Jul 29 2008
What a bunch of crock
I stumbled upon this blog today: A Year of Crockpotting
It features a recipe a day, all designed for your slow cooker. She makes some pretty interesting things in her crockpot that I never knew you could. Stuff like chex mix and chocolate mousse! I thought crockpots were only good for stews and soups.
Personally, I don’t own a crockpot, but I’ve heard many good things about how convenient and simple it is and how tasty-delicious the results are. Now that Baby Champuru is on the way, I’m thinking more about quick, easy, and convenient ways to feed the family. Crockpot cooking seems like the perfect solution for a sleep deprived mommy.
I also did a quick search on Amazon.com and found that they have a nice selection of crockpot recipe books. Now if I could find a crockpot book of recipes for the Asian/local palate, I’d be totally sold.
Do you have a crockpot? Do you use it often? Any recommendations on the type/size of crockpot I should get? Can you share a favorite slowcooker recipe with me?
A 30-something Christian girl, blissfully wedded to her perfect match (the yang to her yin) of 14 years. A new mom to her miracle baby, born on October 4, 2008. Living life in Hawaii, less than 5 miles from her hometown, a slave to her mortgage payment, but seeking balance in her pursuit of family, faith, recreation, and rest.
I don’t really have a favorite crockpot recipe. I mostly use it for kalua pig, (pepsi) pot roast and jook. It’s great to use in the summer so you don’t have to turn on the oven or the stove. And you can leave it to do its magic while you are sleeping or at work!
I think you can transform many recipes into crockpot ones, especially local ones. I had a roommate who made Portuguese bean soup in a crockpot. There are many books or online resources which tell you how to adjust in a crockpot for certain types of recipes such as ones with lots of liquid or using particular cuts of meat.
As a suggestion.. When you buy a crockpot, get one with a timer… It beats having to be there to turn it off or whatever… I wish I had bought that instead of my regular dial crockpot..
Oh yeah, I think 5qt is about the standard size.
We just had potroast that my wife made with our crockpot. It cooked last night as we slept It was a very simple recipe with Lipton’s Onion Soup mix, a little water, black pepper and a little red wine I snuck in behind her back.
She added carrots and sliced potatoes too. Normally I’d add some (lots?) of diced garlic, onions and maybe green beans as well. We usually sear the meat before hand after rubbing it with a little Hawaiian salt and black pepper. Other easy things to make in the crockpot are shoyu pork and shoyu chicken and mushroom chicken. I’d say on average we use it at least once per month. During the winter months we use it a bit more. Watch when they go on sale at Don Quixote’s or Walmart. Once you get the hang of cooking with the crockpot, you’ll love it - hubby will think you’re a gourmet cook!
Thank you for the link. I have resisted taking over the cooking dinner responsibilities as I can only follow recipes and have no food imagination. If my wife finds there is an ingredient missing she can find a work around. Me, I have to goo to the store and get it or stand there confused and dazed. In addition with the kids being older with lots of activities it is a rare occurrence to have everyone in the house at the same time for dinner so a crockpot sounds like a great way to supply nutrition without worrying about things being hot then warmed over and over. Thanks again! How do you do it?
I’d suggest looking at one with a clay pot rather than a glazed one - I’ve got http://www.amazon.com/Vitaclay-Slow-Cooker-Rice-Clay/dp/B000PRPYJK this one and it makes great sticky rice and keeps it warm, reheats it perfect, etc. so much so that I got rid of my rice cooker. Yes - local girl here - got rid of the rice cooker and use this for my sticky rice as well as all the usual slow cooker recipes.