Thursday, April 07, 2011

My newest friend

Crock-pots are new in Sweden, and I just HAD to have one... Now though, I need your help. There are so many recipes, and I don't know where to begin. So I thought I'd ask you! What is your favorite crock-pot recipes?

30 comments:

Catherine said...

I LOVE crock pots!! They are life savers. One recipe I do is with chicken breast, a jar of green salsa, some cumin, onions, and chicken broth. I will find the exact recipe and send it to you soon. Xo, www.frenchtoastandwine.com

Ann said...

salsa pot roast - 2 ingredients 1 pot roast and 1 pint of fresh salsa. brown the roast in a fry pan on both sides stick in crock pot and top with salsa. cook on low 8 hrs. made this up when i was in a new apartment and things still in boxes. Aloha, Ann

Filippa said...

Nu är jag avundsjuk, riktigt grön i nyllet. jag måste få klämma å känna på lördag ?

KT said...

I love my crockpot too!! One website that is a great crockpot recipe archive is http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/. I browse there a lot when I have tons of ingredients but no inspiration :) Have fun with your new toy!!!

Anne said...

Thanks guys! Jarred salsa is not a lot of fun here in Sweden - it's mostly just slightly spiced tomato sauce, but I'll try the recipes with homemade - I bet that's great. KT, thanks for the link!

Filippa, det kan du räkna med :)

Anonymous said...

I couldn't live without mine...brought it to Sweden when I moved here...fantastic for work days...just throw everything in in the morn and dinner is ready and waiting. One website I love is this one.

http://slowandsimple.com/

Some great ideas and you can adjust flavours and ingredients really easily!! Curries are brilliant, just throw in everything and put it on slow for the day...also a can of mushroom or chicken soup works wonders with meat and vegies of your choice...so damn simple. Have fun!! Kate :))

Ruth said...

I've always wondered about one of these, and then dismissed the idea due to a lack of storage space for kitchen things (all the cupbards are full of bowls, dishes etc already!). Perhaps it would be worth it after all?

Anne said...

Thanks for the link Kate!!

Beth, the space thing IS an issue. My cupboards are completely full. I think this one will have to go on TOP of a cupboard...

Tamsin said...

Crock pots are great, energy efficient too! Lamb curry is a favourite, or any kind of meat stew that needs a long slow cook. I use mine to make stock, throw in the bones from a roast chicken, some aromatics and enough water to cover and leave it on low overnight.

Annika said...

Här är en link från CrockPot med en massa recept.
http://www.crock-pot.com/Recipes.aspx
Jag har vänner här i Kanada som använder sin Crockpot flera ggr i veckan. Dom tar ofta köttet direkt från frysen på morgonen, lite grönsaker, potatis, etc. och kommer hem till en lagad middag efter jobbet. Jag har ännu inte "mastered this skill". Crockpot är superbra att ha med sig till sommarstugan, båten, campingen etc.

Anne said...

Tack Annika, den har jag - jag fick med en receptfolder också, men det är alltid roligt att höra om mer personliga favoriter :)

Tamsin, that's an awesome idea! I really must try that next time we make chicken (or buy a rotisserie one). How convenient!

bridgetwhoplaysfrenchhorn said...

My favorite is crockpot yogurt, also from the Crockpot 365 website. So easy, so delicious. And you can't forget glögg. :)

Debbie said...

I'm giving my crockpot away, I decided I prefer to use the space for my first Le Creuset Dutch Oven. I don't care for the taste of meat that isn't browned first, and if I'm getting another dish dirty like that (plus cooking in the morning) then I no longer find it convenient.

Lucy Arin said...

Take a pork roast. Season it as you like. Place it in the crock pot and cover with vegetable stock. Turn the crock-pot on low and walk away for 8 hours. Toss in a few cloves of garlic if desired.

I'm very fond of this recipe as well:
http://stickygooeycreamychewy.com/2010/11/12/trailer-trash-pot-roast/
but I'm not sure if you can get chili sauce or dried onion soup mix in Sweden. This is another variation on the same theme: http://www.crazyauntpurl.com/archives/2009/11/perfect_crock_p_1.php but I make two changes. I don't coat the roast with garlic when I sear it, as the garlic tends to burn. I put the garlic into the crock-pot instead. I also do not cover the entire roast with black pepper, both because it too burns and because I tend to be overzealous with the pepper and then the roast isn't very tasty. I prefer to sear the roast nearly naked and then add the seasonings to the crock.

I can also recommend a few books:

http://tinyurl.com/3z9j7fr
http://tinyurl.com/3cg55xp

Lycka till!

Zazzy said...

This soup was the only thing I ever used my slow cooker for - it's almost worth it to have a slow cooker just to make caramelized onion soup.

http://foodblog.zazzysmilies.com/wordpress/?p=75

Anne said...

Bridget, Lucy, Zazzy, thank you! I'd have never thought to use it for yogurt! I did think about onion soup. which is my husbands favorite - must try that!

Deborah - yeah, I hear you. I do have a dutch oven (or two) as well. My crock-pot can be used for browning though - the liner is lifted out and can be used directly on top of the stove, which seems handy. Not sure how well it works though. I tend to go in the other direction and brown meat less and less, to save time, so I think I'll try some dishes without any browning at all.

