Since I got positive response and request for crock pot cookery, we'll start with that. Please post your favorite CROCK POT recipe here. When you try one of the recipes give us your opinion and anything you'd do differently. Who know, this may lead to a cookbook., Well it's a thought.

Basic Chicken with Garlic: Spray crock pot...put in whole chicken, lots of garlic, an onion, salt and pepper(opt) and 2c. of water...put on lid...turn on low for 5-6 hours, time may vary since crock pots vary greatly...Enjoy!

-- Cindy (SE In) (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), March 06, 2001

Answers

Venison stew- 1lb venison cut into stew chunks, 3 large potatoes, 3 carrots, 4 stalks celery, 2 medium onions,2 cups fresh mushrooms, 1 can cream of mushroom soup, 1 packet Lipton onion soup mix. Place meat in bottom of crock pot. Cut veggies in large chunks and layer on top of meat. sprinkle on onion soup mix. Dump can of mushroom soup on top. Cook on low 4 hours. Stir well once. Cook on low 2 more hours. Voila, stew!

-- Terri Perry (teperry@stargate.net), March 06, 2001.

Squirrel/Lentil Stew

Place 2 large or 3 smaller cleaned/skinned squirrels in bottom of crockpot. Pour in the following:

1 cup red wine

2 cups broth or water

3-4 (or more) crushed garlic cloves

freshly ground black pepper to taste

Cover and cook on high for several hours until meat is just about falling off the bones. Remove squirrels from broth/wine mixture, allow to cool for a bit. Strain the broth/wine mixture, put back in crockpot (add water if less than 3 cups). Slice up some carrots, chop up some onions, add to crockpot. Add 1 cup lentils (picked over and rinsed). Put heat back up to high. While the pot heats back up, pick the meat off the bones - careful, there are itty-bitty bones. Shred the meat (again, get them bones outa there), and put in the crock pot. Season to taste with bay leaf, black pepper, a bit of salt if need be, some savory or a bit of sage or some thyme. Once it starts a slow simmer, turn down to low and let it cook for a few hours - check the liquid level periodically and add a bit of water if it gets low. When the veggies are tender and the lentils soften up (not mushy), adjust the seasonings.

Reminds me of dark turkey meat - The stew is excellent with warm biscuits and a green salad... Enjoy!

-- Judi (ddecaro@snet.net), March 06, 2001.

Here is a favorite crockpot recipe at our house. I usually make it on Sundays as it canbe cook'in while we're at church.

Bean dip.

2 Lg. cans chili, I use homemade leftovers from the freezer. 1 Lg. can refried beans, these can be made from dried pinto beans or dehydrated like I use. 1 jar salsa, you pick the heat intensity, again I use homemade. 1 jar cheese whiz or you can use velveta, estimate the amount needed, sometimes it helps to melt these down so they can be stirred in. add all ingredience and stir welll simmer on low for a couple hours. We use this as a chip dip( corn chips), over taco salad and even as a topping to polish dogs. You can play with the ingredience to suit your tastes. Leftovers freeze well for a later use. Enjoy :o)

-- Kelle in MT. (kvent1729@aol.com), March 06, 2001.

Easy, cheap and yummy! *1 onion sauted in olive oil ( I do this in a coffee cup in the micro) *2(28oz)cans of whole,diced or pureed tomatoes *2-3 lb roast(cheapest cut, chuck is good)* 1 TB italian seasoning *salt and pepper to taste. *cook on low, 7-10 hours. Serve over pasta, rice or polenta. Recipe can be doubled if your pot is big enough, freezes excellent. Enjoy!

-- Kathy (catfish201@hotmail.com), March 06, 2001.

BEEF IN CIDER HOT POT 3Tbsp. butter 1 1/2 pounds top round, cut into thin slices 1 large onion sliced 2 large carrots peeled and sliced 2 turnips peeled and sliced 6Tbsp. flour 1 3/4 cups cider or 1 1/4 cup apple juice with 2/3 cup water and 1Tbsp vinegar salt and pepper 1 beef bouillon cube 3 medium size potatoes peeled and thinly sliced 3/4 cup grated cheese

Melt butter and fry the beef slices for 5 minutes. Add the onions, carrots and turnips to the pan, saute gently for 10 minutes. Stir in flour. Remove from heat and pour in the cider or apple juice. Bringto a boil then add seasonings and the bouillon cube. Cook for 5 minutes.

Pour into anearthen ware pot or crock pot and arrange the potato slices on top. Cover and cook in the oven or crock pot for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or til potaotes are done. Sprinkle cheese on top and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the cheese is melted .

I love this recipe but hubby didn't like the cider taste and neither did the kids.

-- michelle (tsjheath@ainop.com), March 06, 2001.

