In winter my crock pot has a partner.  They are always out together.  They go together like bread and jam and by saying that it's almost correct because it is my BREADMAKER.  They are both such time savers and really if I didn't have the breadmaker then I wouldn't try and make it myself.  You can make bread in the crock pot too but as I have the breadmaker I can do the whole meal at once.

I love to make soups in winter and fresh hot bread is just the ultimate accompaniment.  I can set and forget both of them, but I must admit the bread doesn't take as long to cook unless I set the Programmable Crock Pot for the time the bread will be ready.  I then have both cooked at the same time and ready to serve.  The smells coming out of that kitchen are just hard to explain, especially when its a week day and I return home to a house smelling like heaven.

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Tags: Bread machine, breadmaker, Crock Pot, Soup

I have a goal for 2009 and that is to lose some weight, but eating healthy and low-fat can be very difficult nowadays. We don't have time to cook and don't even have time to go to a good restaurant. The result of this is eating fast foods or snacks and putting on weight. The more unhealthy food we eat, the less good health we have and I have to watch my cholesterol as well these days. But it is possible to eat cook and eat healthy without spending lots of time by using low fat crock pot recipes in our crock pot slow cooker.

This year I am going to think about my health, and try cooking healthy and low-fat food with my crock pot.

A lot of crock pot recipes use canned food and other prepared mixes, but there are diet crock pot
recipes, that have low sodium and low fat ingredients that will make your food taste better with healthy choices. Use low fat crock pot recipes that have fresh ingredients where possible.  Also, trim skin and fat from all the meats you use for cooking, and try using fresh, instead of canned vegetables (when in season) for a healthy recipe alternative.

A few examples of low fat crock pot recipes that you can try:

Pork Roast with Vegetables
This a slow cooking recipe, which takes about 25-30 minutes to prepare. Includes boneless pork roast, vegetable oil, peeled sweet potatoes, acorn squash, apple butter, horseradish, corn and spices. The dish is cooked in the crock pot for about 7 to 9 hours until the pork and vegetables are tender and it tastes delicious.

Beef Stew in Crock Pot
Another diet crock pot recipe that has only five ingredients and only 20 minutes of preparation time is this one and you have a great low-fat and healthy dish ready to cook. Includes beef, potatoes, tomatoes,  peppers and onions, spices and salt. Cook on low in the crock pot for about 7-8 hours. Thicken with a little flour if needed.

Tender Chicken with Apples
One more of the low fat crock pot recipes that is prepared in 20-25 minutes and cooked about 7 hours on low. Combine orange juice, garlic, onion, chicken breasts, sliced apples, spices.

I will be posting some more low fat crock pot recipes in more detail in the next few weeks. These healthy recipes will help you stay in shape, and cooking with the low fat and diet crock pot recipes will save you time in the kitchen without sacrificing a healthy dinner.

For great recipes RIGHT NOW then buy a great COOKBOOK at AMAZON by Judith Finlayson called The Healthy Slow Cooker.

Tags: Crock Pot, diet crock pot recipes, healthy recipes, low fat crock pot recipes

So, you have a new crock pot and you haven’t tried it out yet.  Now is the time to start.  Cooking in the crock pot is simple and easy but the meals are delicious. Buy a crock pot recipe book first so you get experienced with how the crock pot cooks, then you can learn to adapt your own recipes.  Converting regular recipes to crock pot recipes isn't very difficult at all if you just remember these few facts.

Soups and stews are the easiest recipes and are natural slow cooker favorites so try them first.  The crock pot doesn’t brown the meat so if you like the look and taste of brown meat then you need to quickly brown it first before adding it to the pot.  Also this helps with reducing any fat you may get from the meat as the fat makes the food cook faster.

You need to reduce the liquid in a traditional recipe as these don’t evaporate in cooking as in regular cooking so as a general rule halve the amount of liquid you need except when using rice and pasta.

I like to cook most stews and meats on low for around 8 hours as this allows the meat to tenderize and the vegetable to soften but if you making a large quantity I would cook on high for 3 hours then reduce to low for another 6 hours.  As a general rule if a recipe says to cook for 30 minutes then adjust that to 5 hours, 45 minutes to 6-7 hours and 1 hour plus to 8 – 10 hours.

Vegetables cook slower than meats so cut or dice them into small pieces and you can put them at the bottom of the crock pot too if the recipe method allows.  If the recipe includes milk or cheese then add them near the end and you should thicken your cooking around the same time.  Also use fresh herbs rather than dried when available.

Converting regular recipes to crock pot recipes isn't that difficult if you just remember the tips and ideas above.  If you are a new cook and don't have any favorite recipes to convert yet then I suggest you check out a book from Amazon called  Rival Crock-Pot Incredibly Easy Recipes (Incredibly Easy)

Now get your crock pot out and make something nice for dinner.

Tags: converting recipes, Cookbook, crock pot cookbook, crock pot recipes

These are some of my tips for safe crock pot cooking.

DO thaw out your meat and chicken before cooking.  It will then cook evenly and thoroughly.

DONT overfill the crock pot.  Only use to 3/4 filled.

Meat cooks faster than vegetables so DO dice your vegetables, onions can be grated.  I chop my vegetables finely and I find they cook just right.   With potato and sweet potato chop into small chunks but not as finely as carrots for instance.

DONT leave food in the crock pot to cool down.  Put it in another sealed contained and refrigerate as soon as possible.  If you have a removable crock this is easier to do.

DO keep your ingredients refrigerated until you are ready to use them.  This applies especially to meats and fish.

DONT look into the crock pot as you lift the lid.  Escaping steam may burn you. Lifting the lid will also add more cooking time to your recipe.  If you have to see how things are cooking or to adjust flavors then do so quickly and with care.

DONT use red kidney beans from their raw state in the crock pot.  Soak and boil first or use the canned ones.

DO follow recommended cooking times and the manufacturer's instructions.

DONT reheat food in the crock pot.

If possible DO add hot liquids instead of cold

If you follow these tips then you will be cooking safely with your crock  pot .  I think that the most important rule above is the one about not overfilling the crock pot so please take note of that one in particular.

Tags: Crock Pot, crock pot cooking, safe cooking, safe crock pot cooking

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:

• 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.

Tags: Crock Pot, kitchen appliances, Slow cooker