I’ve been having fun digging down into “A Year of Crockpotting.” This gal, Stephanie, resolved to use her crockpot every day for a year. She’s up to day 207.
She posts the day’s recipe with instructions and photos along with her verdict on the outcome with humor and honesty.
The whole idea is hilarious.
And genius.
I mean, it landed her a spot on Rachael Ray. If that’s not genius food blogging, I don’t know what is.
Stephanie’s blog-concept got me thinking about how much I appreciate the crockpot. As you may know, I already use it frequently to cook steel cut oatmeal overnight.
But I don’t use it for our main meal all that often. I’ve come to realize that one of the reasons I dislike cooking dinner is the stress of having all the elements come together at just the right moment to serve the hungry crowd.
If, however, I have even just one part of the meal burbling in the crockpot–appetizer, main dish, side dish, dessert (you name it, Stephanie’s had it burbling in her crock)–I can clean up from that and focus on what’s left without so much anxiety. I could be fixing a nice little salad, or preparing some vegetables, or relaxing in the living room with friends, enjoying l’aperitif.
Such freedom!
The thought of increased efficiency in food-preparation inspired me. I pulled out some frozen chicken breasts and made this: Sweet and Sassy Crockpot Chicken.
I didn’t have the ingredients for several enticing recipes from Stephanie’s site; but, energized by her creativity, I searched for an alternative using what I had on hand. Sweet and Sassy Crockpot Chicken fit my limitations.
The verdict: Sweet and Sassy Crockpot Chicken was easy to prepare and tasty. The Belgian Wonder didn’t rave about it, but said that he liked it. Besides, he’s so practical and understated, I don’t know that he’d rave about anything food related.
I did note that he helped himself to a second serving.
Eldest daughter said, “Definitely make it again!”
Vive le crockpot!
9 comments
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July 26, 2008 at 1:39 am
Stretch Mark Mama
But the salmon in the crockpot? Didn’t work for me. But I’m off to try the curry tomorrow.
I HEART my crock pot. I don’t know how I’d homeschool w/o it. I think of her as my happy little cook, in the kitchen slaving away over our dinner.
July 26, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Regan
As a working gal, I use my crockpot all the time. It’s so nice to come home from work and smell dinner that’s all ready for me. Sometimes I use it to cook part of the meal to save prep time, for example, if I need boiled chicken, I’ll put it in the crockpot in the morning, and it will be tender and falling off the bone when I get home. Then I can use it in any regular recipe.
The only gripe I have about my crockpot is that it doesn’t have a removable dish. That makes it hard to clean. But since it was free to me, I can’t complain too much.
July 27, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Pam
I have a friend that loves her oatmeal and can eat it cold for a snack. I am going to tell her about the crockpot method. Ann, maybe this week sometime I will write in my blog about my daughter that is a missionary.
July 28, 2008 at 2:14 pm
hereinak
I love my crockpot too. My mornings are always so hectic getting the kids fed and dressed and in for naps that I always forget to do something with the crockpot until it’s too late for the day, so a lot of times I’ll fill it the night before and stick it in the fridge. The 365 day challenge sounds great! I just may have to something like that!
About salmon in the crockpot- with my husband bringing home many salmon during the summer, I’m always looking for new and EASY recipes to cook salmon. I put some in the crockpot with a cup of juice (ie apple or orange, anything you might have on hand), sprinkled on some soy sauce and a few seasonings. Cooked on low for about three hours. It came out great. Just make sure the salmon is fresh, or at least not freezer burned!!!
July 29, 2008 at 10:35 pm
annkroeker
Stretch Mark Mama: I’m going to have to amble over to your place and see what crockpot recipes you’ve posted. I tried one that looked like it would be amazing, and the kids acted like they’d barf if they had to put down one spoonful of it.
Regan: Yum, it all sounds like a great idea. You and Stretch Mark Mama seem to make good use of it. On these recommendations, I made sure to pick up a whole chicken on sale.
Pam: Yay for the oatmeal, and the missionary write-up sounds great!
Hereinak: Love that salmon suggestion. Here in IN, we have to find it frozen. Sounds like it would work well with your super-easy method (without the freezer burn!). The kids might make gag sounds about salmon, too, because they are that picky….too bad. So many recipes, such a big crockpot, so little time…and such picky eaters who keep me from trying even a fraction of them. I’m trying to expand their taste horizons….
August 3, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Ann Kroeker
[...] Friday’s Food: Crock-Thoughts [...]
August 3, 2008 at 11:11 pm
Crock-Flops and Minor Crock-Successes « Ann Kroeker
[...] Minor Crock-Successes Jump to Comments I was so eager to try some new recipes in the crockpot after being inspired by A Year of Crockpotting that I did a little online search and came up with this highly recommended stew: Crockpot Chicken [...]
January 3, 2009 at 12:34 am
Jake Carr
My wife and I were both college students when we had our children. I guess we did it the hard, albeit very fulfilling way. With our crazy study / work / parenting schedule we found that we just didn’t want to cook a healthy dinner when we finally got home in the evenings. We’d get fast food all too often.
Our awesome solution was that we would take a Sunday afternoon and package five or six uncooked crock pot recipies in gallon freezer bags. We’d make each recipe five times so we’d have a ton of food ready go to! We’d freeze them as cube shaped as possible. (We scraped money together to get a used chest freezer which sat on the balcony of our apartment! It was totally worth it) In the morning while we were getting ready we’d cut the bag off a cube of frozen food, toss it in the crock pot on low, prop the lid on top so it would fit when the food defrosts, and head off to school etc. By the time we got back we’d have a wonderfully slow cooked meal.
We not only saved a TON of cash, but we ate healthy food as students!
Hope this helps someone! I know a couple of people who’ve sent thier kids off to school with a crock pot and a chest freezer because of us. Then when they come home for a quick visit, they often get sent home with a box or two of frozen crock pot dinners all ready to go! On that note, you can even mail a frozen recipe (package carefully, of course) all ready for the crock pot and treat them to a home cooked meal EXACTLY like mom used to make!
I guess I’m a bit of a crock-a-holic, but like my mom used to say: if it weren’t for the slow cooker, we’d have starved long ago!
February 8, 2009 at 11:42 am
Kathy Browning
I’m glad to hear you enjoyed the Sweet and Sassy Crockpot Chicken and hope your readers do too
I had to laugh about your quinoa episode. No one in my family likes quinoa either, although I’ve tried numerous times to disguise it. That curly figure gives it away every time!
If your family enjoys beef, feel free to try “The Ultimate Beef Crockpot Recipe at http://thecheapgourmet.typepad.com/the_cheap_gourmet/2008/11/the-ultimate-beef-crockpot-recipe.html.
OR… Crockpot Beef Roast with Burgundy Wine Gravy – http://thecheapgourmet.typepad.com/the_cheap_gourmet/2008/01/crockpot-beef-p.html
Here’s a kid-friendly recipe for Crockpot Caramel Apples – http://thecheapgourmet.typepad.com/the_cheap_gourmet/2008/01/unusual-crockpo.html
I enjoy your blog and your writing style. Here’s to your continued success!
The Cheap Gourmet