Crock Pot Ideas??

Hello A.,
I didn't get a chance to read all the responses so if this is a repeat I'm sorry...I don't know any good crock pot recipes but Trader Joe's sells REALLY good brown rice that is frozen. You microwave it for 3 minutes in the bag it comes in and I LOVE it!

Seasoned Tri-tip
1) Buy a seasoned tri-tip (or season it yourself)and wrap really good in foil.
2) Cook for 2 hours at 350 degrees the night before you want it.
3) Put the tri-tip, one can of beef broth and the juice from the cooked tri-tip in the crock pot and put in the fridge over night
4) In the morning turn the crock pot of low for 6-8 hours and it's done.
5) I usually make sandwiches with it, but it is good by itself.

Rice,
I bought a rice cooker from Pampered Chef and supposedly you can make rice in the microwave in about 10 minutes or so. I have never used it yet, but friends have said that is works good and is really easy.

Never tried brown rice in the crock pot, but you can do it in the microwave: use a microwave safe covered casserole dish; add 2 cups water, 1 cup rice, 1 tsp salt, and 1 tsp vegetable oil. Cover and cook on high for 5-6 minutes (until water boils. Remove from oven and let sit 10 minutes; return to microwave and cook and additional 3-5 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes. Fluff and serve. If the rice isn't fully done, you can zap it a minute more at a time...

As for the crockpot recipies, http://www.dietsinreview.com/recipes/Crock-Pot-Pizza/ I made a version of the crock pot pizza and my whole family loved it. I used a little more cheese (I know that's not very weight-watcher-y of me!), and "small shells" macaroni. You can always cook a whole bunch of ground meat with onions at once and keep it in the freezer for crock pot recipes like this one. I tried the pineapple chicken, too. It was all right, but not great. Another recipe I like from the crock is to get a pork shoulder roast, pour on 1/2 a bottle of BBQ sauce, and simmer on low all day, then shred it. You could use salsa instead of BBQ sauce and make tacos. It'd probably work with chicken, too (since you don't want pork), if there was enough moisture to keep the chicken from drying out. Parents' magazine has a crock pot lasagna recipe that's OK, too (but I prefer the regular baked kind); someone reproduced it here: http://sheilasrecipes.blogspot.com/2007/12/veggie-lasagna...

1. 4-6 chicken breasts, a can of cream of celery soup, paprika, cook for 6-8 hours on low
2. Chuck roast, can of stewed tomatoes, envelope onion soup mix, potatoes, carrots on low for 6-8 hours
3. Pork shoulder (sorry but it goes a long way and it's really good), seasoning. Cook on low for 6 hours then pour out the juice and add a bottle of green salsa and you have chili verde for tacos.
I love all of these recipes because there are enough for at least 3 meals. Just cook some veggies when you get home and you are done. Nice and easy!

Hi A.,

I LOVE the crockpot!!
I cook whole chickens in there for food for later and for lunches. you can throw on red enchilada sauce, or a simmer sauce from Trader Joes. The simmer sauces work great in there.
I've used the simmer sauces with chicken and frozen veggies and cook them for a couple hours.

I highly recommend the cookbood "Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cookbook," it has great ideas and helps with adaptations. There are even some frozen chicken recipes in there that make life quick and easy. I loved it so much I bought their entertaining one...and haven't been disappointed yet!
An easy one out of there is:
a large can of Las Palmas green enchilada sauce
cooked chicken - I use canned chk breast for ease
sauteed onions
lots of jack cheese
Make two layers of each, cook on high for 2 hrs or low for 4 hrs. It's awesome, even my picky MIL loved it.
And if you want to be sneaky you can add veggies or cooked beans.
But I highly recommend that book, which I am sure you can find used online!
Happy Cooking!

Hi A.,
My mother-in-law bought me a few cookbooks for crockpots that I use often. My favorite is to make shredded chicken that you can use for many different things. You take boneless, skinless thighs, oregano, salt, pepper,and a large onion (quartered). Put everything in the crockpot an add just enough water to cover. Cook on low for 6-8 hours then let cool in own juices. I use it for burritos, enchiladas and salads. Also go online, there are a few websites that are great like this one: http://familycrockpotrecipes.com/
Sincerely,
L.

Hi A., I love cooking in the crockpot during the cooler weather. I usually keep it simple by putting meat or poultry into crockpot and adding a "simmer sauce" from Trader Joes. Suzanne.com also has some great ones, but the are a little expensive. I usually serve with salad and microwaved frozen veges for a quick meal since the crockpot has meat/poultry ready to go in about 6 hours on high. Hope you enjoy! :o)

I'm not a huge crock pot person, but I know I have seen cookbooks designed just for this!

I do chicken or country style pork ribs. (I know you don't want pork). I put frozen chicken legs and/or thighs and cook for about 5 hours on high. I add bbq sauce or green enchilada sauce (not spicy). Comes out very tender. I use it for parties and everyone loves it. I'm sure you can add any sauces you like with chicken. I've done rump roast and added, baby carrots and potatoes, canned corn and sometimes celery, comes out like a beef soup. I like to do that in the winter time. That cooks for about 6 hours on high.