The first blog I ever read and the first bloggy friend I made are BOTH hosting Slow Cooker recipes in the next week, and I feel so inadequate. In 8 months of blogging about food, I have only posted one slow cooker recipe and have nothing new to share today. It is clear that the slow cooker is one appliance that I need to learn to use more often! I dearly love when dinner is done on time without the 5:00 rush to get it finished. I’ll be perusing the carnivals at Sarah’s Musings and Passionate Homemaking carefully and bookmarking often!
Here are my one-and-a-half contributions to the cause:
- Slow Cooker Beef and Bean Stew a la Tuscany
- Hearty Lentil Stew (this one has an option to crockpot it, but I’ve never done it.)
A New Winner Recipe
Last week I tried this Southwestern Pot Roast from A Southern Fairytale. It was meant to act like a spicy stew, but because my venison roast didn’t fall apart after I sliced it, we ended up wrapping them in tortillas and made some of the best and easiest fajitas I’ve ever had.
A New Favorite
This summer I tried Cents to Get Debt Free’s Lentil/Brown Rice Casserole, and when I did the crockpot version, it became a new standby. Since I always seem to have shredded chicken in my freezer because I get whole chickens and make stock, I always need recipes that call for cooked chicken! I could make this every week and be happy; it’s so simple.
I changed it a bit (of course) by adding an 8 oz. can of tomato sauce and using fresh garlic (sometimes) instead of powdered. I often add some more veggies like broccoli stems or spinach, and…I see I added the chicken, too. I guess I changed a lot! Maybe I can post this one by itself someday after all. 
I also add 1/2 tsp salt because my stock doesn’t start out with any at all.
The cheese makes the dish, by the way, so I wouldn’t recommend skipping that. Just add it during the last half hour or so while you prepare the salad/set the table. We also do a great Mexi version after I read in Phoebe’s comments that someone used 1 tsp. taco seasoning instead of the Italian seasoning.
I usually “soak” the lentils and rice in 1/2 or 1 cup whey and then decrease the chicken broth, but just by a smidge. It needs the extra liquid when soaking and in the slow cooker.
My Next Goal
Finally, I’m dying to try slow cooking my granola next time I need a new batch, courtesy of Home with Purpose (who also teaches how to make granola bars out of the granola!).
Sarah’s Musings just finished a whole week of For the Love of the Slow Cooker, and she shared a dessert, beverage, breakfast, condiment, and a dinner. Seriously. This girl rocks out the slow cooker! You must check out her slow cooker recipes, none of which have failed me yet (and I’ve tried an impressive number from her site).
Lindsay makes a good point that almost any soup can be thrown into the crockpot. Right up my alley!
Here’s something weird. I wrote and published this post this morning, and it’s gone. All gone. I had to write it over, so I hope it still says most of the good stuff! Wordpress better not eat any more of my posts!
More Time-Saving Tricks:
- Easy Prep Food to Always have on Hand in your Freezer!
- Get the Salad on the Table FAST
- Reheat Leftovers Quickly and Save on Dishes - w/o a Microwave!
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If you missed the last Monday Mission, click here.
Kitchen Stewardship is dedicated to balancing God’s gifts of time, health, earth and money. If you feel called to such a mission, read more at Mission, Method, and Mary and Martha Moments.
Hungry for more? Related posts:
I have a bunch of recipes on my website. You can go directly to them right here. =0)
http://whatscooking4us.blogspot.com/search/label/Crockpot
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I’m working on trying out new crock pot recipes too. I’m glad you got your article written – Wordpress also deleted one of mine this week. I found a thread on their forum ~ there’s a glitch that caused wp to delete my post because I had too many captioned photos. Anyway, have a good weekend!
K @ Prudent and Practical´s last blog ..Crockpot Spicy Peanut Chicken
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Katie Reply:
November 15th, 2009 at 5:48 am
K,
Katie
Oh, and captioning photos takes so long! It’s so sad to lose a post like that!
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Ha, I was just thinking the same thing about slow cooker recipes! I really need to use mine more
I did just recently use it to make chicken noodle soup (after making your broth recipe) though and tried the granola from Home With a Purpose (good but I managed to burn it a little, so I’ll have to try it again).
Greta @ Mom Living Healthy´s last blog ..Fitness Plan Friday: Raking Leaves and Burning Calories
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Twitter: sarahsmusings
// Nov 14, 2009 at 12:34 am
You are so sweet Katie! I am so happy that you joined me today in my very first carnival! I love anything “a la Tuscany” so I can’t wait to try your recipe! And lentils, yum. One of my favorites.
