Simple Crockpot Meal Ideas

When dinner has to be easy to make and appeal to the whole family, using a crockpot for a simple meal ideal is a great way to do both. The crockpot is a very versatile appliance, especially if you tend to have a busy schedule. Simply add your ingredients, plug it in, turn it on, and after a few hours dinner is ready! It's great no-fuss way to have a home cooked dinner without a lot of work.

Chili is a very easy and delicious crockpot meal to make. All you need is ground meat, kidney, pinto or navy beans, tomatoes, onions, peppers, and spices. You can even try different variations, such as adding corn, black beans and salsa for a southwestern chili. And chili is one of those meals that freezes well, so you won't have to worry about leftovers.

Stuffed peppers, made with rice, diced vegetables, and topped with a tomato based sauce are excellent when prepared in a crockpot. Because of the slow cooking process the flavor of the peppers truly comes alive. Another great option is stuffed cabbage rolls made by using either rice or barley based filling and simmering with a tomato sauce.

There are many simple chicken recipes you can make with the crockpot. You can find many crockpot chicken tetrazzini recipes that are easy to make and only take a few minutes in the morning to put it together it. You might also try chicken and dumplings. This is a very easy meal to prepare for the crockpot.

If you are in the mood for Italian, try spaghetti sauce in your crock pot or lasagna. You wouldn't believe how easy it is to prepare ethnic meals like Italian food in your crock pot. You can even fix the meatballs in your crockpot ahead of time, freeze them and pull them out when you are cooking spaghetti for dinner.

The sky really is the limit when it comes to using your crockpot for simple meals that you will enjoy cooking and your family will enjoy eating.

Just about any food can be cooked in a crockpot. With ingredients like beans, rice, ground beef, tomato sauce, even pasta, you can make a number of simple crockpot meals. If you are stuck on what to cook in your crockpot there are many crockpot cookbooks on the market that can help you make simple, healthy meals for your family.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Susanne_M./248295

Working Out Your Crockpot Options

Slow cookers are a popular way of cooking a great meal over a lengthy period of time with little attention and effort. Numerous dish recipes call for the use of this crock pot kitchen appliance. Vegetables, meats, soups, and desserts can all be created this way.

While no home should be without one, it is important to examine all of the options before making a purchase. They are found in different shapes and styles. Think about your cooking needs to discover which version is best for your lifestyle.

The most commonly found slow cooker in a home is the basic cooker. This is controlled by a dial that allows the user to choose from high, low, or warmer settings. The cooker must be manually turned off and on. The user can switch from high to low, or vise versa, during cooking. After cooking, the pot can be placed on warmer to retain the meal's heat. The bowl is found in both removable and non-removable styles.

The automatic version is very much like the basic slow cooker in its cooking settings. However, this cooker can be programmed for specific cook times and heat levels. It will automatically turn on and off and change settings for you. These cookers may be a bit more costly but are more convenient and call for even less effort on behalf of the user.

In a miniature version of the basic range is the mini slow cooker. These crock pots are not as big as the standard versions and are designed to cook smaller portion meals. They are perfect for cooking dips, small amounts of soup, and dishes for the single person. Most have all of the same features of larger styles.

In addition to choosing a manual or automatic type, these crock pots also come in a variety of sizes. Typically, the cookers range from 1.5 quarts to 11 quarts. It is important to choose a big enough cooker to accommodate all of your meal needs. A 4 quart cooker is a popular choice.

They can also be found in different shapes, mainly round and oval. Round cookers are taller while oval cookers are longer. Both shapes can be found in various sizes, styles, and colors. The best shape for cooking is all in the preference of the chef. Most also have glass knobbed lids.

It is best to choose a slow cooker with a removable bowl for easier cleaning. The bowl can be taken from the heating unit and washed in soap and water. This is extremely helpful when foods stick or sit for too long amounts of time.

