I was given a new crock pot by my friend - please see the pic to the left.  To find a toy crock pot must mean that they are considered an ordinary part of the kitchen.

It only has an off-and-on button so it is a basic model    I wonder if you can get a programmable one?  It already has food in it and must be the vegetarian model.  It's fortunate that I like carrots, broccoli and zucchini.

Note though the words on the front though of  'smart home' and I suppose that says it all.  All smart homes should have a crock pot.  The switch does work and the little vegetables move up and down when the switch is on the 'on' position.

My friend has a good sense of humor and I am thankful that I have such a friend.  This is just a bit of fun and life and cooking should be fun.

Tags: Cooking, Crock Pot, toy

There has been many a time when I wanted to bake a cake but I already had the main meal cooking in the oven.  The solution was to use the crock pot and cook the cake in that so that's what I did.  It is really a mini oven and bakes most cakes very well.  Fruit cakes and self topped/iced cakes cook very well in the crock pot.  I am amazed at how well the cakes rise in the crock pot.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Baking, Crock Pot, crock pot baking

I was recently asked by Anita from a comment on Crock Pot Replacement Parts post whether they could use their crock pot if it had a crack in the lid.  I thought the subject was too important to just answer quickly so I am doing it here now.

The quick answer is yes to the crock pot lid for the short term or as an emergency measure only.  If the crack doesn't go all the way across the lid then what you cold do until you receive a replacement one is to use foil to line the lid on the underside which will also give it a seal so no steam or heat can escape.  Also, if the lid does break you have protection for the food you have just cooked.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Crock Pot, crock pot lid, crock pot replacement parts, EBay

Just a quick note to tell you I have just added a new page that lists an eBay Auction for new, vintage and unusual crock pots as well as parts, accessories and cookbooks. This auction will change so keep checking for what you are looking for.  If you are looking for some rare accessories then you might have to wait awhile.

If you haven't found that lid, recipe book or crock pot cake pan then this is the place to look.

Check it out - click on the link at the top right hand corner of the site or click on this link -> Crock Pots and Parts Auction

Tags: Auction, crock pot parts, EBay, vintage crock pots

Are you looking for the best crock pot cookbooks? There are several places online and then there are stores where you can buy the right one for you.  A crock pot cook book may have many things other then recipes that will help you with cooking and other matters that have to do with preparing and storing your crock pot meals.

Amazon Books have a variety of crock pot recipe books ranging from just a few dollars.   E-bay also has a range of crock pot cook books that are both new and used. You will nearly always find what you want on the internet.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Cookbook, crock pot cook book

Most people know that crock pots are an excellent choice for cooking easy and healthy recipes. But did you know that your slow cooker can also be used for a variety of projects besides making edibles?

Your crock pot can be used as an air freshener. It takes only three ingredients: baking soda, essential oil and water, in a slow cooker on the low setting without the lid, and your house will smell noticeably fresher in just a few hours.

Candles are easy to make in the crock pot , and this project makes good use of leftover candles that don’t light anymore. With your slow cooker and old candle wax, heat-proof glass containers and wicks, you can have brand new candles in just a few hours.

Slow cookers make easy and fun Christmas ornaments. First, make a flour and salt-based dough and cut shapes with cookie cutters. After baking for a few hours in the crock pot, the ornaments are ready to paint and hang on the tree. This technique can also be used to make beads for stringing.

You can dye yarn or fabric in your crock pot using just hot water, vinegar and dye. Be sure to rinse the dyed fabric or yarn in clear water thoroughly to ensure colorfastness.  Amazon has this great book on Fast, Fun & Easy Fabric Dyeing check it out for more detailed but easy instructions on dyeing.

Everyone loves play dough, and it is simple to make in a slow cooker. With a few ingredients such as flour, corn starch, salt and water, you can have a fresh new batch of  Play Dough in under two hours.

If haven't got a crock pot in your kitchen then NOW is the time to do something about it.

Tags: Air freshener, candle making, Crock Pot, dye fabric, Slow cooker

Crock pots have come a long way since their introduction in 1970. Back then choices were pretty simple;  one crock pot with a ceramic insert, one crock pot lid option, and one crock pot color. Today our options are nearly endless. We can even purchase crock pot replacement parts for our favorite crock pot.

There are many options available in crock pots.  The shape of the crock pot inserts can be round or oval.  Crock pot lids can be a traditional lid or come with a clamp ensuring a spill free trip.  Accessories to assist in cooking include; a meat rack in a variety of sizes and styles, stainless steel forks and tongs, non-scratch slotted ladles, additional non scratch utensils are also available for your crock pot.

Crock Pots certainly make entertaining easy. Use the Rival 5-Quart Slow Cooker with Little Dipper to cook, warm and serve all at once (great for parties). Purchase additional crock pot inserts for additional servings with a large crowd.

No longer do we have to worry about our dishes spilling out as we travel. You can purchase crock pot lids which make the crock pots easily transportable with a clamp lid. Already have a crock pot? You can purchase a Crock Pot Travel Bag for large or small crock pots.  Any messes that may occur will be contained in the travel case not all over your vehicle or clothes.

Check out the full line of crock pot replacement parts, crock pot inserts and clamping crock pot lids in stores and online. You will find a full line of products to meet your every crock pot need.

Crock pots certainly have made making a great dinner in these busy times easy. But what do you do if you lose or break a lid, crock or other accessory for your crock pot?  Crock pot manufactures have made even that easy and convenient.

I have now included an auction at this site to help you find  the crock pot and replacement parts you need, just CLICK HERE to go there.

There is never a better time to purchase or update your crock pot than now. Enjoy an easy and delicious dinner tonight and know if accidents happen and you break something you can easy replace it.

Tags: Cookware and bakeware, crock pot accessories, crock pot lids, crock pot replacement parts

I love the convenience the crock pot gives me for having a home cooked meal on my dinner table during my working week.  I made this little You Tube video and I thought I would share some Crock Pot Love with you.   Its just a bit of fun with some funky music.

Just a note:  I will be adding some more recipes for the holidays in the next few weeks.  I hope you enjoy them and if you have any suggestions please let me know.  I love this time of year especially leading up to Christmas so spread a little crock pot love yourself.

Let's use our crock pots to make the holiday season a little easier and let's spend less time in the kitchen and more time with our families and friends.  I love cooking but I love to relax with great food without the work even better.  If you are looking for some ideas for cooking then go than further than the large selection at AMAZON for CROCK POT RECIPES.

Tags: Crock Pot, crock pot love, Dinner, Slow cooker, You Tube Video

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.

Tags: best crock pot, Crock Pot, Slow cooker