Abbey said...

Can't underestimate the simple deliciousness of slow cooker puleld pork:

http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/slow-cooker-pulled-pork/Detail.aspx

May said...

Roast, onion soup mix and coca cola classic....8 hours
Drain, shred add your fav BBQ sauce and make BBQ samis!

Giulia said...

Auguri. Now let me warn you about something. People who just toss stuff in & turn the thing on invariably freak out at the gray icky mess that is at the end. You have to layer the flavors, cooking etc.

Brown things, layer flavor, do the prep work that you'll be tempted to skip. Also add flavors at end to "freshen" the dishes.

It is a real lifesaver, even for those of us who work at home a lot.

Congrats.

Disa said...

Try this one:

http://peasandthankyou.com/2010/01/28/slow-mornin-slow-cookin/

Good blog, good recipe. Congratulations on your first crock pot! I have two and could not live without them. When my 2-year-old is circling my legs like a cat waiting for dinner, it's great to have dinner ready with no effort. I also recommend the crockpot 365 blog. It's excellent.

@Receptomaten said...

I'm really enjoy reading all these comments and ideas as a newbie Crock-Potie my self :)
I found two nice fan pages (international) on Facebook about Crock-Pot's and there is a Swedish one soon too.

Anne, good luck 'n happy Crocking!

Anonymous said...

Did you know that slow cookers were famous for cooking dried beans without soaking them? I tried with some dried borlotti, small head of garlick, one onion, celery stalk, a pepper (whole!) and juicy tomato. Cover with with water and 4 hours later I had buttery beans! No salt, mind you!

lunarossa

KR said...

Gotta go with a crock-pot version of Barbacoa and MS' Italian Pot Roast.

http://www.food.com/recipe/barbacoa-251874
http://www.marthastewart.com/282522/italian-pot-roast

enetimm said...

I've become an absolute crock pot fan :) Just because it is so easy to toss everything in and have the dinner ready when we get back from work and school. Although I have to say that I prefer to brown meats and even vegetables on high heat(on my cast iron pan) before putting them into the pot. I used to not to, but it gives a much better taste. Or you can add more spices ;)
I usually do it in the evenings to have everything ready for the morning. It does take some time but not as much as slaving away after work. It's so nice to get home ta a warm meal.
I do a lot of soups and stews in it. But also a good pork roast with sauerkraut (very Estonian, might not be for everyone ;)

Anonymous said...

The crockpot really saved me when my children were young. There was something very reassuring about the delicious scent of supper cooking as I went out to work on a snowy morning.

You don't really need an exact recipe. Just put the veggies on the bottom, and the meat on the top. Add some seasonings and liquid and let it be. Get the pot pretty full, because the veggies will shrink down as they cook. You need to add a greater amount of liquid if the thing is on high, because some of it will boil away.

You can get the veggies prepped the night before and put them in the fridge overnight, or you can even do the whole thing and put the crock part in the fridge overnight. [This is assuming the crock is removable.]

Here is how I make my Grandma's stewed chicken in the crockpot, adapted from the way her mor made it.

Put a whole chicken in the crockpot breast side down, along with a nice big piece of onion, some garlic or garlic powder, salt, pepper, and clove. Add a 14 oz can of chicken broth.

When you come home the chicken should be cooked. Fish it out with some big spoons onto a platter to cool. Strain the liquid into a sauce pan. Whisk in some instant flour or flour and water mixture to make gravy. Take the meat off the bones and boil it up in the gravy for a couple of minutes to be sure that all is sterile.

Another favorite is sauerkraut and meat. Just put the sauerkraut in the bottom. You can rinse it beforehand or not, same with adding onions. Add the seasonings and meats that you like. We like to use fresh pork and several kinds of sausage. Add some water, white wine, or beer. Caution: If you are home while this is cooking on a cold day the wonderful smell will drive you to distraction and snacking.

Another easy thing for a busy morning is to just add an inexpensive cut of beef and a can of beef broth - and a few seasoning. Again, strain the liquid into a saucepan to make gravy. It's nice to put some pot roast type veggies under the meat, but some mornings are too hectic. Eileen

Olsonmiki said...

I love coming in the door after a long winter day, and getting a whiff of split pea soup or mushroom beef stew ready and waiting! My husband makes chili when his kids come to watch football, or barbecue beans when he's feeding a crowd of hungry young people. We've even taken the crockpot camping with us!

frida said...

I'm sooo jealous! ;)

Ireland said...

Happy to hear everyones comment continue being food lovers..

Otehlia said...

Hi! I love your blog. I used to live in Sweden and loved the food my aunt made.
I also just bought a crock pot, and use it when I remember to take it out of the basement. They are so great-no worries, no hassle.

Mary Ka said...

Crock pots are ideal for beans,peas and stuff that needs a long cooking. The same is for the meat. I wouldn't put pork in the crock pot but mutton, female goat or beef can be cooked int he crock pot as they have to be cooked for at least two hours.
I wouldn't use it for vegetarian dishes unless i want the vegetables to become mashed.