Choosing the right slow cooker for your home can make all the difference in your cooking success. Basic cookers often are adequate for most purposes. However, many enjoy the automatic operation feature in their slow cooker. Once you have found the right cooker, you will find it fun and easy to use!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jayne_Fairclough/535841

Secrets to Cooking Vegetables in a Crockpot

You can really bring out the flavor in vegetables by adding them to slow cooker recipes. Vegetables help to pad out stews and soups and the come out juicy, succulent and with a very rich taste. Onions are added to many different slow cooking recipes, as are shallots and leeks.

Garlic is often paired with onions. Slow cooking might increase the taste of spicy ingredients like curry paste and chilies but it decreases the potency of onions and garlic, so you might need to add more if you are going to be slow cooking something for more than three hours.

Root vegetables are nice with pot roasts, stews and soups. They take a long time to cook because of their density, so slow cooker recipes will normally tell you to add the chopped root vegetables first and layer any meat or fish on top. Chop them into very small pieces for a shorter cooking time.

Other Tasty Vegetables for Slow Cooker Recipes
Cauliflower and broccoli are good in a slow cooker, as are mushrooms. Shiitake mushrooms and field mushrooms are strong, portobello and chestnut mushrooms are mid-range in flavor, and button mushrooms are mild. Portobello mushrooms can be used as a meat substitute if you are cooking for vegetarians. The amount of liquid in mushrooms infuses your dish with juiciness and gives it a dark color.

Squash and pumpkins will stay firm in a crockpot and they do not need you to add a lot of liquid, like some other ingredients in slow cooker recipes would. Squash and pumpkins produce moisture when you heat them, like mushrooms do, which makes them good for crock pot cooking.

Tomatoes and Bell Peppers
You can use many forms of tomatoes for your crock pot recipes, including tomato sauce, whole tomatoes, canned tomatoes and tomato paste. Bell peppers are frequently used in such recipes but green bell peppers can become bitter if you cook them for too long, so add them towards the end of the cooking time, along with any leafy vegetables like cabbage or spinach.

Canned and frozen vegetables are often partially cooked already so they will not need much time in the crock pot. Drain as much liquid from canned vegetables as you can before adding them and rinse off any excess preservatives or salt. Thaw frozen vegetables, at least partially, before adding them to your slow cooker recipes.

If you are new to making slow cooker recipes it is best to follow any recipes you choose carefully, to ensure you prepare the ingredients correctly and add them to the crockpot in the right order. You can add extra spices if you like a fiery flavor or experiment with herbs and seasonings. You will find that most vegetables do really well in the crockpot, as long as you add the ones that do not require much cooking time near the end of cooking.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Christine_Szalay-Kudra/414787

Making Perfect Crockpot Recipes With Fire Pits

Have you ever been cooking indoors, and yearned to be outside enjoying the gorgeous weather? Maybe it is summer, and the sun is shining and the sky is clear blue. Or, maybe it is autumn where you live, and the leaves have turned a crisp golden brown. Maybe it is even winter time, and the snow flakes are sparkling in the cool air. Whatever season it is, it is always the perfect season to do your crock pot cooking on a fire pit outdoors.

There are many recipes that can simply be catered to cooking on your crock pot. One scrumptious recipe that can be cooked on a pit is french onion soup. The steps are very simple. First, chop up two onions of your favorite kind. I prefer to use yellow onions, only because they are usually on sale at the grocery store! Fry these up in a pan. After you have fried up the onions, you can add them to a crock that you will take outside. Pour one can of beef stock broth into a large pot along with the fried up onions.

After you have created this special mixture, take it out to your fire pit. Leave it on the fire pit for about 20 minutes, stirring it every now and then. You can also keep an eye on it. After the onions have become tender, you can take the pot off of the fire pit. Pour into bowls, and don't forget the croutons and cheese! Sprinkle some of your favorite cheese on the bowls of soup, and you have just created an entire meal using your fire pit!

