This is a very popular recipe but I think it is because it turns out so well every time so no one varies it.

Steak Teriyaki

Slice the steak thinly and place into the crock pot.  Mix the rest of the ingredients together and pour over the steak and mix through.  Cover with the crock pot lid and cook on low for around 5 hours.  I serve it with rice but vegetables and mashed potato or pasta are nice for a change too.  The meat is lovely and tender and its one of our favorite dishes.

Note:  I add 2 cloves garlic but it depends what your tastes are whether you like the strong garlic taste.

I love lamb stew and this recipe is just delicious made in the crock pot.  Its a three step process but very easy and while it is cooking you have a lovely aroma through the kitchen and house.  I used the cheapest cuts of lamb I could get but just make them nice thick pieces.

Crock Pot Lamb Stew

Melt the butter in a frying pan and brown the chops then add half to the crock pot and half of the vegetables. Place the rest of the chops on top with the remaining vegetables.  Add the flour and the curry to the frying pan and brown for a few minutes.  Combine the wine, plum jam, ketchup and stock together and add to the frying pan stirring constantly until it comes to the boil and thickens to a nice gravy.  Season with salt and pepper and pour over the chops and vegetables in the crock pot.  Cover and cook for 4 hours.

This crock pot lamb stew serves 4.  I accompany the meal with rice.  This is a another great crock pot meal to try.

Get all of the facts first before you buy your first crock pot. We like choice don’t we, and with crock pots there are plenty to choose from. Know what is the best crock pot for you and your family.

Take into account the following features when choosing your new crock pot:

Brand
The most popular brand is Rival and has the largest selection.  Another popular brand is Hamilton Beach which also has a good selection but there are dozens of brand names out there all trying to convince you they are the best.  Look around and check out the ranges and be familiar with the prices so you get the best crock pot at the best price.

Types
There are simple types of slow cookers that have 2 or 3 settings (high, low, off) and others are smart pot digital crock pots.  With these digital ones you can set the time you want to start cooking, keep warm, or turn off.

There are crock pots in one piece with non removable bowls.  You can also get two pieces with the bowl being able to be taken out to serve the food at the table, to clean, or store the cooked food in the refrigerator. Removable bowls have the advantage with large crock pots that they can be removed easier as they can be heavy.

Sizes
How big is your family and what do you want to cook in it?  You may only need a small crock pot for two or are you cooking for six and need a larger size?  The most popular sizes are 3-4 quarts for small families to a 6-7 quart for large families.

Shapes
Another thing to consider is the shape.  There are two shapes being round and oval.  Round is good for soups and stews and oval is good for cooking larger meats like whole chicken.

Lids
Lids should fit well and the domed ones are the best as they trap the heat and allow it to drip down back into the pot. You can also get a lid which clamps to seal so that it can’t spill when carrying.

Rival was the first crock pot and has the best selection and you probably cant go wrong with them. You can buy them at Department stores or easier still you can shop online at AMAZON.COM .  Buying a new crock should be enjoyable so go have some fun.

This crock pot beef stew is very easy to put together and you should have all the ingredients in your refrigerator or pantry.  The flavors of the red wine and mushrooms really gives this recipe its great taste so I encourage you to use the wine.  You can also use half and half of wine and beef stock if you prefer.

Turn on the crock pot to high and spray with some non stick spray .  Put the steak into the crock pot, add everything else except the mushrooms and then stir gently.  Put the lid on and turn the heat down to low and cook for 8 hours.   Add the mushrooms in the last 1/2 hour of cooking. You can thicken with cornflour or potato flour about the same time.  Remove the bay leaves from the crock pot before serving.  Oh, and I have forgotten that step once or twice and was the lucky one who got the crunchy bay leaf.

Serve this crock pot beef stew with rice or mashed potato and some peas, corn or other vegetables.   I must admit my favorite accompaniment with this crock pot meal  is sweet potato mash.  Serves 4

I fell in love with reading on the Kindle so I have made my crock pot recipes available in the Kindle format.  Kindles are becoming so popular now being the biggest eReading platform in the world.  Amazon are the number 1 seller online in the world and really they do it so well. They sold over 1 million kindles over the Christmas season.

I have published 6 books so far with 5 of them being crock pot recipes.  They are just little books but packed with great recipes.  I am giving away 5 copies of my kindle format book  15 Mexican Style Crock Pot Recipes to the first 5 people who reply to this post.  All I ask is that you do a quick review of the book on its Amazon page.  If you don't like Mexican food then you can could choose another one of the titles if you wish.

This is an opportunity to get free crock pot recipes to your Kindle, Kindle for PC or a Kindle Reading Ap for your Smartphone or iPad.

