Crock Pot Meals

This recipe for crock pot spaghetti sauce is one I have made for many years and is a fairly simple one.  The only preparation is the browning of the onion, garlic and meat.  Just turn on the crock pot add the ingredients and cook on low.  You then only need to cook whatever spaghetti or pasta you like to go with the sauce.  I usually use spaghetti but occasionally I will use fettuccine.

This crock pot spaghetti sauce recipe will serve at least 8 to 10 people so it is good for a big family, a party or even to freeze for future use when you are busy. You can also adapt it and add mushrooms, bacon or chili for a different taste.  I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do and find it easy to prepare.

Paulineh's Crock Pot Spaghetti Sauce

2 lb (1 kg) minced steak (use the best quality you can afford)
3 tabs oil
2 onions chopped finely
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teas oregano
2 teas basil
2 cans whole or chopped tomatoes
5 ounces (140g) tomato paste
3/4 cup beef stock
1/2 cup red wine
1 tab sugar
salt and pepper to taste
Parmesan cheese for topping (optional)

Place the 2 tabs oil in a frying pan and heat, add the onion and garlic and stir until transparent.  Place in the base of the crock pot.  Add 1 tab oil and brown the meat in 3 batches and adding to the crock pot as they brown.  Now add the chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, beef stock, red wine, herbs and salt and pepper and mix well.  Put on the lid of the crock pot and cook on low for 6 hours.  In the last hour stir and add the sugar.  This cuts down on the acid from the tomatoes.

To serve cook the spaghetti or other pasta and pour the sauce on top or stir through.  Add Parmesan cheese if you like it.  You can also serve some crusty bread to mop up the sauce and a tossed salad.  Freeze any sauce that is left over for another meal.  I hope you like my crock pot spaghetti sauce.

Need a new crock pot or accessory for it?  Check out the eBay auction for the best prices.

Tags: beef, crock pot spaghetti sauce, Garlic, Onion

If you looking for an easy recipe for the crock pot then this Chicken Thighs Oriental Style is the one for you.  Mix up your marinade the night before and pour over chicken then cook the next day.  Presto, there is your dinner.

I turn the chicken a few times when I think about it so both sides are coated with the marinade.  This helps with the color and flavor so remember to do that step. You can also use drumsticks or wings if you prefer them to thighs.  Here is the recipe.

Chicken Thighs Oriental Style

1/4 cup soy sauce

1 clove garlic, crushed

1/2 teas crushed or minced ginger

1 dsp dry sherry

salt and pepper

1 dsp oil

*1 dsp honey

Mix all the ingredients except the chicken and mix well.  Pour over the chicken pieces and marinate in the fridge overnight.  Turn once or twice.  Spray the crock pot with some oil spray and place the chicken pieces in the base.  Spoon any of the left over marinade over the chicken and cover.  Cook on low for 6 hours.

Serve with rice or with vegetables as I tend to do (you have probably noticed by now) as dinner is when I try and get my four serves in.  You can also serve this dish cold with salad.

*  You can use 2 dessertspoons of honey if you like it sweeter.

Tags: chicken, Crock Pot, oriental chicken

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

This is a nice recipe that has a delicate flavor and is easy to make.  The three step preparation is all you need to do to have a lovely meal to serve tonight made in your slow cooker while you do something else you need to get done or just take some time out for yourself relaxing.

It's a recipe I have had for awhile and always enjoyed it so I thought I would adapt it to the slow cooker so make it tonight and see if it becomes one your favorites too.

Oregano Chicken with Lemon

1/4 cup plain flour

2 tsp smoked paprika

salt and pepper

2.5 lbs (1kg) chicken legs (about 8-10)

2 tabs oil

1 lemon cut into 4

8 garlic cloves

4 sprigs fresh oregano

1 large onion cut into 8

1.5 cups chicken stock

A little cornflour mixed with water

fresh oregano leaves for garnish

Mix the first 3 ingredients together and then coat the chicken in it.  Heat the oil in a large frying pan and brown the chicken legs.  Place the chicken in the slow cooker and add the lemon, onion, garlic cloves, oregano sprigs and the stock.  Cover and cook on high for 3.5 - 4 hours.

Remove the chicken to the serving plate and thicken the remainder of the contents in the slow cooker with cornflour mix.   I like to do this so I have a nice thick sauce to pour over the chicken.  I also remove the lemon, the garlic and the oregano sprigs. Finally garnish with chopped oregano leaves.

Serve with rice, polenta or pasta and vegetables.  Serves 4.

Tags: chicken, Garlic, Slow cooker

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.

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Tags: Baking, Crock Pot, crock pot baking

Halloween is a great time of year when the weather is cooling down and hot foods are coming back in.  If you are having a party or special dinner then pumpkin soup made in the crock pot has to be on the menu.

Here is a recipe for pumpkin soup with a twist.  The addition of garlic and some other vegetables gives it a new taste to the traditional soup.  Make it in your crock pot and serve it in pumpkin shaped bowls or make your own by hollowing out a large pumpkin or individual ones.  Brush with a little lemon juice to stop discoloring and serve immediately you fill the shells.

Pumpkin and Garlic Soup

1/2 cup yellow split peas (soak overnight)

1 tab olive oil

1 chopped onion

2 cloves crushed garlic

20 oz (550g) small pumpkin pieces

5 cups chicken or vegetable stock

pinch of salt, pepper and nutmeg

15 oz (42 g) can creamed corn

Heat oil in a pan and add the onion and garlic and toss until clear.  Transfer to the crock pot and add the peas, stock and the pumpkin.  Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.   Add the corn and seasonings and cook for another 2 hours.  Take out at least a cup of  soup especially some of the peas and blend, then add back to thicken the soup.  Serve with crusty bread and top with some chopped parsley.

How easy is that!

Tags: Halloween recipe, Pumpkin, Soup

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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Tags: Crock Pot, Soup, soup expert

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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Tags: beef stroganoff, Slow cooker, Soups and Stews

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.

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

The recipe below for Lamb shank and butter bean soup is one that was given to me by my friend Karen from Camden.  I have adapted it for the crock pot and I am sure you will love it like we do.  It is a thick soup so it is a meal in itself and makes enough soup to feed a family of six.

There is a little preparation with the browning of the leek and the lamb but then its a quick and easy recipe to make in the crock pot.  I make it on Saturday and there is enough to have again and I must admit that it is a soup that takes even better the next day.  Try it and see for yourself.

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Tags: Crock Pot, crock pot recipes, lamb shank, Soup