Another great recipe to cook on a fire pit is vegetable beef stew. Simply put a beef roast in your favorite crockpot, along with a can of dark soda. Include your favorite spices and vegetables in the mix. Some great vegetables to add into the mix are baby carrots and celery. Simply keep your crockpot on low, and enjoy the amazed looks on your guests' faces! You can eat the roast beef alone or choose to make hearty sandwiches with the beef. The choice is yours!

Cooking on a fire pit is one of the best features of these flame gems. After you are done cooking up a meal, why not try melting some chocolate and creating chocolate covered strawberries? Other dessert ideas include s'mores and even hot fudge sundaes!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Geoffrey_Moore/226638

Baked Chicken Pot Pie and Crockpot Chicken Pot Pie

Pot pies are really tasty and you can either make them the traditional way, in the oven, or in a slow cooker. The end result will be great whichever option you go for. If you have some chicken to use up, why not make a delicious pot pie recipe? This creamy dish is a family favorite and it is a real winter warmer too.

The Traditional Recipe
This recipe is handy if you have some leftover cooked bird to use up. Alternatively, you can cook the chicken before you begin. If you want to bake the recipe, you will need to preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Thaw out a pound of frozen mixed vegetables and add them to a Dutch oven or four quart pot.

Add four cups of chopped cooked chicken, two cans of condensed cream of chicken soup, and a can of condensed chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook it for one minute. Keep stirring it. Spread it into a three quart glass baking dish.

Combine two cups of Bisquick mix with one and a half cups of milk and a pinch each of dried thyme and dried sage. Pour this over the poultry mixture, then bake for about thirty five minutes without a cover on the dish, or until the topping is firm and golden brown. Sprinkle some chopped fresh parsley over the top if you like. Let the pot pie stand for five minutes, then serve it.

The Slow Cooker Version
For this recipe, you will need a slow cooker, which has a minimum capacity of three and a half quarts. Spray it with cooking spray then add a pound and a quarter of boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
Add a chopped onion, a couple of sliced celery stalks, half a teaspoon each of dried thyme and poultry seasoning, eighteen ounces of chicken gravy and a pinch of black pepper. Cover the crockpot and cook for about nine hours on low.

Stir twelve ounces of frozen vegetables into the mixture and turn the heat up to high. Cover the crockpot and cook for half an hour. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and bake six Pillsbury Grands flaky layer frozen biscuits as per the instructions on the package.

Spoon a cup of the poultry mixture on to six serving plates and top with the split biscuits. If you want a creamier pot pie, you can stir a third of a cup of sour cream into the chicken mixture just before you serve it.

Which Method Is Best?
It is up to you whether you bake your pot pie or slow cook it. To be honest, both recipes are very good but if you plan to be out of the house all day, you will probably choose the slow cooker version, since you can leave it to cook itself. The biscuit topping is unusual and tastes really good with the pot pie filling. If you want the dish to be ready sooner, opt for the baked version.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Christine_Szalay_Kudra/73485

Discover Or Rediscover Crockpot Cooking

My crock pot was one of our best wedding presents, although at the time, this young bride had no idea what an incredible gift she had received. I had no experience with them, my full time working mother had survived feeding her family through the 1970's (when they were all the rage) and 80's because she had, firstly an automatic oven, and then also a microwave. My mother never had one of the lovely orange crock pots that adorned the kitchen counters of most home in the 70's!

My affection for my crock pot was born of the frustration of not being able to make a tender, richly flavored beef casserole with the basic ingredients I'd been taught to cook with... So when I discovered the crockpot beef stew recipe in the instruction manual produced the type of flavor, taste and texture - from cheaper cuts of meat - that I was looking for, a friendship began!

To learn how this new toy worked, I just stuck with the recipes in the instruction manual to start off with, adding a touch of this and touch of that only after I tried the recipe verbatim the first time. At first, I would only cook with the crockpot when I was at home to watch it, as I wasn't comfortable having it going for 8-10 hours without supervision. However, it did not take me long to trust that it was not going to do anything to the meal but tenderly bubble away and make it perfectly through the day. In those days, I could not have afforded to ruin dinner, our food budget was stretched so tight - it was imperative every recipe was a success!

