If you like relaxing music and would like a peak at my kitchen and crock pots then watch this video.

Tags: crock pot meals, crock pots

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.

Tags: crock pot meals, crock pot recipes, Slow cooker

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

4 - 5 thick lamb chops

4 tbs butter

2 heaped tabs plain flour

1 heaped tab curry powder

2 tabs ketchup (tomato sauce)

1 tab plum jam

1 cup white wine

3/4 cup beef or vegetable stock

salt and pepper

Vegetables:

2 medium size carrots and onions each, sliced

1 medium size parsnip, sliced

2 medium size potatoes, peeled and sliced

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.

Tags: crock pot lamb, crock pot lamb stew, crock pot meals

I know I post a lot of soup recipes but it's because I really like soups.  They fill me up for longer than other meals so they are an excellent choice when I am watching my weight.  I like vegetarian soup especially as it is quick to make and inexpensive too.  The following recipe is also easy to make and you can adjust it to whatever vegetables you have at hand, within reason, to get a good result and a tasty vegetarian  soup.

Frugal Vegetarian Soup

1 potato

1 sweet potato

1 piece pumpkin

1 medium size onion

1 large carrot

vegetable (or chicken) stock

salt and pepper

1 teas cumin or curry powder (optional)

Cut the vegetables into small pieces, slice the onion and place them  in the crock pot.  Pour over the stock until the vegetables are covered.  Cook on high for 3 hours.  The larger the pieces the longer it will take to cook.  Remember though that sweet potato and pumpkin take less time than potato to cook in the crock pot so cut them into slightly larger pieces.

Take  half the liquid out of the crock pot and put aside.  Allow the soup to cool a little while then puree the contents and add back the liquid, a little at a time,  to get a good consistency.  This should be thick but not too thick, if you know what I mean.  Serve with fresh bread or toast and this recipe can also be used as a quick entree.  I like to add the curry for a different taste and I take it to work for lunch if there is any leftovers. Serves around 4 - 6 depending on how much vegetables and stock you use.

So, you now have another successful and easy crock pot meal and at a very low cost.  Frugal cooking doesn't have to mean tasteless cooking.

Tags: crock pot meals, Vegetable, vegetarian soup

Chicken soup has to be the most popular soup people make and is often made when we don't feel very well especially with a cold or flu.  Making a traditional soup means doing it the old fashioned way so that is what I have done here.   A note though, if you are making it for someone with a sore throat think about sieving or blending the vegetables to make it easier to swallow for them but still getting the goodness of the soup.

This crock pot chicken soup recipe is delicious and good for you so enjoy all the time not just when you are sick or feeling down.   You can freeze this soup very easily as well so you can make enough for another time or for your work day lunch.  Here is the recipe:

Crock Pot Chicken Soup

1 small chicken (or 1 kg chicken carcass or 6 drumsticks)

2 liters of water (or whatever you need to cover the chicken in the pot)* *

1 teas salt

sprinkle of pepper

1 onion

1 large carrot ( I like lots of carrot so I used 2 medium as you can see in the image)

1 stalk celery with leaves still on

bouquet garni - make  with 1 bay leaf, 4 sprigs of parsley, 1 sprig thyme- tie together with some string, this is taken out when the soup is cooked

extra chopped parsley

noodles (optional)

Chop the onion, celery and carrot finely.  Put the chicken and vegetables into the crock pot and cover with the water.  Cook on low for 6  hours (8 hours for the whole chicken).  Take the chicken out and the bouquet garni.  If you want to sieve the vegetables do that now.  Remove the chicken from the bones and add to the soup.  Cool the soup overnight and skim off any fat from the top.  You can add noodles if you like, reheat and serve.  Sprinkle with the extra parsley just before serving.

That was a fairly easy crock pot chicken soup recipe really.  You don't have to cool the soup overnight if you don't want to but I recommend it and the flavors will be better as well.

** You can add some chicken stock powder if you like the taste a little stronger

Tags: crock pot chicken soup recipe, crock pot meals, Soups and Stews

I love to go to Pot Luck Parties and family gatherings where I take along a dish I have made to contribute to the meal.  The crock pots that have a lock down lid and handles make it easy to move the crock pot meal to your destination.   Slow Cooker Liners are good too as you can tie the contents up and then replace the lid so you wont spill any of the contents.

You can also buy a Crock Pot Travel Bag and this helps with transporting the hot crock pot as well.  There are two sizes so check that your crock pot will fit before buying.  Have you ever dropped a dish while trying to carry it?    I did, and it was one of my favorites that couldn't be replaced so don't let his happen to you.

I love being with family and friends and the crock pot is a great boon for when I am asked to 'take a plate'.  No fuss cooking, a great crock pot meal and no fuss carrying as well.   Making and taking your crock pot meal also helps the hostess/host with one less dish to heat in the oven.  I know my oven would not take more than about 4 casserole size dishes.

Crock pot meals make good choices for when you need to supply a meal so take your crock pot with you.

Tags: crock pot meals, Pot Luck Parties, Slow cooker

The crock pot makes winter cooking easy.  You can prepare cheap easy meals from your slow cooker including soups, stews, desserts and cakes.  Fill the crock pot, turn it on, walk away and come back to delicious crock pot meals.  I cook a lot of soups in winter and all of them are prepared in the slow cooker.  You will be able to make cheap and easy crock pot meals with little preparation.  Soups are great to freeze for later as well, so if you are cooking on a budget soups are great value.

When most people think of crock pot cooking they think of cooking stews only, and they do cook well by slow cooking, but in winter I also cook most of my puddings, cakes and other desserts in the crock pot.  Last winter I also started cooking breakfasts also.  If you are a busy person, then why not get out that crock pot this winter and if you haven't already got one you can buy one at a great price on eBay or Amazon.  Check out the eBay auction on this site for current listings.

We are all cooking on a budget these days and the slow cooker helps you save money as you can use less expensive cuts of meat, use less electricity, cook in bulk and have more home made meals instead of dining out. Cooking in winter is always more pleasant than the hot steamy days of summer so this winter why not try some nutritious and easy crock pot meals.  Cooking on a budget has never been easier.

TO CHECK OUT:    Frugal Mom's Guide to Once a Month Cooking is here!  Not only does it have over 70 mom-tested once a month cooking recipes, but complete step-by-step instructions for doing once a month cooking, and lots of great forms to help you!
Click here for more information.

Tags: cooking on a budget, Crock Pot, crock pot meals, Slow cooker

If you like a mess free life then you might like to start using a crock pot liner for your crock pot meals.

Not only are crock pot liners good for no mess cooking but you can use them to transfer food to another contained which is really helpful when taking that cooked dish to another location such as a Pot Luck party.  You can also seal up that liner in the crock pot itself which will help prevent spillage.

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Tags: Cooking, crock pot liners, crock pot meals

I like this crock pot recipe as it goes a long way and is good to take to pot luck parties or just when you want easy meals your family and friends they can help themselves to.  I cook this crock pot meal usually for Sunday night dinner and have it again Monday night.  It saves me cooking at least one night.

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Tags: beef recipe, Crock Pot, crock pot meals

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

1 cup regular oats

2 cups water

1 cup milk

1/2 small apple, chopped

1/4 cup chopped dates

1/2 teasp cinnamon

2 tabs brown sugar

1/4 cup walnuts

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.

Tags: apple and date oatmeal breakfast, crock pot meals, Oatmeal