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.

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

Cooking at Christmas can be stressful.  I seem to spend a lot of time in the kitchen cooking.  This year I am determined to prepare as much as I can beforehand so I am free to enjoy myself more.  Crock pot Christmas cooking makes life easier for you.  Also if you cook in your crock pot it frees up room in your oven for other cooking.  You can put your crock pot on in the morning and it cooking slowly during the day.  Cook the dessert in the crock pot and have the oven free for the main meal.

I have two size crock pots and the small one is good for cooking foods such as fondues and dips and even making gifts like chutneys and spiced nuts.  You can even make hot drinks such as cider in your crock pot.  Here is a recipe which I think you will enjoy for your Christmas cooking.

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Tags: Christmas cooking, Crock Pot, Fondue

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

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

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 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

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

Here's an easy recipe for your lunch or dinner today.

You will need:
8 potatoes (medium sized)
Small amount of oil
Cooking salt
Foil

Brush the potatoes with oil and prick them all over (don't overlook this step).  Rub them with salt then wrap them in foil.  I actually use my hands with the oil then the salt but you can use a pastry brush. Turn on the crock pot to low and place the wrapped potatoes on the base.  No liquid is needed so don't add any.  Cover and cook for 8 hours.  If you decide to use small potatoes then reduce the cooking time only by about an hour.

I had left over chili con carne in my freezer so I used that as the topping that day.   I sprinkled some shredded cheese as well over the top.  You can use whatever you have in the pantry, fridge or freezer for toppings or you can try one of the ones below.

Here are 6 other toppings you can use:
1. Shredded cheese and salsa
2. Chopped Onions, bacon and tomatoes
3. Cream cheese and chopped chives
4. Pineapple, chopped ham and shredded cheese
6. Tuna, corn and mayo

Allow at least 2 per person. You can serve the topped potatoes with salad if you wish. This dish makes a good weekend lunch or Sunday night dinner. Cooking these baked potatoes in the crock pot is so easy.

If your crock pot has a cracked lid or you want to replace the bowl then check out Crock Pot Meals Auction site.

Tags: Baked potato, Crock Pot, crock pot recipe