Crockpot
Quick & Healthy Crockpot Cooking Recipes
Here are some exceptional, quick, and easy crockpot cooking recipes for your consumption! Enjoy!! Save time, money, and calories!
Ever met a mother who says she has too much time on her hands? It just doesn't happen at the demands on mothers today are unparalleled. Between the demands of your children's busy schedules, keeping up a household, trying to juggle personal, social
and marital obligations and activities, plus in some cases - holding down a job outside the home, time is at a premium! Almost every mom at one time or another does the 5 p.m. panic that rush to throw together dinner before the demands of the evening begin! For many of us, this means take-out or delivery; however, this can add up in both price and calories! One fabulous solution to this dilemma is the Crockpot.
A crockpot is a crockery cooking pot, ranging in size from 3.5 to 6 quarts, depending on the brand and style you select. The crockery pot sits in a metal canister, which heats up and slowly cooks the contents of the pot over time. This means that you can simply add the ingredients to the crockpot in the morning, turn it on low, and return at night to find dinner cooked and ready for you. There are very few things as nice as coming home after a busy day to the aroma of a fresh and healthy meal, just waiting for you.
There are dozens of websites where you can get easy recipes for the crockpot, and some very good crockpot cookbooks as well. Crockpot cooking does not have to be high calorie, either. There are healthy-cooking crockpot recipe books as well, and often you cannot tell the difference between a regular and a healthy recipe!
Most crockpot recipes involve cooking meats in liquid, so the majority of recipes involve cooking meat in broth, soup, wine or water. Substituting 98% fat free soup can cut the calories dramatically from any standard crockpot recipe, without sacrificing flavor. The meat generally turns out extremely tender and juicy: beef, lamb and pork will literally be fall-apart tender, chicken is soft and flavorful, fish is moist and tasty. Because of the moistness you get with a crockpot prepared dish, this is a great way to use inexpensive cuts of meat and save money! Most recipes can be served either as is, or over rice or noodles, which you prepare at the last minute. There are also a variety of quality vegetarian recipes, side dishes, and even breakfast dishes you can make in the crockpot!
Some tips for buying a crockpot:
1. Crockpots come in many different sizes. Although you may be intimidated by the larger crockpots, go for the largest size you think you might possibly use. You'll be amazed at how well the crockpot cooks, and crockpot leftovers reheat beautifully!
2. Be sure to get a crockpot with a removable liner. Some models have crocks that do not lift out, making cleaning far more difficult. Buy a crock with a removable liner for convenience.
3. Slow-cookers typically heat with a single coil underneath may cook unevenly. Avoid slow cookers or cooker/fryer combinations; instead, find a traditional crockpot where the heat comes from all around the outside. You'll also get less bottom scorching with a crockpot, due to the even heat distribution.
Some tips for crockery cooking:
1. A crockpot will heat your food to over 140 degrees, so bacteria is killed. Be sure to follow the recipe's directions for the minimum cook time.
2. Most recipes involve cooking on low for 8 hours or more; however, you can usually cook on high for a shorter period of time.
3. Try to avoid lifting the lid and peeking, especially during the first 30 minutes of cooking. This slows the heating process, adding additional cooking time to your schedule.
4. Place vegetables on the bottom to help them cook with the meat, which generally cooks more quickly.
5. Use your crockpot for long-cooking recipes like stew and chili, that you would normally cook on the stove. With the crockpot, you get the long-cooked tenderness and flavor, without requiring constant attention!
6. Milk and cheese tend to curdle if cooked for long periods of time. Most recipes will have these added in the last half-hour, if needed. To add cream or thickener, try microwaving it in a small bowl first to aid in the quick heating. Substitute evaporated skim milk for cream and fat free sour cream to cut calories!
7. Cut meat into smaller chunks to help it cook more evenly, especially if it is on the bone. One great recipe that is a family favorite is below.
Super Killer Crockpot Spaghetti
1 cup red wine
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 brown onion, diced
1 tsp. Oregano
1 tsp. Basil
1 lb. Hamburger (the lowest fat possible)
1 large can (28 oz. or larger) tomato sauce
16 oz. raw pasta
Place mushrooms and onion in the bottom of the crockpot. Add hamburger, garlic, and spices, top with red wine and tomato sauce. Cook for 8 hours on low. Stir halfway, if possible, to break up hamburger into chunks (otherwise this can be done at the end). 30 minutes before dinner, cook pasta in boiling water. Ladle spaghetti sauce over hot pasta and serve!
Lemon Rosemary Roast Chicken
1 whole roasting chicken
1 fresh lemon, cut into 4 sections
3 sprigs of fresh rosemary
4 whole cloves of garlic
Salt & pepper to taste
1 cup of water or white wine
Place lemon, rosemary, and garlic in the cavity of the chicken. Sprinkle the outside of the chicken with salt and pepper. Place chicken in crockpot, cavity up. Pour wine or water around base of chicken. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours. Serve with rice and fresh vegetables for a very healthy and easy dinner!
