Anyone interested in Crockpot cooking should check out www.crockpot.com. Tons of great ideas for cooking meals while you're busy doing other stuff. I often use the crock pot to make beef stew or roasts...dump everything in before I leave for school/work and come home to an awesome supper! Much better and cheaper than grabbing fast food.

-- elle (hotging@aol.com), November 19, 2000

Answers

I've got a section of newspaper that's been hanging around the house for months because it's got a recipe for caramelized onions that I've been meaning to try just as soon as I get a crockpot. I use caramelized onions in all kinds of soups & stews, and I was intrigued by this recipe since it uses much less oil than fried onions. Anyway, I still don't have a crockpot, but since you brought the subject up, I'll give you the recipe.

6 large onions 2 tablespoons olive oil

Peel the onions and cut them into 1/4-inch slices. Place the onions in a slow cooker, and drizzle the oil over the slices.

Place the lid on the cooker and adjust the heat to high. Cook 8-10 hours, until the onions caramelize. They will then have a deep brown color.

Leftover onions may be refrigerated, covered, up to 3 days. They may be frozen up to 1 month. (Makes ~3 cups)

-- Leslie A. (lesliea@home.com), November 19, 2000.

I checked it out & all I could find were meat recipes--did I miss something??? Sonda in Ks.

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), November 20, 2000.

Leslie, check out your local thrift shops, they all have crock pots, very inexpensive. I have gotten several at them for my friends who wanted one. I use them for making fruit chutneys, have 2 going at once. Much easier than standing over the stove stirring them.

-- Duffy (hazelm@tenforward.com), November 20, 2000.

Duffy,

Could you please post the recipe for fruit chutney?

Thank you!

Pauline NC

-- Pauline (tworoosters_farm@altavista.com), November 20, 2000.

Italian Prune Plum Chutney

l c. white sugar l c. brown sugar 3/4 c. cider vinegar l c. raisins,, either dark or light l/2 c. preserved ginger, finely sliced l/4 c. chopped onion 2 cloves minced garlic 2 tsp. mustard seed 2 tsp. salt l l/2 tsp. crushed red pepper 3 l/3 c. halved pitted prune plums Dissolve sugar in vinegar and bring to boil. Add rest of ingredients and simmer until mixture thickens. I cook it in crock pots as it can cook for several hours and not burn. Stir it occasionally. If it gets too thick, put a little water in it, as it sets up a bit more when it cools. Spoon into hot sterile jars, seal, turn jars upside down for several min. You can boil jars for 10 min. if desired. Serve with any meat and curry dishes. It is also great on any meat sandwiches. My family eats it with any and everything. Makes 4 pints.

-- Duffy (hazelm@tenforward.com), November 20, 2000.

Thanks for the crock pot site it was great has any one got good deer recipes for the crock pot. Contry Friend In Indiana Jack Bunyard

-- Jack Bunyard (bunyard@cnz.com), November 21, 2000.

Sorry their were no meatless meals listed. Most folks I know use theirs mostly to cook meat, esp cheaper cuts that need to be tenderized. But I'm guessing you could make all sorts of meatless stuff. I bet it would make awesome bean soup! I've even heard of folks "baking" potatoes in there and having a potato bar at social gatherings.

As for venison, haven't tried it in the crock pot. Next time I make stew I may use venisen or elk. My dad is an avid hunter and we've got both this year. Thank goodness, with the price of store bought meats we'd be going without alot! Elle Elle

-- elle (hotging@aol.com), November 21, 2000.

Sonda, For more veggie crockpot recipes, try the busy cooks seciton at about.com. Just put "crockpot recipes" in the site search. If I remember correctly, they have many recipes for veggies, desserts, etc. ALso, you might was to try vegweb for more veggie recipes. Enjoy!

-- Kristin, in C. Alabama (positivekharma@aol.com), November 25, 2000.