If you would like to participate in this giveaway then just click on the 'Leave your Comment' and make sure you put your correct email address so I can send it to you.  I will give you the link to the Amazon page where you can leave an honest review of the book.

OH here is a link to my Author's page -> Amazon Author - Pauline Harding to see all the titles.

Cooking breakfast in the crock pot slow cooker is easy and convenient if you are short of time in the morning.  Apple and date oatmeal is nice served on the weekend also when you have more time to enjoy your breakfast.  My crock pot cooks at a nice slow temperature but if yours cooks a bit fast (and you will know that from previous recipes) then you may have to reduce the time a little bit and you may need a little more liquid.

The advantage of making crock pot meals like this one is that your breakfast cooks while you sleep.

Apple and date oatmeal breakfast

Add all ingredients to your crock pot except for the walnuts.  Turn your crock pot on to low and cook for 8 hours approximately.  Add the walnuts 5 minutes before and stir well through the oatmeal mixture.  Serve with extra brown sugar and milk.  Makes 4 servings.

Variations:  you can substitute the dates with sultanas, you can use honey instead of brown sugar, and you can leave out the walnuts if you want.  I like this apple and date oatmeal breakfast though just as it is.

For more recipes check out the great variety of crock pot recipe books at AMAZON.

Crock Pots or slow cookers are great for busy people.  Ive had a crock pot since the 70s and I used all the time then.  It was put away and got moved around the kitchen cupboards for many years but my lime green crock pot has made a revival for the following reasons:

My vintage crock pot

• Crock pot cooking is simple, healthy and a time saver.

• Crock pots are great for busy families and especially for new mothers,  just add all the ingredients in the morning, turn it on, and leave the cooking to happen while you get on with your day.

• There are many easy crock pot recipes including soups, stews and desserts.

• Crock pots use a small amount of electricity so its a money saver too.

• They come in several sizes from small crock pots that cook enough food for one or two people to medium sized crock pots are often best for families of four or five, and the largest crock pots can serve ten people or more.

• Very little clean up required. Now that's a bonus.

An electric crock pot or slow cooker usually consists of a removable porcelain bowl which sits inside an outer container that has electric heating elements and some control buttons and switches.  My vintage one has only two settings, low and high, but the more modern have digital programming and automatic settings. My crock pot is round but they also come in oval which is good for cooking whole meats like chicken.

A crock pot is one of the most convenient appliances in a kitchen.  If you don't have one then you are spending too much time in the kitchen.  Have a look at the great range of crock pot slow cookers and accessories like books and liners at AMAZON.   I am hoping I get a new oval crock pot for Christmas ( hint, hint, family) or at least a new crock pot cook book.

I felt like having an old and favorite dish this week called Beef  Stroganoff but this time I made it in the slow cooker.  I haven't made it in the slow cooker before but it turned out great and the meat was tender.  I cut down on the fat by not frying the onion and beef before adding them to the pot but you can if you want to if you like that better.

Beef Stroganoff is a great recipe for the family and is a real warming meal on a cold night and easy to make in the slow cooker as well.  You can serve it with rice but I like noodles with this dish.

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I love soups and when I am watching my weight they keep me feeling satisfied longer than other meals.  A hot bowl of soup is one of my favorite lunches and also for Sunday night dinners.  With a crock pot you too can be a soup expert.

The base of every great soup is a good meat or vegetable stock.  Also use the best ingredients you can for your soups, and if you can make your own stock with fresh ingredients.

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I am always experimenting with my recipes and especially with my crock pot soup recipes to come up with a new taste as I like to have soup for my lunch each day in winter and I get bored with the same old ones.  I like vegetarian recipes the most and they are usually low fat and high fiber which is a bonus.  I love soups based on pumpkin so the recipe below is one like that but with my other favorite ingredient sweet potato.

Vegetarian Pumpkin Soup with Sweet Potato

Combine all ingredients in the crock pot and cook on low for 8 hours.  I like to thicken my soups by taking half and putting through a sieve or food processor.  This also makes a smoother soup but its really up to your own tastes.  You can also thicken this soup with a little cornflour mixed in water and stirred through the soups when cooked.

Serve sprinkled with parsley and with toast, foccacia bread or sourdough bread (my favorite).

This vegetable pumpkin soup  with sweet potato has to be one of the easiest soups I have made and is a good choice to make on a Sunday for your lunches during the week.  Soup makes a good meal for work and is filling especially in the colder months of the year.  Vegetable soups are also low in calories so if you limit your carbohydrates like toast with the soup then you have a low calorie entree or lunch meal.