Crock Pot Meals » Crock Pot

Behind schedule but back on track

Paulineh — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 23:32:14 +0000

Just a quick note to all my readers that I am running behind schedule with my Cake and Dessert Recipe Ebook.

A few family problems, health issues and just plain trying to fit everything in at present has made me do a spin out. I hope to have the eBook finished sometime in July.

I have a great chocolate eBook though I can give you now. Its not for crock pot cooking but hey, who doesnt love chocolate recipes. If you would like it just leave a comment on this post and make sure you have a valid email address and I will send it to you.

I am back on track now and feeling better....now back to work.

Finding quality crock pot recipes

Paulineh — Thu, 13 May 2010 10:36:14 +0000

Finding crock pot recipes should not be difficult if you are searching online as the internet is so big. That's what I thought when I was previously looking for quality recipes. What I found though was a lot of information I had to sort through to find a good recipe or one that was at a standard that I was looking for. I like to use items you find in your pantry and avoid if possible using canned goods. This was a bit of a hit and miss process I found though.

I started to adapt my own standard recipes to crock pot recipes and only looked at quality sites if I had to. This worked for awhile but then I needed more, and got inspiration from my mother's recipes as well. Slow cooker recipe eBooks also were not at a very good standard generally as I am sure most of the recipes were not tested and tried. Printed cookbooks were superior by a long way.

I decided to set up this blog to give you quality, tested crock pot recipes and ideas and I am now in the process of writing my own eBook on cake and dessert crock pot recipes. I found these recipes the hardest to find online so I decided to write this eBook. I should be finished the book in the next month.

I have decided to give it away to my readers who are on my email list so if you haven't grabbed the soup recipe eBook featured to the right then do that soon. You then will be on the list and you will be one of the first people to get the eBook when I release it. It will only be available for my readers on that list.

I will keep you informed on the release date as it gets closer. Here's to more crock pot meals.

If you are looking for recipes today then go to my CROCK POT RECIPES here on the blog.

New Crock Pot present

Paulineh — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:24:28 +0000

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.

Baking in the Crock Pot

Paulineh — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:55:08 +0000

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.

You can use a crock pot cake tin or an ordinary cake pan or even the crock pot base itself to cook the cake. I know people who use empty coffee or soup cans. These are good for fruit cakes and rolls. I haven't had a bad experience yet so I am either lucky or the crock pot likes baking.

Here are 10 tips for crock pot baking:

Preheat the crock pot on high for 10 -1 5 minutes if you are using an ordinary pan.
Use several sheets of paper towel on the top of the cake pan and cover with the crock pot lid, except when using the crock pot cake pan.
Cook your cakes on the high setting.
Don't lift the lid during cooking, only at the end as you let the heat out.
Use a rack if you have one in the bottom of the crock pot base and if you haven't one you can use 2 or 3 egg rings as a substitute. This helps the heat to circulate around the pan for more even cooking.
Grease and line the cake pan to prevent the cake from sticking.
Only half fill the cake pan or cut the liner at least an inch above the top of the sides.
Use your oval based crock pot for cakes that can be decorated as faces, clocks, footballs etc.
Test the cake with a skewer and if cooked let it cook a few minutes before getting turning out.
Use prepared cake mixes in the crock pot for an improved taste over conventional cooking.

Enjoy baking in your crock pot especially during the holidays coming up. This will also save your oven space for other cooking.

Rival bread'n cake bake PAN ONLY
US $4.99

Rival Crock Pot Bread'n Cake Bake Pan Small Size EUC
US $3.99

Rival Crock Pot Bread 'N Cake Bake Pan w Cookbook
US $24.99

Can I use a Cracked Crock Pot Lid?

Paulineh — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 06:54:59 +0000

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.

If you are moving the crock pot such as for a Pot Luck Party then I wouldn't advise using the cracked crock pot lid at all. The chances are high that the crack will spread or break while moving and others will be using the lid so it's a safety issue.

If you have crock pot with a cracked base then again don't use it. It's not worth being electrocuted over a meal. Don't try and mend it either as you aren't guaranteed of a proper seal or the sealer may contaminate the food.

You can find crock pot lid replacements on manufacturers sites, that is, if they are fairly new models, and on eBay. I think it is a matter of deciding how much you want to spend on replacing your crock pot lid, finding the correct one for your crock pot model, using another lid that fits (easier if it is a round crock pot) or replacing the whole crock pot.

If it is an old crock pot then really think twice but as I own one myself and love it I would try and replace the crock pot lid if I could.

Look for crock pot lids on the eBay auction search on the right--> or go to Crock Pots and Accessories Auction on this site or look at the ones below.

Rival Oval Casserole Crock Pot Blue Stoneware Glass Lid
US $29.99

ALL-CLAD Slow Cooker Stainless Steel Crockpot AC65EB
US $69.99

SUNBEAM SLOW COOKER / CROCK POT / DUTCH OVEN / FRYER
US $9.99

New feature – Crock Pots and Parts Auction

Paulineh — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 13:04:11 +0000

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

Where can I buy a new Crock Pot Cookbook?

Paulineh — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 01:59:11 +0000

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.

Looking around, I found that the price of the cookbooks are pretty reasonable with most being between $10-20. It all depends on how big it is, how it is presented such as hard cover or digital version, where you go to buy it and the quality of the contents. There are also sites where you can create, publish and sell your own crock pot cookbook like Lulu.com so that's another good place to investigate if you like writing.

There is a parts and accessories auction here on Crock Pot Meals and if you don't see one you like then go to Amazon.com at last count there was over 188 crock pot cookbooks there.

Little known other uses for the crock pot

Paulineh — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 04:59:04 +0000

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.

Did you know you can get Crock Pot Replacement Parts and Accessories?

Paulineh — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 11:00:46 +0000

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.

Crock Pot Love

Paulineh — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 10:00:50 +0000

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.