I grew up with a dad (yes, dad) who cooked a ton in the crockpot so I’m happy to share with you! You’ll have to let me know how granola goes. I’m so used to it crispy, does it get crispy in the crockpot?
Best,
Sarah
PS – And yeah! You are the only one who has used my very first button ever! I love you for it! (And I confess, I never use anyone else’s buttons either. I probably should, now. I realize the love of the button now.)
PPS – December is coming soon. And I’m guessing about that clue . . .
Sarah´s last blog ..Spiced Apple Cider – For the Love of the Slow Cooker
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Hi. I just post a great Apple Cranberry Crisp for the crockpot on my blog. Check it out. I also love to make pork carnitas in the crockpot. That recipe is also on my blog. You could use beef or venison too, I’m sure.
Just found your blog and have been enjoying reading it. Thanks for all the info you share
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I love my crockpot – seriously use it at LEAST 3-4 times a week
I was going thru my recipes and realized I have very few “original” crockpot recipes, but I will try and post a couple of my favorites for you!
My favorite crockpot blog is http://www.crockpot365.blogspot.com – she did a year of new recipes every day in 2008 and release a “paper” cookbook just a couple months ago. Obviously most new slight adaptions or use “make your own” vs store bought but she has tons of recipes!
Jen´s last blog ..today
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Jen Reply:
November 16th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
I linked a couple recipes thru Sarah’s blog!
Jen´s last blog ..Hot Fudge Sauce
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I have your lentil stew recipe in my notebook and have cooked it twice ( froze and reheated well ). It worked out great in the crockpot too!
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Katie Reply:
November 15th, 2009 at 5:52 am
Lynnette,
That’s so fun! I feel badly making it sound like “mine” — I got it from my dear friend Lindsay, who shared some super meatless recipes with me for Lent.
Katie
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“The first blog I ever read and the first bloggy friend I made are BOTH hosting Slow Cooker recipes in the next week”
Would you mind providing a link to these blogs? By coincidence, I just acquired my first slow cooker (I won it in a cooking contest, actually!) and I’m excited to find reliable recipes.
Rachel´s last blog ..
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Katie Reply:
November 15th, 2009 at 6:03 am
Rachel,
One of them is Sarah’s Musings, link above, and I’ll link to the other one on Thursday (11/19) when her carnival happens. Enjoy the recipes!
Katie
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The best slowcooker cookbook I’ve found is “The Healthy Slow Cooker: More Than 100 Dishes for Health and Wellness” by Judith Finlayson. It has tons of delicious recipes made with whole ingredients (no cans of this, packages of that). I’ve made a few cake recipes that were great. (Who knew you could make an excellent cake in the slowcooker?)
Visit my blog for “Slowcooker Chicken with Leeks in Cranberry Walnut Sauce” my combination of two wonderful recipes from this book.
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K @ Prudent and Practical Reply:
November 16th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Thanks for the book recommendation, I’ve added it to my wish list. There ARE a lot of slow cooker recipes that call for packets and cans. We rarely have that stuff in our home, so I have to just pass over the recipe.
K @ Prudent and Practical´s last blog ..Crockpot Spicy Peanut Chicken
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Hi! I am finding so many great things on your blog lately–keep them coming!
I followed the link to the granola and I’m wondering if you soak the oats beforehand? Would that even help since you’re drying them out anyway? thanks!
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Katie Reply:
November 16th, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Chanelle,
Katie
I don’t soak the oats, but I’ll probably try it someday. It would break down the phytates even though you dry it out afterward. Many recipes for soaked granola use the dehydrator to dry them out, much like sprouted flour has to be dried out before grinding. ?? I have much to learn on the soaking issue, myself!
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Nourishing Crockpot Carnival – Passionate Homemaking // Nov 17, 2009 at 11:42 am
[...] the crockpot for the day?) 7. Spicy Chicken and Sweet Potato Stew (Staci @ International Mama) 8. Slow Cooker Recipes (Katie @ Kitchen [...]
I recently made chicken stock in the slow cooker. I work during the day, and I have been wanting to make chicken stock but wasn’t sure when I could find the time to boil it for hours and hours, and I didn’t want to leave the stove on while at work. So on a whim, I threw the bones, skins, veggies, etc into the crockpot and left it on all day while I was at work. When I got home, I strained it, added new veggies and chicken meat, and had soup ready in about 20 minutes. It was great! Some of the tastiest soup I’ve ever had.
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