the joy of crockpots.

usually on sundays we have a crockpot meal. we had 2:30 church last year and it was SO nice at 5:30 to come home to dinner already ready (or mostly, you know). now we have 10:30 church, and while it's not as much a necessity, who doesn't love a crockpot meal? the meat is tender, all the flavors have melded together beautifully...man, makes me hungry just thinking about it!

some quick tips:
*you can put in meat frozen or defrosted
*always cook your meal at the lowest temperature possible
*you don't HAVE to brown meat before
*when your meal is done cooking, switch to "warm" setting
*resist the urge to take the lid off!
*use a crockpot liner--makes clean up a cinch!

here's what could be in my crockpot on a sunday:

beef stroganoff

stew meat (1 lb or so)
1 can tomato soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 package of lipton onion soup mix

sour cream (add at end)

1. add stew meat (I usually brown first) and soups to crockpot
2. stir
3. put lid on and cook on low for 6-8 hours (if you brown, you only need 4 or so, but still on LOW)
4. add sour cream
5. serve over egg noodles

meatless spaghetti sauce (AKA marinara)

jar/can of spaghetti sauce (we spice it up so much, get the cheap kind!)
1 can diced tomatoes
onion
garlic (I use the kind already chopped, but you could use fresh!)
salt
pepper
italian seasoning

1. put spaghetti sauce and diced tomatoes in crockpot
2. dice onion and add
3. add 1 tsp. or so of garlic (I really like garlic!)
4. add salt, pepper, and seasoning to taste
5. heat on low for 4-8 hours (as many as you have!). the trick is to let it simmer forever.
6. serve over rotini (or your favorite pasta).

that's the first edition of crockpot recipes!:) more next time...