I loved that I could stretch a small quantity of a cheaper cut of beef so far. I learned to cook red kidney beans and chick peas and freeze them in the right size containers to be added to a crock pot recipe. I worked out how to add root vegetables and have them cook with the meal to make one pot meals. The more I learned, the further I stretched the dollar, but also, the more nutritional value was added to each meal! What bonus!

As a side effect of the current economic conditions, I notice people are increasingly returning to cooking at home. Cooking in general is in favor again. We are wanting easy to prepare, budget-conscious, great tasting, nutritious meals that fit in with our busy lifestyle. Meals that flexible, that allow us to eat either as soon as we get in from school, or back from sports practice, or eat as a family together. We want minimum fuss preparation and clean up too! The knowledge I have gained over my twenty plus years friendship with my trusty crock pot tells me it is time to rekindle or introduce a new generation to crockpot cooking!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Sharyn_Read/404307

Crockpot Recipes For Summer Entertaining

These crockpot recipes will keep your kitchen cool in the summer heat. Bring any of these delights to your summer parties, and your friends will be delighted, drooling, and lining up for the recipe, - and seconds...
Appetizer:

PIZZA DIP
1 large cream cheese softened
1 jar pizza sauce
1 small can chopped olives
1 medium onion chopped
1 pkg. sliced pepperoni
(and what ever else your pizza loving heart desires!)
1 pkg. grated cheese for pizza
Spread cream cheese in the bottom of slow cooker/Crock Pot. Then mix up the pizza sauce, onion, olives and pepperoni and spread on top of the cream cheese. Sprinkle with the pizza cheese and cook on low until the cheese on top melts. Serve with tortilla chips.
 
Entree
CHICKEN WINGS IN TERIYAKI SAUCE
* 3 pounds chicken wings (16 wings)
* 1 large onion, chopped
* 1 cup soy sauce
* 1 cup brown sugar
* 2 teaspoons ground ginger
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 1/4 cup dry cooking sherry

Rinse chicken and pat dry. Cut off and discard wing tips. Cut each wing at joint to make two sections. Place wing parts on broiler pan. Broil 4-5 inches from the heat for 20 minutes, 10 minutes for each side or until chicken is brown. Transfer chicken to slow cooker/Crock Pot. Mix together onion, soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, garlic and cooking sherry in bowl. Pour over chicken wings. Cover and cook on Low 5-6 hours or on HIGH 2-3 hours. Stir chicken wings once to ensure wings are evenly coated with sauce. Serve from Slow Cooker. Makes about 32 pieces.

Dessert:
DECADENT CHOCOLATE DELIGHT
1 (18.25 ounce) box chocolate cake mix
8 ounces sour cream
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup water
4 eggs
3/4 cup vegetable oil

1 small box chocolate flavor instant pudding and pie filling mix
Lightly grease inside of crockpot. Combine all ingredients in large bowl. Pour into crockpot. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours.
Serve hot or warm with ice cream.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Suzanne_Webb-Brikas/36936

Crockpot Homestyle Beef Stew

The recipe below is the first one I made when I got my crock pot for Christmas 2 years ago. This stew recipe is for a 6 quart slow cooker. Depending on the size of your slow cooker, the amount of ingredients may vary.

INGREDIENTS
1 lb stew meat
1 pkg stew seasoning
3 pkg brown gravy mix
1 regular size pkg of mixed vegatables
3 beef bullion cubes
1 tsp Worchestire sauce
8 cups of water
1 Tbs flour
1 Tbs Butter
3 Medium Potatoes
Cooking oil
Cornstarch*
Onion and Garlic powder to taste*

TECHNIQUE
Step One: Coat a frying pan lightly with cooking oil. (You may also use cooking spray for less calories.) Place 1 lb stew meat in pan. Cook until brown. Meat does not need to be cooked all the way.*To save time, you can brown stew meat ahead of time. After browning, place in freezer. This will keep the meat fresh for a few months. If browning the meat the day before, place in refrigerator.