Hi Cindy! Here's mine: Pot Roast @ 2-3 lb. 1-2 TBSP coarse black pepper or McCormack's Grill mates. 2 (or more) cloves garlic, minced. 4 TBSP low sodium soy sauce. 3 TBSP balsamic vinegar. 2 TBSP worcestershire sauce. 2 tsp dry mustard. Rub pepper and garlic into meat, place in crockpot. Mix all other ingredients, pour over roast. Cook on low 8-10 hours or high 4-5 hours. Cook veggies serarately. Wonderful aroma and absolutely delicious! GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), March 06, 2001.

I'm making this one as we speak. I've never made it before but it smells wonderful.

Beef Stew

Serves 4 (but I doubled it)

2 lbs beef cut into 1 1/2" cubes 1/2 cup flour 2 tbsp veggie oil

1 bay leaf 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 2 tsp Kitchen Bouquet 2 lg onions-peeled and chunked 6 med carrots-peeled and chunked 4 med potatoes-peeled and chunked 2 stalks of celery-sliced 16 oz canned tomatoes 1 clove of garlic 2 beef bouillon cubes 1/4 tsp black pepper 1 tsp salt 1 tsp brown suger 2 cups water

Combine flour with salt and pepper; toss to coat beef cubes. Set aside excess flour. Brown the beef, and then add to the crockpot. Combine the bouillon cubes, Kitchen Bouquet, worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, and water; mix well. Pour over the veggies. Cook on low for 12-14 hours, or on high for 6-8 hours. An hour before serving make a paste of the excess flour and water, and stir gently until thickened.

I hope it's good.

Stacy Rohan in Windsor, NY where it's **STILL** snowing!

-- Stacy Rohan (KincoraFarm@aol.com), March 06, 2001.

Beef roast: Brown a beef roast and put it in crockpot. Mix dry onion soup mix with 3/4 C water and pour over. Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours. If you want to add carrots and potatoes, go ahead. This also makes great roast beef sandwiches. And...I am sure a venison roast would do well this way slao.

-- Ardie from Wi (a6203@hotmail.com), March 06, 2001.

Beef AuJus place in crock pot one beef roast (4-6#), 2 cups strong coffee and 1/2 cup soy sauce. Crock all day. This makes nice french dip type sandwiches or serve over rice or noodles. Doesn't taste like coffee at all!

-- Amy (gshep@aeroinc.net), March 06, 2001.

Dogs 'N' Beer. Poke several fork holes in the sides the dogs and place in the pot, add 2-3 Jallapenos - diced, seeds and all, a small onion, diced, add a couple cans of beer or so, cook all day on low to med low. Eat'em on a bun... and add more beer orally as you do. If you have the constitution, scoop up some of the peppers and onions as a garnish. Inexpensive, wonderfull treat when a lot of floks are over.

-- Willy Allen (willyallen2@yahoo.com), March 06, 2001.

I use the crockpot a lot, this is a quick and good recipe for a hot CHICKEN SANDWICH. In your crockpot put about 1 lb of cooked chicken meat (I use canned or leftover chicken), one can of cream of chicken soup, a finely chopped onion, a few ribs of finely chopped celery, some garlic powder, some pepper and then about 6 or 8 ounces of crushed sour cream and onion potato chips. I know it sounds strange, but this is very good!! We only have chips about once a month, so I don't fix this often but only as an occasional item. You can cook this for only a few hours or even all day, however you might want to add a little water if cooking longer, so it doesn't dry out. Our PTO always makes this at our Turkey bingo and we sell all we can make for $2.00 a sandwich. ENJOY, I like this thread.

-- Melissa (cmnorris@1st.net), March 06, 2001.

Spicy Beans n' Roast: Cook enough pinto beans in crock pot to fill half full when cooked. Add 3-4 lb roast, one onion and garlic to taste. and cook till roast is done. Shred the roast into the beans, and add 1/2 to 1 small can chipotle peppers depending on how spicy you can eat it. Serve with fresh warm flour tortillas with green salad and black olives.

-- Gina NM (inhock@pvtnetworks.net), March 06, 2001.

Here is one of my Favorites

Dryed Limas and Smoked Sausage 1lbs Large dried Limas (cleaned & soaked overnight) 1 can Rot*Tel Hot Diced Tomatoes (or = amount Salsa) 1 Med. Onion coarsley chopped 2 cloves crushed Garlic coarsed ground Black Pepper to Taste 1 1/2 lbs Smoked Link Sausage slicced (I slice thin)

Add all ingredients to Crock Pot and enough water to cover. Cook 4 - 6 hours on low or until Limas are tender. Taste Great! Even Better Next Day!

-- Mark in NC Fla (deadgoatman@webtv.net), March 06, 2001.

youall are a answer to a bachlors prayer keep em coming ill buy more paper. Bob in se.ks.

-- Bobco (bobco@hit.net), March 06, 2001.

