockpot or slow cooker you use.

I have a 6 qt slow cooker - with the kids moved out it is only DH and I.

I have been looking for slow cooker recipes for the 2 of us and many of them recommend a 3 1/2 qt - 4 qt slow cooker. I really don't want to buy a new one.

Does it matter? Can I somehow make the 6qt smaller?

Thanks!!

Here's a trick I tried and it works. Stephanie O'Dea of 365 crockpot blog fame said to find a pyrex or corningware ovenproof dish that fits inside the 6 qt. Put your ingredients into the pyrex dish and cook away. I've tried it with baked apples and it worked really well. Good luck!

 

[floridascgirl]

We just finished eating the tot casserole and I shudder to think how much fat and sodium we ingested. I told everyone that tomorrow night we will be having spinach salads for dinner.

 

[richmond282]

Had the chicken and black beans tonight. Only we don't like black beans so I left them out and put in a can of diced tomatoes. Delish! DH loves it. He already requested a double batch next time...

 

[Tarheel Tink]

Made the Buffalo Chicken dip (I know it's on this thread SOMEWHERE...) I'm not big on spicy stuff, but DH loves it! Has anybody ever made it with just BBQ sauce instead of wing sauce?

I have found that wing sauce comes in many levels of heat; starts at a mild
BBQ, up to Buffalo and then to Hot Buffalo (too hot for me). It also can vary from brand to brand. BBQ should be just fine.
This is a very forgiving recipe.

 

[NC State]

Did the chicken and dumplings last night. The first time I did this it was soupy so this time I added some babby carrots, it was great!

 

[ToTLaugher]

These recipes are great! I have tried several and have not been disappointed.

I thought I would recommend a book called Art of the Slow Cooker by Andrew Schloss. This book has recipes that don't use packaged or canned ingredients, but rather more natural ingredients. I have made several recipes from it and they have been wonderful. They are also suitable for entertaining. Some recipes take longer on the front end (ten to thirty minutes), but you end up with more gourmet recipes. If you are looking for something different check it out!

 

[Heidict]

These recipes are great! I have tried several and have not been disappointed.

I thought I would recommend a book called Art of the Slow Cooker by Andrew Schloss. This book has recipes that don't use packaged or canned ingredients, but rather more natural ingredients. I have made several recipes from it and they have been wonderful. They are also suitable for entertaining. Some recipes take longer on the front end (ten to thirty minutes), but you end up with more gourmet recipes. If you are looking for something different check it out!

Oh, I'm so going to have to find that book!! I love using the slow cooker but some many of the recipes are high in sodium and fat and what not because of all the canned food. Of course, they are delicious, just not so good for your arteries.

 

[wdhinn89]

We just finished eating the tot casserole and I shudder to think how much fat and sodium we ingested.

I agree! It was good but very heavy. Something you could only have a few times a year.

 

[floridascgirl]

We just finished a great meal...Cajun style red beans and rice.

I pre-soaked the red beans last night. This morning, I put them in the crock on low with water, bay leaves and a bit of leftover red wine. After they were in a few hours, I added chopped onion, green pepper, garlic and crushed red pepper, salt & pepper. I kept them on low for about 7-8 hours. At the last hour, I cooked a package of Cajun style sausage under the broiler (turning once) and then sliced them and added them to the beans.

We served it over white rice topped with chopped green onions and had cabbage & cornbread as sides. They were super if I must say so myself!

 

[kellia]

I noticed that a lot of these meals go great with rice but sometimes, I don't even have time to throw that on the stove. Plus, I suck at cooking rice. Never comes out good. I have tried the microwavable bag ones and hated them. I think mine tasted better.
.

Get a rice cooker. I always managed to boil it all over the stove because I try to get too many things done at once. The one I have is programmable, so I can throw it in in the morning and delay the cooking until dinner (usually I just have dd or dh turn it on, though). It cost under $30 and was worth it!

 

[TiffanyK]

You all have a ton of recipes! Yum!

Here's one I tried recently. Complete Barbecue Chicken Dinner in the Slow Cooker. You cook the chicken, cheesy potatoes and corn on the cob all together using foil packets. They don't pick up the taste from each other and it all comes out great.