Step Two: Peel and Dice 5 potatoes. Place in your slow cooker along with the stew meat, gravy mix, stew seasoning, mixed vegatables, bulion cubes, worchestire sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, and water. Take flour and butter and mix in a small mixing bowl. Place mixture in the slow cooker. This will help the sauce thicken as your stew cooks.Turn the slow cooker on low. Cook 8-9 hours on low or 4-5 hours on high.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/JamieLynn_P/287432

Crockpot Chicken Recipes - Amazingly Delicious!

These crockpot chicken recipes are delicious. Just check these out and I'm sure you'll be amazingly surprised.

So here we go for some crockpot chicken recipes:
>>Crockpot Chicken Basic
~3 lb Chicken Salt and pepper
~2 Cloves garlic, minced
~1/4 ts Powdered marjoram
~1/4 ts Powdered thyme
~1 Bay leaf
~1/2 c Dry white wine (optional)
~1 c Dairy sour cream
~1 c Packaged biscuit mix
~1 tb Chopped parsley
~6 tb Milk
~10 Small white onions

Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper, place in crockpot. Insert cloves in one onion. Put all onions into pot. Add garlic, marjoram, thyme, bay leaf and wine. Cover and cook on low 5 to 6 hours. Remove bay leaf and cloves. Stir in sour cream.
Increase heat to high and combine biscuit mix with parsley. Stir milk into biscuit mix until well moistened.

Drop dumplings from teaspoon around edge of pot. Cover and cook on high for 30 minutes.
>>Crockpot Chicken And Rice
~1/2 lb Mushrooms, fresh
~1/2 c Onions, chopped
~2 lb Chicken, raw
~1 ts Chicken bouillon
~1 ts Poultry seasoning
~1/4 ts Salt
~2 c Water
~3/4 c Rice, uncooked
Slice mushrooms. Remove skin from chicken. Spray skillet with nonstick spray coating. Brown mushrooms, onion, and chicken pieces on all sides over medium heat about 15 minutes.

Stir in seasonings and transfer to crockpot. Can be refrigerated overnight. Start crockpot on LOW. When ingredients are heated, add rice. Cook until done.

>>
~ 4 pounds Chicken Pieces
~ 1/4 cup All-Purpose Flour
~ 2 tablespoons Cooking Oil
~ 6 ounces Lemonade -- Frozen Concentrate, Thawed
~ 3 tablespoons Brown Sugar
~ 3 tablespoons Catsup
~ 2 tablespoons Water
~ 2 tablespoons Cornstarch
~ 3 cups Cooked Rice
~ 1 1/4 teaspoons salt

1. Combine flour with salt; coat chicken thoroughly. 2. Brown chicken pieces in oil and drain. 3. Stir together lemonade, sugar, catsup and vinegar. 4. Place chicken in crockpot and pour lemonade mixture over it. (the chicken, not the crockpot) 5. Cook on high 3 to 4 hours. 6. Drain liquid into saucepan; add corns tarch and boil till reduced. 7. Pour gravy back over chicken; serve over rice.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Clara_Mckenzie/119754

Quinoa Recipes - Cooking Quinoa in a Crockpot

Quinoa is a versatile and delicious ingredient and, if you like to cook meals in a slow cooker, it might interest you to know that it can be cooked via this cooking method. Quinoa can be substituted for any grain in recipes although, technically, it is not a grain itself. It is the seed from a leafy plant. This ingredient is rich in iron, fiber, potassium, protein and other vitamins and minerals, hence its recent popularity. It is easy to digest too.

This ancient crop will grow in the mountains, in dry climates or in poor soil, making it an important staple in some regions. It is grown in the Colorado Rocky Mountains and in South America, although it originated in the Andes. You can get it in big grocery stores and health food stores.