Ribs: slice an onion and put it in the pot. Add 5 lbs. country-style pork ribs (with or without bones). Mix together & pour over the ribs: 3/4 cup packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup soy sauce, 1/2 cup ketchup, 1/4 cup honey (or corn syrup), 2 tablespoons vinegar, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon salt, crushed red pepper flakes to taste. Cover & cook on low for 5-6 hours. To serve, sprinkle with 2 tablespoons chopped green onions and 2 tablespoons sesame seeds(optional). We like this over rice. Enjoy!

-- Jean (schiszik@tbcnet.com), March 07, 2001.

My Spaghetti sauce---plenty to freeze for later use.....

1 giant can of tomato sauce (costco/sams club size); Ilb of italian sauage; one onion, 2-4 garlic cloves or 1 TBLSP of garlic powder; scant 1/4 italian seasoning;

Brown meat and onions, then add to crockpot with all other ingredients and cook for at least three hours.

-- Storybook Farm (Mumaw@socket.net), March 07, 2001.

OOPS!!! THat is a scant 1/4 cup of italian seasoning.

-- Storybook Farm (mumaw@socket.net), March 07, 2001.

I don't see any desserts listed in here for the crock pot so here goes: Triple Chocolate Mess

1 pkg chocolate cake mix 1pt sour cream 1pkg instant chocolate pudding mix 1 small bag chocolate chips ( I use mini's ) 3/4 cup oil 4 eggs 1 cup water

Spary the crock with non stick spray. Mix all ingredents until smooth. pour into crock. Cook on low 6-8 hours. Serve in a bowl with vanilla icecream or coolwhip.

Today I did not have the chocolate cake mix so we are making it out of white. We'll see if the 5 muchkins can tell the difference!

Anybody interested I have more crock pot desert recipes.

Robin

-- Robin (frontzfarm@1st.net), March 07, 2001.

SMOTHERED STEAK Cut in to 2-3 inch pieces of round steak about 3-4 lbs. Flour and brown on both sides. Then place layers of meat-onion-cream of mushroom soup- repeat into the crock pot the cover with water. Let cook till done the "tough" round steak will be tender as can be. Season to taste. dale

-- dale (dgarr@fidnet.com), March 07, 2001.

Hi All!!

We tried Amy's Beef Aujus tonight for dinner. The meat is fantastic...makes great sandwiches and tommorrow I am going to use the rest for enchiladas. The dipping juice was a bit salty for us, so I will try to use a bit less of the soy next time. The only problem was the fat layer in the juice.....an easy remedy is to chill the sauce and remove the fat and reheat.

For us a definite keeper!!!! Thanks for sharing Amy!!!!

-- Storybook Farm (mumaw@socket.net), March 08, 2001.

Minister's Delight

Put one can pie filling into crockpot. Put one dry cake mix on top. Pour over 1/2 c. melted oleo. Sprinkle 1/2 c. chopped nuts on top. Will cook in 2 or 3 hrs.

-- Barbara Fischer (bfischer42@hotmail.com), March 09, 2001.

Oriental Chicken

1 Broiler fryer/chicken 2 tablespoons vegtable oil

-- Barb (MBliss@Net-Port.com), March 10, 2001.

Oriental Chicken

1 Broiler fryer/chicken 2 tbs vegetable oil 1/3 cup soy sauce 2 tbs brown sugar 2 tbs water 1 garlic clove, minced 1 tsp ground ginger 1/4 cup slivered almonds (optional) Brown chicken in oil. transfer to slow cooker. Combine soy sauce, brown sugar, water, garlic and ginger: pour over chicken. cook on high or 1 hour. reduce to low and cook 4-5 hours longer. Sprinkle with almonds if you have them. If not - oh well. spoon juice over chicken or thicken. I use the cheap legs that come in the 10 pound packages. They work great! I eat low fat so I skin the chicken and remove all the fat I can before browming and turn the chicken a couple of time during cooking to be sure it all gets in the juice. Sauce over rice is great.

-- Barb (MBliss@Net-Port.com), March 10, 2001.

Great Northern Beans and Ham

1 - 1 lb bag of dried Great Northern Beans 1 - medium chopped onion 1 or 2 Ham Steaks (cut into bite-sized pieces) Salt & Pepper to taste

Wash beans. Put them in the crock pot with the rest of the ingredients. Cover with water. Cook on low setting 9 - 10 hours or on high setting 6-7 hours or until beans are tender. You can add more water as they cook if you like them "soupier". I like mine kinda thick. Serve with salad and hot cornbread. Makes quite a bit and good for freezing too. Great on chilly nights (not that we get too many of those here in sunny South Florida but.....) Enjoy!!!

-- Greenthumbelina (sck8107@aol.com), March 12, 2001.

Love the site. I love to cook but lost my crock pot book. Mostly cook from scratch and only use book for ideas. Since we raise goats and put some in the freezer, would love to find someone with "chevon (goat)" recipes or venison (it's close). I milk our goats and make cheese and fudge, etc.

-- Riki Johnson ( So. Fla.) (snrj45@juno.com), May 25, 2001.