Here's a link to all the crockpot recipes on my blog.

 

[chobie]

I have a big crockpot but never use because I am afraid to leave food in there for too many hours. Dh and I both work long hours - I'm out of the house for 12 hours M-F. Dh can be home with the kids after 10 hrs most days. Is 10 hrs too long to cook things in the crock? Do some foods hold up better than others? So many good recipes here, I want to make some. Most weeknights it's sandwiches, frozen food or dinner After 8, when we all are up at 6am. Any suggestions?

 

[ohlas]

I've tried several recipes (none from here yet) and we never like them. Either they have no flavor or the meat is too dry or its just blah? What am I doing wrong?
Also are you supposed to stir things at all or do just let it go til the end? I'm going to try one from the 365 blog since I had bought the ingredients for it last week before I found this thread. Wish me luck! Next week I'm going to try one on here. I keep trying, hoping I will find out what I am doing wrong or if I have just tried bad recipes before!

This happen to me too, it wasnt me I have to lol because it was my cockpot, it was new but the temp sets where messed up so every thing on low was getting cooked on high for 8 hours lol ...

I got different crockpot a nicer one with timer to use from mother in law and tryed same recipes and they where mostly yummy.

I do increase the spices to our taste like we like more garlic i add more.

there is also rachel rays 30 mins meals if you can find all the stuff she uses lol

The crockpot is the working womans best friend to fight the fast food eating out budget killer

 

[ohlas]

Did the chicken and dumplings last night. The first time I did this it was soupy so this time I added some babby carrots, it was great!

I do this on the stove all the time but with the rostissior chicken from sam's club you have to cut the dumplings smaller and roll them in flour to make it more of a stew. think its 2 tsp of flour for every cup of water to make a gravy/ stew

 

[ohlas]

Hi

I love following this thread.....

Does it matter which size crockpot or slow cooker you use.

I have a 6 qt slow cooker - with the kids moved out it is only DH and I.

I have been looking for slow cooker recipes for the 2 of us and many of them recommend a 3 1/2 qt - 4 qt slow cooker. I really don't want to buy a new one.

Does it matter? Can I somehow make the 6qt smaller?

Thanks!!

How about just trying every recipe cut in half???? oh i cannt wait till all the kids are gone lol and then it will only be my husband that say whats for dinner lol

 

[TiffanyK]

I have a big crockpot but never use because I am afraid to leave food in there for too many hours. Dh and I both work long hours - I'm out of the house for 12 hours M-F. Dh can be home with the kids after 10 hrs most days. Is 10 hrs too long to cook things in the crock? Do some foods hold up better than others? So many good recipes here, I want to make some. Most weeknights it's sandwiches, frozen food or dinner After 8, when we all are up at 6am. Any suggestions?

Some things do hold up better than others. Most soups can cook that long. Another trick is to be sure your crockpot is about full. I only have a 6qt and if I don't have it full and try to cook for too many hours, I end up over cooking foods. I'd love to have a 4 qt too, so I could pick the right size.

It is possible to put another dish inside the crock in order to make it smaller. I don't have a dish that fits mine though.

 

[floridascgirl]

I have a big crockpot but never use because I am afraid to leave food in there for too many hours. Dh and I both work long hours - I'm out of the house for 12 hours M-F. Dh can be home with the kids after 10 hrs most days. Is 10 hrs too long to cook things in the crock? Do some foods hold up better than others? So many good recipes here, I want to make some. Most weeknights it's sandwiches, frozen food or dinner After 8, when we all are up at 6am. Any suggestions?

I'm in the same situation. We are usually away from home 10-12 during the week. My DH suggested putting it on a timer. We are going to give it a test run over a weekend. Meanwhile, I'm going to do a search and see if they make them with built-in timers...that would solve all of our problems. I'll let you know if I can find one.

 

[kaytieeldr]

There ARE programmable crockpots. You should be able to set it to turn on at a specific time, and try to make sure that another feature allows the crockpot to turn itself to "warm" after the cooking time ends - in case you're running even later than you expected.

 

[petlvr1064]

I am going to try the chicken and dumplings this week but can not have msg due to migrains and know bolinon is full of the stuff so what can i use instead?