Recipe for Crockpot Quinoa Stew
This hearty stew, which serves six people, is high in protein and low in carbohydrates. This is a healthy yet delicious slow cooker recipe, which is idea for vegetarians and anyone who loves this delicious ingredient. You can serve it with sesame seeds or grated parmesan on top.

What you will need:

• 2 diced potatoes
• 2 cups brown lentils
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 finely chopped cloves garlic
• 7 1/2 cups water
• 1/2 diced sweet potato
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• 1/2 cup quinoa
• 2 tablespoons miso
• 1 teaspoon dried mixed herbs

How to make it:
Rinse and drain the grains, picking out any stones. Put them in the crockpot. Add the tomato paste, herbs, potato, sweet potato, and six cups of the water. Cook for three and a half to four hours on high.

Add another cup of water halfway through the cooking time, when the stew is becoming thicker. When everything is tender, turn off the crockpot, add the soy sauce and let it sit for thirty minutes. Combine the remaining half a cup of water with the miso and stir this in the stew.

Recipe for Crockpot Chicken and Quinoa Soup with White Wine
You can use any kind of quinoa for this soup but the red variety seems to have more texture than the others do, which can go mushy. You might like to add mushrooms or celery to this recipe too.

The recipe itself is quite versatile so add anything you fancy or any vegetables that need to be used up. All the flavor comes from the chicken, vegetables, broth, and wine so use good quality ingredients.

What you will need:

• 2 cups water
• 1 minced onion
• 3/4 cup white wine
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup rinsed and drained red quinoa
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 2 chicken thighs or breasts
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 6 peeled, chopped carrots
• 1 teaspoon salt

How to make it:
Add everything to the slow cooker and cook on high for four hours. Alternatively, you can cook it on low for eight hours. Shred the chicken and stir it into the stew before serving.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Christine_Szalay_Kudra/73485

Chicken In The Crockpot Recipes

Now and then the weather gets rainy and cold and if you are looking for a warm, filling meal to make things seem cheerier, crockpot chicken recipes are the ones to pick. You can find a great variety of crockpot recipes that offer fantastic selections for many different meals, but one of the all-around favorites is chicken stew.

If you are going to be home while it is cooking, you will be willing the time to pass quickly so you can eat soon because it smells so delicious and if you will be away for a while, you will be so glad when you arrive home and the fresh aroma of homemade stew hits you as you open the door.

In the morning, the ingredients are added to the crockpot, the temperature set to LOW, and the ingredients stirred together. The lid is placed on top and everything cooks just as it supposed to do, leaving you to dish the stew in bowls. Either warm biscuits or warm bread can accompany the meal and satisfy those at the table.
You can add a lot of color and flavor to crockpot chicken stew by putting in peas, carrots, green beans, corn, and onions. Celery is another option for vegetables, as are green onion stems cut finely. Sometimes the vegetables will not be fork tender and if this happens, keep on cooking them until they are. Even though some tend to think of stew as a winter meal, it is good any time of the year. It is healthy, filling, inexpensive, and when using a crockpot recipe, easy to make.

Flavorful Crockpot Chicken Recipes
Herbs are another thing that create such an excellent taste in the chicken and vegetables. If you have friends or family coming for dinner, chicken stew is an ideal dish to serve. The fragrance will greet them when they enter the house and have them feeling hungry very quickly. You can find many quick easy appetizers recipes that will complement the dinner and perk up their appetite a bit more for dinner. Some of the herbs that might be included in the recipe you choose are thyme, rosemary, paprika, and sage. Sometimes a dash of white pepper will bring a more intense flavor to the chicken and have people guessing what the ingredient is that made it all so special.

When choosing a chicken stew recipe for your crockpot meal, be sure to pick one with ingredients that you and your family like. If someone does not care for carrots, cut the pieces of carrot large enough that you can dish up their stew with no sign of carrots. Even if you select an easy recipe, the finished flavor is always good and sometimes incredible. Herbs, vegetables, chicken, and spices, along with the broth of the cooked meal, cook well together, blending during the hours spent cooking in the crockpot.

