Vintage Slowcooker

Kitsch one gallon slow cooker.

$5 at the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store
214 Forest Ave
Pacific Grove, CA
93950

Vegetarian Recipes For the Crock Pot

By Lisa Paterson

Being a Vegan is a lifestyle choice that can often make it difficult to find appropriate foods to eat. Also, some of these recipes can be time consuming with regard to cooking them. With the introduction of a slow cooker to your life, maintaining a vegan lifestyle has become easier than you could imagine.

French Onion Soup has always been a favorite for many but vegans have had to pass on this option due to the beef based broth. With some easy substitutions, French Onion Soup is now a viable and delicious recipe to try out in your crock-pot. By replacing the beef broth with vegetable broth, making the soup with the other usual ingredients, vegans will find this dish to be satisfying and filling. If there are no dairy dietary restrictions, don't forget to sprinkle the top of each soup bowl with bread cubes and Swiss cheese.

If you have a yen for something from south of the border, why not try Black Bean Burritos in your slow cooker? By mixing chopped onions, carrots and garlic cloves with corn, black beans, a diced jalapeno, soy sauce, fresh chopped cilantro and a cup or so of vegetable stock, you are creating a delicious and tasty burrito filling that will make you glad to be a vegan!

For something a little different, making Falafel in your slow cooker is easy and healthy. With a base of garbanzo beans, have no fear of accidentally violating your nutritional choices. In a food processor, combine onion, some garlic cloves, dried parsley to taste, an egg, salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper to taste, lemon juice and bread crumbs. The last ingredient to add would be the garbanzo beans, processing just enough that it is a paste with chunks of garbanzo. Pour enough olive oil on the bottom of your slow cooker and turn on high. While the oil is warming, shape the mixture into meatball size balls and place in the bottom of the Crock Pot, turning over to coat each falafel ball with olive oil. The usual shape of each ball should be slightly flattened. Cook these in the oil for about four hours or browned. Serve as is or inside a piece of pita bread. A traditional sauce for Falafel is Tzatziki, made of cucumber, plain yogurt and garlic. This would also taste great with hummus, a sauce made of garbanzo beans as well.

In the morning, who really feels like making an elaborate breakfast when you're still bleary? However, there's a simple recipe that uses soy sausage and egg substitute, making it easy to remain within the guidelines of your healthful diet options. Make layers of sausage, diced chilies, bell pepper, onion, crookneck squash, carrots and mozzarella cheese. Once this is done, pour some water and the egg substitute over everything and cook on low until the eggs set and the vegetables are soft, roughly eight hours, a perfect night's sleep. If you have a coffee pot that works from a timer, all you need to do in the morning is wake up and dig in.

Slow Cookers and a Vegan diet don't have to be mutually exclusive. A primary complaint from vegans is not enough options and too much time needed to prepare and cook the meals but with some imagination, this doesn't have to be the case. A varied and delicious menu is possible and the only limitations you might have are those you place on yourself.

Lisa is an avid home cook who loves to share her favorite recipes with the rest of us. Find all her easy crockpot recipes at http://www.A-Crock-Cook.com. And be sure to try one of her vegetable crock pot recipes.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_Paterson
http://EzineArticles.com/?Vegetarian-Recipes-For-the-Crock-Pot&id=1839313

Crockpot Recipes - A Busy Mom's Life Saver

By Amber Torija

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.

Want more great quick weekday recipes, visit http://secretrestaurantchef.weebly.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amber_Torija
http://EzineArticles.com/?Crockpot-Recipes---A-Busy-Moms-Life-Saver&id=1835323

Slow Cooker Recipes

Author: Dave Text

It's a way of cooking the food in a relatively low temperature to decrease water quantity and get the best result. It's the countertop to electrical cooking, popularly known as crock-pot recipe.

Slow Cooker and Crock-pot recipes are interchangeable. A slow cooker is oval cooking pot made of ceramic or porcelain that comes in variety of sizes. Many crock-pot recipes simply call for the ingredients to be put in the crock and have almost no preparation. The crock-pot can then relatively safely be left to run unattended. This makes for a very convenient cooking method. Generally, minimum water should be maintained to avoid uncontrollable heating. Some slow cookers are supplied with recipe booklets.

The advantage of slow cooker recipes is it can avoid overcooking and useful to tenderized smaller cuts. It utilized rated power while the success of every crock-pot recipe relies on careful timing. However, the disadvantage is that the vitamins & nutrients are tending to be lost due to longer cooking. Below are slow cooked recipes you will enjoy from appetizer to dessert.

Here is an appetizer that is so easy to prepare, best before taking the main course. Crock pot Cream of Mushroom Soup:

Ingredients:

• 12 to 16 ounces sliced mushrooms, or 3 cans (4 ounces each), drained
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons onion, chopped
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup half and half or whole milk

Instructions:

In skillet, sauté the sliced mushrooms in butter; place in slow cooker. Add chicken broth, onion, salt, and pepper; stir well. Cover and cook on LOW for 5 to 7 hours (on HIGH for 2 1/2 to 3 hours).

One of the most popular slow cooker recipes is the Beef & Pork Barbecue. This is how to prepare:

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 pounds beef stew meat
• 2 cups chopped onions
• 2 cups chopped green bell pepper
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker/Crock Pot. Cover and cook on low for 9 to 11 hours, or until meat is very tender. Stir with a fork to break meat pieces up.

For health conscious, here is a simple vegetable slow cooking recipe you will enjoy: the scalloped potatoes and potato casseroles.

Ingredients:

• 7 to 9 medium potatoes, thinly sliced, about 2 pounds or 4 to 5 cups
• 1 cup cold water
• 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 4 ounces American cheese, slices or shredded

Instructions:
Toss potato slices in 1 cup water and 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar, then drain. Put half of sliced potatoes in a buttered or greased 3 1/2 to 4-quart slow cooker. Top with half of onion slices, half of the flour, half of the salt and half of the pepper. Dot with half of the butter. Repeat layers; dot with remaining butter. Spoon soup over the top. Cover and cook on low 7 to 9 hours, or 3 to 4 hours on high. Add cheese about 30 minutes before serving. This recipe may be doubled for a 5 to 6-quart crock-pot.

To complete the meal, here is the best part; the much waited after a tasteful meal...the desert. Savor the taste of brownies with pecans. It is so easy to prepare. Let's start:

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 family-size package brownie mix (about 20 to 23 ounces), along with ingredients for preparation

Instructions:

Pour melted butter into 2-pound coffee can; swirl to coat bottom and sides well. Sprinkle with half of the chopped pecans. Mix brownies according to the package directions, stirring in remaining chopped pecans. Pour batter into the coffee can. Place can in slow cooker. Cover top of can with 8 paper towels. Cover and bake on HIGH for 3 hours. Do not check or remove cover until 45 to 60 minutes. Remove can; discard paper towels. Let stand 5 minutes. Unmold and serve while warm, if desired.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cooking-tips-articles/slow-cooker-recipe-432466.html

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