Slow cooker 101

By Jen -
The youngest child now has her own slow cooker and she's wondering what magic she can create with it.
Well ladies? What simple recipes would you suggest - that don't use red meat?

I think slow cookers are great for things like split pea soup, ham and bean soup, chili (either beef or chicken), pulled bbq sandwiches, stews, chicken enchilada filling - what else?

A couple suggestions -

  • Everything that is added in the morning is going to get pretty mushy by the evening. This is fine for the meat, although chicken just doesn't need that long to shred. With chicken dishes, I tend to use my slow cooker on weekends when I can keep an eye on it for 4-5 hours (high).
  • Beans need to soak overnight - even when they are going to be simmer in the slow cooker the whole next day. Just dump them in the crock pot and cover with hot water the night before. By morning, you can strain them or simply add the rest of the ingredients to the pot.
  • Crockpots make usually more than you can eat - unless cooking for rugby team.  Keep some plastic containers ready and freeze what you don't eat.
Next: Split Pea Soup

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