Cooking meat and vegetables together at a low temperature allows the flavors to come out, combine, and stay delicious. In Europe, slow cooking has become recognized as one of the healthiest ways to prepare meals and many countries, such as Italy and Slovenia and in Asia, Japan, are proud to be called slow food countries, using healthy local produce and meats while creating enticing meals with recipes usually native to their country.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Christine_Szalay-Kudra/414787

Cooking With a Crockpot - How to Convert Recipes to the Crockpot

How many times have you been planning meals and came up disappointed when you discovered you didn't have time to make the meal you wanted? Most people will not even think of putting a recipe in the crockpot unless it is written expressly for the crockpot. Did you know that many standard recipes could be converted to crockpot recipes?

The low setting of most crockpots is around 200 degrees Fahrenheit. The high setting is about 300 degrees Fahrenheit. An hour of cooking on the high setting is about the same as 2 to 2.5 hours of cooling on the low setting. You will find that most recipes for crockpots recommend cooking the food for around 8 to 10 hours on low.

Advice for Converting Recipes to Use in a Crockpot
When you convert a recipe to the crockpot, there are a few tips you will want to keep in mind. You will want to reduce the amount of liquid the recipe calls for. In the crockpot, liquid does not evaporate. You normally wind up with quite a bit of liquid at the end of cooking time. Reduce the amount of liquid you add to the dish by half, unless you are also using rice or pasta.

The spices you use may need to be adjusted. Ground spices may lose some flavor over many hours of cooking, so do not add them until the last hour of cooking. Whole spices will have their flavors intensified by long cooking times, so you may want to reduce them by half.

If you plan to make chicken soup or other liquid-based meals, only add enough liquid to cover the other ingredients. You can add more liquid towards the end of cooking time if needed. If you are making a cream soup, do not add the dairy products until close to the end to prevent curdling and separating.

You can make dried beans in the crockpot. Cook them overnight on low instead of spending the time soaking them. Add your beans and then cover them with water. Add a teaspoon of baking soda. In the morning, drain the beans before combining them with your other ingredients. Bean soup, chili, and other tasty meals can then proceed in the crockpot as usual.

Not All Foods Love Crockpots
Be aware that some foods do not fare well when cooking for 8 to 10 hours. Rice, pasta, seafood, some vegetables, and dairy products are all too delicate for such long cooking times. When making a dish that contains these ingredients, do not add them until the last couple of hours before serving when your pot is set on low. If you are cooking on high, hold off until the last hour before adding these delicate ingredients. If you really must have milk added to a recipe early on, try evaporated milk.

Browning your meat can be done before adding it to the crockpot to add that lovely coloring. Browning may also reduce the fat content a little bit on some kinds of meat. Browning is optional, however. Roasts can turn out very flavorful in the crockpot with or without it

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Christine_Szalay_Kudra/73485

Cooking With a Crockpot - It's Slow Good

It is easy to come home to a hot dinner every night when you use your crockpot. Taking the time to fill up the crockpot in the morning will reward you with a delicious meal in the evening with no fuss. When you get home, just dish everyone up, and have a wonderful meal.

Easy Crockpot Cooking Tips
There are a few tips that will help your crockpot meals turn out perfect every time. First, never overfill the crockpot. Make sure when you are filling it up that the pot is between half and three-quarters full. Too full, and your food will not cook enough. If the pot is too empty, the food will cook too quickly and you will come home to a dinner that is overdone.

Fresh vegetables should be placed in the bottom of the crockpot because they take longer to cook than your meat. You may have trouble believing it, but try putting them on top and see what happens. Frozen vegetables should be placed on top of your meat since they do not take long to cook.

