Crockpot!

so, I love cooking (and the legitimate food that comes out of it), which I think is pretty obvious, since I'm here. 

But, I'm a college student in her senior year--and I'm not talking "wooo!  Senior year!", but more "holycrapanotherpaper'sduetodayijustfinishedt heonedueyesterdayihaventsleptin4dayswhere'smy coffee" senior year.  It's actually kind of ridiculous--I'm writing about 250 pages worth of papers THIS SEMESTER ALONE.  At least I love the subjects!  I'm doing some pretty new research in a field, which is why it's so much work.  Anway...

Since I'm so busy, I just bought a crock pot, which I figure could be a great investment--throw it all in there when I leave in the morning, and it'll be ready by the time I come back!  Unfortunately, all the recipes I know use ingredients like 'cream of mushroom soup' and grossness like that.  Does anyone have some recipes for a slow cooker that are actually GOOD for you?  I would love to eat dinner again.  It's not NEARLY as fun to 1. snack on all the vegetables you bought raw (especially since it's cold out!) or 2. buy your dinner ('cause I'm a student...).

Thanks, guys!

Hi Silly

have a lot of healthy recipes either stews, roasts, chillis or soups -- let me know your preference and I will be glad to send them to you.

Hi! thanks for responding!  I'd love to have anything from the first three...I don't really need to have more soup than I already do lol (even if it is better homemade).  Thanks so much!

Hi Silly and Kono!

My crock pot meals are disastrous.  I would love some of your recipes, please count me in! 

I have this cookbook Fix it and Forget it Lightly.  It has some pretty good recipes, but I also look at the ingrediens of others and try and "healthify" it.  For example, using low fat cheeses, lean meats...

I would also really love to see some of your recipes. I am an OB/Gyn Resident and because the hours I work are so crazy I haven't been able to cook like I used to. Also I'm getting married in September so I'm definitely counting calories. I'd really appreciate it if you could send me something yummy to make:)

We always called this chicken in the pot.

Peel a whole, medium size potato for each person, ditto large carrots (cut in big pieces).  Put these into the bottom of the crockpot.  Add a quartered onion or some small white onions and a chopped stalk of celery.  Something else that works well instead of the onion - a couple of leeks, just the white part, cut in 2 inch lengths and split lengthwise in quarters. 

Pour in 1 quart of chicken broth, a half a teaspoon of poultry seasoning, or fresh or dried thyme and sage.  I like to add a dried chili pepper to give it a little authority.

Wash, pat dry and season a medium size chicken.  Put a bunch of parsley, a few cloves of crushed garlic and a quartered lemon in the cavity.  Put the chicken on top of the vegetables in the pot.

Cook on low for 8 to 12 hours. 

I love "chicken in the pot" too! My variation includes cut up carrots and raw mushrooms in addition to the onions and potato. I also like to slice a lemon thin and place the slices on top of the chicken. What a great meal!

The great thing about crockpot cooking other than the convenience is that you literally get out of it what you put into it. So, if you have a basic idea of how to cook and combine flavors the possibilities are virtually endless. Start with healthy ingredients such as lean meats veges and whole grains and then use your imagination. The only rule with crockpot cooking is to make sure you have enough liquid in the pot. Other than that you can't screw it up. ;)

Some of my favorite things to make in the crockpot are: Stew (beef, lamb, or chicken), pork and sauerkraut (use lean boneless pork loin, add onions, apple slices, new potatoes), chilis (chicken, vege, beef, tofu)

For convenience in crockpot cooking it helps to keep the kitchen stocked with some basic ingredients like boxed chicken, veg, and beef stock, frozen veges, boneless chicken breast, beef cubes, boneless pork chops, onions, garlic, lemon juice, dried spices and herbs (basil, thyme, parsley, rosemary, sage, black pepper, sea salt), olive oil, a couple of different vinegars (wine, balsamic, champagne).

The ever popular

Sticky Chicken

You may leave the skin on, or for lower fat, remove the skin before cooking.

Rub a whole chicken inside and out with a generous amount of any spice mixture, such as Emerils.  Or mix your own - salt, pepper, dried thyme, cayenne pepper if you like heat, onion powder, garlic powder or salt.  Coat every surface.  Put it into a plastic bag and refrigerate overnight.

In the morning put it into the crockpot and turn it on to low.  Do not add any liquid.  Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours. 

It comes out falling off the bone tender and juicy.  There will be plenty of juices in the pot to make a sauce if you wish.  It's good leftover, pulled apart and heated in BBQ sauce to make sloppy joes or mix with rice.

Oh I can't wait to try this! My fiance and I just got a crockpot for Christmas and are both trying to loose some extra weight before our wedding. His mom makes sticky chicken and we of course love it but never have the time to make it. So I'm so excited about this recipe!

My only question is, what to do about BBQ sauce? Do ya even need it with this recipe?

That sounds good claire. I'm definately gonna try that one! Thanks.

No BBQ sauce while it's cooking, just the dry rub to your taste.  I do serve the leftovers with a little bottled BBQ sauce on buns, but you have to watch the salt and sugar with that.  It's ok once in a while.

One of our favorites for a French Dip style sandwich.  Buy any inexpensive beef roast (about 3 lbs.)  Put in the crockpot with two envelopes of dry onion soup mix, five beef bouillon cubes, one beer, and enough water to cover the roast.  Cook on low 8-10 hours & serve sliced meat on toasted Poboy buns.  A little horseradish is delish & dip the sandwich in the au jus.

I made the Chicken in a Pot today for dinner and it was delicious and my husband liked it too.  I already mixed the left over chicken with some barbeque sauce and will have it for lunch tomorrow.  It's nice when you're working a lot to get 2 meals out of one!  Thanks for the recipe.