Crockpot Recipes - A Busy Mom's Life Saver

If you are a busy mom like me, you probably dread coming home after a long day and making a big dinner for your family. We usually just make the same old think, day after day and week after week. How to we get out of those same old same old blues, you should make your Crockpot become your best friend. When cooking with a Crockpot you can easily prepare the meal the night before start the Crockpot in the morning before you head out for work and have a hot, delicious home cooked meal waiting for you when you come home.

There are many different variations of crackpots out there, and really any of them will do. You can easily purchase one for about ten to fifteen dollars for a basic one. Mine I bought for about 30 dollars but the convince factor of it truly makes up for the cost. Mine is large enough to hold a large roast or chicken, it has a high, medium, low and warm setting. It also has an automatic shut off time for when the meal will be done and sets it on warm waiting for you. It also has a removable insert that is dishwasher safe that is a definite plus. You also can purchase slow cooker bags (much like turkey roasting bags) that minimize clean up.

One of my favorite meals on a cold winter day is beef stew. It is hardier then a soup, and fills you up. Here is an old classic recipe my mother gave me that I use in my Crockpot.

Slow Cooker Beef Stew:

Ingredients:
1 ½ pounds of beef stew meet 1 inch cubed (usually can purchase pre cut at your grocery store)
12 baby carrots (or 4 medium carrots peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces)
4 white potatoes peeled and cut in chunks
1 onion peeled and quarters
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 beef bouillon cubes
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
2 bay leaves
½ tsp thyme
¼ tsp garlic powder
2 cups of beef broth
1 cup of water
3 tbsp flour

To start brown meat in a skillet in oil until lightly brown on the out side (do not cook all the way through). This step can be skipped if desired, but browning the meat locks in the flavor. In the Crockpot layer carrots, potatoes, onions and browned meat, as a note you should always place your vegetables on the bottom of the Crockpot. Add the Worcestershire sauce, beef bullion and all of the spices (except flour). Pour in broth and water to cover the vegetables and meat. Cook on low temp for 8 to 10 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours. About 30 minutes before you are ready to eat, remove the bay leaves, mix together in a separate bowl the flour and about 1/3 cup of water, add to Crockpot and mix to thicken and make more of a gravy vice broth. Turn the Crockpot up to high and continue to cook an additional 30 minutes. Serve and enjoy.

A warm French bread, you can pick up at any grocery store or some dinner rolls go perfect with this stew.

When it comes to cooking with your Crockpot here are some hints. You can brown meat to lock in the flavors, if you choose not to add 30 minutes to your cooking time to ensure the meat is cooked through. Always place your vegetables on the bottom of the slow cooker so they cook properly. Never open the Crockpot to stir or taste, the heat will escape and you will have to add additional cooking time. The taste of spices are intensified because they cook off slowly, taste your meal 30 minutes before serving if it needs extra flavor add it at this point. And finally, if you need to cook your meal in a faster amount of time, place a piece of tin foil below the lid, it will reflect the heat back down on your meal and it will cook quicker.

Surprise your family with a hardy home cooked meal that makes it seam like you slaved all day in the kitchen. There are many recipes that are quick and easy to make, that will save you time and money and make you a super mom in the kitchen.

Crockpot Chicken Recipes - Amazingly Delicious!

These crockpot chicken recipes are delicious. Just check these out and I'm sure you'll be amazingly surprised.

So here we go for some crockpot chicken recipes:

>>Crockpot Chicken Basic

~3 lb Chicken Salt and pepper

~2 Cloves garlic, minced

~1/4 ts Powdered marjoram

~1/4 ts Powdered thyme

~1 Bay leaf

~1/2 c Dry white wine (optional)

~1 c Dairy sour cream

~1 c Packaged biscuit mix

~1 tb Chopped parsley

~6 tb Milk

~10 Small white onions

Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper, place in crockpot. Insert cloves in one onion. Put all onions into pot. Add garlic, marjoram, thyme, bay leaf and wine. Cover and cook on low 5 to 6 hours. Remove bay leaf and cloves. Stir in sour cream.