If you take the time to brown your meat before putting it in the crockpot, the fat will get rendered a bit and the natural sugars in the meat will caramelize. Your meal will look more appetizing, and you can deglaze the pan afterwards and add the delicious drippings to the crockpot for flavor. It also helps if you remove any skin or excess fat from your meat before you start.

When to Add those Tender Ingredients
Ingredients that are tender, such as tomatoes, peas, and other soft foods should be added in the last half hour or so of cooking. Dairy should be added only a short time before you serve as well. When you add dairy products, make sure your temperature is on low so they will not curdle. Thickeners like cornstarch can be added during the last hour of cooking. Place the crockpot on high so their thickening qualities are activated. Rice and pasta should be added during the last 45 minutes or so or they will tend to turn to mush.

Do not remove the lid during cooking unless you need to add additional ingredients. Try to do this all at once so you do not lose too much heat. Each time you open the lid; you should add another 30 minutes to your cooking time.

What Can You Make with a Crockpot?
Following these simple suggestions makes cooking in the crockpot easy and fun. Your crockpot can be used to easily make just about anything. Roast pork and beef work well in the crockpot. Add a whole chicken or chicken parts with your favorite sauce for a tender, tasty meal. Stew works well, as does soup. Side dishes can also be made in the crockpot. Vegetable dishes, rice and lentil dishes are all easy to make while you are away.

Amazingly, you can even bake in your crockpot! Desserts like cakes, sweet breads, and boiled peanuts can be made easily without using your oven. The versatile crockpot is a tool everyone should have in his or her kitchen.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Christine_Szalay_Kudra/73485

How to Make the Best Chicken Crockpot Recipes

hicken can be cooked in many different ways. You can broil it, boil it, grill it, fry it, steam it and more. This is also a great ingredient for cooking in a crockpot. It is really versatile which means you can use all sorts of different ingredients with it. Perhaps you fancy making something creamy such as an alfredo sauce or something spicy like a Mexican dish. There are slow cooker recipes for all palates.

If you are using a cooking method such as grilling or pan frying, it is easy to overcook your bird but slow cooking makes it easier because the chicken has more than a few seconds between being "cooked" and being "overcooked." If you are worried about cooking the meat too long, choose a slow cooker recipe and the results ought to be good.

Tips for Crockpot Poultry Recipes
Thighs and drumsticks can cook for up to ten hours before they start to lose flavor or juiciness but white meat cooks much faster. If you are cooking breasts, the maximum cooking time should be six or seven hours depending on the recipe.

Overcooking this ingredient makes it dry and chewy and overcooking it will ruin your recipe so pay careful attention to cooking times and remember to adjust them if you are substituting chicken breasts in a recipe calling for drumsticks or thighs. Poultry needs to be 170 degrees F in the center in order to be safely cooked.

Use an instant read thermometer to make sure the meat is done properly. You can also cut into one of the larger pieces of meat to check it is piping hot in the middle but, if you are cooking whole breasts or pieces, this will ruin the appearance of the finished dish, so the thermometer would be a better idea.

Recipe for Apricot Chicken
This is a very easy dish to make and you can serve it over hot cooked pasta, couscous, or rice. This recipe makes enough to serve six people. Use French or Russian salad dressing. Honey mustard dressing is also nice but might be too sweet for some palates. Use thyme instead of the basil if you like. Also, jam is fine instead of the preserves; just use whichever you happen to have.
What you will need:

• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup salad dressing
• 1 cup apricot preserves
• 6 frozen skinless, boneless chicken breasts
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 package dry onion soup mix

How to make it:
Arrange the meat in a three or four quart crockpot. Combine the vinegar, dressing, preserves, basil, black pepper, and soup mix and pour this mixture over the top. Cover the slow cooker and cook the mixture on low for about seven hours or until the chicken is cooked through.

You can either serve it now or thicken it. To thicken it, mix two tablespoons of cornstarch with three tablespoons of chicken broth or water until smooth, then add this to the slow cooker and cook it on high for fifteen minutes.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Christine_Szalay_Kudra/73485