Ever met a mother who says she has too much time on her hands? It just doesn't happen at the demands on mothers today are unparalleled. Between the demands of your children's busy schedules, keeping up a household, trying to juggle personal, social
A crockpot is a crockery cooking pot, ranging in size from 3.5 to 6 quarts, depending on the brand and style you select. The crockery pot sits in a metal canister, which heats up and slowly cooks the contents of the pot over time. This means that you can simply add the ingredients to the crockpot in the morning, turn it on low, and return at night to find dinner cooked and ready for you. There are very few things as nice as coming home after a busy day to the aroma of a fresh and healthy meal, just waiting for you.
There are dozens of websites where you can get easy recipes for the crockpot, and some very good crockpot cookbooks as well. Crockpot cooking does not have to be high calorie, either. There are healthy-cooking crockpot recipe books as well, and often you cannot tell the difference between a regular and a healthy recipe!
Most crockpot recipes involve cooking meats in liquid, so the majority of recipes involve cooking meat in broth, soup, wine or water. Substituting 98% fat free soup can cut the calories dramatically from any standard crockpot recipe, without sacrificing flavor. The meat generally turns out extremely tender and juicy: beef, lamb and pork will literally be fall-apart tender, chicken is soft and flavorful, fish is moist and tasty. Because of the moistness you get with a crockpot prepared dish, this is a great way to use inexpensive cuts of meat and save money! Most recipes can be served either as is, or over rice or noodles, which you prepare at the last minute. There are also a variety of quality vegetarian recipes, side dishes, and even breakfast dishes you can make in the crockpot!
Some tips for buying a crockpot:
1. Crockpots come in many different sizes. Although you may be intimidated by the larger crockpots, go for the largest size you think you might possibly use. You'll be amazed at how well the crockpot cooks, and crockpot leftovers reheat beautifully!
2. Be sure to get a crockpot with a removable liner. Some models have crocks that do not lift out, making cleaning far more difficult. Buy a crock with a removable liner for convenience.
3. Slow-cookers typically heat with a single coil underneath may cook unevenly. Avoid slow cookers or cooker/fryer combinations; instead, find a traditional crockpot where the heat comes from all around the outside. You'll also get less bottom scorching with a crockpot, due to the even heat distribution.
Some tips for crockery cooking:
1. A crockpot will heat your food to over 140 degrees, so bacteria is killed. Be sure to follow the recipe's directions for the minimum cook time.
2. Most recipes involve cooking on low for 8 hours or more; however, you can usually cook on high for a shorter period of time.
3. Try to avoid lifting the lid and peeking, especially during the first 30 minutes of cooking. This slows the heating process, adding additional cooking time to your schedule.
4. Place vegetables on the bottom to help them cook with the meat, which generally cooks more quickly.
5. Use your crockpot for long-cooking recipes like stew and chili, that you would normally cook on the stove. With the crockpot, you get the long-cooked tenderness and flavor, without requiring constant attention!
6. Milk and cheese tend to curdle if cooked for long periods of time. Most recipes will have these added in the last half-hour, if needed. To add cream or thickener, try microwaving it in a small bowl first to aid in the quick heating. Substitute evaporated skim milk for cream and fat free sour cream to cut calories!
7. Cut meat into smaller chunks to help it cook more evenly, especially if it is on the bone. One great recipe that is a family favorite is below.
Super Killer Crockpot Spaghetti
1 cup red wine
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 brown onion, diced
1 tsp. Oregano
1 tsp. Basil
1 lb. Hamburger (the lowest fat possible)
1 large can (28 oz. or larger) tomato sauce
16 oz. raw pasta
Place mushrooms and onion in the bottom of the crockpot. Add hamburger, garlic, and spices, top with red wine and tomato sauce. Cook for 8 hours on low. Stir halfway, if possible, to break up hamburger into chunks (otherwise this can be done at the end). 30 minutes before dinner, cook pasta in boiling water. Ladle spaghetti sauce over hot pasta and serve!
Lemon Rosemary Roast Chicken
1 whole roasting chicken
1 fresh lemon, cut into 4 sections
3 sprigs of fresh rosemary
4 whole cloves of garlic
Salt & pepper to taste
1 cup of water or white wine
Place lemon, rosemary, and garlic in the cavity of the chicken. Sprinkle the outside of the chicken with salt and pepper. Place chicken in crockpot, cavity up. Pour wine or water around base of chicken. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours. Serve with rice and fresh vegetables for a very healthy and easy dinner!
Source: Essortment