Increase heat to high and combine biscuit mix with parsley. Stir milk into biscuit mix until well moistened. Drop dumplings from teaspoon around edge of pot. Cover and cook on high for 30 minutes.

>>Crockpot Chicken And Rice

~1/2 lb Mushrooms, fresh

~1/2 c Onions, chopped

~2 lb Chicken, raw

~1 ts Chicken bouillon

~1 ts Poultry seasoning

~1/4 ts Salt

~2 c Water

~3/4 c Rice, uncooked

Slice mushrooms. Remove skin from chicken. Spray skillet with nonstick spray coating. Brown mushrooms, onion, and chicken pieces on all sides over medium heat about 15 minutes.

Stir in seasonings and transfer to crockpot. Can be refrigerated overnight. Start crockpot on LOW. When ingredients are heated, add rice. Cook until done.

>>Crockpot Lemon Chicken

~ 4 pounds Chicken Pieces

~ 1/4 cup All-Purpose Flour

~ 2 tablespoons Cooking Oil

~ 6 ounces Lemonade -- Frozen Concentrate, Thawed

~ 3 tablespoons Brown Sugar

~ 3 tablespoons Catsup

~ 2 tablespoons Water

~ 2 tablespoons Cornstarch

~ 3 cups Cooked Rice

~ 1 1/4 teaspoons salt

1. Combine flour with salt; coat chicken thoroughly. 2. Brown chicken pieces in oil and drain. 3. Stir together lemonade, sugar, catsup and vinegar. 4. Place chicken in crockpot and pour lemonade mixture over it. (the chicken, not the crockpot) 5. Cook on high 3 to 4 hours. 6. Drain liquid into saucepan; add corns tarch and boil till reduced. 7. Pour gravy back over chicken; serve over rice.

That's it for today! If you want more crockpot chicken recipes just check below:

Soul Food Recipes - Most Frequently Asked Questions For July

Soul food recipes have experienced a spike in activity on many websites. Due to the sagging economy more people have no doubt sought ways to feed their family. They're finding the southern recipes not only low cost but satisfying and filling to more families. Many people have questions on different aspects soul food preparation, cooking and even baking.

The most popular soul food recipes for July were predictably foods of summer, you know the type you cook at back yard southern barbecues, picnics and other outings. I For example, barbecue chicken, grilled salmon, grilled jumbo shrimp, potato salad, macaroni salad, southern fried cabbage and barbecue beans. In addition, the recipes were lighter such as salads, light chicken dishes and cold desserts such as banana pudding,. Here's the most frequently asked questions for July.

1. When Cooking Chicken Breast In A Smoker, How Do You Tell When It's Done?

Chicken breast must reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees. The best way to tell is with a food thermometer.

2. How Can You Tell The Doneness of Roast Chicken?

Insert food thermometer into the thigh (the last part of the chicken to get cook). Make sure thermometer doesn't hit the bone or cartilage to get accurate reading.

3. How Can I Get Grill Marks On My Meat Or Fish?

Wipe a paper towel dipped in canola oil on the hot grill. Next place meat or fish grill and cook as normal. This will make deeper grill marks. Note: Canola oil is thicker than vegetable oil, this makes it better for giving you better grill marks.

4. When Making Potato Salad Should You Peel or Not Peel When Boiling?

It's best to not peel when boiling. This helps to keep the moisture in making for a creamier potato salad. The best way to judge doneness is to insert fork, when it easily comes out they're done.

5. What's The Quickest, Easiest and Best Way To Tenderize Meat For Grilling?

The beset way to tenderize meat or chicken is to marinate before grilling. Make sure you throw the marinade out after one use.

6. What's The Best Seasonings When Grilling Meat?

The best seasonings for grilling meats are garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt and ground black pepper as a basic seasoning.

7. What's The Biggest Mistake People Make When Barbecuing?

Not getting the coals hot enough is one. The other is opening the lid too often to reducing the cooking temperature.